On the 17th Rujub, Hoomayoon Badshah encamped round the place, where there were no buildings, trees, or shade for the sepoys; as, previous to his arrival, those who had charge of it, namely Meer Sultan Koolee Beg, Meer Shah Mahomed Urghoon, and others, had cleared away all the gardens and buildings about it. The king having beleaguered the fort, the inhabitants became much confined— their affairs were overturned. Hearing of this, Shah Hoosain, marching from Tatta, came to Sunn, where he made entrenchments, and collecting many boats, he encamped there, sending Meer Abeek Urghoon to Sehwistan, who in the night­time, with some men, passing through the royal army by the bazar road, reached the fort. The news of his having arrived reached the king’s forces, after he had gained the fort: he went so secretly, that information of his approach did not precede him. In the morning, Hoomayoon gave orders for mines to be sunk: in short, one bastion was blown up: but the garrison, as it fell, threw up another defence.

The king then knew that the resources of the Urghoons were full of strength. Besides this, the apparatus for opening the fort was not present. In short, having besieged it for seven months, the time of the inundation, and the season for bad winds, were approaching; moreover, Shah Hoosain had closed all the roads by which supplies could come. For these reasons many sepoys had deserted; and even some of the men of consequence, such as Meer Tahir Sudur, Khwaja Ghuyas-ood-deen Jamee, Moulana Abdool Bakee, had left, and gone over to Shah Hoosain, who gave them much honour, and then sent them to Tatta. Meer Kasim, and Hoosain went off to Meerza Yadgar, and the king heard that they would go off with him to Kandahar. After the king left Yadgar Nasir near Bukkur, the men in that fort twice went forth, and attacking his troops when unprepared, slew Mahomed Ali Kaboochee, and Shere Dil Beg, besides killing and wounding many others. These two affairs were conducted by Kokuh Turkhan, Dost Mahomed, and others. The garrison sallied forth a third time against their enemies, falling upon them on the sandy ground, near Roree; but this time Meerza Yadgar, going forth himself, stretched forth his hand in such a manner, that the attacking party turned their faces in flight, some throwing themselves into the waters of the river. Many got on boats, which they loosed, and allowed to go with the stream. When the news of this defeat of his men at Bukkur reached Shah Hoosain, he sent Ameer Koolee Mohurdar to Meerza Yadgar, shaking the rope of friendship, sending this message to him: “I have become old, and with the exception of one daughter, I have no other children. I make the betrothal of her with you; for a short time I may have to live, and after my death all this country will be yours. I will give you much wealth now, and both of us, uniting, we will go and conquer Guzerat.” In short, Meerza Yadgar Nasir from this deceit of Shah Hoosain, becoming misled, turned his heart in enmity towards Hoomayoon, who, seeing the ruinous state of his army, had sent many successive times to call him; but he always sent back the messengers with some excuse or other. When the news of his enmity reached the king, he at once left Sehwistan, proceeding towards Bukkur, and on the way Hunbur Beg Urghoon, leaving him, returned to Sehwistan, and many sepoys, from getting nothing to eat, quitted the royal army. Hoomayoon, arriving at Roree, encamped there. Meerza Yadgar Nasir, being helpless, paid his respects to the king, giving up to him all the grain he had; but this was not sufficient to satisfy the cravings of the royal host. When the extremity of hunger came upon them, the king sent some of his confidential people to Sultan Mahomed, who came in front to meet them, giving Khilats to Mahomed Bukawul, and the other servants of the king, and presenting money and grain to the attendants, he gave them their leave. After the departure of these chiefs, the nobles of Meerza Shah Hoosain, assembling in the reception-room, discoursed on the scarcity of grain in the royal camp, each saying what he thought. Sultan Mahomed afterwards sent 300 Kurwas of grain for the use of the royal household; but the people, from getting nothing, left the king’s camp, dispersing over Sind. Many of these parties followed one route, numbers perishing from hunger. The royal troops often came in contact with the men of Shah Hoosain, who were always beaten; but as there was no appa??tus for opening forts, on this account he could not conquer these. When the will of God’s power, the wish of the Eternal Wisdom, (which shows the countenance of misfortunes in the midst of happiness, and which brings in the midst of these the apparatus of happiness,) agreeably to the desire of the king, had not placed upon the stool the painting of his wishes in the country of Sind, and upon the test of fortune the gold of Hoomayoon had proved counterfeit, he saw the infidelity of his army, and the unkindness of his brethren. Then he wished to place upon himself the dress of separation from others, and placing his foot on the road of those who love to walk after God, to go and seize the knocker of the door of Kunbuh (the Temple of Mecca), and there to remain sitting in a corner. But his confidential nobles represented, that although this wish which had entered his breast was very proper, yet the king was aware how much hardship and distress had befallen his people; that with these evils they were still at his stirrup; that if he placed his foot on that path, they would be entirely deserted and ruined, and that with so much distress they could not accompany him to Hijaz. Their opinion was, that he should remain where he was some days.

The king, on account of the absence of grain, determined to leave that place. At that time a petition reached him from Mal Dewe, the Raja of Jodhpoor, saying:— “Unknown to you, I place the ring of submission to your orders in my ear. I wish that the fortunate foot of the king may come to my house. If the royal army will do honour to this country, by coming to it, I will attend in service to you with 20,000 Rajpoots, and wherever the king goes, I will be present with my life and fortune.” After the arrival of this petition, on the 21st Mohur­rum, 949 (A. D. 1542), the king marched upon Ooch, and passing over the intervening space, he arrived there. On the 20th Rubee-ool-Awul of the same year, he proceeded, and, on the, 14th Rubee-oos-Sanee, he reached the fort of Dilawur, and on the 20th of the same he arrived and encamped at Beekanere. Some of the royal troops went into this city, and returning from thence, they informed the king that the language of respect was not heard among the inhabitants. Upon this, the king sent Sumundur Beg to Raja Mal Dewe, before whom he arrived, and return­ing with great expedition, he represented to Hoomayoon, that “Although Mal Dewe openly speaks strongly of friendship, yet underneath he does not place the light of truth.” Then the royal army, going by the way of Phutodee, went on two or three marches, and encamped on the banks of a tank. From this place the king sent spies to bring intelligence. These returning, showed the perfidy of the Raja, to the effect that, at the instigation of Shere Shah, and seeing the strength of his forces, Mal Dewe was sending an army to loot that of the king. Hoomayoon, on hearing this, became much astonished, and full of anxiety. Spreading before his chiefs the carpet of deliberation, he then decided that it was necessary by all means to turn the bridle of their intentions from Jodhpoor.