Whilst this was happening, Sultán Bahlol determined to proceed to Etáwah. Ibráhím Khán, the brother of Sultán Husain, and Haibat Khán, called Gurg-andáz, “the wolf-slayer,” who had posted themselves in Etáwah, fought for three days, after which they begged for mercy, and surrendered that fortress. Sultán Bahlol appointed Ibráhím Khán Lohání to command in Etáwah, and assigned some parganas of Etáwah to Ráí Dádand. He then went with a numerous force against Sultán Husain; they met at the village of Rángánw, which belongs to Kálpí, and both parties were engaged for some time in preparation for battle. The river Jumna was between them. At this period Ráí Tilak Chand, the governor of the territory of Baksar,* came to pay his respects to Sultán Bahlol, and took his army across the river by a ford, against the troops of Sultán Husain, who, being too weak to resist, fled to the Panna* country, the Rájá of which place came out to meet him, and presented him with some lacs of tankas, and 100 horses and elephants, after which he sent his own soldiers with him as far as Jaunpúr.
Sultán Bahlol collected a body of men, with the intention of gaining possession of Jaunpúr, and when he drew near, Sultán Husain, being unable to resist, retired toward Bahráích, towards which place Sultán Bahlol likewise directed his steps, and they met on the banks of the Rahab.* After a contest, which ended as usual in the defeat of Sultán Husain, the whole of the regalia* fell into the hands of the Lodís. Sultán Bahlol, after the victory, made up his mind to go to Jaunpúr, which place he took possession of. Leaving Mubárak Khán to govern Jaunpúr, and Kutb Khán Lodí and Khán Jahán, with some other nobles, in the territory of Manjhaulí, he himself proceeded in the direction of Badáún. Sultán Husain availed himself of the opportunity thus offered, and returned to Jaunpúr, with a large army; upon which the nobles of Sultán Bahlol quitted Jaunpúr and went to Manjhaulí; but finding themselves unable to hold that place, they entered into an arrangement with Sultán Husain, and amused him under various artifices, devised by Kutb Khán, until such time as succour should arrive. Sultán Bahlol sent his own son, Bárbak Sháh, to aid them, and also followed in person. Sultán Husain, being unable to do anything, went to Bihár.
When Sultán Bahlol arrived in the town of Haldí, he heard the news of the death of Kutb Khán Lodí, the son of Islám Khán, the Sultán's uncle. After passing some days in the performance of the customary mourning, he went to Jaunpúr; and having established Bárbak Sháh on the throne there, returned himself to Kálpí, which place he gave to 'Azam Humáyún,* the son of Prince Khwája Báyazíd. He then proceeded to Dhúlpúr by the road of Chandawár; and the Ráí of Dhúlpúr came forth to meet him, and presented him with some mans of gold, so that the Ráí was treated as a well-wisher of the State. The Sultán marched thence and came to the pargana of Bárí. Ikbál Khán, the governor of Bárí, having paid his respects in a fitting and respectful manner, was appointed a servant of the State. He made an offering of some mans of gold to the Sultán, who confirmed him in the possession of Bárí. From thence, proceeding towards Alláhápúr, a dependency of Rantambhor,* he overran that country, and spoiled its fields and gardens. After which he came to Dehlí, where he remained, and spent some time in ease and festivity, in performing deeds of justice and displaying liberality.*
At the close of the rainy season and the rising of the star Canopus, he went to Gwálior, the ruler of which place, Rájá Mán, came forth to show his obedience; and after presenting an offering of eighty lacs of tankas, he was confirmed in the possession of Gwálior.* From that place the Sultán marched to Etáwah, from the government of which place he dismissed Ráí Sangat Sing, the son of Ráí Dádand,* and then went back to Dehlí. On the road he fell sick, on account of the excessive heat, and near the village of Maláwí,* which is in the territory of Sakít, in the year A.H. 894 (A.D. 1488), he departed from this transitory and troublesome existence to the regions of eternity, in obedience to the summons of the Almighty.* He reigned during the space of thirty-eight years eight months and eight days; and one of the most learned men of the age has made this verse in his praise:—“In the year 894 departed from the earth the mighty monarch, the vanquisher of kingdoms, the world-conqueror Bahlol.”*
The proceedings of Sultán Sikandar Lodí at Gwálior and Bayána. —Rebellion in Jaunpúr.—Retreat from Panna.—Conquest of Bihár.—(A.H. 897-901.)
Sultán Sikandar then pursued his march to Kálpí, of which he dispossessed 'Azam Humáyún, the son of Prince Khwája Báyazíd, and bestowed it upon Mahmúd Khán Lodí. After which he proceeded to Baksar Chhetra, whose governor, Tátár Khán, showed the most entire homage and allegiance to him, and was confirmed in the government of Chhetra. He then directed his progress to Gwálior; from whence he despatched Khwája Muhammad Farmulí with an honorary dress to Rájá Mán, who acknowledged his authority, and sent in return a nephew of his to attend upon the Sultán. His way now led him to Bayána, where Sultán Ashraf, a son of Ahmad Khán Jalwání, presented himself before him, professing his submission. He was, nevertheless, ordered to evacuate Bayána, and to take in exchange Jalesar, Mahrera, Chandawár, and Sakít. Ashraf, in conformity with this command, took 'Umar Khán Sarwání with him to Bayána, under the pretence of delivering the keys over to him; but when within the walls, he foolishly drew the shield of rebellion over his face, closed the gates, and put the fort in a state of defence, and was imitated by Haibat Khán Jalwání, one of his vassals, in Ágra, which was a dependency of Bayána.
The Sultán had, in the meanwhile, pitched his tents on the
banks of the Jumna, whither he retired in order to avoid the
heat, and amuse himself with fishing. When the news of these
occurrences arrived, he left some of his chiefs to lay siege to Ágra,
and drew his army back to Bayána, which he closely invested.
Sultán Ashraf, being hard pressed, offered to surrender, and thus
Bayána was conquered in the year 897*
(1492 A.D.). Sultán
Sikandar entrusted the fort to Khán-khánán Farmulí, and himself
returned to Dehlí. He had arrived at this place only
twenty-four days, when intelligence was brought from Jaunpúr,
that the zamíndárs of that province, headed by the Bachgotís,
had collected together a force of nearly 100,000 men, horse and
foot, and deposed Mubárak Khán, the governor of Jaunpúr, and
even killed his brother Sher Khán; that Mubárak Khán himself
had crossed the Ganges by the ferry of Júsí, but had fallen into
Mullá Khán's hands; upon which Ráí Bhíd, Rájá of Panna,
had seized and carried him off a prisoner. Bárbak Sháh, from
his inability to offer resistance, abandoned Jaunpúr, and retreated
to Muhammad Khán Farmulí, who bore the title of Kálá Pahár
(‘black mountain’). The Sultán marched in 899 (1493-4), in that
direction, and when he arrived at Dalamau, Bárbak Sháh and all his
nobles presented themselves humbly before him, and were received
with royal favour and kindness. Ráí Bhíd, being apprehensive of
the Sultán's displeasure, sent Mubárak Khán to the Sultán; upon
which, the latter proceeded to Katehr, where the zamíndárs had
concentrated themselves in large numbers, and offered a well-