The people of Cochin being aware of the Sultan’s approach and intention, raised three or four bat­teries, (seemingly those of Cranganore and Aya­kotta,) on the banks of the different rivers, and surrounded them with deep ditches, and remained ready for battle, occupying the road with a very strong body of archers and musketeers;— at nightfall of the day* on which he arrived (apparently), the Sultán ordered his troops to assault and take the batteries, and they, with honourable emulation and the greatest bravery, took them, and the Sultán immediately moved on to a place where two rivers crossed the road, and where the enemy had built a wall across the road of the ford, and had stationed themselves to defend it. The passage of the tide also above and where the water of the sea flowed into the river, was blocked up by a mound, so that the water was stopped in its passage, and the bed of the river became dry. But, although several of the Sultan’s confidential servants, such as Turbeut Alí Khán, and others, took the liberty to represent that in front the road was bad and intersected by the beds of deep rivers, and that a night expedi­tion was not safe, and God forbid that the enemy should gain an advantage and the Ghazies be defeated; still their advice was disregarded and the representation of no one met with approval, and the Sultán getting into his Pálkí with two Risa­las, and two thousand regular horse, proceeded onwards forthwith, dark as it was. The Sultán’s faithful soldiers now at one assault with their swords and muskets, drove the enemy before them and by the help of ropes and ladders, scaled and took the first works, and as the enemy lost the power of resistance and fled before the Mussul­mans, towards the fort, the Sultán halted where he was, and ordered his Hurkuras (messengers) to bring up the Kushoons and artillery. As soon as these arrived, two Kushoons forming the advanced guard, being in all points prepared for action, were ordered on, and the remainder of the Kushoons kept in reserve;— when at about day­break all of a sudden the treacherous enemy finding this the critical moment for them to obtain the victory, cut down the mound, which (as before mentioned) they had raised above in order to stop out the sea, and the tide rushing in with great vio­lence filled up the rivers to the brim, and the road of succour and assistance to the advanced division of the Sultán’s troops was cut off.

In this time the enemy attacked the Sultán’s troops on all sides with arrows and musketry, and caused incalculable distress and confusion among them, and, however vigorously they strove to repel their infidel assailants it was of no avail, and they were overwhelmed with all kinds of evil and calamity, but notwithstanding all this, three or four hun­dred brave horsemen, men of good families, gave sub­stantial proofs of their valour, and were all killed and wounded in front of the Sultán. At this time Kumruddín Khán, who was present with the Sul­tán, by adjurations and entreaties falling at his feet, took him out of his Pálkí, and by the strong exer­tion of loyalty and fidelity, caused him to be car­ried through the water to the opposite side of the river, and then constrained him to turn his steps towards his camp. But of those present in that battle not one man ever returned safe to the presence. The Sultán’s Pálkí with its bed, the great seal of the exchequer and a dagger were taken by the infidels.

Some report that the Sultán’s turban was in the Pálkí, but it is a great mistake, for the Sultán’s turban at that time was upon his fortunate* head, and the coloured turban which fell into the hands of the enemy belonged to one of his footmen, who ran before the Pálkí, and who was accidentally killed by an arrow, or a musket ball, and his tur­ban falling near the Pálkí, the benighted infidels thought it was the Sultán’s, and placed it in the Pálkí:— In short the Sultán and Kumruddín Khán escaped out of the whirlpool of their fortunes, and the rest of the Kháns, such as Turbeut Alí Khán, Muhammad Omr, Urzbegi, and, Sayeed Khán the Durogha of the treasury, &c. were never after heard of.

The Sultán’s anger at this untoward event was excessive, but having caused his drums to beat for victory (as if he had gained one) he directed bridges of wood, cut down from the Jungle to be made, and having by their means crossed the rivers, he brought upon his enemies a resemblance to the days of judgment small and great.

The Sipahdárs and Mowkubdárs, now, according to their orders, attacked the enemy from different points to the extent or along a front of three miles, and with their keen swords, relieved the shoulders of all the infidels they met (man or boy) from the weight of their heads.*

As the power of resistance had now quitted the heathens, they, fearing the might and greatness of the Sultán and his army, fled to Maliwar, abandon­ing both their country and wealth. The victorious Sultán, therefore, now entered the walls of the port of Cochin, and took possession of every par­ticle of the property remaining therein, as the arms, stores, guns, &c. A nutmeg tree also, which was growing in the fort, he took up with the roots, and having wrapped it in rice straw, despatched it with the greatest care to Seringaputtun, and it was there planted in the Lal Bagh, or garden;— it did not, however, thrive, but soon died.