The Akbarī Generations 1.10
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 1.10
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1.10.1
Mirza Kamran now, once more, obtained possession of Kabul. Humayun went with Haji Muhammad and a party of adherents towards Badakhshan. Shah Bidagh, Tolak Kuchin, and Majnun Kakshal, and a party of ten were sent out to reconnoitre in the direction of Kabul, but of the whole party, one only, Tolak Kuchin, returned to the Emperor. Astounded at the treachery of his followers, he went and encamped at Andarab. Here he was joined by Sulaiman Mirza, Ibrahim Mirza, and Mirza Hindal, with their forces. After forty days Humayun marched towards Kabul. In the mountains he was met by Mirza Kamran, Karracha Khan, and the forces of Kabul. The armies drew up against each other. Here Khwaja 'Abdu-s Samad Masur deserted Kamran and joined Humayun, who received him graciously. Kamran was defeated, and fled to the mountains of Mandrud. The traitor, Karracha Khan, was taken prisoner, and was being conducted to Humayun, when Kambar 'Ali Bahari, whose brother had been put to death at Kandahar by order of the Khan, seized the opportunity and killed him. Mirza 'Askari fell into the hands of the Emperor's men in this battle.
1.10.2
The Emperor now returned to Kabul, and remained there for a year in peace. Again a body of soldiers, craving for action, went off and joined Kamran, and he collected round him a body of nearly 15,000 horse. Haji Muhammad Khan went off without leave to Ghaznin; so Humayun was compelled to march towards Lamghan and interrupt Kamran's proceedings. Then, in concert with the Afghans of Muhmand, the khail of Daudzai, and the chiefs of Lamghan, Kamran went off towards Sind. Humayun remained for a while in Lamghan hunting, and then returned to Kabul. Kamran, supported by the Afghans, again advanced, and once more Humayun marched out against him. Humayun sent to Bairam Khan, governor of Kandahar, directing him by some way or other to go to Ghaznin and secure Haji Muhammad Khan. The Haji had sent to Mirza Kamran, advising him to come to Ghazni, and take possession of the country, for he was ready to show his obedience. Hereupon Kamran marched from Peshawar by way of Bangash and Gurdez towards Ghaznin, but before he could reach there Bairam Khan had entered the city, and Haji Muhammad was compelled to go to him. Bairam Khan and the Haji went together to Kabul, and Kamran, hearing of this on his march, retreated to Peshawar.
1.10.3
Humayun now returned from Lamghan to Kabul, but a few days before his arrival Haji Muhammad had made his escape and had gone off again to Ghaznin. Bairam Khan was again sent with some other nobles after him, and when he brought him back the Haji received forgiveness. Mirza 'Askari, under the orders of Khwaja Jalalu-d din Mahmud, had been carried to Badakhshan and placed under the charge of Mirza Sulaiman, who was to convey him to Balkh; and Sulaiman accordingly sent him thither. In the course of this journey 'Askari's days came to an end in the country of Rum. The Afghans kept Mirza Kamran among them, and busied themselves in raising forces, so Humayun was compelled to go out against them. In the course of this campaign Haji Muhammad Khan was executed with his brother, in punishment of his many offences. Supported by the Afghans, Mirza Kamran made a night attack on Humayun's camp, and Mirza Hindal was killed in the engagement. The date of his death is found in the words "Shahadat ash ba talab shud." Kamran's attack failed, and he retreated. The family and attendants of Hindal were sent to Ghaznin with the young prince Akbar, and the territory of Ghaznin and its dependencies was assigned to them as an ikta'.
1.10.4
When Humayun continued his advance against the Afghans, they were unable to protect Kamran any longer, so being without resource he fled to Hindustan, and took refuge with [Sultan] Salim Shah Afghan. All his people and followers were harried, and Humayun then returned to Kabul. After the army had taken a few days' rest, it marched by way of Bangash and Gurdez against Hindustan. All the disaffected in these parts received chastisement. Humayun crossed the Indus between Dinkot and Nilab (5 Safar, 962 A.H., 29 Decr., 1554 A.D.).
1.10.5
Mirza Kamran, disgusted with the ungenerous treatment he received from Salim Shah hakim of Hindustan, had taken flight and escaped into the hills of Sialkot. From thence, by great energy, he had conveyed himself to Sultan Adam Ghakar. Thereupon Sultan Adam secured him, and wrote to inform Humayun. This overture was graciously received by Humayun, who sent Mun'im Khan to demand the captive. Sultan Adam surrendered Kamran, who was brought into Humayun's presence at Parhala. The Emperor, in his natural humanity, was ready to overlook the offences of Kamran, but the officers and the chiefs of the Chaghatái clans, who had suffered many things through Kamran's hostility, having agreed together, went to Humayun, and stated that the security of the Chaghatái clans and people depended on the destruction of Mirza Kamran, for they had repeatedly experienced the effects of his hostility. Humayun had no escape but by consenting that Kamran should be blinded. 'Ali Dost Barbegi, Saiyid Muhammad Bikna and Ghulam 'Ali Shash-angusht (the six-fingered) deprived Mirza Kamran of sight with a lancet. The date of this event has been anticipated a little. Afterwards Mirza Kamran obtained permission to make the pilgrimage, and being furnished with all that he could require for the journey, he set out. He arrived at Mecca, and there died.
1.10.6
Humayun, having reached the foot of the fort of Rohtas, determined upon the conquest of Kashmir. It was represented to him that a zamindar named Birana had a place in the hills so strong that none of the Sultans had been able to subdue it, and that he might protect the road and prevent the passage into Kashmir, so that the conquest would be difficult. But Humayun's judgment did not acquiesce in these objections, and he marched onwards. At this time the news arrived of the march of [Sultan] Salim Khan Afghan from Hindustan to the Panjab, and it caused great discontent in the army. When the time for departure arrived, those officers and amirs who were adverse to the Kashmir expedition went off all at once to Kabul. Upon the Emperor discovering that no one favoured the campaign in Kashmir, he returned towards Kabul. Crossing the Indus, he gave directions for rebuilding the fort of Bikram (Peshawar), and as his men laboured heartily in the work it was soon accomplished. Sikandar Khan Uzbek was appointed governor of the fort. Upon Humayun's reaching Kabul, Prince Akbar set out for Ghaznin, and Khwaja Jalalu-d din Mahmud and a party of nobles proceeded thither in attendance upon him.
1.10.7
After a time the intelligence came from India of the death of [Sultan] Salim Khan, and of dissensions among the Afghans. Some designing persons had informed His Majesty that Bairam Khan entertained hostile intentions, so Humayun proceeded in force to Kandahar [which had been long held by Bairam Khan]. The latter came forth to meet Humayun with due ceremony, and showed every mark of fealty and obedience. When Humayun returned he appointed Mun'im Khan to Kandahar. But Mun'im Khan remonstrated, and said that an expedition to Hindustan was resolved upon, and if the chief men were offended and alienated, disaffection would arise in the army. After the conquest of Hindustan that course might be pursued which the necessities of the time might require. So the government of Kandahar was confirmed to Bairam Khan, and that of Zamin-dawar to Bahadur Khan, brother of 'Ali Kuli Khan Sistani. The great camp then returned to Kabul, and the army was employed in preparing for the invasion of India.
1.10.8
One day when Humayun was riding about and hunting, he observed that as his mind was dwelling upon the invasion of India, he would ask the names of the first three persons he met, and would take them as auguries of the result. The first person they encountered, upon being asked, said, that his name was Daulat Khwaja. A little further on they met another villager, who said his name was Murad Khwaja. On this His Majesty observed how excellent it would be if the third person's name should prove to be Sa'adat Khwaja. At a short distance they met the third man, and his name really turned out to be Sa'adat Khwaja. All the king's companions were greatly surprised and impressed with this result, and became sanguine of victory in Hindustan.
1.10.9
In Zi-l hijja, 961, (November, 1553), the Emperor began his march. When the army encamped at Peshawar, Bairam Khan, according to orders, came up from Kandahar, and the royal standards passed over the river Indus. Bairam Khan, Khizr Khwaja Khan, Tardi Beg Khan, Iskandar Sultan, and some other nobles, went on in advance. Tatar Khan Kasi, the governor of Rohtas, although the fort had been strengthened, made no resistance, and fled. But Adam Ghakar, although he owed service, did not join the army. Humayun continued his march towards Lahore, and when the Afghans of that city became aware of the near advance of his army, they took to flight. He entered Lahore without opposition, and then sent on the nobles in command of the advance to Jalandar and Sirhind. The districts of the Panjab, Sirhind, and Hissar all came without a struggle into the hands of the Chaghatai forces.