The Book of Akbar 288.4

288.4

Meanwhile Tatar Khan, Habīb Khan, Naṣīb Khan, Mubarak Khan and a number of Afghan soldiers arrived from Delhi. Sikandar Khan did not think it prudent to remain in Sihrind and came to Jalandhar. Bairam Khan did not approve of this and was angry. He said that Sikandar should have kept his ground at Sihrind and have sent word to him. After much discussion the great officers took hold of the saddle-straps of the royal, everduring fortune and advanced from Jalandhar. When they came to the borders of Mācīwāra, Tardi Muhammad Khan and many officers did not think it advisable to cross the Satlaj. As the rainy season was near at hand the proper thing to do, they said, was to secure the ferries and to halt. When the violence of the rains was over, and the air had become temperate, they could cross the river. Bairam Khan and the farsighted perceived that it was right to cross the river and spoke properly in this sense. At length by the exertions of Mulla Pir Muhammad, Muhammad Qasim Khan of Nīshāpūr, Wali Beg and Haidar Quli Beg Shāmlū, Bairam Khan crossed the river. Tardi Beg Khan and the other officers were obliged to do likewise. The army of fortune was divided into four bands. The centre was controlled by Bairam Khan, the right wing by Khizr Khan Hazara, the left wing by Tardi Beg Khan, while Sikandar Khan and a number of active men were appointed to the vanguard.