Tadhkirat al-waqiʿat 3: Defeat of Humáyún at Chaunsa-ghát.

3

As soon as the peace was concluded, the treacherous Sher Khán summoned his principal officers and said to them, "Is there any of you brave enough to go and storm the Mughal camp?" At first not one of the Afghan officers would undertake the task. At length a person called Khawás Khán said, "If he would give him a detachment of good soldiers and a number of war-elephants, he would attempt it, and exert himself to the utmost;" adding, "this is a business of chance; but let us see to whom God will give the victory."
Sher Khán was much pleased with Khawás Khán's proposal, and gave him his choice of all the troops and several war-elephants; but although the detachment marched from the camp at ten o'clock of the morning, the artful general loitered about till night. In the mean time Shaikh Khalil sent off a messenger to His Majesty, cautioning him to be on his guard ; but "when fate descends, caution is vain." * * *
The King would not believe the information, or that Sher Khan would be guilty of such a breach of honour and religion, and passed the night without taking any precautions. But just as the sun rose next morning, the Afghans entered the rear of our encampment, made a dreadful uproar, and caused the greatest confusion both among the troops and followers. His Majesty, on hearing the noise, ordered the kettle-drums to be beaten, and in a short time about 300 cavalry assembled around him. In a few minutes one of the enemy's war-elephants approached ; on which His Majesty made a sign to Mir Bajka, who was celebrated for his valour, and who with his two sons, Garg 'Ali and Tatta Beg, one of whom carried the King's double-barrelled gun and the other the royal spear, to attack the elephant ; but as none of them had the heart to do it. His Majesty snatched the spear from the hand of Garg 'Ali, spurred on his horse, and struck the elephant with such force on the forehead that he could not draw out the spear again. In the mean time an archer who was seated on the elephant discharged an arrow, which wounded the King in the arm, and the enemy began to surround him. His Majesty then called to his troops to advance and charge the enemy, but no one obeyed ; and the Afghans having succeeded in throwing everything into confusion, one of the King's followers came up, seized his bridle, and said, " There is no time to be lost ; when your friends forsake you, flight is the only remedy." The King then proceeded to the bank of the river, and although followed by one of his own elephants, he urged his horse into the stream, but in a short time the horse sank. On seeing this event, a water-carrier, who had distended his leathern bag (masak) with air, offered it to His Majesty, who by means of the bag swam the river. On reaching the northern bank, he asked the man his name; he said, "Nizám." The King replied, "I will make your name as celebrated as that of Nizámu-d din Auliya (a famous saint), and you shall sit on my throne." * * *
Soon after the King had remounted his throne, the water-carrier who had enabled him to cross the Ganges paid his respects; and His Majesty, remembering his royal promise, seated him for two hours upon the throne, and desired him to ask for whatever he wished.