The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c25.111

v3.c25.111

Bahādur’s artillery, under Mustafā Rūmī Khān, who had succeeded Tūghān as governor of Diū, did much execution, and Silāhdī conciliated Bahādur by perfidiously feigning to accept Islam, and thus obtained permission to meet his brother, ostensibly with the object of arranging for the surrender of the fortress, but when he and Lakhman Singh met they agreed to await the relieving force expected from Chitor, and sent 2000 men under Silāhdī’s youngest son to hasten its arrival. This force, was, however, intercepted by the besiegers and defeated, Silāhdī’s son being slain, and Bahādur, on learning of Silāhdī’s perfidy, sent him in custody to Māndū and dispatched a force under Muhammad Shāh of Khāndesh and ‘Imād-ul-Mulk Malikjī to meet the Rānā and Bhopat. This force met and put to flight at Kamkera another force of 2000 Rājputs under Pūran Mal, another of Silāhdī’s sons, and Bahādur, learning that the Rānā was at the head of a large army left his officers to continue the siege and marched against him. Vikramāditya, who had succeeded his father Ratan Singh, would not face Bahādur in the field, but retired to Chitor, and Bahādur returned to Rāisen. Lakhman Singh, despairing of relief, offered to surrender on condition that Silāhdī was pardoned, but when Silāhdī, having been recalled from Māndū, was again permitted to enter Rāisen, he was persuaded to perform the rite of *jauhar* rather than incur the disgrace of being implicated in the surrender. Over 700 women were burnt, and the men sallied forth, according to custom, in garments died yellow, but exhibited little of the spirit of the Rājput, for though all were slain the losses of the Muslims amounted to no more than four or five.