It then occurred to him that the strength of this part of the fort was such, that the garrison probably felt quite secure about it, and took little care to guard it. He had a number of steel spikes prepared. In the day he attacked the fort on all sides, and at night he repaired with 600 men to this place. They drove the spikes right and left firmly into (the scarp of the rock), and by means of them climbed up into the fort. The garrison, being quite at ease about this part of the fort, did not observe their entrance. When thirty-nine persons, the last of whom was Bairám Khán, had gone up, His Majesty also reso­lutely ascended.* By daybreak 300 men had got in. There they found great stores of corn and butter, and other provisions, for the people of the fort. As soon as it was light, the besieging army advanced against the fort. The Emperor and his party then came down, shouting their battle-cry. On reaching the gate they opened it, and gave admission to the assailants. So this strong fortress was taken. Ikhtiyár Khán retreated into the citadel, which is called Múliyá. Great numbers of the garrison were slain, and many of their wives and children cast themselves down from the walls of the fort and were killed.

Ikhtiyár Khán then came out of the citadel and surrendered. He held a high position among the Gujarátís, and was kindly received by the Emperor, who made him one of his personal attendants.* The treasures of the Kings of Gujarát, which had been accumulating for many years, fell into the hands of the conquerors. The gold was divided among the soldiers, so much a head. The goods and stuffs of Rúm and Europe and China, and of every part of the world, which the Kings of Gujarát had treasured, all fell a prey to the victors. So vast was the amount of gold and effects that came into the possession of the soldiers, that no person attempted to collect revenue that year in Gujarát.

The agriculturists of the country sent a person with a message to Sultán Bahádur, to inform him that as several of the districts were not occupied by the Mughal agents, they would themselves make the proper collections, if he would send an army to protect them. Accordingly, Sultán Bahádur sent one of his slaves, 'Imádu-l Mulk,* who was distinguished for courage and justice. 'Imádu-l Mulk set about collecting forces, and by the time he reached Ahmadábád many soldiers of the army and of the zamíndárs had gathered round him, to the number of about 50,000 horse and foot.* He encamped within sight of Ahmad-ábád, and began to collect the revenue. When information of this was brought to the Emperor after the fall of Chámpanír, he made a second large distribution of gold out of the plunder of Gujarát among the soldiers. He then placed the fort of Chám-panír in charge of Tardí Beg, and marched towards Ahmadábád. The command of the vanguard was given to Mirzá 'Askarí, Mirzá Yádgár Násir, and Mír Hindú Beg, and they went on one day's march in advance. In the vicinity of Mahmúd-ábád, * which is twelve kos from Ahmadábád, 'Imádu-l Mulk attacked Mirzá 'Askarí, and was defeated. Many men fell on both sides.

The author of this work heard from his father, who was then wazír of Mirzá 'Askarí, that at mid-day, when it was intensely hot, the Gujarátís came hastily out of Ahmadábád. Mirzá Yádgár Násir had marched about half a kos on the right flank of Mirzá Askarí, and Mirzá Hindú Beg had encamped at the same distance on his left. The Gujarátís came on with such speed that the Mirzá had no time to array his forces, so he retired with a party of his men into a thorn brake, where he stood fast. Heedless of this disposition of the Mirzá's, the Gujarátís dispersed in search of plunder, and gathered a large booty. Mirzá Yádgár Násir and Mirzá Hindú Beg came up in due order with their forces, and the Gujarátís took to flight. Mirzá 'Askarí now came forth from the thorn brake, and pursued the Gujarátís to Ahmadábád. More than 2000 men were killed in the battle.

After this the Emperor bestowed Ahmadábád and its depen­dencies upon Mirzá 'Askarí in jágír,* Nahrwála Patan upon Mirzá Yádgár Násir, and Broach upon Mirzá Hindú Beg.* Tardí Beg received Chámpanír, and Kásim Husain obtained Baroda. Khán-jahán Shírází and other nobles also received grants.* The Emperor proceeded after these successes to Bur­hánpúr, and from thence to Mandú.

After a time one of the nobles of Sultán Bahádur prepared a fortified position in the neighbourhood of Nausárí, which is near to Surat, and proceeded to collect forces. He took possession of Nausárí, and having associated Rúmí Khán* of Surat with Khán-jahán Shírází, they marched against Broach.* Kásim Husain, being unable to withstand them, fled to Chámpanír. The Gujarátís then rose and carried on offensive movements on every side.

One night Mirzá 'Askarí in a convivial party took too much wine, and giving license to his tongue, exclaimed, “I am a King, and the shadow of God.” Ghazanfar, who was one of his com­panions, and foster-brother of Kásim Khán, said in an under­tone, “So thou art; but not for thyself.” The convives smiled, and the Mirzá having found out what they were laughing about, got angry, and threw Ghazanfar into prison. In a few days he made his escape,* and went and joined Sultán Bahádur, whom he incited to attack Ahmadábád, assuring him that he was acquainted with all the plans of the Mughals, who were anxious to retreat, and only wanted a pretext for so doing. He advised him to make the Mirzá prisoner, and march against the Mughals; and he expressed his willingness to submit to punishment if they made any real resistance. Sultán Bahádur, with the assistance of the zamíndárs of Súrath,* got together a force and marched against Ahmadábád.

Just at this period Amír Hindú Beg had counselled Mirzá 'Askarí to have the khutba recited and coin struck in his name, and to set up his claim to independence, expecting that the troops in hopes (of reward) would devote themselves to his service. Mirzá 'Askarí did not accept this advice. After much debate and deliberation, it was determined that Mirzá 'Askarí, Mirzá Yádgár Násir, Amír Hindú Beg and some other nobles should leave Ahmadábád, and form a camp in the rear of Asáwal,* opposite Sarganj. Sultán Bahádur also came down to Sarganj and faced his enemies. By chance a cannon ball from the camp of the Mirzá knocked down the tent of Sultán Bahádur. This greatly disturbed him, and he summoned Ghazanfar to his pre­sence, intending to bring him to punishment. Ghazanfar asked that his punishment might be postponed until the Sultán had set his army in array, for he had heard that Mirzá 'Askarí in­tended to retreat during the night. When night came Mirzá 'Askarí, with the approval of the amírs, retreated towards Chámpanír, leaving everything superfluous behind them.* They halted at ten kos distance, and Sultán Bahádur pursued and came up with them. Mirzá Askarí and the amírs mounted and made a show of fighting, and then retired.

When they reached Chámpanír, Tardí Beg* exhibited hostility towards them, and shutting himself up in the fort, sent a mes­senger to Humáyún, to inform him that Mirzá 'Askarí had hostile intentions, and was about to march upon Ágra and pro­claim himself King. But before Mirzá 'Askarí retreated from Ahmadábád, the newswriters and reporters had communicated to the Emperor the proposition which Mír Hindú Beg had made to the Mirzá for his assuming the crown, and although he had not assented thereto, they reported that he entertained hostile designs. The Emperor set off with all speed from Mandú to Ágra, and was met upon the road* by Mirzá 'Askarí, who waited upon him, and told him the facts of the matter. Sultán Bahádur obtained possession of the fort of Chámpanír by the capitulation of Tardí Beg.