The Book of Akbar 240: CHAPTER XLII.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 240
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CHAPTER XLII.
240.1
(Three Friends). Sher 'Ali, who posed as one of the trusty and sincere followers of the Mirza, had strongly fortified the Abdara defile; but what can outward force do against inward (i.e., Divine) aid? or human strength against the Divine support? He fled before M. Hindal and Qaraca Khan, but when the victorious cortege had passed through he came up from the rear and fell upon the baggage and the tents. When his Majesty had encamped at Carikaran, a large number, heedless of favours and of promises and covenants, deserted and joining M. Kamran obtained dignities (darajat, lit. ascendings) which in reality were degradations (darakat, lit. descendings). Among these were Iskandar Sultan and M. Sanjar Barlas son of Sultan Junaid Barlas, sister’s son of his Majesty Giti-sitani Firdaus-makani. His Majesty stayed in the borders of Zamzama, and exerted himself to strengthen the weak-hearted and the wavering. By compacts and covenants he knit up the hearts of the disheartened and convened a council. Those who received permission to speak represented that as M. Kamran had enclosed the city and made himself strong the proper course for them was to leave Kabul and to encamp at Buri and Khwaja Pushta, so that they might be able to provision the troops. All agreed to this, and they marched from Zamzama.
240.2
When they had gone a little way it came into the inspired mind of his Majesty that it was not advisable to go to Khwaja Pushta for many of the men had their families in the city, and would desert in consequence. And many perhaps would think that the army was going to proceed to Qandahar. The proper thing to do was to summon up one’s courage and take possession of the enclosing lines (shahrband). If the Mirza came out to fight, so much the better; and if he did not, the men would not desert, and also they would be sheltered to some degree from the inconveniences of the rainy season. He sent for Haji Muhammad Khan and communicated to him this secret inspiration. He approved of the plan and it was settled accordingly. Haji Muhammad Khan with a body of troops proceeded by the way of the Minar pass while his Majesty set out by the Payan pass to conquer the city. The victorious troops had, under the leadership of M. Hindal, reached the neighbourhood of Deh-Afghanan and were near the shrine of Baba Shashpar when Sherafkan came out at the head of a large body of M. Kamran’s best men, and a hand to hand fight took place. Many of the imperial troops did not stand their ground. But M. Hindal remained firm, and gave proof of courage and devotion. When this state of things became apparent to his Majesty he directed Qaraca Khan, Mir Barka, and many others of the stamp of Shah Quli Naranji and the like to advance and give a lesson to the rebels.
240.3
They went forward, Mir Barka being ahead of them all, and meanwhile Haji Muhammad Khan, and the body of men who had been dispatched in the direction above mentioned, came up, and the enemy was defeated. Sherafkan was made prisoner and brought before his Majesty. He being a mine of grace and gentleness was willing to confine him for some days so that he might get a lesson while in chains and return to his duty. But at the request of Qaraca Khan, and the urgency of all the loyalists who were enraged at his ingratitude and insincerity, he was put to death. His Majesty then proceeded towards Kabul by the way of the khiyaban (avenue) while the imperial braves pursued the fugitives and arrived at the Iron Gate. Mirza Khizr Khan and a number of the Arghunian troops went off to the Hazarajat. The wall (shahrband) fell into the possession of the imperialists, and his Majesty halted that day in the garden of Qaraca Khan. Many of the evil-disposed rebels, who had been made prisoners on the field of battle, were executed and Sher 'Ali was disconcerted and took refuge in the citadel. Those who were distracted there obtained repose. His Majesty Jahanbani visited afterwards the Diwankhana and Urta Bagh gardens, and took up his quarters on the hill of 'Aqabin which is over against the fort. Guns and culverins (zarbzanha) were placed in position and discharged. Every day M. Kamran's men came out and had hand to hand conflicts.
240.4
Mahdi Khan, his relation Calma Beg, Baba S'aid Qibcaq, Ism'ail Kuz, Mulla Mubtala! Auji, and some other ill-fated ones fled from the victorious army, and joined the Mirza. His Majesty Jahanbani ordered Qaraca Khan, Haji Muhammad Khan, and a number of others to seek for an encamping ground in front of the Yarak gate for that was the proper place for taking post. He also directed that the siege-operations should be brought nearer to the fort, and that the charge of the batteries should be distributed, and the Mirza be pressed more closely. The persons deputed were searching for a site when 30 or 40 men came suddenly out from the Yarak gate. Haji Muhammad Khan attacked them and as they were not able to keep their ground they fled towards the fort. Meanwhile Sher 'Ali came from inside the fort and engaged Haji Muhammad Khan, and inflicted a severe wound on his right arm. During this conflict the imperialists pressed forward and drove Sher 'Ali inside the fort. They lifted up Haji Muhammad Khan, who was faint and powerless, and carried him to his quarters. He was ill for a long time, and it was reported that he was dead. His Majesty sent a messenger to him requesting that he would get on horse-back and come to the batteries. He mounted his horse in obedience to the request, and the market of the foes-joy fell flat. One day M. Sanjar son of Sultan Junaid who had gone off with the brand of faithlessness on his brow came out and attacked.
240.5
His horse became unmanageable and carried him as far as the Violet-Garden. He was made prisoner and brought before his Majesty who granted him his life, but sent him to prison. Muhammad Qasim and Muhammad Husain who were sisters' sons of Pahlwan Dost Mir Barr and who are now among the great officers, and have attained to high rank, threw themselves down from a bastion between the Iron Gate and the bastion of Qasim Birlas, and in the ‘Aqabin received the blessing of doing homage and like a brace of eagles (‘aqabin) clutched the prey of everlasting good fortune. While this fighting was going on a large caravan arrived from abroad (wilayat) at Carxkaran. There were many horses in it and other goods. M. Kamran sent Sher 'Ali with a body of trusty adherents to take possession of those goods, though Tardi Muhammad Jang Jang, who was one of the Mirza’s trusted followers, protested, and plainly said that if his Majesty Jahanbani should hear of it and send his men and block their way so that they should not be able to rejoin the Mirza, they would be lost, and at the same time the Mirza’s purpose would not be affected. The Mirza had his eyes fixed on the goods and would not receive this warning, and sent his men under the leadership of Sher ‘Ali. As soon as the news reached his Majesty Haji Muhammad Khan was appointed to the service of restraining those tyrants from their plunder.
240.6
Haji Muhammad represented that the force had gone off at night and had done their work, and that if they followed them and failed to meet with them, they would escape. He suggested that the points commanding the roads and fords should be seized so that they should not be able to get inside the fort. His Majesty Jahanbani agreed and himself came down from the hill and gave directions for occupying the stations and places of access. Sher ‘Ali and Tardi Muhammad Jang Jang and the others who had reached the merchants forcibly took possession of their goods, and much thereof was plundered. On returning they wanted to enter the fort, but found the roads and fords closed against them. Tardi Muhammad and Sher ‘Ali had an altercation and Tardi Muhammad Jang Jang said “See, my words have come true”! Though they looked right and left, they could find no way of re-entering. They were dumbfounded and withdrew, and waited for an opportunity of getting in by stratagem.