'Álam Khán, on his arrival at Lahore, proposed to the Mughal chiefs that, as they had been sent to render him assistance, they should advance with him at once against Sultán Ibráhím, and take Dehlí, before Bábar's arrival. But this the Mughals refusing to comply with, 'Álam Khán separated from them, and marched, at the head of 40,000 horse, upon Dehlí, which he invested. When Sultán Ibráhím received the account of these transactions, he hastened out of Ágra with 80,000 horse, and pitched his camp at a distance of six miles from Dehlí. But 'Álam Khán one night surprised him so successfully, that, his army being dispersed, and he himself, with about 5000 or 6000 men, cut off from the main body, was compelled to withdraw to some place of security. Early in the morning he received information that 'Álam Khán was standing protected by only 300 horse; whilst the rest of his troops were employed in plundering and collecting booty. That moment appeared to afford him an excellent opportunity of gaining important advantages for himself; so, with the rising of the sun, he threw himself upon his foe, like a hill of iron, who, incapable of parrying this charge, fled into the Doáb; but the greater number of his gallant men were slain, and the remainder were dispersed in all directions, which rendered the Sultán's triumph complete.
About this time Bábar Pádsháh arrived at Lahore; when Ghází Khán and Daulat Khán, in violation of the subsisting treaty, advanced against the fort of Bilwat.* The prime minister of the Mughal Emperor, Mír Khalífa, brought 'Álam Khán to pay his respects to the Emperor, and he was well received. After some time, Daulat Khán also presented himself in submission before the Emperor, and his example was imitated by Diláwar Khán.
The Emperor marched from Lahore towards Sámána and Sannám, and detached Tardí Beg Khán, with 4000 horse, in advance; to oppose whom, the Sultán sent Dáúd Khán, one of his principal amírs, at the head of 10,000 cavalry, besides a train of elephants. Upon information of his approach, Tardí Beg marshalled his troops, and concerted a night attack upon Dáúd Khán's camp; who, unable to sustain the shock of the aggressor, fell back, and his troops were dispersed in all directions, many of his men were slain, and Dáúd Khán himself, with seventy men of high rank, fell into the hands of the enemy. * * *
On being remonstrated with for giving way to low spirits, when he had done so much for the good of the people during his short reign, after urgent solicitation, he said, “I have had three or four desires in my heart, which still remain without accomplishment, and cannot be eradicated except by death. One is, I wished to have depopulated the country of Roh, and to have transferred its inhabitants to the tract between the Níláb and Lahore, including the hills below Nindúna, as far as the Siwálik; that they might have been constantly on the alert for the arrival of the Mughals, and not allow any one to pass from Kábul to Hind, and that they might also keep the zamíndárs of the hills under control and subjection. Another is to have entirely destroyed Lahore, that so large a city might not exist on the very road of an invader, where, immediately after capturing it on his arrival, he could collect his supplies and organize his resources. Another is, to have built two fleets of fifty large vessels each,* as commodious as saráís, for the use of pilgrims from India to Mecca; and to have made them so strong, that wind and storm should not have been able to disperse them; and that all people might go to and from that holy place in ease and comfort. The last is, to have raised a tomb to Ibráhím Lodí in Pánípat, but on the understanding that opposite to it there should be another tomb of the Chaghatáí Sultáns, whom I may have despatched to martyrdom; and to have constructed both with such architectural embellishments, that friend and foe might render their tribute of applause, and that my name might remain honoured upon earth until the day of resurrection. None of these aspirations has God allowed me to carry into effect, and I shall carry my regrets with me to my grave.”
One day a distribution of jágírs was made in 'Adalí's exchequer,
which was attended by all the amírs; when 'Adalí
dispossessed Sháh Muhammad Farmulí of his estates in Kanauj,
and transferred them to Sarmast Khán Sarwaní. This induced
Sikandar Khán, Farmulí's son, a young and bold man, to exclaim:
“To what a pass have things come, that our estates are
taken from us, and settled on the tribe of Sarwanís, who are
no better than sellers of dogs!” A stormy debate ensuing from
both sides, Sháh Muhammad, who was then sick, endeavoured
to persuade his son not to use such abusive language. But to
this he replied: “When Sher Sháh had one day cast thee into
an iron cage, with the intention of putting thee to death, Islám
Sháh came and induced the Sháh, at his intercession,*
to grant
thy life: and now dost thou not perceive the design of all these
to ruin thee? Why should one brook such insult?” At this
moment Sarmast Khán, who was a tall and robust man, placed
his hand familiarly upon Sikandar's shoulders, as though to
pacify him; but, in fact, with the intention of securing him in his
grasp, and said: “My friend, what is the reason of such anger
and exasperation?” However, Sikandar, perceiving his intention,
drew his dagger, and despatched him on the spot. A
general uproar and tumult pervaded the Council, and all rushed
upon Sikandar to apprehend him; but he, with a drawn sword
in his hand, cut down or wounded all towards whom he turned.
'Adalí, on witnessing this sanguinary scene, ran off to his private
apartment, pursued by Sikandar; whom he, however, succeeded
in excluding by chaining the door. The greater part of the
amírs had previously thrown away their swords and fled; and
Sikandar stalked about everywhere like a madman, and in this
manner two hours elapsed. At last, Ibráhím Khán Súr, brother-
Before this scene transpired, Táj Kirání, a brother of Sulaimán, having, from the different expressions of the Council, foreseen what would happen, had left the Council-room, and proceeded as far as the gate of the citadel of Gwálior, by which he was about to descend, when he met Sháh Muhammad Farmulí. He explained to him the uproarious state of the Council, and said that no respect was shown to any one, and that there was no unanimity in their deliberations; it was therefore the safest way not to frequent the Council any more, but to retire into private life: he himself would not appear any more. He invited Sháh Muhammad to join him, and repair to a place affording security against misery, till affairs took a better turn. Sháh Muhammad rejected this offer, in consequence of which he was killed in that riotous Council. Táj Kirání went to his house, and made all preparations for flight. When he had received intelligence of what had passed, he set out in the afternoon for Bengal, and 'Adalí despatched an army in pursuit of him.* * * *