The History of Fīrūz Shāh (ʿAfīf) 44: Eighth Mukaddama. — Arrival of Sultan Fíroz in Gujarát.

44

The Sultán, on escaping from the desert, marched speedily with his army into Gujarát, and his men then rested from their troubles. At that time Amír Husain, son of the late Amír Míran, Mustaufí of the State, governed the country of Gujarát with the titles Maliku-sh Shark, Prince of the East, and Nizámu-l Mulk, Administrator of the State, and Nek-nám, of good repute. He was an active ruler, but when he waited on his sovereign, the Sultan demanded with much warmth why he had sent no supplies and assistance for the relief of the army, and why he had allowed the army to perish. He was dismissed from his government, and his estates were resumed. The Sultan remained in Gujarát recruiting his army. The irregulars having received six, ten, and eleven (tankas?) from the kindness of the Sultan, in a short time they were all horsed. Under these circumstances Malik 'Imádu-l Mulk, one of the pillars of the State of Dehlí, took up the case of the regulars (wajh-dárs) and represented to his Majesty that the irregulars had by his bounty become mounted while the regulars, through great distress, were obliged to go on foot, and were in deep trouble and despair. Their villages were in the neighbourhood of Dehlí, while they were (far away and) in great distress. They had come into this country (of Gujarát) in straggling parties, and how could they obtain anything from Dehlí — they were indeed in a pitiable condition. The Sultan replied that he knew his regular soldiers (wajh-dár) were in great distress and were reduced to go on foot through the hardships they had undergone. They had rendered him their aid, but their villages were far distant, and they had the greatest difficulty to get a handful of corn. Their children, too, required maintenance, so that they were in the greatest possible difficulty. Under these circumstances he directed that loans should be advanced to them from the public treasury. In accordance with this order every man received an advance, some of a hundred, some of seven hundred, and some of a thousand tankas; thus they obtained new outfits and remounts. Orders were also written to Khán-i Jahán at Dehlí, that no interference of any kind should be made in the villages of the regular soldiers, and that the officers of Government should be strictly enjoined to do them no harm, so that something might come to the soldiers and that their children might be maintained in comfort at home.
Sultán Fíroz expended the whole revenue (mál) of Gujarát, amounting to about two krors, in refitting his army and in the payment of his troops, so that he might march once more against Thatta. When he was on the point of departure he wrote Khán-i Jahán [announcing his intention and directing the Khán to send him ample supplies].