The Book of Akbar 53: Warlike operations in Bihar. (See Vol. V. p. 380.)
Akbar-náma, of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 53
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Warlike operations in Bihar. (See Vol. V. p. 380.)
53.1
[Text, vol. iii. p. 109.] It has been already stated that when Akbar returned from the conquest of Patna, he deemed it expedient to send Muzaffar Khan to serve as an assistant to Farhat Khan in the siege of Rohtas, without allowing him the honour of an interview. The Khan was for some time stunned with his disgrace; but he at length listened to the prudent counsels of Khwaja Shamsu-d din Khafi, and bringing out some of his hoards, he busied himself in equipping his forces. He soon obtained possession of Jundh and Sahsaram, which, in consequence of the Emperor's having been so fully occupied, had not been assigned in jagir to any one. He trained and prepared his forces carefully, and when Farhat Khan, with the other amirs, invested Rohtas, he showed himself fully ready for service, and soon proved his valour. Bahadur, the son of Haibat Khan, made a sortie from the fortress. He was opposed by Muzaffar Khan, who drove him back with a considerable loss of munitions and elephants. The amirs proceeded to invest the fortress, and he, attaching himself to Farhat Khan, exhibited great diligence.
53.2
In a short time, the conduct of Muzaffar Khan won back the Royal favour. The Emperor addressed a letter to him, with instructions to prosecute the siege of Rohtas if he and the amirs with him considered that the place might be reduced in a given time; but if the opinion was that the siege would be protracted, he was to raise it and employ his forces against the Afghans, who were creating disturbances in Bihar, and to compel them to become dutiful subjects of the Imperial throne, or else to inflict condign punishment upon them. Muzaffar Khan replied that the army was not possessed of the implements for carrying on a siege, and that the probable time of its fall could not be calculated, — it therefore seemed desirable to first rid the province of the contemptible enemy who distressed it. He accordingly joined Mirzada 'Ali Khan and the other warriors who had been left in the province by the Emperor. He also formed a union with Muhsin Khan, 'Arab Bahadur, and the forces which had been left under them by Mun'im Khan to protect his jagir. With these he rendered good service, and repressed all the malcontents in the province. He drove Adham Khan Mutanabbi out of Ibrahimpur, and Darya Khan from the town of Jasarkanur to Jharkand.
53.3
When he had thus restored order, the officers of Mun’im Khan were moved with envy against him, and sent him away. As he had no jagir on which to support his followers, he retired with Khudadad Birlas and Khwaja Shamsu-d din to Jundh and Sahsaram. As he was on his way thither, intelligence reached him that those two places had been occupied by forces from Rohtas. So he continued his march, and by valour and good management cleared those two places of the enemy. He had no sooner done this than new disturbances broke out in Bihar. Disregarding the ungrateful behaviour of the Bihar officials, he once more intervened, and rendered good service. The circumstances of the case were these. Mun’im Khan Khan-khanan had left ’Arab Bahadur in Mahir, which is a fort between Bihar and Jharkand. Ghazi and Haji, two brothers, came with a party of turbulent Afghans from Jharkand, and seized the place. Many of the garrison were put to the sword; but ’Arab Bahadur made his escape, and, hastening to the amirs of the province, they gathered their forces, and marched to repress this outbreak. The Afghans retired to the fastnesses of the mountains and defied them. The amirs went after them, and at length found themselves unable either to advance or retire. A party of nearly 300 Rajputs, in the service of Raja Bhagwant Das, bravely advanced, but were defeated, and lost nearly 100 of their number. They now sent to solicit aid from Muzaffar Khan, who soon joined them with his victorious followers.
53.4
A letter at this time arrived from Khan-khanan, which made them hesitate in their movements. It brought the information that Junaid was hastening by way of Jharkand to Bihar, and urged the necessity of overpowering him before he could obtain reinforcements. Muzaffar Khan took a bold view of the matter, and resolved that the proper course was to crush the rebel Afghans before Junaid could join them. There was no knowing whether Junaid would reach the neighbourhood in less than ten days, and it was to be hoped that the enemy before them might be routed in one day, after which the Imperial forces would be in a better condition to meet the intruder. It was accordingly determined that a detachment should proceed with all speed and caution, and get close in to the rear of the enemy, while the main force prepared for battle in front. Muzaffar Khan commanded the centre, Farhat Khan the right, and * * * Khwaja Shamsu-d din was placed in command of the force which was to gain the enemy’s rear.
53.5
The enemy was posted on a hill, full of confidence in their numbers, and in the strength of their position. When they found themselves suddenly threatened both in front and rear, they were seized with dismay and fled. The Imperial troops achieved a victory, and secured much spoil. They followed in pursuit until they reached a hill near Rampur, in Jharkand, where the enemy made a stand. * * Muzaffar Khan made his dispositions in front, and Khwaja Shamsu-d din, as before, got to the rear of the enemy, and attacked bravely. Husain Khan and * * several leaders of the enemy having fallen, the rebels fled, and the Imperial troops gained a decisive victory. After returning thanks for their success, they withdrew, and repaired to their respective cantonments. The news of this victory arrested Junaid for a time in his contemplated attack upon Bihar. But a few days afterwards he found the means of reaching Nuzhatabad in that province, and there raised a revolt. The amirs of the province withdrew into Patna, and in their distress again applied to Muzaffar Khan for help. He accordingly moved to their assistance. On his march, he was met by letters from the Emperor, acknowledging and eulogizing his services, and conferring upon him the jagir of Hajipur previously held by Muhammad Kuli Khan Birlas. This stimulated him to further exertions. He effected a junction with the other amirs, and began operations against the insurgents. He erected a bridge by which he passed over the Punpun river.
53.6
But instructions now arrived from Khan-khanan, directing caution in attacking Junaid, as he himself intended to march against him. The amirs concurred in this policy of procrastination, and although Muzaffar Khan advised a bolder course, his counsels were of no avail. He was adverse to remaining quiet or retreating, and was about to attack Junaid, when great alarm was raised by disturbances which had broken out at Hajipur, and he was obliged to repair thither. Taj Khan Panwar and others had attacked Mir Mahmud Shaukiti, who held Hajipur for Muzaffar Khan, and had killed him and about a hundred of his people. So Muzaffar Khan was constrained to relinquish his designs against Junaid, and he proceeded with Khudadad Birlas and others to Hajipur. Notwithstanding the numbers of his opponents, he determined to attack them. As a direct advance against them was impracticable, he crossed the Ganges, and came to the town of Sawanih, between which place and Hajipur the river Gandak runs with a strong current. The Afghans were confident in their numbers, and in the weakness of their foes. But Muzaffar had resolution, which is the key of success and of victory. He was joined by Udi Karan, the zamindar of Champaran.
53.7
While the enemy was on one side of the river, and Muzaffar was on the other, seeking some way of getting over, the zamindar suggested a way of accomplishing this difficult operation. He said that higher up the river his people had some strong boats, in which the troops might be conveyed over. * * Three hundred men under Kasim 'Ali Sistani, etc., were sent over the river by night, attended by messengers, who were to bring intelligence of the passage having been safely effected. When the information was brought that this detachment had crossed over and were approaching the enemy, Muzaffar Khan sent some boats full of men over the river, under the command of Khwaja Shamsu-d din and Khudadad Birlas, to attack the enemy in front. The Afghans received them with the fire of matchlocks, and showers of arrows; but in the midst of the fight, the drums of the force which had been sent to their rear spread a panic among the Afghans, and they took flight. Many of them were slain. Hajipur was delivered from them, and great spoil fell into the hands of the victors. The inhabitants of Patna had watched the proceedings with malicious interest, but refrained from rendering the rebels any assistance, though they were filled with disappointment. After achieving this success, Muzaffar Khan received information that Fath Khan Musazai, and some others, had assembled a large force of Afghans on the other side of the river Gandak, with the intention of raising disturbances.
53.8
Muzaffar Khan, in his foresight and zeal, set forth at once to oppose them. On reaching the river, he went with a party to reconnoitre, and endeavour to find a place to cross over; for although the river is narrow, it is very deep. While thus engaged, he saw a party of the enemy’s horse, about 200 in number. He immediately gave directions to Khwaja Shamsu-d din and ’Arab Bahadur to make a detour, cross over the river, and attack them unawares. They obeyed; but the enemy, perceiving their approach, fell back to obtain assistance. Muzaffar Khan then passed over the river, to join his advanced force. The flying enemy, being joined by reinforcements, faced round and gave battle. The great numbers of the enemy struck terror into the Imperialists, so that they dispersed and fled. Many threw themselves into the river, and were drowned. Muzaffar Khan was about to plunge into the river, when Khwaja Shamsu-d din seized his bridle, and made off towards the mountains; but he sent back a swift horseman to the camp, to try and bring up more men. The enemy pressed on in pursuit, but Khwaja Shamsu-d din, ’Arab Bahadur, and others, about fifty in all, turned round and checked their advance with showers of arrows. Night was coming on, and Muzaffar Khan was in this strait, when the blaze of the Imperial good fortune shone forth.
53.9
A report had reached the camp of Muzaffar Khan that he had been killed, and the men were about to hasten off, when the messenger who had been sent back arrived and revived their drooping spirits. Khudadad Birlas, Mihr ’Ali, and about 200 men boldly dashed across the river, and the messenger who had been sent for them took back the intelligence of their approach. The enemy, notwithstanding their success and the excess of their numbers, were unable to stand against the assault of this gallant band, but took to flight. Defeat was thus turned into victory, and great booty was won. Next day they plundered the camp of the Afghans, and obtained much spoil. The machinations of the enemy were thus defeated. Those who escaped went and sought refuge with Taj Khan Panwar. There they pursued their evil designs, and in the abundance of their wealth, the paucity of their wisdom, and the numbers of adventurers, they again took the offensive. Muzaffar Khan prudently effected his retreat across the Gandak, and took up a position in a spot bounded on three sides by the river, and on the fourth by a great swamp. There he busied himself in collecting men and stores. The enemy, emboldened by this retreat, came up and surrounded the force of Muzaffar Khan; but being unable to make any impression upon it, they were disheartened. In the course of a few days Muzaffar’s men increased in numbers and recovered their spirits.
53.10
The zamindars of the neighbourhood also took heart, and exerted themselves in furnishing things required. A bridge was then thrown over the river. To obviate any disaster in crossing, it was prudently resolved to send over by night a party of men, who were to make an entrenchment as a defence against the enemy, so that the troops might be able to deploy when they should get to the other side. But no one was willing to undertake this duty till Khwaja Shamsu-d din Khafi boldly volunteered for the perilous work. He soon crossed over, and the Afghans retreated before him, in the expectation that the Imperial troops, finding their opponents in retreat, would disperse in search of plunder, and afford a favourable opportunity for attacking them. Muzaffar Khan took all proper precautions, and sent a strong force over to make the place secure. The Afghans, aware of the movement, threw off all concealment, and moved a strong division against this advanced force. The infantry gave way, and their flight caused a panic among a body of horse. Their backward rush broke down the bridge, and near 300 men, horse and foot, perished in the river. Khwaja Shamsu-d din, Khudadad Birlas, and several other distinguished soldiers made a stand, and twice checked the advance of the enemy with showers of arrows. A third attack was made, but an arrow pierced the horse of Husain Khan, the commander of the enemy, and brought him down. The enemy then broke, and desisted from their attacks.
53.11
No harm befel the brave Imperial soldiers. By dint of great exertion the bridge was repaired, and all the army passed over. The Afghans then retired, and joined their main army under Taj Khan. Muzaffar Khan followed them, and was informed by his scouts that a party of the rebels, in perfect ignorance of his approach, was seeking for a suitable position for earthworks. Muzaffar Khan left Khudadad in command of a small force, to secure his camp, and marched with the design of making the enemy's men prisoners. He fell suddenly upon them, and, after a short resistance, they fled precipitately. Many were killed, among whom was Taj Khan Panwar, whose head had been cut off and brought in by Haji Pahlawan, without his knowing who the victim was. Jalal Khan Ghazni, one of their bravest chiefs, was taken prisoner, and many others were taken or slain. A complete victory was gained; but although nightfall and the thick growing trees prevented the destruction of the rebels' houses, many of the brave soldiers secured a good booty. Next morning the army advanced; but the enemy dispersed, and threw themselves into the river. Great numbers perished, but about 100 of the boldest succeeded in reaching the opposite shore. This revolt was thus entirely suppressed.
53.12
Soon after this, Satri and Jatn, with a party of Afghans, seized the opportunity to take possession of the country of Bakra. This is a populous district, thirty kos long and twenty kos broad, in the vicinity of Mongir, by the river Ganges. When Muzaffar Khan was informed of this outbreak, he marched to suppress it. A sharp action followed, in which Fath Khan, the commander of the insurgents, and seventy-nine of his men, fell. Muzaffar then occupied the country. These successes of Muzaffar Khan made Mun’im Khan Khan-khanan averse to his remaining in that neighbourhood, so he sent an order directing him to repair immediately to Court. * * * * But while Muzaffar was chafing in vexation, a command arrived from the Emperor, ordering him to remain where he was, and carry on his work until recalled by an Imperial order. So he returned joyfully to Hajipur, * * * and shortly afterwards the far-seeing Emperor, appreciating his services and merits, bestowed upon him the wide territory extending from the ford of Chaunsa to Garhi.