The Book of Akbar 170: History of Humayun (resumed).

170

His Majesty Jahanbani found the climate of Bengal agreeable and sat down to enjoy himself. The army finding a plentiful country gathered the materials of insouciance. At this time too M. Hindal was led by evil companions and authors of strife to entertain wicked designs, and went off in the height of the rains and without permission, towards Agra. Though admonitory mandates were sent to him they were without effect. After some days he arrived at the capital and arranged his seditious plans. In the inner chamber of his brain, which was void of the divine halo, he concocted the desire of sovereignty. Sher Khan, seeing the propitiousness of the time, extended his strife and sedition. He came and besieged Benares; he soon took it and put to death Mir Fazli the governor. From there he went to Jaunpur which was held by Baba Beg Jalair, the father of Shaham Khan, he having been appointed after the death of Hindu Beg. Baba Beg brought Jaunpur under discipline and sedulously strengthened it. Yusuf Beg, son of Ibrahim Beg Cabuq, was marching from Oudh to Bengal. He joined Baba Beg, but was always scouring the country with an advanced guard and was ever in quest of an engagement. Jalal Khan got news of this, and made a rapid march with 2,000 or 3,000 men. Yusuf Beg saw the dust of the army and was eager to fight. Though his comrades pointed out to him the largeness of the enemy and the smallness of his own force, it was of no avail, and he bravely drank the last draught in the neighbourhood of Jaunpur. Next day the enemy invested Jaunpur. Baba Khan Jalair gave proof of courage and skill in defending it, and sent off reports to the Mirzas and officers. He also made repeated representations to the Court (at Gaur). Mir Faqr 'Ali came from Dihli to Agra, and proffered sound advice to M. Hindal. After much discussion he brought away the Mirza from Agra to the other side of the river. He also appointed Muhammad Bakhshi to give what help the time allowed of, in despatching Mirza Hindal quickly to Jaunpur. Mir Faqr ‘Ali then went off from there to Kalpi to get Yadgar Nasir Mirza equipped for the army, and to arrange for a meeting of the Mirzas in the territory of Karra, and for a march onwards from there. At this time Khusrau Beg Kokaltash, Haji Muhammad, (son of) Baba Qushqa, Zahid Beg, Mirza Nazar and many others, out of crookedness and strife-mongering absconded from Bengal and came to M. Nuru-d-din Muhammad who had been left in Kanauj. The Mirza reported their arrival to M. Hindal, and requested that they should be personally