The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c15.102

v4.c15.102

While Akbar was thus employed in restoring order in Mālwa and in building, Khān Zamān brought a very doubtful campaign in Bihār to a successful conclusion, snatching victory from the very jaws of defeat. The Afghāns invaded Bihār in force and occupied the province, including some of Khān Zamān’s assignments, which lay on its frontier. Khān Zamān marched to repel them but, finding them too strong to be attacked, entrenched himself at Andhyārī Bārī on the Son. While he was there he was visited by some emissaries from Akbar’s court who had been sent to convey promises of favour and protection to Sulaimān Kararānī, king of Bengal, but had also been ordered to obtain satisfactory guarantees from Khān Zamān, who had long ceased to correspond with the central government and whose loyalty was suspected. They were still awaiting his answer when the Afghāns attacked the entrenched camp. Khān Zamān drew up his army to receive them but it was overpowered and put to flight, and the Afghāns began to plunder the camp. Khān Zamān, with a few attendants, withdrew to one of the bastions of the fortifications and thence fired a mortar or howitzer, killing the elephant ridden by Hasan Khān, brother of Fath Khān, the commander of the Afghān army. Hasan Khān’s contingent at once took to flight and at the same time a vicious elephant from the Afghān camp broke its chains, slew another elephant in the field, and threw the whole Afghān force, who believed that they had fallen into an ambush, into confusion. They broke and fled and the Mughal troops, rallied by Khān Zamān, pursued them with great slaughter, taking much booty. Khān Zamān then returned to Jaunpur and on his way dismissed the emperor’s envoys at Zamāniyā, without vouchsafing an answer to their proposals.