As soon as the bridge was nearly completed, on Wednesday, the 19th of the last Jumáda, I moved and took post at the end of it. The Afgháns, amazed at our attempt to throw a bridge over the Ganges, treated it with contempt. On Thursday, the bridge being completed, a few of the infantry and Lahorís crossed and had a slight action with the enemy. On Friday, part of my household troops, the right of the centre, the left of the centre, my best troops, and foot musketeers crossed over. The whole Afgháns having armed themselves for battle, mounted, and advancing with their elephants attacked them. At one time they made an impression on the troops of the left, and drove them back, but the troops of the right and of the centre stood their ground, and finally drove from the field the enemy opposed to them. * * * The fight continued sharply till afternoon prayers. The whole night was employed in bringing back across the bridge such as had passed to the other side. If that same Saturday eve I had carried over the rest of my army, it is probable that most of the enemy would have fallen into our hands. But it came into my head, that last year I had set out on my march from Síkrí to attack Sanka on New Year's Day, which fell on a Tuesday, and had overthrown my enemy on a Saturday. This year we had commenced our march against these enemies on New Year's Day, which fell upon a Wednesday, and that if we beat them on a Sunday it would be a remarkable coincidence. On that account I did not march my troops. On Saturday, the enemy did not come out to action, but stood afar off, drawn up in order of battle. That day we conveyed over our artillery,* and next morning the troops had orders to cross. About the beat of the morning drum, information reached us from the advanced guard, that the enemy had gone off and fled. I commanded Chín Tímúr Sultán to push on before the army, in pursuit of the enemy. * * * I also crossed over about the time of early morning prayers. * * * The detachment which had been sent on to harass the enemy, had little success. * * * On Saturday, the 29th of the latter Jumáda, I reached Lucknow; and having surveyed it, passed the river Gumti, and encamped. * * * On Saturday, the 7th Rajab, I encamped two or three kos above Oudh, at the junction of the Gogar and Sirwú.* Till that day, Shaikh Báyazíd had kept his station not far from Oudh, on the other side of the Sirwú. * * * [Chín Tímúr] Sultán began to make preparations for passing the river. When Karáchah had joined Sultán, they passed the river without delay. * * * Those who had passed over first, continued till evening prayers in pursuit of Shaikh Báyazíd, who threw himself into a jungle and escaped. * * I halted some days in this station, for the purpose of settling the affairs of Oudh and the neighbouring country, and for making the necessary arrangements.
[The remaining transactions of this year are not to be found.]
On Sunday, the 5th Muharram, intending to visit Gwálior, which in books they write Gáliár,* I passed the Jumna and entered the fort of Ágra. * * * On the 10th I alighted at a Chárbágh, a kos from Gwálior to the north, * * and next morning I entered Gwálior by the Hatipúl gate, which is close by Rájá Man Sing's palace, and proceeded to Rájá Bikramájít's palace. * *
On Tuesday, the 14th, messengers arrived from Bikramájít, the second son of Ráná Sanka, who, with his mother Padmávatí, was in Rantambhor. Before setting out to visit Gwálior, a person had come from a Hindu named Asok, who was high in Bikramájít's confidence, with offers of submission and allegiance, expressing a hope that he would be allowed seventy lacs as an annuity. The bargain was concluded, and it was settled that, on delivering up the fort of Rantambhor, he should have parganas assigned him equal to what he had asked. After making this arrangement, I sent back his messengers. When I went to survey Gwálior, I made an appointment to meet his men in Gwálior. They were several days later than the appointed time. Asok, the Hindu, had himself been with Padmávatí, Bikramájít's mother, and had explained to the mother and son everything that had passed. They approved of Asok's proceedings, and agreed to make the proper submissions, and to rank themselves among my subjects. When Ráná Sanka defeated Sultán Mahmúd and made him prisoner, the Sultán had on a splendid crown-cap and golden girdle, which fell into the hands of the Pagan, who, when he set Sultán Mahmúd at liberty, retained them. They were now with Bikramájít. * * * By the persons who came from him to wait on me, he now sent me this crown and golden girdle, and asked Bayána in exchange for Rantambhor. I diverted them from their demand of Bayána, and Shamsábád was fixed on as the equivalent for Rantambhor.
On Thursday, the 3rd of the first Jumáda, I received letters forwarded by Khalífa from Ágra, which contained intelligence that Mahmúd, the son of Iskandar, had taken Bihár. The moment I received this information, I resolved to join the army. Next morning I mounted at six gharís, and reached Ágra at evening prayers. Next morning being Saturday, I called the amírs to a council. * * * On Thursday, the 10th of the first Jumáda, I set out for the Púrab (east). * * * On Saturday, the 17th of the second Jumáda, we marched eight kos, and halted at Dakdaki, a pargana of Karra, on the banks of the Ganges. * * While in this neighbourhood, intelligence reached us in rapid succession, that Sultán Mahmúd had gathered round him 100,000 Afgháns; that he had detached Shaikh Báyazíd and Bában with a large army towards Sirwár, while he himself and Fath Khán Sarwáni occupied the banks of the Ganges, and were moving upon Chunár; that Sher Khán Súr, on whom I had bestowed marks of favour, to whom I had given several parganas, and whom I had left in command in that quarter, had now joined these Afgháns; that with some other amírs he had passed the river, and that Sultán Jalálu-d dín's people, being unable to defend Benares, had abandoned it and retreated. They excused themselves by saying, that they had left a sufficient force in the castle of Benares, and had advanced in order to meet the enemy on the banks of the Ganges. * * *
On the 24th, Sultán Muhammad Bakhshí came in a boat from the other side of the river. He brought accounts of the ruin of the affairs of Mahmúd Khán, the son of Sultán Sikandar, whom the rebels had dignified with the title of Sultán Mahmúd. * * * It appeared that the rebels had come and laid siege to Chunár, and had even made a slight attack; but that, on getting the certain news of my approach, they were filled with consternation, broke up in confusion, and raised the siege; that the Afgháns who had passed over to Benares had also retired in great confusion; that two of their boats sank in the passage, and that several of their men were drowned in the river. * * *
On Monday, the 4th Rajab, I marched from the banks of the Jumna against Bihár. * * * On the 13th, I visited the fort of Chunár. * * * Here Bábi Khán brought information that Mahmúd Khán was on the banks of the river Son. I immediately convened the amírs, and consulted them about attempting to fall upon the enemy by surprise, when it was finally settled that we should advance by very long marches without a moment's loss of time. * * * On Wednesday, the 20th, I embarked on the river, and halted at a kos below Gházípúr. * * * On the 22nd, I embarked on the river as usual, and landed opposite to Chusah (Chowsar). * * The army encamped on the banks of the Karmnás. The Hindus rigorously avoid this river. The pious Hindus did not pass it, but embarked in a boat and crossed by the Ganges so as to avoid it. They hold that if the water of this river touches any person, his religion is lost; and they assign an origin to its name corresponding with this opinion.* * * *