The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c13.25

v4.c13.25

When Humāyūn had made his peace with Sher Khān after his fruitless siege of Chunār, so that he might be free to pursue his expedition against Gujarāt he had taken with him by way of guarantee a son of Sher Khān variously known as Qutb Khān or ‘Abdur-Rashīd with a small force of Afghāns. The alliance was short and Qutb Khān had deserted with his followers to join his father. And while the emperor was engaged in what did not amount to more than military promenades, or was sitting still to enjoy the temporary gains of his enterprises, Sher Khān had consolidated his hold on south Bihār without the slightest opposition by Mughul forces,¹ whose able commander Sultān Junaid Barlās was dead. Humāyūn after his return to Āgra remained there for a wasted year, at times meditating the recovery of Gujarāt and Mālwā, where he had an offer of help from the king of Ahmadnagar, but usually occupied with the pleasures of social life, which were always apt to distract him from serious affairs. It was not till the rainy season of 1537 had set in that he started out to crush or at least check Sher Khān, having made some attempt to settle the administration of the provinces he still held. His naturally forgiving disposition, aided by the persuasion of his sister, led him on the way to accept the submission of her husband Muhammad Zamān, who after his unsuccessful attempt to rouse the Punjab had also failed to seize the throne of Gujarāt after the death of Bahādur Shāh.² Travelling by boat along the Jumna and Ganges, Humāyūn reached the strong fortress of Chunār which he besieged. This ancient castle, founded on a steep rock jutting into the Ganges, was built by the Hindus and strengthened by successive Muslim rulers. It had come into Sher Khān’s possession through his marriage to a daughter of a governor and was held for him at this time by his son Qutb Khān. As Humāyūn approached Qutb Khān withdrew part of his forces to the forest-covered hills in the neighbourhood from which he could harass the Mughuls. A siege of several months ensued during which Rūmī Khān, the Turkish gunner who had deserted from the Gujarāt army to join Humāyūn, made many unsuccessful attempts to force an entry. Finally he obtained certain information about the state of the defences by stratagem. An African slave possessed of some ability and willing to endure hardship was savagely flogged in the Mughul camp and then managed to enter the fort, where he showed his wounds and offered to help the garrison by advice on their defence in revenge for the treatment he had received. He was thus allowed to inspect the fortifications, and escaping after a few days was able to tell Rūmī Khān where to direct his fire. A floating battery was moved close to the fort and a breach made. Though the first assault was driven back the garrison, seeing the battery being repaired for further work, lost heart and yielded under a promise of amnesty, but this was broken by one of the Mughul leaders who had the hands of several hundred gunners struck off. Rūmī Khān who was appointed commandant for his services held his post for only a few days, when he died suddenly, probably poisoned at the instance of jealous rivals.