The Akbarī Generations 93.3

93.3

The Shaikh did not make any reply, but retiring to a private apartment, he invited the attendance of some of the chiefs, and said, that as the sovereignty of Shah Husain Langah had not as yet been well established, he was afraid, lest most of their men, on making a sally from the fort, should take the opportunity to desert, and join Mirza Shah Husain, in hope of receiving a favourable reception, and that the small remnant who had regard for their reputation, and who would make a stand, would be slain. Maulana Sa'du-lla of Lahore, a learned man of that time, who was in the fort of Multan on this occasion, relates that a few months after the siege had commenced, when all the avenues of the fort were closed by the enemy, and no one was able to enter for the purpose of rendering assistance, or go out for the purpose of escaping his doom (for the attempt was attended with certain destruction), the garrison were at last reduced to such extremities, as to be compelled to consume dogs and cats, which were partaken of with as much avidity as if they had been the choicest goats and lambs. The protection of the fort was committed by Shaikh Shuja'u-l Mulk to the charge of a vagabond, named Jadu, who had three thousand militia of the country under him. That wretch entered all the houses wherever he had the least expectation of finding grain, and plundered them so unscrupulously, that the people earnestly prayed for Shaikh Shuja'u-l Mulk's destruction.