At this time, Sáhú-jí Bhonsla, son-in-law of Jádú Ráí, the Hindu commander of Nizám Sháh's army, came in and joined 'Azam Khán. After the murder of Jádú Ráí, which has been mentioned above, Sáhú-jí broke off his connexion with Nizám Sháh, and, retiring to the districts of Púna and Chákna, he wrote to 'Azam Khán, proposing to make his submission upon receiving a promise of protection. 'Azam Khán wrote to Court, and received orders to accept the proposal. Sáhú-jí then came and joined him with two thousand horse. He received a mansab of 5000,* a khil'at, a gift of two lacs of rupees, and other presents. His brother Mína-jí received a robe and a mansab of 3000 personal and 1500 horse. Sámájí son of Sáhú-jí, also re­ceived a robe and a mansab of 2000 personal and 1000 horse. Several of their relations and dependents also obtained gifts and marks of distinction.

Khán-Jahán and Daryá Khán, when they heard of the march of the Imperial forces towards Síú-gánw, quitted Bízápúr and Bhonsla, and went to the village of Lásúr, ten kos from Daulatábád. Nizám Sháh also, on being informed of this advance, withdrew from Nizámábád, which he had built outside of the fort of Daulatábád, and around which his adherents had built various houses and edifices, and entered into the fort itself. Khán-Jahán and Daryá Khán, no longer deeming it safe to remain at Lásúr, went to Ír-Kahtala, half a kos from Daulatábád, and a few days later Khán-Jahán removed his family to Aubásh-darra, a place within cover of Daulatábád. Daryá Khán, with a thou­sand Afgháns, separated from Khán-Jahán, marched towards Chándor, and the ghát of Chálís-gánw,* with the intention of attacking Andol and Dharan-gánw.

This movement being reported to the Emperor, * * he appointed 'Abdu-lla Khán, whom he had summoned from the Bálághát, to act against Daryá Khán, and sent him off on the 10th Jumáda-l awwal. Daryá Khán had ravaged Andol, Dharan-gánw, and sundry other places of the Páyín-ghát of Chálís-gánw; but on hearing of the approach of 'Abdu-lla Khán, he turned back to the Bálághát. Want of rain and the ravages of the Nizám-Sháhís and Afgháns, had made provisions very scarce about Daulatábád; so 'Azam Khán did not deem it prudent to advance in that direction, but thought it preferable to march against Mukarrab Khán and Bahlol, who were at Dhárúr and Amba-jogáí, in which plan of operations he was confirmed by a letter from Yamínu-d daula, who was at Ojhar. So he marched towards the ghát by way of Mánik-dúdh. (After some fighting) the royal forces ascended the ghát and took the village of Dáman­gánw, twenty kos from Ahmadnagar. Next day they marched to Jamkhír,* in the Nizám-Sháhí territories. * * Leaving a force there, he next day proceeded to Tilangí. The garrison of the fort there had set it in order, and opened fire upon him. * * But in the course of one watch he took it by assault, put many of the defenders to the sword, took nearly five hundred prisoners, and captured all the munitions of the fort. When the royal forces reached the banks of the Wanjara,* twelve kos from the fort of Dhárúr, they found that Mukarrab Khán and his confederates had passed down the pass of Anjan-dúdh, and had gone to the neighbourhood of Bír. 'Azam Khán then sent Sáhú-jí Bhonsla to take possession of the districts around Junír and Sangamnír, whilst he himself, with the main force, went through the pass of Ailam to the town of Bír, and proceeded from thence to Partúr, on the bank of the river Dúdna. The enemy then fled towards Daulatábád. But 'Azam Khán learnt that scarcity of provisions prevented them from remaining in that vicinity, and that they had moved off towards the Bálághát, by way of Dhárúr. He then determined to intercept and attack them. But he found that the enemy, having placed their elephants and beggage in the fort of Dhárúr, had the design of descending the Páyín-ghát. So he went through the pass of Anjan-dúdh, and encamped three kos from Dhárúr.

Capture of the Fort of Mansúr-garh.

[Text, vol. i. p. 332.] In the course of the past year, Bákir Khán had proceeded to the pass of Kherá-pára, two kos from Chhatar-dawár. This is a very narrow pass, between the territories of Kutbu-l Mulk and Orissa, and a small force of musketeers and archers might hold it in security. He ravaged the country round, but when the rains set in, he retired without making any attempt upon the fort of Mansúr-garh, which a slave of Kutbu-l Mulk's, named Mansúr, had built about four kos from Kherá-pára. After the rains, under the royal orders, he again marched to Kherá-pára. Sher Muhammad, and other officers of Kutbu-l Mulk, had collected about 3000 horse and 10,000 foot, and having strengthened the fort with guns, muskets, and other implements of warfare, they made ready for battle. * * On the 8th Jumáda-l awwal, Bákir Khán arrived in the vicinity of Mansúr-garh, and found the enemy drawn up in a plain north-east of the fort. * * The enemy were unable to withstand the assault of the royal forces, but broke and fled. Flushed with victory, Bákir Khán resolved to attack the fort. Notwithstanding a heavy fire of cannons and muskets, he advanced to the base of the walls, planted his scaling-ladders, and began to ascend. The garrison being dismayed, took grass between their teeth, as is the manner of that country, and begged for quarter. Bákir Khán allowed them to march out in safety, and then placed a garrison of his own in the fort.

Flight of Khán-Jahán.

[Text, vol. i. p. 334.] The territories of Nizámu-l Mulk, had suffered severely from the inroads of the Imperial forces in pursuit of Khán-Jahán, and mistrust and differences had arisen between the Nizám and Khán-Jahán; so the latter, in concert with Daryá Khán, his chief adherents, and his remaining sons, resolved to retire to the Panjáb, in order to seek the means of carrying on his insurrection among the disaffected Afgháns of that country. So he left Daulatábád and proceeded towards Málwa. The Emperor, by his sagacity and foresight, had anticipated such a movement, and had sent 'Abdu-alla Khán to Málwa, in order to chastise Daryá Khán. After Daryá had returned to the Bálághát, 'Abdu-lla Khán was directed to wait at the Páyín-ghát, and to hasten after Daryá Khán, wherever he might hear of him. Having got intelligence of his movements, 'Abdu-lla Khán went after him, and reported the facts to Court.

On the 24th Jumáda-l awwal, the Emperor * * appointed Saiyid Muzaffar Khán to support 'Abdu-lla Khán, * * * and on the 25th Rabí'u-l awwal, he marched towards Málwa. He was directed to proceed by way of Bíjágarh, and to cross the Nerbadda near Mándú. * * If he found 'Abdu-lla Khán there, he was directed to join him. He marched with all speed, and crossed the Nerbadda at Akbarpúr. 'Abdu-lla Khán having heard that Khán-Jahán had crossed at Dharampúr,* he crossed the river at the same ford, and encamped at Loníhara. There he ascertained that on the 28th Jumáda-l awwal, Khán-Jahán had moved off. He then proceeded to Dípálpúr,* where he learnt that the rebels were plundering the neighbourhood of Ujjain, and he marched to Núláhí* in search of them.