Sultán Fíroz expended the whole revenue (mál) of Gujarát, amounting to about two krors, in refitting his army and in the payment of his troops, so that he might march once more against Thatta. When he was on the point of departure he wrote Khán-i Jahán [announcing his intention and directing the Khán to send him ample supplies].

When Fíroz Sháh was about to march for Thatta, Khán-i Jahán made great efforts to send supplies, and gave orders to the officials urging them to exert themselves in the collection of supplies, munitions and money. The vast quantities collected exceed all description; seven lacs of tankas were expended upon only one kind of military weapon. These provisions were des­patched from day to day, and they arrived in such vast quantities in Gujarát that it was difficult to provide carriage for them. Khán-i Jahán sent with them a letter [expressing his hope for the safety and success of the Sultán in his enterprize].

The Sultán gave orders for the march to Thatta, which was received with much joy by the army. * * Just at this time letters were received from Bahrám Khán, son-in-law of Hasan Khán Kángú from Daulatábád, representing that Bahrám Khán held Daulatábád, but that a dispute had arisen between him and the son of Hasan Kángú, he therefore solicited the Sultán to come himself and assume the seat of royalty. [After consultation the Sultán replied that he must first conquer Thatta; he would afterwards proceed to Daulatábád].

Postponing the affairs of Daulatábád to those of Thatta, he left Zafar Khán in charge of Gujarát. He had at first intended to place Malik Náib Bárbak in charge, and the robes and titles had all been prepared; but the Sultán never transacted any business without referring to the Kurán for an augury, and now when he tried the fál (augury) it was against Náib Bárbak, and in favour of Zafar Khán. The latter was accordingly sent for, and the robes of investiture, the estates and full powers were given to him. Such was the trust of Fíroz Sháh in the indica­tions of the Divine will.

When the Sultán marched the second time for Thatta, many of his men, who had gone through the hardships of the first campaign, went off with their outfits to their homes. On being apprized of this, the Sultán consulted his officers, who advised him to appoint sentinels, to prevent desertions. The Sultán [among other reasons for rejecting this advice] said, “If the Almighty wills that I should conquer Thatta, the presence of these men is unnecessary; but if I am to fail, what can they do?” He then sent orders to Khán-i Jahán, directing him to look after all men who returned from the army to the city, and, for the sake of example, to apprehend and inflict the tadáruk-i ma'nawí upon all those who had been regularly retained (chákar) and had received money from the State. They were not to be subjected to the tadáruk-i khusrawí. In affairs of State the tadáruk-i khusrawí, or imperial remedy, signifies execution, banishment or amercement; but the tadáruk-i ma'nawí, or moral remedy, is to expose a man to the shafts of public re­proach. This was following the precepts of the Prophet. * * * In obedience to these orders Khán-i Jahán directed his officers to apprehend every man who returned from the army. If, after due inquiry, a man proved to be a regular retainer, he was subjected to the tadáruk-i ma'nawí. Some well known offenders were exposed in the bázárs for a day or two to the gaze of all men, and were then set free without further chastise­ment, and without their villages or pay being touched.

At the commencement of his march to Thatta, the Sultán consulted the Shaikhu-l Islám. * * * On this occasion the boats employed were few. When he arrived in the vicinity of Thatta, the inhabitants were all busily engaged in agricultural operations, totally ignorant of his return, which was quite unexpected. When the Sultán retreated to Gujarát, the people of Thatta made a verse, which was currently repeated among them, saying, “By the will of God Sultán Muhammad Tughlik died in pur­suit of us, and Sultán Fíroz Sháh has fled before us.” The news of the Sultán's approach reached Thatta, and it was in every Sindian's mouth that the King of Hind was approaching with large armies, and that Sultán Fíroz was advancing once more in great force from Gujarát. In fear of the Sultán they destroyed their crops on the bank of the Sindh, and, crossing the river, took refuge in mud forts.* When the Sultán arrived he perceived that the inhabitants had destroyed all their spring crop, and that they had crossed to the other side of the river, where they were busily engaged in forming batteries and en­trenchments. The Sultán's troops were in good case and in high spirits, although the price of grain was as high as eight and ten jítals for five sírs, because the crop was not yet ripe. When the new grain came in the price fell. Under the orders of the Sultán the troops went out in all directions, foraging in the villages for grain. The villages on the hither side (kirána) of the Sindh were numerous, and the inhabitants of some had not been able to escape over the river. These were taken prisoners, and when the fact became known to the Sultán, he issued a proclama­tion, in which he said the prisoners were a mere handful; they were Musulmáns, and nothing was to be gained by keeping them captive, and making them slaves. Those who had prisoners were ordered not to keep them, on pain of being deemed criminal, but to hand them over to the proper authorities. About 4,000 Sindians were accordingly brought to the government office, and were directed to be kept in secure custody; three sírs of grain being allowed to each one daily from the minister's office. At that time mung was five tankas a man, and bread (jarrat) four tankas a man. According to the orders of the Sultán mung was given to the prisoners, and all his orders in respect of them were obeyed. Behold the kindness and clemency of Fíroz Sháh!

When the Sultán was posted on the hither side (kirána) of the river Sindh, the enemy, in great numbers, was on the op­posite side (guzárá), and occasionally crossing over skirmishes occurred. The Sultán determined to send a force over the river and harass the enemy. 'Imádu-l Mulk and Zafar Khán were ap­pointed to the command, and were directed to cross the river. A body of Sindians, in strong force and with great bravery, dis­puted the passage of the river,* and resisted the crossing of men in boats. After much examination and exertion the transit was found to be impracticable. Consultations were held, and it was then determined that Malik 'Imadu-l Mulk and Zafar Khán, with a strong force, should fall back, as if proceeding towards Dehlí. The fleet of boats also was directed to accompany them. The plan of operations was that they were to proceed a hundred and twenty kos up the near bank of the Sindh, and effect a crossing just below Bhakkar. After the passage, they were to march back on the opposite side of the river, and give battle to the enemy. The plan succeeded, and the force marched down in to the territory of the enemy.* Upon this the enemy, horse and foot, came forth from their forts in great numbers, and a fierce battle (jang) ensued which cannot be described.