Afzal Khán, whom the angel of doom had led by the collar to that place, was confident in his own courage, and saw Sivají approach unarmed and fearing and trembling. He looked upon his person and spirit as much alike, so he directed all the men who had accompanied his litter to withdraw to a distance. The treacherous foe then approached and threw himself weeping at the feet of Afzal Khán, who raised his head, and was about to place the hand of kindness on his back and embrace him. Sivají then struck the concealed weapon so fiercely into his stomach that he died without a groan. According to his orders, the trumpeter blew a blast of triumph to arouse the concealed troops. Men on horse and foot then rushed forth in great numbers on all sides, and fell upon the army of Afzal Khán, killing, plundering, and destroying. The bloodthirsty assassin rushed away in safety and joined his own men, whom he ordered to offer quarter to the defeated troops. He obtained possession of the horses, elephants, treasure, and all the baggage and stores. He proposed to take the soldiers into his service, and gained them over. Then, as usual, he went on collecting stores and men.
'Ádil Khán of Bíjápúr, on hearing of this defeat, sent another army against Sivají, under the command of Rustam Khán, one of his best generals. An action was fought near the fort of Parnála, and Rustam Khán was defeated. In fine, Fortune so favoured this treacherous worthless man, that his forces increased, and he grew more powerful every day. He erected new forts, and employed himself in settling his own territories, and in plundering those of Bíjápúr. He attacked the caravans which came from distant parts, and appropriated to himself the goods and the women. But he made it a rule that wherever his followers went plundering, they should do no harm to the mosques, the Book of God, or the women of any one. Whenever a copy of the sacred Kurán came into his hands, he treated it with respect, and gave it to some of his Musulmán followers. When the women of any Hindú or Muhammadan were taken prisoners by his men, and they had no friend to protect them, he watched over them until their relations came with a suitable ransom to buy their liberty. Whenever he found out that a woman was a slave-girl, he looked upon her as being the property of her master, and appropriated her to himself. He laid down the rule that whenever a place was plundered, the goods of poor people, pul-siyáh (copper money), and vessels of brass and copper, should belong to the man who found them; but other articles, gold and silver, coined or uncoined, gems, valuable stuffs and jewels, were not to belong to the finder, but were to be given up without the smallest deduction to the officers, and to be by them paid over to Sivají's government.
[vol. ii. p. 119.] When Aurangzeb was informed of Sivají's violence, he directed Amíru-l umará who was Súbadár of the Dakhin, to punish and put him down. Amíru-l umará marched, in accordance with these orders, from Aurangábád at the end of Jumáda-l awwal, 1070 (end of January, 1660 A.D.), and marched towards Púna and Chákna, which in those days were Sivají's places of abode and security. He left Mumtáz Khán in command at Aurangábád, and on the 1st Rajab arrived at the village of Seogánw, belonging to Sivají. At this time Sivají was at the town of Súpa,* but upon hearing of Amíru-l umará's movements, he vacated that place, and went off in another direction. Amíru-l umará took Súpa without opposition, and left Jádú Ráí there to take charge of it, and to provide supplies of corn for the army. The daring freebooter Sivají ordered his followers to attack and plunder the baggage* of Amíru-l umará's army wherever they met with it. When the Amír was informed of this, he appointed 4000 horse, under experienced officers, to protect the baggage. But every day, and in every march, Sivají's Dakhinís swarmed round the baggage, and falling suddenly upon it like Cossacks, they carried off horses, camels, men, and whatever they could secure, until they became aware of the approach of the troops. The Imperial forces pursued them, and harassed them, so that they lost courage, and giving up fighting for flight, they dispersed. At length they reached Púna and Sívápúr, two places built by that dog (Sivají). The Imperial forces took both these places and held them.
Then the royal armies marched to the fort of Chákna, and
after examining its bastions and walls, they opened trenches,
erected batteries, threw up intrenchments round their own
position, and began to drive mines under the fort. Thus having
invested the place, they used their best efforts to reduce it.
The rains in that country last nearly five months, and fall
night and day, so that people cannot put their heads out of
their houses. The heavy masses of clouds change day into night,
so that lamps are often needed, for without them one man
cannot see another one of a party. But for all the muskets
were rendered useless, the powder spoilt, and the bows deprived
of their strings, the siege was vigorously pressed, and
the walls of the fortress were breached by the fire of the guns.
The garrison were hard pressed and troubled, but in dark nights
they sallied forth into the trenches and fought with surprising
boldness. Sometimes the forces of the freebooter on the outside
combined with those inside in making a simultaneous attack in
broad daylight, and placed the trenches in great danger. After
the siege had lasted fifty or sixty days, a bastion which had been
mined was blown up, and stones, bricks and men flew into the
air like pigeons. The brave soldiers of Islám, trusting in God,
and placing their shields before them, rushed to the assault and
fought with great determination. But the infidels had thrown
up a barrier of earth inside the fortress, and had made intrench-
[vol. ii. p. 123.] Sulaimán Shukoh had for some time found refuge in the hills with Pirthí Singh, Zamíndár of Srínagar, and Tarbiyat Khán had been sent with an army to overrun that territory. Pirthí Singh now wrote, through the medium of Rája Jai Singh, begging forgiveness for his offences, and offering to give up Sulaimán Shukoh. Kunwar Ráí Singh, son of Rája Jai Singh, was sent to fetch Sulaimán Shukoh, * * and he brought him to Court on the 11th Jumáda-l awwal. He was led into the presence of the Emperor, who graciously took a lenient course, and ordered him to be sent prisoner to the fort of Gwálior, along with Muhammad Sultán, who had been confined in Salím-garh.
[vol. ii. p. 123.] Unfavourable seasons and want of rain, combined with war and movements of armies, had made grain very scarce and dear. Many districts lay entirely waste, and crowds of people from all parts made their way to the capital. Every street and bázár of the city was choked with poor helpless people, so that it was difficult for the inhabitants to move about. An Imperial order was issued, that in addition to the regular bulghúr-khánas, where raw and cooked grain was given away, ten more langar-khánas (free houses of entertainment), should be opened in the city, and twelve bulghúr-khánas in the suburbs and among the tombs, and careful men were appointed to superintend them. Instructions were also issued for the amírs to make provision for langar distributions, and orders were given for the remission of taxes on (the transport of) grain, with the view of favouring the gathering of stores.