The enemy was encamped on the opposite side, and had seized all the boats on the river, but “the royal army crossed the river on a few boats, called zauraks, like the wind, and spread confusion through the camp of the enemy. They fell on the evil-disposed crowd, and dyed the earth everywhere with their blood. When they were satiated with that victory, they returned in triumph. On their arrival, they placed their heads on the ground in token of respect, and proclaimed the first victory of the king, who rewarded them with gifts beyond calculation. * * In the depth of night that stony-hearted rebel, oppressed with grief, fled towards the hills, leaving his camp on the bank of the river, and took the road of Júbála. The commander remained two days plundering the camp, and then, hastening in pursuit, came up to them while retreating in confusion.” * * *
“In the centre of the line was the great Arkalí Khán, whose standards were united with victory.” Mír Mubárak Bárbak commanded the right wing, and Malik Mahmúd the left. On the left near the prince, was Malik Fakhr Dawwal, and Mu'azzam Ahmad on his right.
In the front of the array were two champions, the nephews of the king: one Malik Katlagh-tigín, “who could split a spear with an arrow;”* the other 'Aláu-d dín. Another attendant was his son Kájí; another, Kíkí Malik, the governor of Kol; another was Malik Nusrat Mu'azzam, the chief dáwat-dár. The contending parties fought the whole day, “during which the sword found no rest,” and at night the Khán of Karra, hearing that the king himself was on the point of joining the prince's army, fled with a few attendants to Injí, concealing his departure by the beating of drums, as if he was preparing to renew the combat on the morrow.
His army, thus deserted by its leader, came over to the king and begged forgiveness. Some were bound as prisoners, and some kept under surveillance, but the rest were admitted into the favour of the king.
The Sultán, on leaving the city, went towards the Ganges, and remained some time encamped at Baglána. After that he departed towards Bhojpúr,* and his light illumined the banks of the Ganges. By his hands a work was completed, which had been difficult of accomplishment to former kings; for when he arrived at the Jumna and Ganges, by the power of his art he constructed a bridge over both those rivers. He collected gold from the ráís of the Ganges, for he had the power of crossing the river at his pleasure. Like Dárá, he went on full of hope, and his faithful sipáhís accompanied him as far as Kábar.* When the Sháh arrived at the land of Kábar, a contest ensued, and the “Musulmáns made their swords rusty with the blood of the Hindús.” The king was here joined by his son, “who gave the first congratulation after the victory, and was then appointed to the government of the Province of Múltán, and his father gave him power from the river to the hill of Júd.”
“Whatever live Hindú fell into the king's hands was pounded into bits under the feet of elephants. The Musulmáns, who were Hindís (country-born), had their lives spared,” and were distributed amongst the chiefs as slaves; and he made many over to the son of the kotwál, that he might parade them through the cities. “No one of these slaves was slain by the sword, except Alp Ghází, who suffered on account of his misdeeds; for he had, without just cause, killed Chahaltan,* and the wretch received this retribution from fate.” * *
When the Sháh had made the country over to his own friends, he determined to proceed towards Hindústán, and open a way through the forest to Lakhnautí. He cut the jungle that intercepted his passage, and cleared the road of the robbers who infested it, and suspended them from boughs, so that they looked like the trees of Wákwák.* “When the Sháh had cut down this jungle of Taraya, he created an earthquake in the walls of life, that is, slaughtered many of the inhabitants, and as he was about to lay his axe upon Rúpál, that chief protected himself by an advance of gold. His heaven-like umbrella then advanced to Kashún, for the purpose of plunder and punishment, and he collected such wealth from the ráís, ráos, and ránas, that his treasury was overflowing.”
“Thence he went towards Bálághatrak, as it was necessary to discharge his arrows against the Mughals. Hail glorious morn of prosperity, for that sun rose on high! His standards ascended rapidly, stage by stage, for a period of one month, and the road was illumined by the light of his army.”
“On Monday, the last day of Muharram, 690 H., the neighbourhood of the city was blessed by the king's arrival. He did not delay and plant his flags in the city, because another victory was urging him on; but during the month of Safar he gave himself up to enjoyment at Sírí, near the city.” * * *
On Thursday, the 18th of Rabí'u-l-awwal, the Sháh held a darbár, distributed robes of honour, and gave red umbrellas, dúrbáshes, and standards to two of his confidential servants, and selected also Ruknu-d dín Ibrahím for marks of special favour. “The maliks of the kingdom, according to their respective ability, showered gold upon the head of the king.”
The king then marched from Sírí towards Ranthambor. The first march was to Sohráít, thence to Chandáwal, “where he encamped for some time.” * * * Thence to Rewárí in two marches. Thence to the country of Nárnaul. “Thence the march was to Beohán, where the people had their mouths shut through thirst. The earth was dry, and in it not a blade of grass had sprung up anywhere, through drought. The sipáhís, whom a river would not have satisfied, how could they procure enough water from two or three wells?” A hundred camels, however, were here laden with water, to satisfy the necessities of the army. The king killed several tigers on this expedition. Hills were on each side covered with peacocks. “Two weeks he was employed in passing this hilly tract, when the Sháh arrived on the borders of Ranthambor.” The Turks began to plunder on every side, “and the king sent out horsemen to collect information.” The Hindús were killed or enslaved, as far as within four parasangs of Jháín.
From this place, Karrí Bahádur was sent on with a few archers to reconnoitre as far as the hills of Jháín, from which place 500 Hindús made a sally. “They were wounded with the poisoned arrows of the Turks, and exclaimed in Hindí, ‘Strike, strike.’ Seventy were killed and forty wounded, and, though they were reinforced, they retreated to the hills, and the royal troops returned to camp, and reported to the king what had occurred. Next day, the king despatched 1,000 men under Malik Khurram 'Áriz Malik, the chief Karíbak, Malik Katlagh-tigín, 'Ázam Mubárak, the amír of of Nárnaul, Ahmad Sarjándár, Mahmúd Sarjándár, the chief huntsman Ahmad, and Ankú and Ábájí Ákhurbak. They advanced at full speed to within two parasangs of Jháín, when they entered a narrow pass in the hills, and alarm spread in Jháín.”