The Book of Akbar 333.3

333.3

When Sikandar, in terror of the victorious army, fled to the hill-country of the Siwaliks, and Dahmiri became the imperial camping-ground, news was continually being brought that the intention of that ill-conditioned runagate was to draw the army of fortune into the defiles and then give battle (lit., in these central ravines strenuously bind the waist of effort). H.M. the Shahinshah did not give ear to these words and advanced according to proper rules. Naṣīr-al-Mulk and a large body of brave and experienced men were sent to harry and ravage the zamindars of the hills. These heroes soon, with God’s help, chastised many of the Rajahs of the hills and got much booty. The evil-constituted hillmen, who with evil thoughts had joined with Sikandar, separated from him, and a stone of dissension fell among that ill-conditioned assemblage, and they fled without fighting. An order was given for pursuing them and for, by vigorous action, getting possession of the leader of the fugitives. A number of brave men made a rapid march and reached a portion of his camp. Iskandar, when he heard of this pursuit, fell into confusion and distress, and threw himself into the fort of Mankot which he had formerly prepared in case an evil day should come upon him. The alert and victorious soldiers plundered his camp, and reported to the Court about his having retired to his fortress.