The Emperor continued his march, and on the 8th Jumáda-s sání formed a junction with the advanced force. When he reached Sirohí, eighty Rájpúts in a temple and seventy in the Rájá's house, stood ready to perform the vow they had made to die. In a few moments they were all despatched. Dost Mu­hammad, son of Tátár Khán, perished in the Rájá's house. At this stage His Majesty resolved to send one of his officers to make sure of the territory of Joudhpúr, and keep the road to Gujarát open, so that none of the Ránás might be able to inflict any loss. This duty was imposed upon Ráí Singh Bikanírí,* who was sent with a strong force of Imperial troops. Farmáns were written to the amírs and jágírdárs of that province, direct­ing them to render Ráí Singh every assistance he might require.

At this stage Yár 'Alí Turkomán, with an escort of Turko-máns, came as an ambassador from Sultán Muhammad Mirzá, and from Sháh Tahmásp, King of Khurásán, bringing with them Arab and Persian horses, and other presents. They were received by His Majesty with all due state and honour. The Emperor then marched from Sirohí to Pattan Nahrwála, and when he arrived near the fort of Dísa, which is twenty kos from Pattan, intelligence was brought that the sons of Sher Khán Fúládí had taken off their troops and families towards Ídar. The Emperor sent Rájá Mán Singh in command of a detach­ment after them. On the 1st Rajab, 980, the army arrived in sight of Pattan, and rested there for a week. The government of the country was conferred upon Saiyid Ahmad Khán Bárha, a man of courage and resolution, who had numerous friends and allies among the Saiyids of Hindústán. At this halt Rájá Mán Singh returned, bringing in a large booty, which he had taken from the remnant of the Afgháns.

The Emperor then marched towards Ahmadábád. Sher Khán Fúládí had been engaged for six months besieging Ahmadábád, which was held by 'Itimád Khán;* but when he heard of the Emperor's approach, he took to flight. The Emperor had hardly advanced two stages from Pattan, when Sultán Muzaffar, son of Sultán Mahmúd Gujarátí, whom 'Itimád Khán had kept continually in confinement, came with a great display of respect to meet the Emperor, and on Sunday,* the 9th Rajab, was admitted to an interview. Next day, 'Itimád Khán, the ruler of Ahmadábád, Mír Abú Turáb, Saiyid Ahmad Bukhárí, Ikhti-yáru-l Mulk, Malik Ashraf, Wajhu-l Mulk, Ulúgh Khán Habshí, Jajhár Khán Habshí, and other amírs and chiefs of Gujarát, too numerous to mention, came in to wait upon the Emperor, and make their offerings. 'Itimád Khán presented the keys of Ahmadábád, and showed every sign of submission.

Thr officers of the Court were suspicious of evil designs on the part of the Habshís (Abyssinians), and brought the matter to the notice of His Majesty, and although he desired to act generously and royally towards them, as a precaution he committed them to the charge of some of his attendants. The Emperor then marched on, and on Friday, 14th Rajab, pitched his camp on the banks of the river of Ahmadábád. The khutba was read in the name of the Emperor, and all the people of the city and environs came to offer congratulations and thanksgivings. On the 20th Rajab, Saiyid Mahmúd Khán Bárha and Shaikh Mu­hammad Bukhárí brought their wives into the royal camp. On the same day Jalál Khán, who had been sent on an embassy to a Ráná, returned.

Ibráhím Husain Mirzá and Muhammad Husain Mirzá held Broach, Baroda, and Surat* in defiance of the Emperor, so he resolved to free the country of Gujarát from their rebellious power. On Monday, 2nd Sha'bán, he started from the river of Ahmadábád, and marched towards Kambay. 'Itimád Khán and other of the Gujarát amírs were, at the request of some of the great officials, allowed to remain behind in Ahmadábád for a few days to arrange their affairs. Seizing this opportunity, Ikhtiyáru-l Mulk, one of the chief nobles of Gujarát, fled on the 4th Sha'bán from Ahmadábád to Ahmadnagar. As no reliance could be placed on the nobles of Gujarát, 'Itimád Khán was given into the custody of Sháhbáz Khán Kambú. On the 6th the Emperor reached Kambay. He went to look at the sea, and leaving Kambay on the 12th, he reached Baroda on the 14th. After reflecting upon the best means of guarding and governing the country of Gujarát, he appointed Mirzá 'Azíz Muhammad Kokaltásh the Khán-i 'azím to be the governor of the country, and especially of its capital Ahmadábád.

A detachment sent to invest Surat.

After the departure of the 'Azam-khán, the Emperor deter­mined upon attacking the fortress of Surat, which was the home and stronghold of the Mirzás. To effect this purpose he sent Saiyid Mahmúd Khán Bárha, Sháh Kulí Khán Mahram Khán-i 'álam, Rájá Bhagwán Dás, Kunwar Mán Singh ^{* * *} and several others, to overpower Husain Mirzá, who was in Surat. Next day, 17th Sha'bán, when one watch of the night was passed, intelligence was brought in that Ibráhím Mirzá Khán, having heard at Broach of the Emperor's advance, had murdered Rustam Khán Rúmí,* and then left the town, intending to pass about eight kos distance from the Emperor's camp, and to raise disturbances and rebellion elsewhere.

On hearing this, the Emperor's wrath was kindled. He instantly gave orders that Khwája-jahán, Shujá'at Khán, Kalíj Khán, and Sádik Khán should take charge of the young prince Salím, while he went to chastise Ibráhím Mírza. He took with him Maliku-sh Shark Gujarátí, who was well acquainted with the roads, and he sent Sháhbáz Khán Mír Bakhshí in all haste, to recall to his side Saiyid Muhammad Khán, and the forces which had marched against Surat.* The remainder of that night, and the greater part of the next day, he kept up the pursuit for a long distance. When night came on, he arrived with forty horsemen on the banks of the river Mahindrí.* Ibráhím Husain Mirzá was in the town of Sarnál, on the other side of the river. When they heard this, the Emperor's followers endeavoured to conceal themselves.

At this crisis, Saiyid Mahmúd Khán Bárha, Kulí Khán Mahram Khán-i 'álam, Rájá Bhagwán Dás, Kunwar Mán Singh, ^{* * *} Bhoj the son of Surjan, and others of the force sent against Surat, by a forced march came up and joined the Emperor. Kunwar Mán Singh, at his own solicitation, was placed in command of the advanced guard. Although the whole of his followers did not number more than 100 men,* the Emperor, without hesitation, determined to attack. They dashed into the river and crossed over.

Ibráhím Husain Mirzá, who had with him about 1000 horse­men, on perceiving this bold movement, went out of the town of Sarnál by another road, telling his men that he intended to give battle in the open. The road between the river and the fort was very broken, so Kunwar Mán Singh, and the advance under his command, took another road, and the Emperor passed by a road to the gate of the town by the water-side. Some of the enemy, whose blood was up, made a stand in the street, and showed fight. Makbúl Khán, a Kalmuck slave, who on that day went in front of the Emperor, cut one of them down, and wounded several others.

It was now discovered that Ibráhím Husain had quitted the town, and the Emperor gave orders for the pursuit. The troops accordingly left the walls and went out into the plain, and there the two parties confronted each other. Ibráhím Husain made an attack upon Bábá Khán Kákshál, who had been sent forward with a party of bowmen. Although these made a stout resistance, they were driven back a short distance. But every man of the Imperial force fought desperately, and killed a great many of the enemy. Bhúpat, son of Rájá Bihár Mal, a very brave young man, made a charge upon the enemy, and fell. Emboldened by his fall, the enemy renewed his attack. But the royal forces were in a contracted spot, where three horsemen could not pass abreast, as it was all hedged in with thorns. The Emperor had, with great courage, gone to the front, and Rájá Bhagwán Dás had kept with him. Three of the enemy's horsemen now charged them, and one of them attacked the Rájá. As his adversary was entangled among the thorns, Rájá Bhagwán Dás hurled his spear at him and severely wounded him, so that he withdrew. The other two assaulted His Majesty, who received them so valiantly that they were obliged to make off.