[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Ṭabaqāt-i Akbarī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari) › [Tabakat-i Akbari of Nizamu-d din Ahmad (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot) › 1.5 # The Akbarī Generations 1.5 Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 1.5 - **Language:** English ### [1.5.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.1) Karacha Khan, who was governor of Kandahar, wrote letters to Mirza Hindal, inviting him to Kandahar, and the Mirza started off and went thither. When Humayun was informed of it, he was much troubled by the want of union among his brothers. Mirza Yadgar Nasir had pitched his camp about two miles below the royal camp, and the river ran between the two camps. He also now expressed his intention of going to Kandahar. On the Emperor being informed of this, he sent Mir Abu-l Baka to reassure the Mirza, and to forbid his going to Kandahar. As he was crossing the river on his return, a party came out of the fort of Bakhar, and assailed his boat with a shower of arrows. One of them pierced the Mir, and he died. The Emperor showed great sorrow for his loss. The date of his death, 948 H., is found in the words Surur-i kainat. ### [1.5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.2) After this Mirza Yadgar Nasir crossed the river, and paid a visit to the royal camp. After much consultation it was resolved that the Mirza should be left at Bakhar, and that His Majesty should march on to effect the conquest of Tatta. But the Mirza did not show any signs of concord and friendliness. When the Emperor marched for Tatta, a large body of soldiers parted from him and stayed at Bakhar. Mirza Yadgar Nasir remained at Bakhar, and increased his forces, because during that year no heavenly or terrestrial evil had befallen the agriculture of Bakhar. His Majesty now proceeded by means of boats to the fort of Sihwan. A party of soldiers on board of the boats, as they came near to the fort, landed and attacked a body of men who had come out of the fort, and drove them in again. ### [1.5.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.3) The victors returned, and represented that the reduction of the fortress was an easy matter, so His Majesty crossed over the river, and invested the place. But before his arrival, a party of Shah Husain's officers had entered it, and had done their best to increase its strength. When Shah Husain heard that it had been invested, he proceeded by boats to the vicinity of the Emperor's camp, and employed himself in cutting off the supply of grain. Great scarcity followed, and many men lived (entirely) upon the flesh of animals. The siege went on for nearly seven months, and the place was not captured, so a messenger was sent to Mirza Yadgar Nasir at Bakhar, to tell him that the fall of the fort depended upon his approach; for if the besiegers marched to attack Shah Husain, the garrison would be free to gather in provisions, and so protract the defence. Want of salt and scarcity of grain would prevent the royal forces remaining under the fort much longer; but if Mirza Yadgar would attack Shah Husain, the latter would be unable to maintain his position. Mirza Yadgar sent a portion of his force, but no advantage was gained through this reinforcement. Again a messenger was sent to call Mirza Yadgar, and 'Abdu-l Ghafur, who was Mir-i mal of the Emperor, received the commission. 'Abdu-l Ghafur went to Mirza Yadgar, and spoke about the perilous condition of the royal army, but the Mirza and his officers deemed it advisable to remain where they were, and effect the conquest of Bakhar. ### [1.5.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.4) Shah Husain had sent representatives to Mirza Yadgar Nasir, and had drawn near to his camp. He promised that he would acknowledge the supremacy of the Mirza, give him his daughter in marriage, and read the khutba in his name. Delighted with these offers, the Mirza was hoodwinked by Shah Husain, and so placed himself in hostility to the Emperor. Having thus secured himself against Mirza Yadgar, and being aware of the distress and weakness of the army of Humayun, Shah Husain advanced closer to the royal camp, and captured the vessels (which were conveying provisions) for the army. Unable to continue the siege of Sihwan, the Emperor was compelled to retreat towards Bakhar. When he approached near to Mirza Yadgar Nasir, he sent to him for boats in which to cross the river, and the Mirza, who was in league with the people of Tatta, sent to them, desiring them to come at night and carry off the boats. Next morning he artfully reported that the enemy had carried off the boats. The Emperor remained inactive some days for want of boats. At length, two zamindars of Bakhar waited upon him, and (under their guidance) some boats which had been sunk were raised. Humayun then crossed the river. When Mirza Yadgar Nasir learnt of the passage over, being greatly alarmed and ashamed, he, without waiting upon the Emperor, marched off hastily against Shah Husain; ### [1.5.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.5) and the latter being quite unprepared, the Mirza fell upon a large force from Tatta which had disembarked, and killed and made many prisoners, and then returned. After this action, Shah Husain returned to Tatta, and Mirza Yadgar Nasir, repentant and ashamed, waited upon the Emperor and presented the heads of his enemies. Once more Humayun forgave him, and spoke not a word of all that had passed. Shah Husain now wrote letters to Mirza Yadgar Nasir, and again drew him over to his side. The Shah requested him to secure for him the two zamindars who had obtained the boats for the Emperor. These men, being informed of the demand, repaired to the camp of Humayun. Mirza Yadgar sent a messenger to Humayun, representing that he had some revenue matters relating to his jagir of Bakhar to settle with these two zamindars, and requested that they might be sent to him. The Emperor ordered that several persons should accompany the men, and bring them back again when the business was concluded. The instant Mirza Yadgar Nasir saw them, he took them forcibly from the Emperor's men, and sent them to Shah Husain. Thus he once more exhibited his animosity to the Emperor, and never again sought a reconciliation. ### [1.5.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.6) The men of Humayun's army, being in great distress, began to desert by ones and twos to Mirza Yadgar Nasir. Mun'im Khan also, and his brother, had thoughts of running away. This intention was communicated to Humayun, and he ordered them into confinement. Mirza Yadgar Nasir, in the depths of his infamy, now prepared to turn his arms against Humayun, and the latter, being informed of his movements, made ready for fighting. Hashim Beg, a person high in Mirza Yadgar's confidence, when he heard of his proceedings, restrained him, and nolens volens made him return. It now became evident to Humayun, that if he tarried longer his men would all desert to Mirza Yadgar Nasir, and that the worst might be expected from the Mirza's baseness. In this extremity, he resolved upon marching to Mal Deo, one of the faithful zamindars of Hindustan, who at that time surpassed all the zamindars of Hindustan in power and in the number of his forces. This Mal Deo had sent letters to Bakhar, declaring his loyalty, and offering assistance in effecting the subjugation of Hindustan. ### [1.5.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.7) Humayun accordingly marched towards Mal Deo's country by way of Jesalmir. The ruler of Jesalmir shamefully took an unmanly course. He sent a force to attack the small party of the Emperor on the march, but it was defeated and driven back with loss. Humayun had a great many men wounded. He marched with all possible speed till he reached the country of Mal Deo. Then he sent on \[Shamsu-d din Muhammad\] Atka Khan to Mal Deo at Joudhpur, while he himself halted for a few days. \[Proceedings of Mirzas Hindal, Kamran, and 'Askari at Kandahar, Ghazni, and Kabul.\] Humayun remained on the borders of Mal Deo's territories awaiting the return of Atka Khan. When Mal Deo was informed of the Emperor's weakness, he was much alarmed, for he knew that he had not sufficient forces of his own to withstand Sher Khan. For Sher Khan had sent an ambassador to Mal Deo, holding out great expectations; and the latter, in the extreme of perfidy, had promised to make Humayun a prisoner if possible, and to give him over into the hands of his enemy. Nagor, and its dependencies, had fallen into the power of Sher Khan, and consequently he was afraid lest Sher Khan should be annoyed and send a large army to his territory against Humayun. To keep the Emperor in ignorance, Mal Deo detained the envoy Atka Khan, and did not give him permission to return. But Atka Khan contrived to ascertain what was passing through the mind of Mal Deo, and went off without any formal dismissal. ### [1.5.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5.8) One of the Emperor's librarians, who at the time of his defeat had fled to Mal Deo, now wrote to the Emperor, informing him that Mal Deo was bent upon treachery, and advising him to get out of his territory as quickly as possible. Atka Khan also spoke in the strongest terms upon the matter. So Humayun marched off at once to Amarkot. Two Hindus, who had come to act as spies upon him, fell into his hands, and were brought to his presence. They were questioned, and an order was given that one of them should suffer the punishment of death, with the object of arriving at the exact facts of the matter. The two prisoners broke loose, and snatching a knife and a dagger from two bystanders, they despatched seventeen living creatures, men, women, and horses, before they were overpowered and slain. The Emperor's own horse was among the animals killed. As he had no other horse to ride, his equerries sought to obtain some horses and camels from Tardi Beg, but he disgraced himself by giving a refusal. Then the Emperor mounted a camel. Nadim Koka was walking on foot, while his mother was riding his horse; but when he saw the Emperor seated on the camel, he made his mother dismount, presented the horse to the Emperor, and made her ride on the camel which he had used. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.1.5) · Pramāṇa