The Book of Akbar 84: Defeat of the Imperial Forces. — Death of Raja Birbal.
Akbar-náma, of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 84
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Defeat of the Imperial Forces. — Death of Raja Birbal.
84.1
[Text, vol. iii. p. 491.] When Kokaltash (Zain Khan) marched to effect the subjugation of Swad (Sw'at) and Bajaur, he first subdued Bajaur, in which he found 30,000 houses of the Yusufzai tribe. * * He then marched against Swat, in which mountain region there were 40,000 houses of the same tribe. On reaching the banks of the river, the natives made a strenuous resistance, and the advanced guard was checked for a time; but the braves of the altamsh went to their support, and the sight of their gallantry so encouraged the rest, that they fought bravely, and put the enemy to flight. Kokaltash built a fort at Jag-dara, in the midst of the country, and then applied himself to the chastisement of the enemy. Twenty-three times he was victorious, and he destroyed seven armies. All the country was brought under his hand, except the hills of Karagar and the country of Bunir. But his army was worn out with ascending mountains and continual fighting; he was in consequence compelled to ask for reinforcements. The Emperor sent Raja Birbal, Hakim Abu-l Fath, and other officers to support him. They had no sooner arrived, than dissensions arose among them. Hard words and fierce looks were exchanged between Kokaltash and the Raja. The Raja and the Hakim were also on ill terms with each other. * * When they reached the hills of Malkand, Kokaltash endeavoured to reconcile them, and they held a long debate as to the distribution of the various forces.
84.2
Hakim Abu-l Fath hastened off with some forces to the fort of Jag-dara. The Raja was incensed at this separation, and nursed his angry feelings. In the morning they met at the fort. Kokaltash prepared a feast, and invited his colleagues. But the Raja refused to attend, and sent to say, that the best thing to be done was for experienced men to meet and determine on the course to be pursued. Kokaltash repressed his anger, and went to the Raja. Other chiefs also went with him, and represented that it would be best to recognize Kokaltash as chief, and meet to consult at his abode. At this council the Raja and the Hakim spoke hotly, and then abused each other; but by the conciliatory conduct of Kokaltash, they were appeased. * * He then proposed that a force should be left to hold the fort, while the rest of the army marched against the enemy. He thought that the fresh forces might undertake this work, while he remained with the old force to protect the centre of the country; or if they preferred, they might remain at Jag-dara, while he went to chastise the mountaineers. The Raja and the Hakim rejected both propositions, and said it was the Emperor’s desire, not that they should occupy the country, but that they should inflict chastisement on the enemy, and hasten back to Court. Kokaltash remonstrated that it was inexpedient to abandon a country which had been acquired with such difficulty;
84.3
that the attempt to return through the defiles of the mountains would be rash: if they would not agree to either course he had proposed, and were determined to return, the best plan would be to proceed by the way they had come, for that was practicable for an army, and the enemy could not stop them. They adhered to their own proposition, and Kokaltash weakly put aside his duties as a general, lest his associates should convey their complaints to the Emperor, and excite his displeasure. They were afraid that if they marched separately, their attempts would fail, and they would incur disgrace; so fate had its way, and the word was given for the march of the whole army, and the Raja and the Hakim received the command of the right and left wing. * *
84.4
On the 2nd Isfandarmuz, they marched from Jag-dara towards Karagar, and having proceeded five kos, they halted at the village of Kandak. Next day the road was full of defiles, and the right wing was left as a rear-guard, while the halt was made half a kos in advance. The advance-guard was to skirmish a little in front for that day, and then fall back. Next morning, when the advance entered the pass, the fight began. The Imperial forces were successful in several encounters, and in a short time carried the pass, and captured some booty. Thousands were lured into this snare. The altamsh also, hearing the cry of plunder, hastened to share it, and large numbers of the main body broke and hastened forward. Kokaltash, who had chosen the camping ground, when he advanced and came in front of the Afghans, found the troops engaged in plundering. Hasan Khan Tabati was carried off wounded, and matters looked very serious. Kokaltash, on learning this, engaged in the fight, and made a firm stand. That day and that night, and the early part of the next day, the battle went on. Kokaltash shot four of the enemy's chiefs with his own hands, and the foe was for a time repulsed. The close of the day brought victory; but the baggage of the camels and oxen had been plundered. That which was carried by elephants and mules came up.
84.5
Next day they advanced six kos, near to Khanpur, and there halted. Kokaltash himself took the command of the rear, and fighting all the way, reached the camping ground. He then repaired to the Raja, to consult with him as to what course was to be taken, blaming the movements that had been made, and eloquently exposing his own views. As the distance before them was now diminished, and the rugged nature of the way was not visible, the general opinion was, that they should leave the hills and rest for a few days, until a plan could be formed for overpowering their adversaries. Kokaltash represented that the ground in front of them was most difficult, and it was utterly futile to attempt it. His own opinion was, that they should stay where they were for a while and defend themselves. The space was sufficiently large; there was no danger of the foe gaining a position to command it; there was abundance of water and grass, and plenty of wood to build stockades: they might thus inflict chastisement on the fierce foes who held all the hills around. Else they might send and endeavour to make peace, by restoring the prisoners and booty they had taken, on condition of receiving hostages. Or, they might wait for a while, until news of their position reached the Emperor, and he sent an army to seize the hills from that side. But fate had ordained it otherwise. They held to their own views, and thought they saw their safety in what was to be their ruin.
84.6
On the 6th Isfandarmuz, they marched towards the lofty mountain of Bulandrai. Kokaltash wisely took command of the rear. The fighting began again more fiercely than before. When they had made some little way, and evening came on, finding a lofty mountain before them, they came to a halt. On Kokaltash coming up, it became clear that there was another defile to pass before they could be safe. As this was governed by heights close at hand, he made haste to push forward. The advance-guard was ordered to ascend the heights and clear the commanding positions ; then to come down again at a distance, and at the early dawn show the way over this difficult mountain. When they were repulsed by the Afghans, Kokaltash with a party of braves rallied them ; but others hastened to fall back, and all order was lost. Although Kokaltash exerted himself to re-assure them and restore order, it was all in vain. The Afghans attacked them fiercely on every side with arrows and stones, and they were driven from the heights in disorder and dismay. At the bottom, elephants, horses, and men, were all mixed together in confusion. There many brave and noble men made a bold stand, and sold their lives. One party, having found a passage, made their escape ; and at the close of the day another party made their way over the rugged mountain. Kokaltash was with this party. In the conflict he had resolved to sell his life, but a brave friend seized his rein, and dragged him out of the fight.
84.7
At length he reached the camp on foot, through a hundred difficulties. Scared and foolish men raised the cry that the Afghans were upon them. So, in the greatest distress, they moved on from that place at an unseasonable hour. In the darkness many lost their way, and fell down precipices. The Afghans stayed behind, securing and dividing the plunder. Next day, many of the wanderers perished, and some were made prisoners. In this conflict 500 men perished. Among them was Raja Birbal, whose loss the Emperor greatly deplored.