The Book of Akbar 333.4

333.4

The fortress of Mankot is composed of four strong forts which Selim Khan had constructed on adjoining hills at the time when he had marched out to extirpate the Gakkar tribe, and had returned frustrated. On each hill he built a fort composed of stone and mortar, and to the eye of a spectator the whole fortification looked like one fort. The site was very strong, and difficult of access by troops, and if access were attained it was very difficult to lay hands on the garrison. It had an abundant supply of good water, and as much provisions as were wanted. To sum up, in a place which might be described as a fortress of the Creator, impregnable forts had been founded. Selim Khan’s real object in building these great forts was that when the standards of H.M. Jahanbani Jinnat Ashiyani should be directed towards India, there might be a place of refuge for the army of the Panjab. It passed into his evil mind that he would lay waste Lahore, and develop this place, and that he would collect a large army there so that he might with security defend this part of the country. The reason for laying waste Lahore was that as this is a very large city, and the residence of various traders and craftsmen who could easily supply a large army, and furnish them with arms, perhaps the victorious army of the family conjoined with eternity might come there and gather abundant reinforcements, and thus things might become irremediable.