In Muharram, 828 H. (November, 1424), His Majesty resolved on going to Katehr. On reaching the banks of the Ganges, Ráí Har Singh came to pay his respects, and was received with great condescension; but as he had not paid his taxes (mahsúl) for three years, he was detained for a while.* The royal army then crossed the Ganges, and having chastised the recusants of the neighbourhood, proceeded to the hills of Kumáyún. There it stayed for a time, but when the weather became hot, it marched homewards by the banks of the Rahab. Crossing the Ganges at Gang, the intention was to march to Kanauj; but there was a terrible famine in the cities of Hindustán, and consequently the army advanced no farther. News was brought that the Mewáttís had broken out into rebellion, so the Sultán marched into Mewát, which he ravaged and laid waste. The Mewáttís having driven off all the population,* took refuge in [the mountains of*] Jahra, which was their great stronghold. This place was impregnable, and grain and fodder were scarce, so the Sultán returned to Dehlí. He arrived there in the month of Rajab, and took up his abode in the palace. The amírs and maliks were dismissed to their own estates, and the Sultán gave himself up to relaxation and pleasure.
In 829 H. (November, 1425), he again marched against Mewát. Jallú and Kaddú,* grandsons of Bahádur Náhir, and several Mewáttís who had joined them, laid waste their own territories, and took up a position in the mountains of Andwar. They were attacked for several days by the royal forces, who drove them out of Andwar, and then they went to the mountains of Alwar. Next day His Majesty destroyed the fortified post of Andwar, and marched against Alwar. When Jallú and Kaddú posted themselves there, the royal forces followed them. At length they were reduced to distress, and were compelled to surrender. His Majesty granted them quarter, and afterwards graciously gave Kaddú a reception.*
* “The Sultán having wasted the country of Mewát,
“returned home. Fourteen months afterwards, on the
“11th Muharram, 830 H. (12th November, 1426 A.D.),
“he proceeded to Mewát, and after punishing the dis-
“affected in that quarter, he marched to Bayána. Mu-
“hammad Khán, son of Auhad Khán, ruler of Bayána,
“retired to the top of the hill, and for sixteen days kept
“up his resistance. Some of his men joined the Sultán,
“and when he could no longer hold out, he came forth from
“the fort in the month of Rabí'u-l ákhir, with a rope round
“his neck, and made his submission. The horses and
“arms and goods of all sorts which were in the fort, he
“offered as tribute. By order of the Sultán, his family
“and dependents were brought out of the fortress and sent
“to Dehlí. Bayána was given to Mukbil Khán. Síkrí,
“which is now known as Fathpúr, was entrusted to Malik
“Khairu-d dín Tuhfa. His Majesty then proceeded to-
“wards Gwálior. The Ráí of Gwálior and [the Ráís] of
“Bhangar and Chandawár, made no resistance, but paid
“their revenue according to the old rule.“The Sultán returned to Dehlí in the month Jumáda-l
“awwal. He then changed the territory of Mahmúd
“Hasan, giving him charge of Hisár Fírozah, and trans-
“ferring Multán to Malik Rajab Nádira. Muhammad
“Khán [son of Auhad Khán] having escaped with his
“family, fled to Mewát, where several of his scattered“followers rejoined him. There he learnt that Malik Mukbil
“[the governor] had marched with his army towards
“Maháwan, leaving Malik Khairu-d dín Tuhfa in the fort,
“and the town empty [of soldiers]. Muhammad Khán
“seized the opportunity, and being supported by several
“zamíndárs of Bayána, he went there with a small force.
“Most of the people of the town and country joined him.
“Unable to hold the fort, Malik Khairu-d dín capitulated,
“and went to Dehlí.“Mubárak Sháh then gave Bayána to Malik Mubáriz,
“and sent him against Muhammad Khán. The rebel shut
“himself up in the fort, and Mubáriz took possession of the
“country and began to manage it. Muhammad Khán then
“left a party of his adherents in the fort, while he himself
“escaped, and with all speed went to join Sultán Ibráhím
“Sharkí. Sultán Mubárak Sháh summoned Malik Mubáriz
“to his presence to account for the escape of Muhammad
“Khán, and marched in person against Bayána. On his
“way, a letter reached him from Kádir Khán, the governor
“of Kálpí, informing him that Sultán Ibráhím Sharkí was
“coming up against Kalpí with a strong force. The Sultán
“therefore deferred his march to Bayána, and turned to
“meet Sultán Ibráhím Sharkí. Meanwhile the forces of
“Sharkí had attacked the town of Bhúkanú,* and were
“marching upon Badáún. Sultán Mubárak Sháh then
“crossed the Jumna, and attacked the village of Harolí,
“one of the well-known places of Mawás. From thence
“he proceeded to Atrolí.”
His Majesty was now informed that Mukhtass Khán, brother of Sharkí, had entered into the territory of Etáwa with a large army and many elephants. He immediately sent off Maliku-sh Shark Mahmúd Hasan, with ten thousand brave and experienced horsemen, against Mukhtass Khán. The malik marched with this force, and came to the place where the Sharkí army was encamped. When Mukhtass Khán heard of his approach, he retreated, and joined [Ibráhím Sháh] Sharkí. Malik Mahmúd Hasan remained there some days, seeking to take his opponents unawares; but they were on the alert, and he could not find an opportunity. He then returned and joined his own army.* [Ibráhím Sháh] Sharkí now advanced along the banks of the Blackwater* to Burhánábád, in the district of Etáwa. His Majesty marched against him from Atrolí, and arrived at the town of Páyín-kotah,* where the two armies were only a short distance apart. When Sharkí saw the magnificence and the bravery of His Majesty, and the strength of his army, he retreated in the month of Jumáda-l awwal, and went towards the town of Ráprí. There he crossed the Jumna to Gudrang, and marching on, he encamped on the river of Katehr. His Majesty crossed the Jumna at Chandawár in pursuit, and encamped four kos distant from the enemy. The royal skirmishers made constant attacks upon all points, and carried off prisoners, cattle, and horses. About twenty days passed in this manner, the two armies being in close proximity. On the 17th Jumáda-l ákhir, Sharkí drew up all his forces, horse and foot and elephants, in battle array. His Majesty, Maliku-sh Shark Sarwaru-l Mulk, Saiyid Sálim chief of the saiyids, and several other great amírs, remained in the camp in safety, and some others were sent against the enemy, such as Maliku-sh Shark Malik Mahmúd Hasan, and Khán-i 'azam Fath Khán son of Sultán Muzaffar, Majlis-i 'álí Zírak Khán, Maliku-sh Shark Sultán Sháh, who had lately received the title of Islám Khán, Malik Jaman, grandson of the late Khán-i Jahán, Kálú Kháni, master of the elephants, Malik Ahmad Tuhfa, and Malik Mukbil Khán. The battle began and went on from midday till evening, but as night fell, the combatants withdrew to their respective positions. Neither side turned their backs, but remained fighting till the last. There were many wounded in the army of Sharkí, so that when next day he saw the strength of the royal forces, he retreated towards the Jumna. On the 17th Jumáda-l ákhir, he crossed from Gudrang to Ráprí, and from thence marched to his own country. The Sultán pursued him to Gudrang; but as the combatants on both sides were Musulmáns, His Majesty yielded to the intercession of his nobles, and gave up the pursuit. He then marched to Hath-kánt, where he took revenue and taxes and tribute, according to old custom, from the Ráí of Gwálior, and other ráís. Turning homewards, he proceeded along the Chambal, and entered Bayána. Muhammad Khán Auhadí had joined Sharkí, and consequently being afraid, he shut himself up in the fort. The Sultán invested the fort, which was very lofty and strong, and was deemed impregnable. But the garrison was unable to make a successful defence; their hands were powerless against the assailants, and their feet were unable to flee. So they were compelled to capitulate and ask for mercy. His Majesty, full of royal mercy and compassion for Musulmáns, forbore to punish Muhammad Khán, and granted him forgiveness. He directed his forces to remove from the fort, and on the 26th Rajab he marched out with his followers, and went off towards Mewát. His Majesty remained there for some days to set in order the wasted city; then he took effectual care to preserve the district and fortress, by appointing as their governor Malik Mahmúd, who had exhibited great resolution and loyalty in the government and protection of provinces, and had successfully accomplished many great duties. Thus, in the beginning of the reign, he had fought against Jasrath Khokhar; and when he held the command at Láhor, he had successfully contended against the prince-deputy of the Prince of Khurásán,* and had prevented him from coming to Multán. He was now appointed to command the fort of Bayána, and to manage the territory, and that iktá' and all its dependencies were placed under his charge.