The Book of Akbar 237.5

237.5

But as Qandahar was secure under the control of Bairam Khan, Kamran set before himself the capture of Kabul and boldly hastened there. Near Qilat he fell in with a number of Afghan merchants who were bringing horses. He arbitrarily took the horses from them and gave them to his men. From thence he hastened to Ghaznin, and arrived there unexpectedly. Zahid Beg was holding the fort for M. Hindal and was spending his time in drunkenness and negligence. He was completely intoxicated on the night when the Mirza arrived. By the help of the butcher ‘Abdu-r-rahman, the Mirza’s men secretly ascended, and got possession of the fort. Zahid Beg was brought drunk before the Mirza, and the wretches cast him in his drunkenness from the pinnacle of life into the abyss of annihilation. The Mirza left his son-in-law Daulat Sultan in Ghaznin, and leaving there also a number of men from Bhakkar under the leadership of Mulk Muhammad, who was a confidential servant of the Ruler of Tatta he went as rapidly to Kabul. He arrived there at dawn without warning. He first went to the headdress-maker’s gate. He learnt that Muhammad Taghai was in the hot bath, and it would appear that there too (referring to what occurred at Ghaznin) drunkenness had brought him into the stupor of cropsickness. ‘Ali Quli Ughli, one of the Mirza’s bodyguard, entered the bath and brought out Muhammad ‘Ali naked. The Mirza gave him his ablution with the water of the sword, and entered the fort.