The fort of Mírat was one of the most famous in India. On the 26th Rabi'u-l ákhir Tímúr sent Rustam Taghí Búghá, Amír Sháh Malik, and Allah-dád from Asár to the gates of that fort. On the 27th those officers reported that Ílyás Aghání and his son, Mauláná Ahmad Thánesarí, with a gabr named Safí* and a body of gabrs, had fortified themselves in the place and had raised the standard of resistance, boasting that Tarmsharín Khán had attacked the fort, but was unable to take it. This defiance greatly incensed Tímúr, especially the reference to the failure of Tarmsharín Khán. On the same day, after mid-day prayer, he mounted his horse, and, taking with him 10,000 men, he marched rapidly to Mírat. That night he halted midway, and on the following day, the 29th, in the afternoon, he arrived at Mírat. He immediately issued orders to the commanders of regiments that each should begin mining the wall in front of his position, and when night came on it was found that an extent of ten to fifteen gaz had been sapped under each bastion and wall. The gabrs perceived this, and were so frightened that they lost all courage and ceased to defend themselves. Next day Amír Allah-dád, with his regiment of Kúchíns,* called “the faithful,” advanced to the gate of the fort, shouting the cry of victory. One of his followers, named Saráí, son of Kalandar, a brave young fellow, first raised a scaling ladder against the battlements and mounted the wall. Other brave men followed him. They soon took Ílyás Aghání and his son Thánesarí, the commanders of the fort, and, putting ropes round their necks, brought them to Tímúr. Safí, the gabr, one of the chiefs of the fort, was killed in the engagement, and was punished by the fire he in error adored.* Next day, the remaining gabrs were brought out and put to the sword. Their wives and children were made slaves. By the imperial order fire was then placed in the mines and the bastions, and the walls were thrown down and levelled with the ground. * * * Thus the fort which Tarmsharín Khán had failed to capture had been taken by a detachment of the imperial army at the first assault. * * *
Tímúr having reduced the fort of Mírat on the 1st Jumáda-l awwal, gave orders for Amír Jahán Sháh to march with the left wing of the army against the upper parts of the river Jumna, to plunder the country and vex the infidels. He accordingly set off with all speed, and his baggage was sent after him, under Amír Shaikh Núru-d dín, with orders to proceed along the river Kará-sú. Tímúr himself marched towards the Ganges, fourteen kos distant from Mírat. On his march he was joined by Amír Sulaimán Sháh. Resolved upon carrying the war against the gabrs of those parts, he proceeded six kos, and rested for the night at a village called Mansúra. Early in the morning of the 2nd, he again set off towards the Ganges, and at sunrise reached a village called Pírozpúr. He marched three kos along the bank, seeking a place to cross. At breakfast time the place of transit was found, but there was no ford offering an easy passage. Some horsemen passed over by swimming. Tímúr was about to cross in the same way, but the amírs who were present fell upon their knees and represented that Prince Pír Muhammad and Amír Sulaimán Shah had passed the river with the right wing of the army near Pírozpúr. It would therefore be better for his majesty to remain for a day on that side of the river. Tímúr consented to this proposal, but gave orders that some brave men should cross. Saiyid Khwája, and several other bold men belonging to the division of Prince Sháh Rukh, accordingly crossed. Tímúr then marched two kos on the bank of the river and encamped. On the 3rd he marched towards Tughlikpúr, which is situated on the upper part of the Ganges, at twenty kos distance. When he had made fifteen kos a report was brought in that there was a Hindu force assembled by the side of the river. He then directed Amír Mubáshir, 'Alí Sultán, and other chiefs to march against them with 5,000 horse, while he went on to Tughlikpúr. As he proceeded he was taken ill suddenly, and a swelling rose in his arm. The doctors and attendants exerted themselves to alleviate the malady.
While he was in this condition intelligence was brought that a large body of gabrs was coming on the river in forty-eight boats. When he heard this, the prospect of fighting against the infidels made him forget his malady. He mounted his horse, and, with a thousand of his guards, went to the bank of the river. When they caught sight of the enemy some of Tímúr's brave followers, heedless of their own safety, threw themselves into the river and swam to engage the enemy. Others kept up a discharge of arrows against the enemy from the banks of the river, who, in their ignorance, did nothing but put up their shields over their heads and discharge arrows in return. The body of men who had entered the river on horseback and swam off to the boats now reached them, and grappling the sides with their hands they boarded them. Having thus taken most of the boats they put the men to the sword, and made prisoners of the women and children. With the captured boats they made the best of their way to the remaining boats, ten* in number. These the enemy lashed together in the middle of the river, and prepared for resistance. But our men engaged them, and despatched all the infidels either with their arrows or their swords.
As soon as Tímúr had defeated these boats on the Ganges, he left the river and marched to Tughlikpúr, where he encamped. On the same night, the 4th of the month of Jumáda-l awwal, two persons arrived from Amír Allah-dád, Báyizíd Kúchín and Altún Bakshí, commanders of the advance-guard, bringing intelligence that they had found a good ford and had crossed the Ganges. There they had found a large body of the enemy, confident in numbers, and prepared to fight, under the command of a leader named Mubárak Khán. As soon as Tímúr heard this, he resolved to march against the infidels, and, before break of day, he mounted his horse, and crossed the river with a thousand horsemen. After marching a kos he halted for the morning prayer, and his men harnessed on their cuirasses, in readiness to encounter the enemy. As they approached, they found Muhammad Khán, with 10,000 men, horse and foot, drawn up in battle array, ready for the fight, with drums beating and banners flying.
Tímúr perceived that the foe, the enemies of religion, were numerous and bold, while his own followers were few. The two wings of the army were far away, and there was no help for it but to put his trust in God and fight bravely. While he was thus in anxiety, 5,000 horse belonging to the túmáns of Prince Sháh Rukh, who had crossed the river with Saiyid Khwája and Jahán Malik, now came up and joined him, as if by arrangement. Such was the special mercy of God. Tímúr first offered his thanksgivings. Then he ordered Amír Sháh Malik and Amír Allah-dád to attack the enemy with a thousand horsemen of his guard, and to do so without any fear of their number and strength. These amírs, without hesitation, drawing their swords and placing themselves at the head of their thousand men, rushed towards the enemy. This bold charge filled Mubárak Khán and the enemy with fear, so that they turned and fled without waiting for the attack. They made for the jungle, but our men pursued them and killed a great number, and brought in their wives and children as prisoners, as well as vast spoil in cattle.