At this time messengers began to come close upon each other from Mahdí Khwája, to announce that the Ráná Sanka was undoubtedly on his march, and had been joined by Hasan Khán Mewáttí. * * * In order, therefore, to harass the Ráná's army, I pushed on before me, towards Bayána, a light force. * * * On the 9th of the first Jumáda, * * we received information that Ráná Sanka had pushed on with all his army nearly as far as Bayána. The party that had been sent out in advance were not able to reach the fort, nor even to communicate with it. The garrison of Bayána had advanced too far from the fort and with too little caution, and the enemy having unexpectedly fallen upon them in great force, completely routed them. * * * It occurred to me that, situated as I was, of all places in this neighbourhood, Síkrí being that in which water was most abundant, was upon the whole the most desirable station for a camp; but that it was possible that the Pagans might anticipate us, take possession of the water and encamp there. I therefore drew up my army in order of battle, with right and left wing and main body, and advanced forward in battle array. * * * I had directed that the different Begs should have charge of the advance and scouts in turn. When it was 'Abdu-l 'Azíz's day, without taking any precautions, he advanced as far as Kanwáhah, which is five kos from Síkrí. The Pagans were on their march forward, when they got notice of his imprudent and disorderly advance, which they no sooner learned than a body of 4000 or 5000 of them at once pushed on and fell upon him. 'Abdu-l 'Azíz and Mulla Apák had with them about 1000 or 1500 men. Without taking into consideration the numbers or position of the enemy, they immediately engaged. On the very first charge, a number of their men were taken prisoners and carried off the field. The moment this intelligence arrived, I despatched Muhib 'Alí Khalífa, with his followers, to reinforce them. Mulla Husain and some others were sent close after to their support, being directed to push on each according to the speed of his horse. I then detached Muhammad Jang-Jang to cover their retreat. Before the arrival of the first reinforcement, consisting of Muhib 'Alí Khalífa and his party, they had reduced 'Abdu-l 'Azíz and his detachment to great straits, had taken his horse-tail standard, and taken and put to death * * * and Mulla Apák's younger brother, besides a number of others. No sooner did the first reinforcement come up, than Táhir Tabarí, the maternal uncle of Muhib 'Alí, made a push forward, but was unable to effect a junction with his friends, and got into the midst of the enemy. Muhib 'Alí himself was thrown down in the action, but Baltú, making a charge from behind, succeeded in bringing him off. They pursued our troops a full kos, but halted the moment they descried Muhammad 'Alí Jang-Jang's troops from a distance.
Messengers now arrived in rapid succession to inform me that the enemy had advanced close upon us. We lost no time in buckling on our armour; we arrayed our horses in their mail, and were no sooner accoutred than we mounted and rode out. I likewise ordered the guns* to advance. After marching a kos, we found that the enemy had retreated. There being a large tank on our left, I encamped there, to have the benefit of the water. We fortified the guns in front, and connected them by chains. Between every two guns we left a space of seven or eight gaz, which was defended by a chain. Mustafa Rúmí had disposed the guns according to the Rúmí fashion. He was extremely active, intelligent, and skilful in the management of artillery. As Ustád 'Alí Kúlí was jealous of him,* I had stationed Mustafa on the right with Humáyún. In the places where there were no guns, I caused the Hindustání and Khurásání prisoners to run a ditch. * * * In order to re-assure my troops, and to add to the apparent strength of my position, wherever there were not guns, I directed things like tripods to be made of wood, and the spaces between each of them, being seven or eight gaz, to be connected and strengthened by bulls' hides twisted into ropes. Twenty or twenty-five days elapsed before these machines and furniture were finished. * * *
On Monday, the 23rd of the first Jumáda, I had mounted to survey my posts, and, in the course of my ride, was seriously struck with the reflection that I had always resolved one time after another to make an effectual repentance. * * * Having sent for the gold and silver goblets and cups, with all the other utensils used for drinking parties, I directed them to be broken, and renounced the use of wine, purifying my mind. The fragments of the goblets, and other utensils of gold and silver, I directed to be divided among darweshes and the poor. * * *
At this time, as I have already observed, in consequence of
preceding events, a general consternation and alarm prevailed
among great and small. There was not a single person who
uttered a manly word, nor an individual who delivered a manly
opinion. The wazírs, whose duty it was to give good counsel,
and the amírs, who enjoyed the wealth of kingdoms, neither
spoke bravely, nor was their counsel or deportment such as
became men of firmness. During the whole course of this
expedition Khalífa conducted himself admirably, and was unremitting
and indefatigable in his endeavours to put everything
in the best order. At length, observing the universal discourag-
Master and servant, small and great, all, with emulation, seizing the blessed Kurán in their hands, swore in the form that I had given. My plan succeeded to admiration, and its effects were instantly visible, far and near, on friend and foe.
The danger and confusion on all sides were particularly alarming at this very moment. Husain Khán Lohání had advanced and taken Rábrí.* Kutb Khán's people had taken Chandwár.* A man of the name of Rustam Khán, having assembled a body of Doáb bowmen, had come and taken Koel,* and made Kachak 'Alí prisoner. Zahíd had been compelled to evacuate Sambal, and had rejoined me. Sultán Muhammad Duldai had retired from Kanauj, and joined my army. The Pagans of the surrounding country came and blockaded Gwálior. 'Álim Khán, who had been sent to the succour of Gwálior, instead of proceeding to that place, had marched off to his own country. Every day some unpleasant news reached us from one place or another. Many Hindustánís began to desert from the army. Haibat Khán Garg-andáz fled to Sambal. Hasan Khán Báriwál fled and joined the Pagans. Without minding the Pagans, we continued to mind only our own force. On Tuesday, the 9th of the latter Jumáda, on the day of the Nauroz, I advanced my guns* and tripods that moved on wheels, with all the apparatus and machines which I had prepared, and marched forward with my army, regularly drawn up and divided into right and left wing and centre, in battle order. I sent forward in front the guns* and tripods placed on wheel carriages. Behind them was placed Ustád 'Alí Kúlí, with a body of his matchlockmen, to prevent the communication between the artillery and infantry, who were behind, from being cut off, and to enable them to advance and form into line.* After the ranks were formed, and every man stationed in his place, I galloped along the line, animating the begs and troops of the centre, right and left, giving each division special instructions how they were to act, and to every man orders how to conduct himself, and in what manner he was to engage; and, having made these arrangements, I ordered the army to move on in order of battle for about a kos, when we halted to encamp. The Pagans, on getting notice of our motions, were on the alert, and several parties drew out to face us, and advanced close up to our guns* and ditch. After our army had encamped, and when we had strengthened and fortified our position in front, as I did not intend fighting that day, I pushed on a few of our troops to skirmish with a party of the enemy, by way of taking an omen. They took a number of Pagans and cut off their heads, which they brought away. Malik Kásim also cut off and brought in some heads. He behaved extremely well. This incident raised the spirits of our army excessively, and had a wonderful effect in giving them confidence in themselves.