The Akbarī Generations 78.3
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 78.3
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78.3.1
After his second defeat, Muzaffar Gujarati retreated by way of Champanir, Birpur, and Jhalawar, to the country of Surath, and rested at the town of Gondal, twelve kos from the fort of Junagarh. His scattered forces gathered round him from all sides, so that he mustered nearly three thousand horse and foot. He gave a lac of Mahmudis and a jewelled dagger to Amin Khan Ghori, ruler of Surath, and so won his support. He gave a similar sum to Jam Marsal, Raja of Jhalawar, who was at the head of a body of troops and clansmen. He once more formed designs against Ahmadabad. Amin Khan, being cautious, said to Muzaffar, "Go to the Jam, and take him along with you. I will attend to the provisions for the army, and will follow you." When Muzaffar went to the Jam, he drew back and said, "You march and advance against Ahmadabad: I will follow." On the arrival of Muzaffar at Morbi, sixty kos from Ahmadabad, and the intelligence of his advance being brought to Khan-khanan, the Khan set off with all diligence to encounter him. When Muzaffar reached Param-gam, forty kos from Morbi, and neither the Jam nor Amin Khan arrived, he returned disheartened and distracted towards the mountains of Barda. Then he proceeded to Jagat, which is the extreme town of Surath, and well known under the name of Dwarka.
78.3.2
The Jam sent his vakils to Khan-khanan, to represent that he was friendly to the Imperial Government; that he had taken money from Muzaffar, but had not joined him, and that he was then ready to conduct the army to the place where Muzaffar was staying. Amin Khan, also, through the introduction of Mir Turab, sent his son to wait upon Khan-khanan, and assure him of his good wishes. The Jam's men guided Khan-khanan on a rapid march into the mountains of Barda, which were plundered and ravaged. A vast quantity of booty was obtained, and many men were killed or made prisoners.
78.3.3
Muzaffar, with five hundred Mughal horsemen, and five hundred Kathiwdr horsemen, went off towards Gujarat, and proceeded to a place called Othaniya, which is situated between the Sabarmati river and the mountain defiles, and was held by a rebellious Koli named Bhai. When Khan-khanan went away (into the mountains), he left Medini Rai, Khojam Bardi, * * * and others in charge of the army at Hadala, near to Danduka, on the high road to Kambay. He also left Bayan Bahadur and * * * with a division at Paranti, four kos from Othaniya. When Muzaffar proceeded to Othaniya, Saiyid Kasim Barha came from Pattan to Bijapur, which is thirty kos from Othaniya; and the force which was at Hadala came and joined the one at Paranti. Muzaffar, supported by the Kolis and Grassias, and all the disaffected zamindars of the vicinity, gave battle to the force which was at Paranti; but he was signally defeated, and his elephants and canopy fell into the hands of the victors. Many of his men were killed, and he himself escaped barefoot and half-dead.
78.3.4
While Khan-khanan was thus engaged in the mountains of Barda, it became known that the Jam was not acting honestly. His vakils were dismissed, and sent back to him. The Jam prepared to oppose us, and collected an army of twenty thousand horse and innumerable infantry. When Khan-khanan came to within seven kos of him, he sent an envoy to make his apologies, and he also sent his son with three large elephants and eighteen Arab horses to Khan-khanan, expressing his earnest desire to enter into a treaty, and to act in a friendly way. Khan-khanan then returned to Ahmadabad, and five months afterwards he was summoned to the Imperial Court, whither he proceeded in all haste. Muzaffar was then in Kathiwar, and was greatly aggrieved with Amin Khan for having taken his money, and not having given him any help. Supported by the people of Kathiwdr and the zamindárs, he collected an army, and marched against Amin Khan, who took shelter in the fort of Amartali. Intelligence of this was brought to Kalij Khán and me, who were at Ahmadábád. Kalij Khán remained in the city, and I went out with Saiyid Kásim Khán Bárha, Medini Rái and * * *, and marched forward with all speed to Súrath.
78.3.5
When I reached Hadála, Muzaffar, feeling unable to contend with me, raised the siege of Amin Khan, and went off towards Kach. I then sent Mir Kalij and * * to Amin Khan, proposing that we should in concert pursue Muzaffar into Kathiwar. I pushed forward and went to Morbi. Muzaffar fled and crossed the Ran, which is an inlet of the sea, and took the road to Jessalmir. In some places the breadth of the water of the Ran is ten kos and twenty kos. He went into the country which they call Kach, on the other side of this water. When I reached Morbi, the Jam and Amin Khan sent their sons to me, and having entered into engagements with me, I returned towards Bíram-gám. Intelligence now arrived of the departure of Khán-khánan from Court, and of his having gone to the neighbourhood of Sirohi, with the intention of taking Sirohi and Jalor. I, in agreement with Saiyid Kásim Khan, proceeded with my men to join him. The Raja of Sirohi came to see Khan-khánan, and paid a sum of money as tribute. Ghazní Khan, of Jalor, also came forward. But when Khan-khánan was on his way to Court, Ghazní had shown some rudeness and signs of disaffection; he was therefore imprisoned, and possession was taken of the fort of Jalor. Khan-khánán went and took up his residence at Ahmadábád.
78.3.6
To return to home affairs. Twenty days after Khán-khánan arrived at Court, intelligence was brought of the death of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, the Emperor's brother. Orders were given to Raja Bhagwan Das and Kunwar Man Singh, the governor of the Panjab, to go and take possession of Kabul. His Majesty himself proceeded to the Panjab. At this time Mir Murtaza and Khudawand Khan, ruler of the country of Birar in the Dakhin, marched to attack Ahmadnagar. They were defeated in battle by Salabat Khan, the vakil of Nizamu-l Mulk, and then came complaining to the Imperial Court. A farman was sent to 'Azam Khan, ruler of Malwa, directing him to march against the Dakhin, and subdue Birar. Farmans were also sent to Mir Murtaza, Khudawand Khan, Tirandaz Khan, and other men of the Dakhin. Many of the great nobles, such as 'Abdu-l Matlab Khan, * * Rai Durga, Raja Askaran, * * and many others, too numerous to mention, were sent with artillery, three hundred elephants, and the army of Malwa on this expedition. Mir Fathu-lla, who had received the title of 'Azdu-d daula, was sent to make arrangements in the Dakhin. Khwajagi Fathu-lla was appointed bakhshi, and Mukhtar Beg diwan of this army.
78.3.7
This force concentrated at Hindia, on the borders of the Dakhin. 'Azam Khan had a feud with Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan, then ruler of Ujjain, because he suspected Shahabu-d din of having instigated the murder of his father, 'Azdu-d daula endeavoured to assuage his animosity; but 'Azam Khan was a passionate man, and insulted both Shahabu-d din and 'Azdu-d daula. For six months the force remained inactive at Hindia, and at length matters reached such a pitch that Shahabu-d din, being offended with 'Azam Khan, went off to his jagir of Raisin. 'Azam Khan marched to attack him, and a dire calamity was upon the point of falling upon the royal army; but 'Azdu-d daula managed to effect a reconciliation. When Raja 'Ali Khan, the ruler of Asir and Burhanpur, saw these dissensions in the Imperial army, he gathered his forces and marched against 'Azdu-d daula. On his approach, 'Azdu-d daula went to him, and sought to win him over; but he did not succeed, so he retreated to Gujarat to strengthen Khán-khánán.
78.3.8
The above-named ('Azam Khán) went towards Birar, and plundered Elichpúr; but not being able to maintain his ground, proceeded towards Nandurbár. The Dakhinís followed march by march, and 'Azam Khán, notwithstanding his great strength, fell back before them, till he reached Nandurbár. He wrote letters to Khán-khánán at Ahmadábád, calling for assistance, and Khán-khánán sent me and a number of amírs, such as * *, on in advance, and declared his own intention of following. When I arrived at Mahmúdábád, 'Azam Khán left his army at Nandurbár, and proceeded with a few attendants to Ahmadábád. Khán-khánán came out quickly from Ahmadábád to receive him, and they met at the place where I was resting, and then returned to Ahmadábád. 'Azam Khán's sister was wife of Khán-khánán, so he went to see her, and the two Kháns resolved to proceed afterwards against the Dakhinís.
78.3.9
I and my associates marched against the rebels to Baroda, and Khán-khánán and 'Azam Khán followed me; but the latter went on quickly, in order to get the army at Nandurbár ready. Khán-khánán wrote to me, directing me to wait at Baroda till he arrived. When the Khán arrived, he proceeded with the army to Broach, and on reaching that place he received letters from 'Azam Khán, in which he said, that as the rainy season had begun, operations must be postponed to the following year, and then they would proceed together against the Dakhin. 'Azam Khán returned to Málwa, Rája 'Alí Khán went with the Dakhinís to their homes, and Khán-khánán returned to Ahmadábád, where he occupied himself in matters of administration for five months.