The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c15.52

v4.c15.52

Adham Khān was permitted to remain in Mālwa as governor, with Pīr Muhammad Khān as his principal assistant, and Akbar returned to Āgra, slaying on the way, near Narwar, with one stroke of his sword, a tigress which had five cubs. He delighted in such feats of daring and took special pride in his mastery over elephants. One day he mounted, rode and controlled the vicious elephant *Hawāī*, probably the beast of that name which had been ridden by Hīmū at Pānīpat. Not content with this feat he commanded the servants of the elephant stables to bring forth another fierce brute, *Ran Bāghā*, “the Tiger in Battle”, and continued to ride *Hawāī* while the two fought. *Hawāī* overcame *Ran Bāghā* who fled, pursued by the victor, across the bridge spanning the Jumna. The pontoons were submerged by the ponderous beasts, but both reached the further bank in safety, and there Akbar succeeded in bringing *Hawāī* to a stand.