The Book of Akbar 154.4

154.4

The following was one of the fortunate occurrences. One day a number of heroes and choice spirits were banqueting and became heated with wine. Everyone was exhilarated and talked of his exploits. One of them, who was further gone than the others, fell to saying, “How long shall we boast of the past! To-day the enemy is before us. Let us up and at them and so give a specimen of our valour.” Ere the reflecting portion of the army could know their design, those wine-flown revellers, about 200 in number, accoutred themselves and set out for the hostile camp. When they approached, a Gujrātī noble, with about 4,000 men who were on guard outside the camp, advanced, and then ensued such an engagement as beggars description. The Gujrātīs gave way and retired to the camp discomfited, whilst the battle-lovers returned in triumph. The report of this daring robbed Sultān Bahādur’s army of repose and after it they seldom came outside their fortification of gun-carriages. The victorious soldiers went everywhere, hindering the transport of corn, so that there arose great scarcity in the Gujrati camp. On the ‘Id of Ramazan, (4th April, 1535), Muhammad Zaman Mirza advanced with 500 or 600 men, and the other side also came forward to fight. After making two or three discharges of arrows the Gujratis dispersed, and by this stratagem brought the victorious army within the range of the guns. All at once they opened fire, and on that day some of the king’s men were destroyed.