Humāyūn started to oppose Shīr Khān with a large force com­posed of some hundred thousand cavalry, and crossing the river of Qananj encamped in face of his enemy for the space of one month. The army of Shīr Khān did not comprise in all more than five thousand* cavalry. It was under such circumstances that Muḥammad Sulān Mīrzā and his son fled a second time from the king, and the reinforcements of Mīrzā Kāmrān also took flight to Lāhor, and the Mughuls of the King's army were scattered in all directions. The rains now came on, and inasmuch as the camp of Humāyūn's army was on low lying ground, he desired to march from there and encamp on the high ground. At this very time* Shīr Khān drew up his troops, and came out to give battle. This engagement took place on the day of the ‘Āshūra, the 10th of Muḥarram 947 H., and a chronogram was found for it in the words Kharābī-i-mulk-i-Dillī.* The greater number of the Mughul soldiers refused to fight* and took to their heels, while a small ^355. body of them who engaged in fight, strove manfully in battle,* but things had gone beyond control, and it was of no avail. The king rode off with the intention of going to the high ground. This action of his in itself afforded an excuse to his men to flee, and a serious defeat ensued. Moreover the king while crossing the river Ganges became separated from his horse, and by the help of Shamsu-d-Dīn Muḥammad of Ghaznī (who eventually became the foster-father of the prince's most excellent majesty, and was honoured in Hindūstān with the title of A‘zam Khān),* escaped from the water and returned to Āgra; but seeing that* the enemy's army was coming up in pursuit, he could not remain there,* so made his way to the Panjāb with all speed.

At the commencement of Rabī‘u-l-awwal of this year all the Sulāns and Amīrs of the Chaghatai tribe* assembled for conference in Lāhor. Hypocrisy was still the order of the day, and Muḥammad Sulān and his sons fled from Lāhor to Multān, while Mīrzā Hindāl and Mīrzā Yādgār Nāṣir thought it advisable to proceed to Bhakkar and Tatta. Mīrzā Kāmrān prayed that this conference might speedily be dissolved so that he might go to Kābul. After long consultation Humāyūn sent Mīrzā Ḥaidar with a large party who had accepted service in Kashmīr, to that district. It was agreed* that Khwāja Kalān Bēg should follow Mīrzā Ḥaidar, and that Humāyūn himself also should proceed thither after the conquest of Kashmīr.

When Mīrzā Ḥaidar arrived at Naushahra* which is a well­known place, he entered that country with the concurrence of certain Kashmīrīs and conquered it: and on the 22nd of Rajab of this same year he gained possession of that country. Khwāja Kalān Bēg had gone to Sīālkoṭ. When tidings reached the king ^356. that Shīr Khān had crossed the river at Sulānpūr and had arrived within thirty krohs of Lāhor, Humāyūn, on the first of the month of Rajab in the aforesaid year, crossed the river of Lāhor, and Mīrzā Kāmrān, after breaking his solemn vows, agreed for certain reasons to accompany Humāyūn as far as the neighbourhood of Bahīra, and Khwāja Kalān Bēg made forced marches from Sīālkoṭ, and joined Humāyūn's camp. Mīrzā Kāmrān together with Mīrzā ‘Askarī, separating* from the king, proceeded in com­pany with Khwāja Kalān Bēg towards Kābul, while Humāyūn proceeded towards Sind. Mīrzā Hindāl, and Mīrzā Yādgār Nāṣir also, after accompanying him for a few stages, left him, and after a few days returned, by the counsel of* Amīr Abūl Baqā. On the banks of the Indus such great scarcity prevailed in the camp of Humāyūn, that one sīr* of the smaller millet* could sometimes not be bought even for an ashrafī.* The greater part of the army perished owing to this scarcity, while others died from want of water, till at last Humāyūn with a small number passed on to the districts of Jaisalmīr,* and the country of Mārwār, where strange* incidents occurred. After undergoing great hardships and distress, which it is the invariable custom of the Heavens to inflict, he betook himself to ‘Irāq and having obtained reinforcements, Shāh Ṭahmāsp gained possession of Qandahār and Kābul, and collect­ing a great army re-conquered Hindūstān. This exploit will be described in its proper place if the Most High God will it so.