The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c13.37

v4.c13.37

He was indeed in a critical position, having missed his first opportunity to engage in battle before Sher Khān was ready. During more than two months of scorching weather he had lain in an open camp and now the rainy season had arrived which made military tactics difficult. Before him was the strongly entrenched camp of the Afghāns; on his right flank lay the Ganges, its stream swelling as the snows melted in the Himālayas and the monsoon rains added to its volume; on the left were the hills with Sher Khān’s stronghold of Rohtās. No help was to be expected from his brothers and after some fruitless skirmishing he made overtures for peace. Sher Khān at first replied that while the Mughul army wished for peace the emperor had made war. He himself also desired peace but his army was for fighting. Later he sent his own spiritual adviser who entered on negotiations, the terms of which are variously stated. Humāyūn was to give up Bihār and, according to some accounts, Bengal and also the prized fortress of Chunār but was to retain sovereignty, as shown by the right to strike coin. With their affairs settled to outward appearance the Mughul forces were negligently disposed, and Sher Khān had beaten off a Hindu ally who was supporting Humāyūn. Seizing his opportunity for destroying his opponent Sher Khān sent a force across the Karamnāsa as if to occupy Bihār and secretly instructed his main army to attack the Mughul camp in two places and also to prevent escape across the Ganges. Their surprise was complete and the attack was well developed before Humāyūn was awake (26 June, 1539). He sprang on a horse and collected a small guard, endeavouring to save his empress, but was unable to reach the tents and would have been killed but for his own personal bravery. The royal harem, crowded with fugitive wives of Mughul officers, was captured and protected by Sher Khān, while Humāyūn, attempting to cross the Ganges on horseback, was forced to use the inflated skin offered him by a water-carrier when he had lost his seat. The rout was complete and the Mughul army practically destroyed.