Tarikh-i Daʾudi 5.3
Táríkh-i Dáúdí of 'Abdu-lla (extracts) 5.3
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5.3.1
"In 911 an earthquake rendered the Agra territory a desert" Such an earthquake had never been witnessed in Hindustan. From the days of Adam to the time of Sultan Sikandar, no one could remember a similar one; and from that period earthquakes have been frequent in Hind. Sultán Sikandar passed the rainy season of that year at Agra. After the rising of the star Canopus, he assembled his army, and set forth to take possession of Gwalior and the territories belonging to it. In a short space of time he took most of the Gwálior districts; and after building mosques in the places of idol-temples, returned towards Agra. But the troops were much harassed by the narrowness and unevenness of the roads, and at one spot where he was compelled to halt, in order to admit of the people passing at their leisure, the want of water was so severely felt, that, both on that account, and the crowding together and jostling of a vast number of cattle, many people perished. It is said, that on that day a jar of water sold for fifteen tankas. Some people, when in their excessive thirst they found water, drank to such an extent that they died, whilst others expired from the want of it. They were counted by order of the Sultán, and found to number 800 persons. Sultan Sikandar, after the lapse of two years, in 913 A.H.
5.3.2
(1507 A.D.), wrote a farmán to Jalál Khán, the governor of Kálpí, directing him to take possession of the fort of Narwar, and to assemble his troops and besiege it with all possible expedition. It was the custom of Sultán Sikandar, whenever he appointed an army to proceed on a distant expedition, to send daily two farmáns to it; one used to arrive in the morning, directing the troops to march and to halt at a certain place indicated; towards evening another used to arrive, pointing out what they were to do where they were encamped. When the army was at a distance of even 500 kos, this rule was never infringed, and post-horses (dák-chaukí) were always kept ready at each saráí. Jalál Khán Lodí, by the Sultán's command, besieged Narwar, where Sultán Sikandar also joined him with great expedition. On the second day the King rode forth to see the strength of the besieged fortress, and the operations carrying on against it. Jalál Khán divided his men into three divisions, and placed them in the King's way, that he might be satisfied with the appearance of his troops ; one division of foot, another of horsemen, a third of elephants. Sultán Sikandar inspected them, and was not a little astonished at their numbers. He consequently made up his mind gradually to subvert the power of Jalál Khán, and remove him from his government. The siege of the fort was protracted for one year; it was no less than eight kos in length. Men were daily slain on either side.
5.3.3
After the time above mentioned, the defenders of the place were compelled, by the want of water and scarcity of grain, to ask for mercy, and they were allowed to go forth with their property ; but the Sultán destroyed their idol-temples, and erected mosques on their sites. He then appointed stipends and pensions for the learned and pious who dwelt at Narwar, and gave them dwellings there. He remained six months encamped below the fort. The Sultán having satisfied himself that the citadel of Narwar was a very formidable stronghold, one that could not be retaken if it fell into the hands of an enemy, he raised another fortified wall all round it, so as effectually to preserve it from the attempts of a foe. And having thus freed his mind from the apprehension of danger, he turned his face towards the fort of Agra. On his return march, Ni'amat Khatun, the consort of Kutb Khan, Sultan Bahlol's cousin, arrived, in company with Prince Jalal Khan, in the camp of Sultan Sikandar, who went to visit them, and tried to gain their good-will. Some days after, he appointed the sarkar of Kalpi to be the Prince's jagir, and at the time of his departure favoured him with a present of 120 horses and fifteen elephants, together with dresses of honour and ready money; he then dismissed the Prince and Khatun, and directed them to proceed to Kalpi, after which he continued his route in the direction of Agra.
5.3.4
During his reign everything was cheap, and safety and security prevailed. He was busied with affairs from daybreak until evening and sleeping time. During his reign the hand of oppression was not stretched out over the zamindars of Hind, and all obeyed and submitted to him. The reign of Sikandar was an extraordinary one, and the people of that age were born under a fortunate star to possess such a ruler as the Sultan. "Upon every nation of which God approves He bestows a virtuous ruler. If He desires to render a land desolate, He places it in the grasp of a tyrant."