The Akbarī Generations 34.7

34.7

After noon the slaughter was stayed, and the Emperor returned to his camp, where he remained three days. Asaf Khán was appointed to rule this country, and His Majesty started for the capital, on Tuesday, the 25th Sha'bán. A curious incident in this siege was this : A person was sitting near the battery of the author of this book, under the shelter of a tree, with his right hand placed upon his knee. As an opportunity presented itself, he raised his thumb, covered with the stall usually worn by archers, and just at that moment a gun was fired from the fortress, and the ball passed within the length of a barley-corn from his thumb, and did him no harm. When the Emperor started to effect the conquest of Chitor, he vowed that if he were successful, he would make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Khwája Mu'ínu-d dín Chishtí, which is at Ajmír. In performance of this vow, he set off for Ajmír, and walked all the way on foot. On Sunday, the 7th Ramazán, he reached Ajmír. He performed all the observances of the pilgrimage, and made the poor and needy glad with his alms and offerings. He remained there ten days, and then departed for the capital.