The Book of Akbar 350.6

350.6

One of the events of this year was the sending Ḥabīb ‘Alī Khān to conquer Rantambhūr, which was a fortress famous for its height and solidity. In the time of the Afghan supremacy Salim Khan had entrusted this fort to his slave Jajhar Khan. When the drum of the Shahinshah’s fortune beat high, this ill-fated slave saw that the maintenance of the fort was beyond his powers and, with the evil intention of preventing its falling into the hands of the imperial servants, sold the fort to Rai Surjan, who was a servant of Rana Udai Singh, and who was powerful in that neighbourhood. Surjan built houses in the fort, and established himself there. He also forcibly seized the villages round about. At this time the sacred mind turned its attention to the capture of the fort and despatched Habib ‘Ali Khan and other leaders. The force girded the loins of resolution for the capture, and beseiged the fort. The flame of battle rose high, and the courage of the foe became like water, but as the Almighty reserved the taking of the fort for the supervision of H.M., there happened just at this time the disruption of Bairam Khan, and prudent men thought other matters more necessary and so did not proceed with the siege. Among the occurrences of this time is the Shahinshah’s, the dweller under the veil, going to Gwaliar. As the lofty genius of H.M.