I had been at Dehlí fifteen days, which time I had passed in pleasure and enjoyment, holding royal Courts and giving great feasts. I then reflected that I had come to Hindustán to war against infidels, and my enterprize had been so blessed that wherever I had gone I had been victorious. I had triumphed over my adversaries, I had put to death some lacs of infidels and idolaters, and I had stained my proselyting sword with the blood of the enemies of the faith. Now this crowning victory had been won, and I felt that I ought not to indulge in ease, but rather to exert myself in warring against the infidels of Hindustán.
Having made these reflections on the 22nd of Rabí'ú-l ákhir, I again drew my sword to wage a religious war. I started from Dehlí and marched three kos to the fort of Fíroz-ábád, which stands upon the banks of the Jumna and is one of the edifices erected by Sultán Fíroz Sháh. There I halted and went in to examine the place. I proceeded to the Masjid-i jámi', where I said my prayers and offered up my praises and thanksgivings for the mercies of the Almighty. Afterwards I again mounted, and proceeded to pitch my camp near the palace of Jahán-numá. On this day Saiyid Shamsu-d dín Turmuzí and 'Aláu-d dín, náíb-karkarí, whom I had sent on an embassy to Bahádur Náhir at the city of Kútila,* returned to my camp, and presented to me a letter which Bahádur had most respectfully written to me to the following effect: “I am one of the most insignificant servants of the great amír, and will proceed to his court to wait upon him.” The ambassadors informed me that Bahádur Náhir would arrive at my court on Friday. Bahádur Náhir sent to me as a tribute two white parrots which could talk well and pleasantly. The envoys presented them to me, and told me that these two parrots had belonged to Sultán Tughlik Sháh, and that they had lived at the courts of the Sultáns ever since. The sight of these parrots and the sound of their voices gave me great satisfaction, so I gave directions that they should be brought before me in their cages every day that I might listen to their talk.
Next day I crossed the Jumna and marched six kos to the village of Múdúla. There I halted and encamped. On the following day, Friday, I again marched, and after going five or six kos, arrived at the village of Katah,* where I pitched my camp. Bahádur Náhir, with his eldest son, named Kalnásh,* arrived to pay their respects, and I received them with due courtesy. They brought rare and suitable presents from Hindustán, but I looked upon the two parrots as the best of their gifts. After I had ascertained their sincerity from their words and actions, I honoured them with my royal favour and bounty, and having raised their dignity, I removed all doubt and apprehension from their minds. On the following day I marched, and, after going six kos, I arrived at the town of Bághpat, where I encamped. Next day, Sunday the 26th, I again moved, and, after travelling five kos, arrived at the village of Asár, which is situated in a tract called doáb.
I now learned that there was in the vicinity a city called Mírat, having a very strong fort. The fortress was one of the strongest in Hindustán, and it was under the command of Ílyás Afghán and his son, Maula Ahmad Thánesarí. There was also a gabr named Safí, who, with a large body of gabrs, had gone into the fort to aid in its defence. They had also plenty of the munitions and implements of war. When I heard all this, I instantly sent Prince Rustam, Amír Taghí Búghá, Amír Sháh Malik, and Amír Alláh-dád against this fort of Mírat, with orders to grant terms to the place if the inhabitants showed due submission and obedience; but if not, to inform me and proceed to invest the place. These officers marched on the 26th of the month, and, arriving at Mírat, delivered my message, calling upon the inhabitants to capitulate, and to trust their lives, property, and honour to my protection. They replied that Tarmsharín Khán, with a host beyond all number and compute, had assailed their fort, but had retired from it baffled. My envoys reported to me the defiant answer of the inhabitants, and when I read the insolent reference they made to Tarmsharín Khán, who was a great king, my anger was roused, and I mounted my horse and gave orders for my forces to march against Mírat. On that same day, the 28th of the month, after mid-day prayer, I started with 10,000 picked horsemen. Halting one night upon the road, I accomplished the distance of twenty kos, and arrived at Mírat on the 29th.
In the afternoon I ordered my officers to set the men of their
divisions*
to sap holes under the walls of the fortifications. In
execution of this order they set to work, and in the course of
one night each party had pushed their mine twelve yards forward
under the defences. When the besieged discovered this, they
lost all nerve and were quite cast down and bewildered. At this
time the devoted regiments (kushún) of Amír Alláh-dád Kúchín
assaulted the gate of the fort, rushing against it shouting their
war-cry. Saráí Bahádur, son of Kalandar Bahádur, one of the
followers (naukar) of Amír Alláh-dád, was the first to bring up
a scaling ladder, attach it to the walls, and mount to the summit.
A number of brave men rallied to support him, and, with the
aid of their ladders and ropes, they mounted the walls and
entered the fort. They then spread themselves in the interior,
and, fighting vigorously and bravely, Rustam Birlás at length
encountered Ílyás Afghán and his son, Mauláná Ahmad Tháne-