The Mirzá, with about 300 men who accompanied him, plundered the villages and places in their road, and crossing the Jumna and Ganges, he proceeded to the pargana of 'Azam-púr, in the district of Sambal, which had been his jágír while he was loyal to the Emperor. He stayed there five or six days, and then started for the Panjáb. He plundered Pánipat, Sonpat, Karnál, and other places on his route. Many plunderers and adventurers joined him, and inflicted great wrongs upon the people.

When he reached the Panjáb, Husain Kulí Khán Turkomán, Amíru-l umará of the Panjáb, was engaged with the forces of his province in besieging Kángra, well known as Nagarkot. On hearing of the Mirzá's arrival, Husain Kulí Khán set off with his brother Isma'íl Khán * * * and other amírs, and by forced marches came up with the Mirzá near the town of Tulambha, forty kos from Multán. He was returning from hunting free from apprehension and in disorder, when he was attacked. His men were dispersed, and were unable to reach him. His brother Mas'úd Husain Mirzá, who had come up before him, attacked the troops of Husain Kulí Khán, but was taken prisoner. Ibrá-hím Husain Mirzá, being unable to do anything, made off. Upon arriving near Multán, he wanted to pass the Gára, which is the name of the river formed by the junction of the Biyáh and Satlej. But it was night, and he had no boats, so he rested on the bank. A party of Jhíls, who are fishermen dwelling about Multán, made an attack upon him in the night, and the Mirzá received a wound in his throat from an arrow. Seeing no other means of escape, he quickly changed his clothes, and separating from his people, endeavoured to get away. But some of the people of that country recognized him, took him prisoner, and carried him to Sa'íd Khán at Multán, and in the custody of the Khán he died.*

On the 12th Muharram, 981, in the eighteenth year of the reign, the Emperor paid a visit to the tomb of Khwája Mu'ínu-d dín Chishtí, and observed the usual ceremonies, and dispensed his customary gifts. He remained there a week, and every morning and evening paid a visit to the tomb, showing strict attention to all the observances. From thence he started for the capital, and on reaching Sangánír, he left his camp and went on express with a few attendants to Fathpúr. In two nights and one day he reached the town of Bachúna, twelve kos from Fathpúr. To secure an auspicious time, he remained there three days, and on the 2nd Safar he arrived at Fathpúr.

March of Husain Kulí Khán against Nagarkot.

(There was a brahman named Brahma Dás, a bard (bád-farosh ), who was distinguished above all his compeers for his skill in celebrating the achievements of great men, and he used to make excellent Hindí verses. He was some years in the service of the Emperor, and was admitted among the number of his private attendants, when he received the title of Kab Ráí, chief of poets).*

When the Emperor's favour was alienated from Rájá Jai Chandar, Rájá of Nagarkot, he issued orders for putting him in confinement. The Rájá's son, Badí Chand, although a minor, assumed the place of his father, and deeming him as dead, broke out in revolt. The Emperor having given to Kab Ráí the title of Rájá Bírbal,* bestowed upon him the country of Nagarkot.

hereupon farmáns were sent to Husain Kulí Khán, and the amírs of the Panjáb commanding them to take Nagarkot from Badí Chand, and place it in the possession of Rájá Bírbal.* Bírbal in Hindí signifies courageous and great, so his title means “Brave and mighty Rájá.”

When the Rájá arrived at Lahore, Husain Kulí Khán, * * * and other nobles of the Panjáb, set out for Nagarkot. On reaching Damharí, the holder of that place, whose name was Choto, and who was a relative of Jai Chand, relying on the security of his fort which he had strengthened, kept himself in private, and sent two vakíls with his offerings. He also sent a message excusing himself from attending in person, on the ground of his fears and anxiety, but he undertook the duty of keeping the roads clear. Husain Kulí Khán presented the vakíls with robes and sent them back. Leaving a party of men at a village situated near the opening of the road, he went onwards.

On arriving at the fort of Kútila, he pitched his camp. This fort is a very high one. It formerly belonged to Rájá Rám Chandar, of Gwálior;* but Rájá Dharm Chand and Rájá Jai Chand had obtained possession of it by force.

The officers left in charge of the fort by Rájá Jai Chand discharged muskets and arrows and stones against the troops who had dispersed in search of plunder, and inflicted some damage. Upon hearing of this, Husain Kulí Khán mounted his horse with the other amírs to reconnoitre the place. He ascended a hill which is opposite to the fort, and commands it. With great labour some guns were brought up the hill, and fire was opened upon the fort. Its cracked masonry was shattered by the balls. A large number of men stood under the walls, and great loss was suffered. As evening approached, he returned to the camp, leaving a force in charge of that position. During the night, the Rájpúts who were in the fortress, and were terri­fied by the cannonade, made their escape. In the morning Husain Kulí Khán, beating his drums, marched into the fort of Kútila, which he delivered over to the Rájá of Gwalior, to whose ancestors it had formerly belonged; but he left a garrison of his own there.

Continuing his march, he came to a thickly wooded country, through which it was difficult even for an ant or a snake to creep; so a party of men was set to cut a road through the jungle. On the 1st Rajab, 990, he encamped by a field of maize near Nagarkot. The fortress (hisár) of Bhún, which is an idol temple of Mahámáí, and in which none but her servants dwelt, was taken by the valour and resolution of the assailants at the first assault. A party of Rájpúts, who had resolved to die, fought most desperately till they were all cut down. A number of Brahmans, who for many years had served the temple, never gave one thought to flight, and were killed. Nearly 200 black cows belonging to the Hindús, during the struggle, had crowded together for shelter in the temple. Some savage Turks, while the arrows and bullets were falling like rain, killed these cows one by one. They then took off their boots and filled them with the blood, and cast it upon the roof and walls of the temple.

The outer fortifications having fallen, the buildings were destroyed and levelled to make a camping ground. After this the fort was invested. Sábáts were formed, and a mound com­manding the fort (sar-kob) was raised. Some large guns were also placed upon a neighbouring hill, and were fired several times a day upon the fort and the residence of the Rájá. One day the commander of the artillery fired a large gun upon a place which the Rájá had thought to be safe, and in which he was sitting at meat. The ball struck the walls, and killed nearly eighty people who were within the building. Among them was Bhúj deo, son of Rájá Takhat Mal.

In the beginning of Shawwál, letters came from Lahore with the intelligence that Ibráhím Husain Mirzá had crossed the Satlada (Satlej), and was marching upon Dípálpúr. Husain Kulí Khán held a secret council with the amírs about the course necessary to be pursued. The army was suffering great hard­ships, and the dogs in the fortress were anxious for peace, so Husain Kulí Khán felt constrained to accede.* The infidels undertook to pay a large tribute: five mans of gold, Akbarsháhí weight, and various kinds of stuffs for His Majesty. A mosque was founded in front of the palace of Rájá Jai Chandar, and after the completion of the first arch a pulpit was raised, and Háfiz Muhammad Bákir read the khutba in the name of the Emperor on Friday, in the middle of Shawwál, 980. As he repeated the titles of the Emperor, gold was showered upon his head. When peace was concluded, the khutba read, and the coins stamped with the Emperor's name, Husain Kulí Khán marched away.