[Text, vol. iii. p. 401.] Burhánu-l Mulk was the younger
brother of Murtazá Nizámu-l Mulk. When Husain Nizámu-l
Mulk died, the Nizámu-l Mulkí kingdom descended to his eldest
son, but in reality the government fell into the hands of the
young prince's mother. He, like his father before him, preferred
Burhán to all his friends. In course of time, designing persons
stirred up strife between him and his relations, so that he seized
and sent to a fortress both his mother and his brother. His
ignorance and vicious propensities kept him aloof from the loyal
and good, and threw him into the company of evil persons, whose
bad advice quite perverted his mind. He raised a low fellow, a
cock-fighter named Husain, to be his companion, and foolishly
gave him the title of Ásaf Khán. * * This low-born fellow
stirred up a war against Bidar, and a fierce struggle went on in
Kandahár.*
The news of these foolish proceedings soon spread
abroad, and Burhán, having escaped from prison by the aid of his
keeper, began to raise disturbances; but his mind was in fetters,
and his fortune asleep. He cast his eyes upon the wealth of
others, and began to oppress them. When Nizámu-l Mulk was
informed of this outbreak, he hastened back, and reached Ahmad-
[Text, vol. iii. p. 412.] After the defeat of the rebels, a
portion of the victorious forces marched towards Orissa, and
encamped by the river Damodar. There they rested, and a
detachment was sent to Ghorá-ghát, to secure the safety of the
Káksháls. After some time, Ma'súm Khán, at the head of a
strong rebel force, came out of the country of Bhátí against
Mirzá Beg Kákshál, who sought refuge with Tarsún Khán at
Tájpúr. Ma'súm detached parties to plunder the neighbourhood,
and Tarsún Khán shut himself up in the fort. The country was
overrun to within seven kos of Tánda. When Sháhbáz Khán was
informed of this, he marched to inflict punishment on the rebel.
An advanced force was sent on with all speed, and he himself
marched from Patna with his army. He proceeded by land, and
in a short time reached the disturbed districts, and the rebels fell
back before him. Ma'súm Khán was near the Jumna, and there
he rested. Sháhbáz wrote from Tánda to the amír who held
Orissa, saying, that Katlú had no longer the courage to face the
royal army, and that they should send a portion of their forces
to support himself. Accordingly Wazír Khán and * * joined
Sháhbáz Khán. That officer then crossed the Ganges, when he
was providentially joined by 3000 artillerymen from Bhátí, who
had been in the service of Sháh Bardí, then lately deceased.
This reinforcement raised great hopes of victory, and was attached
to the divisions of Tarsún Khán and Mirzá Beg Kákshál.
Sháh Kulí Khán, and two or three other chiefs of distinction,
came and joined the royal army. Intelligence was now brought
that Bábá Bhakarí, with a rebel force, had gone to the town of
Santús, and defeated Tarsún Khán. Sháhbáz Khán sent a
detachment under Muhibb 'Alí Khán to support Tarsún, and he
himself quickly followed. The enemy then fled, and much spoil
fell into the hands of the royal forces. Ma'súm Khán, knowing
the crossing of the river to be a difficult operation, took up a
position on the bank of the Jumna, opposite the Imperial army.
[Negociations.] Sháhbáz Khán at length cut short the negocia-