Later Mughals v1.c8.s17.17

v1.c8.s17.17

Abdullah Khan heard Zulfiqar Khan’s drums beating. He was perplexed by the sound and feared that some calamity had overtaken Farrukh-siyar. Resolving to sell his life as dearly as possible, he charged the enemy’s centre from its rear. Jahandar Shah was still engaged in repelling this onset when his attention was diverted by new assailants. Clouds of arrows had struck the elephants bearing his women and the women singers; the uproar and confusion were increased by the Jat plunderers, who fell at once on the baggage placed in charge of the rearguard. The men defending it were scattered and fled to the centre division. This point became in its turn the object of Abdullah Khan’s attack, his force having swollen on the way to some 12,000 men. Jahandar Shah’s elephant, on receiving several arrow wounds on its face, got out of its driver’s control. The Emperor made an effort to reach Zulfiqar Khan, so that their united forces might turn and face the foe. But the elephant was quite uncontrollable and rushed first in one direction and then in another; any horseman or foot-soldier that it saw it rushed at and killed. The Emperor’s bodyguard fled in all directions to save their lives. Jahandar Shah was thus forced to descend from his elephant and mount a horse. [Nur. 112-113, Warid 142a.]