Hoomayoon was now in great distress for money to pay the few troops who adhered to him, and was obliged to borrow the horses, camels, and mer­chandise of some great caravans, with which he mounted his cavalry, and paid his troops. He also sent privately Shah Bodagh Khan, Tooluk Khan Kocheen, Mujnoon Khan, and others, to the num­ber of ten persons, to support his interest at Ka-bul, and to send him intelligence of what passed in that city. Of all these persons, Tooluk Khan alone remained true to him. Meanwhile, Sooliman Mirza, Ibrahim Mirza, and Hindal Mirza, who had gone in pursuit of Kamran, returned with their troops to join the King, who in about forty days found himself in a condition to make an attempt again to recover his kingdom; for which purpose he marched towards Kabul. Kamran Mirza op­posed him on the banks of the Punjur river; but being defeated with great slaughter, he shaved his head and beard, and escaped in the disguise of a mendicant to the mountains of Lumghan. Askurry Mirza was taken prisoner, and Kurrachar Khan fell in the battle. This victory once more enabled Hoomayoon to enter Kabul in triumph. Here he devoted himself to pleasure for one whole year, when he was roused by intelligence that Kamran Mirza was again in his vicinity, at the head of fifteen hundred horse, while some of his officers, leaving him, went to Ghizny. Hoomayoon now marched against Kamran, who fled to the Indus; and the former returned without effecting any other object. Kamran, hearing of his brother's retreat, returned among the Meimundy Afghans, where he was shortly afterwards joined by parties of Khuleelzies and Dawoodzies from Lumghan. Hoomayoon again took the field; and wrote to Beiram Khan Toorkoman, who still held the go­vernment of Kandahar, to march and seize those officers who had retired to Ghizny; for it appears they had invited Kamran Mirza to join them, for

A. H. 958.
A. D. 1551.

which purpose he was now marching by the route of Pishawur, Bungush, and Goordaz. Beiram Khan, however, having reached Ghizny before Kamran, conciliated the chiefs, and brought them to Kabul; and Kamran being disappointed of his expected succours, re­tired to Pishawur, while Hoomayoon proceeded to Kabul. Before his arrival, Hajy Mahomed Koka, one of the disaffected chiefs, found means to escape to Ghizny, from whence he was persuaded to return.

At this time Askurry Mirza preferred a petition to the King, soliciting his release from prison, and permission to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca. He was sent for the present, by way of greater security, to Sooliman Mirza, governor of Budukhshan; but his request was subsequently acceded to, and he died in the year 961 (A. D. 1554), on his way across the deserts of Arabia. He left one daughter, who was afterwards married to Yoossoof Khan, an inha­bitant of Mushed.

Kamran Mirza continued to raise troops among the Afghans, and maintained a private corre­spondence with Hajy Mahomed Koka at Ghizny. This correspondence being detected, the Hajy suf­fered death. Hoomayoon again marched against Kamran Mirza; but was surprised in his camp near

Zeekaad 21.
A. H. 958.
Nov. 19.
A. D. 1551.

Khybur, in a night attack, on the 21st of Zeekaad 958, on which occasion Hindal Mirza lost his life. Kamran gained little advantage by this accident; for being subsequently defeated, he was obliged to seek shelter among the Afghans. After this suc­cess, Hoomayoon returned to Kabul, and out of affection to the memory of Hindal Mirza, who had expiated his former disobedience by his blood, he gave the daughter of that Prince, Ruzeea Sool-tana, to his son Akbur in marriage. He con­ferred on them at the same time all the wealth of Hindal, and appointed Akbur to the command of his uncle's troops, and to the government of Ghizny.

A few months after these events, the Afghans again rose in favour of Kamran Mirza; but Hoo-mayoon invaded their country, and laid it waste with fire and sword, till they abandoned Kamran's cause, and expelled him from their country.

Kamran, now flying to Hindoostan, was induced to solicit an asylum with Sulim Shah Soor; but meeting with a cold reception there, he departed from the court of Dehly, and sought protection from the Raja of Nagrakote: being expelled thence also, he joined Sooltan Adam Gukkur in the Punjab.

At this period, one Mirza Heidur Doghlat reigned in Kashmeer, who requested the assistance of Hoomayoon in quelling some disturbances in his kingdom. Hoomayoon, accordingly, marching to­wards India, crossed the Indus. On this occasion, Sooltan Adam Gukkur, apprehensive of Hooma-yoon's resentment in case he afforded protection to Kamran, seized that Prince, and acquainted Hoo-mayoon he was ready to deliver him into his hands. Moonyim Khan was deputed to Sooltan Adam for the purpose of receiving him, and Kamran was accordingly brought to the royal presence.

The Mogul chiefs were all of opinion that he should suffer death, in order to prevent further dis­turbances in the government; but Hoomayoon, unwilling to stain his hands in his brother's blood, was content to deprive him of sight. Some days after the sentence was carried into effect, Hoo-

A. H. 959.
A. D. 1552.

mayoon went to see him. Kamran im­mediately arose, and walking some steps forward to meet him, said, “The glory “of the King will not be diminished by visiting “the unfortunate.” Hoomayoon burst into tears, and wept bitterly. Kamran Mirza eventually obtained permission to proceed to Mecca, by the way of Sind, and having resided there three years, died a natural death in the year 964. (A. D. 1556.) He left three daughters and one son, Abool Kasim Mirza, who, some time after his father's decease, was put to death by order of Akbur, in the fort of Gualiar.

Hoomayoon, being now free from the restless spirit of Kamran Mirza, began to extend his domi­nions, and turned his thoughts towards Kashmeer. Sulim Shah Soor, the King of Dehly, hearing of this, advanced to the Indus; and Hoomayoon's officers represented to him, that, if he should enter Kashmeer, there being but one pass by which he could retreat, Sulim Shah might cut him off. Hoomayoon, deaf to their representations, persisted in his resolution; but a mutiny arose in his army, and the greater part of his officers refused to proceed, while others actually returned to Kabul. Hoomayoon was consequently compelled to give up his purpose, and recrossed the Indus. On his retreat, he caused the fort of Bikram to be built, wherein he left a garrison under Sikundur Khan Oozbuk.

The King, having arrived in Kabul, sent his son Akbur to his government of Ghizny, under the charge of Julal-ood-Deen Mahomed, Vizier. In

A. H. 961.
A. D. 1553.

the year 961, the King had another son born to him at Kabul, whom he named Mahomed Hukeem Mirza, an account of whom will appear in the reign of Akbur.

In the course of this year, Hoomayoon became jealous of Beiram Khan, owing to the calumny of some of his courtiers. They stated that he was carrying on intrigues with the Persian government, and the King thought it necessary to march to Kandahar. Beiram Khan, conscious of his inno­cence, came out when he heard of his approach, with five or six attendants only, to congratulate Hoomayoon on his arrival, and to lay his offerings at his feet; and the latter, perceiving how he had been deceived, satisfied Beiram Khan for the reason of his coming, and spent two months with him. During this time, the enemies of Beiram Khan were disgraced, and himself loaded with favours. Beiram Khan, however, apprehensive that insinuations like those which had lately been thrown out, if repeated, might at last operate on his master's mind, earnestly entreated that the government might be bestowed on some other chief, and that he might be employed at court. Hoomayoon refused his consent, conceiving such a measure might injure Beiram Khan's reputation, and when they parted, the charge of the govern­ment of the district of Zumeen Dawur was made over to him, into which he removed two of his own dependents.

It was at this time that letters were received from some of the inhabitants of Dehly and Agra, acquainting Hoomayoon of the death of Sulim Shah Soor. They also stated that the Afghan tribes being engaged in a civil war, a favourable opportunity presented itself for Hoomayoon to re­turn and take possession of his kingdom. Being in no condition to raise a sufficient army for the enter­prise, Hoomayoon paid little attention to the in­vitation, and became extremely melancholy. Be­ing one day on a hunting party, he told some of his nobles, that he was very uneasy in his mind regarding Hindoostan. One of those who were in favour of the enterprise, observed, that there was an old method of divination, by sending a person before, and asking the names of the three first persons he met, from which a conclusion good or bad might be drawn. The King, being naturally superstitious, humoured the fancy, and sent three horsemen in front, who were to come back and acquaint him of the answers they received. The first horseman who returned, said that he had met with a traveller whose name was Dowlut. * The next said that he met a man who called himself Moorad.† * And the third, that he met with a villager whose name was Saadut.‡*