The Book of Akbar 53.7

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.