The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c14.27

v4.c14.27

Sher Khān’s son, Jalāl Khān, leaving Khavāss Khān in charge of the siege of Gaur, marched to hold Teliyāgarhī, “the gate of Bengal”. Gaur was obliged, by lack of provisions, to surrender to Khavāss Khān, and Sultān Mahmūd of Bengal took refuge with Humāyūn. Sher Khān had found an asylum in the strong fortress of Rohtās. The Mughul historians tell an absurd story, invented in order to besmirch the character of Sher Khān, of his gaining possession of Rohtās by smuggling into the fortress, in litters, as though they had been veiled ladies, a large number of his men-at-arms; but the true story is discreditable enough to him. He first obtained from Churāman, the raja’s Brāhman minister, a promise of shelter in the fort. The raja prudently objected that it was dangerous to admit a force strong enough to overpower the garrison, but Churāman insisted that his word had been passed and that nothing was to be feared from Sher Khān. The raja yielded against his better judgement, the Afghāns were admitted, and Sher Khān in a short time expelled the garrison and took possession of the fortress.