The History of Fīrūz Shāh (ʿAfīf) 21: Third Mukaddama. — Battle between Sultan Fíroz and Shamsu-d dín. Capture of fifty elephants and slaughter of one lac of the people of Bang and Bangála.
Táríkh-i Fíroz Sháhí of Shams-i Siráj 'Afíf (extracts) 21
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Third Mukaddama. — Battle between Sultan Fíroz and Shamsu-d dín. Capture of fifty elephants and slaughter of one lac of the people of Bang and Bangála.
21.1
When Shamsu-d dín heard that Sultán Fíroz had retreated towards Dehli, he made up his mind to pursue him. Some writers say that Fíroz Sháh left his camp (rakht) standing, others that he caused part of his baggage to be burned. Sultan Shamsu-d dín came out in pursuit with a force which consisted of 10,000 horse, 200,000 infantry like the infantry of Subuktigín, and fifty mighty elephants. Fíroz Sháh had marched seven kos, and the place where he was lying in wait was on the bank of the river where the eddies had formed a ford. His baggage was in the act of crossing at this ford, when, unexpectedly, the Sultan of the Bengális came up and rushed to the attack. * * * * When the Sultan heard that the enemy had arrived in great force, he proceeded to draw up his army in three divisions. Malik Dildn, the Mír-shikár, had command of the right wing, consisting of 30,000 horse, and the left wing, also consisting of 30,000 warriors, was commanded by Malik Hisám Nawá. The centre, consisting likewise of 30,000 men, was under Tátár Khán. The Sultán himself proceeded from one division to another, encouraging his men. * * * The elephants were divided among the three divisions. * * * All preparations being made, the drums were beaten, and the din of war arose between the two armies. When Shamsu-d dín perceived the Sultán's army drawn up in battle array, he feared and trembled like a willow-leaf, for he found that he had been deluded by the kalandars to bring his forces out of his stronghold;
21.2
all he could now do was to resign himself to the decrees of fate. The fight began with the left wing under Hisámu-d dín Nawá, and was stoutly maintained. The right wing also under Malik Dílán became hotly engaged. * * * When the time for shooting arrows was past, they used their spears and swords, and when the conflict became even yet closer, the brave warriors seized each other by the waistbands, and grappled in deadly strife. * * * After much fighting and slaughter, Shamsu-d dín retreated and fled towards his own city. Tátár Khán, with the centre of the Sultán's army, strongly reinforced from both wings, pursued; and the Bengalí army having abandoned Pandwah, continued its flight to Ikdála. Tátár Khán cried, "O Shams-i siyáh (Black Sun), whither art thou running? A man ought to show his face, not turn his back: stop for a moment and feel the strength of Fíroz Sháh's lads!" Shamsu-d dín, however, pursued his flight, heedless of everything. Forty-eight elephants were taken, and three were slain. The King of Bengal, out of all his enormous force, fled with seven horsemen, and his whole army was scattered. The place where Fíroz Sháh had taken his position on the river was seven kos from Ikdála. * * * Sultán Shamsu-d dín took refuge in the fort of Ikdála, and by dint of great exertion the commander succeeded in closing the gate, but Fíroz Sháh's forces occupied the town.
21.3
When the arrival of Fíroz Sháh became known, all the ladies and respectable women went to the top of the fort, and when they saw him they uncovered their heads, and in their distress made great lamentation. The Sultán saw their state and heard their wailings; he thereupon reflected that he had occupied the city, had overcome many Musulmans, had taken possession of the country, and that the Khutba would be said in his name. To storm the fort, put more Musulmans to the sword, and expose honourable women to ignominy, would be a crime for which he could not answer in the day of judgment, and which would leave no difference between him and the Mughals. Tatar Khan repeatedly urged the Sultan to retain the territory he had conquered, but the Sultan was adverse to annexation, observing that many of the sovereigns of Dehli had come into this country and had subdued it, but none of them had deemed it prudent to remain there long. For Bengal was a land of swamps, and the nobles of the country passed their lives in their islands (jazairat). It would not do therefore for him to act differently from all his sovereign predecessors, so Firoz Shah turned back after having changed the name of Ikdala to Azadpur. Tatar Khan acted with great bravery in this war, and pressed the retreat of Sultan Shamsu-d din with great vigour. He at one time during the pursuit resolved to put the fugitive prince to the sword, but he abandoned that design and fell back slowly to Firoz Shah. * * *