At that time Dáúd was at Hájípúr, and his chief noble, Lodí, who was in open hostility to him, was in the fort of Rohtás, and set up a claim to independence. Khán-khánán Mu'ním Khán marched with the Imperial forces against Patna and Hájípúr. Lodí, knowing the destruction of the Afgháns to be certain, notwithstanding his hostility towards Dáúd, made a sort of peace with Khán-khánán. The old friendship and respect which Khán-khánán had for the late Sulaimán Kirání led him to agree that, upon the payment of two lacs of rupees in money and one lac in stuffs as a tribute, the Imperial forces should be with­drawn. Then having sent Jalál Khán Krorí, he entered into a peace with Dáúd.

But Dáúd was a dissolute scamp, and knew nothing of the business of governing. At the instigation of Katlú Khán, who had for a long time held the country of Jagannáth and of Srídhar Hindú Bengálí, and through his own want of judgment, he seized Lodí his amíru-l umará, and put him in confinement under the charge of Srídhar Bengálí. When in prison, Lodí sent for Katlú and Srídhar, and sent Dáúd this message, “If you consider my death to be for the welfare of the country, put your mind quickly at ease about it; but you will be very sorry for it after I am dead. You have never given me any good wishes or advice, but still I am willing to advise you. Act upon my counsel, for it will be for your good. And this is my advice: After I am killed, fight the Mughals without hesitation, that you may gain the victory. If you do not do so, the Mughals will attack you, and you will not be able to help yourself. Do not be too sure about the peace with the Mughals, they are only biding their time.”

The power of Dáúd and of all the Afgháns was on the wane: it was God's will that they should fall, and that the power of the Emperor should be established over the country of Bengal. So Dáúd resolved to put Lodí out of the way, and by so doing to establish his authority to his own satisfaction. Katlú Khán and Srídhar Bengálí had a bitter animosity against Lodí, and they thought that if he were removed, the offices of vakíl and wazír would fall to them, so they made the best of their oppor­tunity. They represented themselves to Dáúd as purely dis­interested, but they repeatedly reminded him of those things which made Lodí's death desirable. Dáúd, in the pride and intoxication of youth, listened to the words of these sinister counsellors. The doomed victim was put to death, and Dáúd became the master of his elephants, his treasure, and his troops. But he was puffed up with conceit and folly, and took no pre­cautions for combating his enemies, and relying upon that unsatisfactory peace which Lodí had concluded, he banished all care.

When the death of Lodí was reported to Khán-khánán and his circle, which was full of amírs of renown, he at once set his heart upon the conquest of Bengal and Lakhnautí, and marched against Patna and Hájípúr. In high spirits he arrived in the vicinity of Patna. Dáúd now deeply regretted the murder of Lodí, who, by his wisdom, and judgment, and devotion, had kept the affairs of Bengal in order. He marched towards Patna, and was at first resolved upon battle; but he afterwards recoiled from trying an action, and resolved to take shelter in his fortifi­cations. Khán-khánán was delighted when he was informed of this resolution, and he already foresaw the conquest of Patna and Hájípúr. Dáúd, without drawing a sword or shooting an arrow, retired precipitately into the fort of Patna, and set about repairing the works.

Khán-khánán, with the concurrence of the amírs, proceeded to invest Patna. Upon hearing this, the Emperor determined to personally direct the operations against Patna and Hájípúr. After resting for a few days at Fathpúr, he sent off his camp and elephants by land under the command of Mirzá Yúsuf Khán Rizwí one of his chief amírs. He placed Ágra in charge of Shahábu-d dín Ahmad Khán Naishapúrí, and embarked on board a boat on Sunday the last day of Safar, 982 H. The young princes went with him. The boats carried all his equip­ments and establishments, armour, drums, treasure, carpets, kitchen utensils, stud, etc., etc. Two large boats were specially prepared for his own accommodation, in which he embarked with his attendants. The boats required by the amírs for themselves and their establishments were in the rear of the royal boats, and so they started. On arriving at the village of Ratambh, one of the dependencies of Ágra, he stopped and sent a letter to Khán-khánán Mu'ním Khán, to give information of his approach. On the 1st Rabí'u-l awwal the expedition proceeded. Every day he left the boat and went hunting on shore.* Every day he was joined by fresh parties of troops. [Punishment of a brahman guilty of incest with his daughter.]

On the 23rd of the month the Emperor reached Illahabás, which is situated at the confluence of the Ganges and Jumna. This is a great place of pilgrimage for the Hindús, and contains some fine buildings. It is celebrated in all parts of the world as a holy place of the Hindús, who resort thither from all parts. On the 25th he reached Benares, from whence he sent on Sher Beg Tawáchí in a boat to Khán-khánán Mu'ním Khán, to apprise him of the Emperor's arrival at Benares. At that city he remained three days taking rest. On the 28th he reached the village of Korí, a dependency of Saiyidpúr,* at the confluence of the Gumti* and Ganges, and there anchored.* Here he was waited upon by Mirzá Yúsuf Khán, who had brought down the army by land. He now determined that until he received accurate intelligence from Khán-khánán, he and the young prince and his wives would go and stay at Jaunpúr.* So he left the army at this encampment, and went up the Gumtí in boats to Jaunpúr.

On the 2nd Rabí'u-s sání he reached the village of Yahyá-púr, a dependency of Jaunpúr. Here a despatch arrived from Khán-khánán, urging him to march on with all speed. So on the 3rd he sent on the young prince and ladies to Jaunpúr, and then departed on his campaign against Bengal.* On the 4th the boats fell down the Gumtí to the Ganges, and Mirzá Yúsuf Khán, the commander of the army, waited on His Majesty. It was now arranged that the army should keep within sight of the royal flotilla. On the 6th it encamped in the plain of Gházípúr, and the Emperor went hunting. * * * On the 7th he halted at Gangadáspúr, and here he was met by the eunuch 'Itimád Khán, a distinguished noble, who had been rendering good service in the siege of Patna, and who now made a full report of all the occurrences to His Majesty, and urged him to hasten forward. His Majesty thereupon directed Saiyid Mírak Ispahání, one of his principal attendants, who was learned in charms, to seek an augury in his books by sortilege. The augury was favourable, and a few days proved its truth.

On Tuesday, the 8th Rabí'u-s sání, he encamped at the ferry of Chaunsá, and here a despatch arrived from Khán-khánán, reporting that 'Ísa Khán Níází, an Afghán renowned for his courage, had made a sortie with elephants and a large force from Patna, and had attacked the besiegers. 'Ísá Khán was slain by Lashkar Khán, one of the Emperor's men, and a great number of Afgháns fell. This news was sent on to the princes.

On the following day Diláwar Khán was ordered to transport the army over at the ferry of Chaunsá, and on the 10th the army encamped at the village of Domní, belonging to Bhojpúr. Kásim 'Alí Khán, was now sent to inform Khán-khánán of the near approach of the Emperor, and to inquire what he advised to be done. The Khán advised the Emperor to advance as hitherto, himself by boat and his army by land; and he requested that some horses might be sent to replace those that had been rendered useless by the rains.* Horses and arms were accord­ingly sent. Khán-khánán and the other amírs advanced two kos from Patna to meet His Majesty, who, on the 16th Rabí'u-s sání, reached his destination, and took up his abode in the tents of Khán-khánán. Great rejoicings followed, and rich offerings were made.