Muntakhab al-tawarikh 65.2
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 65.2
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65.2.1
Mirza Yadgar Nasir hearkened to this advice and counsel and remained in Bakkar, and Humayun proceeded to Tatta, whereupon many of his soldiers left his camp and joined Mirza (Yadgar) and spent their days in comfort by reason of the increased pay they received. In this way Mirza gathered strength, and Humayun crossing the river laid siege to the fortress of Siyahwan. Mirza Shah Husain kept sending reinforcements and supplies to the garrison, and embarking on a boat, and coming near to the camp blocked the avenues of supplies (to Humayun). The siege lasted for seven months, and victory seemed as far off as ever, while great distress was felt from scarcity of grain and want of salt. Verse. Every feast which is prepared by the hand of heaven Is either altogether without salt or is altogether so salt (as to be uneatable). The soldiers were reduced to such extremities, that they were forced to give up grain and content themselves with the flesh of animals, and finally they had to abandon the hope of even this. Verse. The hungry-bellied fastened his eyes on skins, For fur is the near neighbour of flesh. Then he sent messengers a second time to Bakkar to summon Mirza Yadgar Nasir, so that in conjunction with him he might repel Mirza Shah Husain and gain possession of the fort. He sent a reinforcement, which was however of no service, and hearing of the distress which prevailed in the camp he saw no good in going there, so remained in Bakkar.
65.2.2
Mirza Shah Husain played upon his ambition by false promises of the rule of that kingdom, and of having the Khutbah read and the currency issued in his name; he also promised to obey him, and also that he would give him his daughter in marriage, and thus misled him into opposing Humayun. He further took possession of all the boats belonging to Humayun, who, in consequence of all these obstacles, any one of which was a sufficient reason, seeing the distress and misery of his army, abandoned the siege of the fortress, and all unwillingly saying, “Retreat is the wisest course,” turned back towards Bakkar, and remaining several days inactive for want of boats, at last by the help of two zamindars recovered two boats which Mirza had sunk, and reached Bakkar. Mirza, as a means of covering the shame he felt, before he came to pay his respects, marched by forced marches against Mirza Shah Husain, and putting to death or taking captive large number of the people of Tatta, who in ignorance of his intentions had left their boats, did a good deal to repair his former defections. Then with shame and confusion he came and had an interview (with Humayun) and brought in countless heads of the enemy. His faults were overlooked, but in consequence of certain events which occurred, he again became rebellious, and being deceived by the wiles of Mirza Shah Husain, prepared for war. Mun‘im Khan who eventually became Khan-i-Khanan also meditated flight.
65.2.3
Both of them, however, became aware of the folly of their design, and realising its heinousness abandoned their iniquitous intention. The men of Humayun’s force were day by day going over to the side of Mirza Yadgar Nasir. In the meantime Maldeo, Raja of the kingdom of Marwar, who was distinguished above all the zamindars of Hindustan on account of the strength of his following and his exceeding grandeur, again sent letters of summons. Humayun not thinking it advisable to remain any longer in the vicinity of Bakkar and Tatta, proceeded by way of Jaisalmir towards Marwar. The Raja of aware of their treachery from its outset] returned without asking permission, and informed Humayun of the real state of affairs. He on the instant started with all haste for Amarkot. It so chanced that two of Maldeo’s spies had arrived at that same place, and Humayun gave orders for them both to be put to death. In their despair one drew a knife, and the other a dagger, and fell upon (their enemies) like boars wounded by arrows, and killed a large number of living things, men, women and horses, whatever came in their way. Among the number was Humayun’s charger: Humayun thereupon asked Tardi Beg for a few horses and camels, he however behaved meanly, and Humayun mounted a camel. After a while Nadim, his foster-brother, gave the horse which his mother was riding to the king, he himself going on foot in his mother’s retinue through that bare desert, which was like an oven for heat.
65.2.4
His mother afterwards rode on the camel, and they traversed that road which was so terribly difficult, amid constant alarms of the attack of Maldeo, [and with intense labour and distress. In the middle of the night they reached a place of safety; by chance the Hindus of Maldeo’s army] pursuing them through the night, missed their war, and in the morning, in a narrow pass, came upon the rear-guard of the enemy, who were two and twenty in number. Jauhar Aftabchi and Roshan Beg Koka, and another party of men who belonged to that side having arrived, a battle ensued. In the very first onset the leader of the Hindus went to hell from an arrow-wound, and a large number were killed. They could not withstand the attack, and many camels fell into the hands of the Muslims. This victory was the occasion of great rejoicing.
65.2.5
Marching from thence and being without water, after three days they arrived at a halting-place, where, on account of its depth, a drum had to be beaten at the mouth of the well, so that its sound might reach the place where the oxen for drawing the water were. For lack of water, a crowd of people in their distress were lost, and disappeared like water in that sandy plain, which was a very river of quick-sand, while many horses and camels drinking water after their long and unaccustomed drouth, died from surfeit of water. And inasmuch as that lake like the midday mirage, was as interminable as the troubles of the hopeless wretches of the army, perforce they turned aside by a circuitous route towards Amarkot which lies at a distance of a hundred krohs from Tatta. The governor of Amarkot, named Rana, came out to meet them accompanied by his sons, and did all in his power to render fitting service.
65.2.6
Humayun bestowed all that he had in the treasury upon his followers, while to supply the party who had not yet arrived, he borrowed from Tardi Beg and others by way of assistance, and gave it them. He also made presents of money, and sword-belts to the sons of Rana, who, for the reason that his father had been put to death by Mirza Shah Husain Arghun, collected a large force from the surrounding country, entered the service of Humayun, and leaving his baggage and camp equipage in Amarkot, under the care and protection of Khwaja Mu'zam, the brother of Begam, he (Humayun) proceeded towards Bakkar. 442. On Sunday, the fifth of the month Rajab, in the year 949 H. the auspicious birth of the khalifah of the age Akbar Padshah occurred in a fortunate moment at Amarkot. Tardi Beg Khan conveyed this joyful tidings to Humayun at that halting-place, who after giving (the child) that auspicious name, proceeded with all haste towards Bakkar. At the camp of Chauli he sent for the Prince of auspicious mien, and was rejoiced by the well-omened sight of his son. His soldiers, in whose nature the craft of unfaithfulness was as firmly planted as is deceit in the nature of the times, were one by one, including even Mun‘im Khan, deserting. At this time Bairam Khan came from Gujrat and tendered his allegiance. Considering it unadvisable to remain in that country Humayun determined to make for Qandahar.
65.2.7
Mirza Shah Husain thinking this an opportunity not to be lost, in accordance with a requisition sent thirty boats and three hundred camels, and Humayun crossed the river Indus. At that time Mirza Kamran had taken Qandahar from Mirza Hindal and had left it in charge of Mirza ‘Askari, and having given Ghaznin to Mirza Hindal had read the Khutbah in his own name. After some time, however, he changed that also. Mirza Hindal having given up all royal dignity in Kabul used to live like a darwesh, and Mirza Kamran yielding to the instigation of Mirza Shah Husain wrote to Mirza ‘Askari saying, “Seize the road by which the Padshah will proceed and take him prisoner in any way you can contrive.” Accordingly when he arrived at the camp of Shal Mastang Mirza ‘Askari marched by forced marches from Qandahar and sent Chuli Bahadur Uzbek to reconnoitre. He, however, went straight off and informed Bairam Khan, whose camp he reached at midnight, and Bairam Khan went with all haste behind the royal tent and represented the state of affairs. Accordingly he gave up all idea of Qandahar and Kabul, and in opposition to his brothers, uttering the formula of separation, took the road to ‘Iraq, accompanied by twenty-two men, among whom were Bairam Khan and Khwaja Mu'azzam.
65.2.8
These two he sent to bring the Queen-consort and the young prince, asking Tardi Beg for the loan of a few horses, who, however, again branding himself with the stigma of meanness and disgrace, refused to comply with this request, and further declined to accompany him. Humayun left the young Prince, who was an infant of only one year, in the camp under the charge of Atkah Khan on account of the great heat and the scarcity of water along his route, but took the Queen-consort with him and journeyed by way of Sistan.