The Akbarī Generations 42.4

42.4

Muhibb 'Ali, and his grandson Mujahid, took a bold course, and proceeded towards Bakar. Sultan Mahmud sent his whole army to oppose them, but his men were defeated, and obliged to seek refuge in the fort of Matila. Mujahid and Muhibb 'Ali Khan besieged the fort for six months, and at length obtained possession of it by capitulation. At this time Mubarak Khan, a slave of Sultan Mahmud's, who acted as his vakil, being aggrieved with his master, went and joined Muhibb 'Ali. The latter having increased his force, laid siege to Bakar. Sultan Mahmud sent out his army, amounting to nearly 2000 horse and 4000 foot, archers, and gunners. They were defeated in battle and driven back into the fort. For three years Sultan Mahmud sometimes daily, sometimes every two or three days, sent out armed ships and ghrabs to fight. Three times he sent out his whole army, horse and foot, to fight a regular battle, but each time he was defeated. In consequence of the large number of men which he had crowded into the fort, pestilence and sickness broke out and became very fatal, so that 500 to 1000 persons died daily. At length, in the year 983, Mahmud himself died, and the fort came into the possession of the Emperor's adherents.