The Book of Akbar 195: CHAPTER XXX.

195

policy. The proper course was to leave a large army in that neighbourhood which could both watch the royal army and also devastate the country of the Ghakkars. It was also desirable that a strong fort should be built for the carrying out of these two objects. Thus by a counter move these men would be impeded by their own impediments (az tangandi-i-khud batang dmada) and their stubborn heads be brought low. For himself, the proper course was to turn back and apply himself to the administration of the vast country of India. In consequence of this advice he laid the foundations of the Fort of Rohtas and having left a large force there he marched back and came to Agra. From thence he came to Gwalior where Mir Abu-l-Qasim was sheltering himself, but was obliged by want of provisions to surrender. Sher Khan became supremo, and divided all India, except Bengal, into 47 divisions. He introduced the branding of soldiers' horses and carried into effect some of the many plans of Sultan 'Ala'u-d-din which are set forth in the Tarikh-i-Firuzshahi, and which he had heard of. After that he proceeded against Puran Mal the Raja of Raisin and Candiri. He got the Raja out of the fort by a dishonest treaty and promises and by the efforts of sundry misguided lawyers and wretched ignoramuses he destroyed the very men to whom he had given quarter. Thence he came to Agra and after the manner of the governors (hukkam) of Bengal established serais on the roads at the distance of every kos.
After a dangerous illness in Agra he marched against Maldeo—the lord of Ajmir, Nagor and many other cities. When he had by fraud and guile disposed of that territory he hastened to Chitor and Ranthanbur. There too he practised his juggleries so that the custodians of the forts sent him the keys. Having got rid of everything there he entered the territory of Dhundhar. From there he went to the fort of Kalinjar and laying siege to it, he made covered approaches (sabats) and drove mines against it. On 10th Muharram, 952, or 5th March, 1545, he was consumed by flames of fire which had spontaneously arisen out of the smoke-sighs of the oppressed. The chronogram of his combustion was found in the words “ (a)z atash murd “ Died from fire (=952).” Though in taking this splendid citadel his life came out of its elemental quadrilateral, yet the fort came into possession. He governed Hindustan by fraud and craft 5 years, 2 months, 13 days. Eight days afterwards his younger son Jalal Khan took his place, and calling himself Islam Khan took the title of Shah. He surpassed even his father in wickedness. As the sway of those two seditious impostors was alongside of the crescent-moon world-lighting splendours of the standards of the everlasting dominion like the light of fireflies, semblance without substance, the mysterious design of God for the sake of some purposes, which were infolded in His wisdom's ambushes, let it prank for a few days and then levelled it with the dust of ruin, and so the world escaped from the grip of the existence of those tyrannous mischief-makers.