He performed the duties of deputy for a long time, but at length went on leave to visit his own parganas, where he delayed for some time. On account of his long absence, Sultán Muhammad used to talk reproachfully of him, and said, “Sher Khán promised to return very shortly, but has remained a long time away.” Those were days of confusion, no man put entire confidence in another.

Muhammad Khán Súr came to Sultán Muhammad and spoke detractingly of Sher Khán, saying, “He sees some probability of the advent of Sultán Mahmúd, the son of Sultán Sikandar, to whom many of the nobles and Afgháns have given in their adhesion. If Your Majesty commands me, I will contrive to bring Faríd Khán here without any stir. His brother Sulaimán is an able young man, to whom Hasan Khán during his life­time made over the management of both his parganas, when he banished Sher Khán from his districts, who even formerly preferred an accusation against his own father, and of whom the Sultán said, ‘This is a bad man who complains even against his own father.’ When Hasan Khán died, Faríd Khán, through his patron Daulat Khán, obtained a grant of both parganas from Sultán Ibráhím. Sulaimán was also desirous of going to Sultán Ibráhím, to show the recommendatory letter which Míán Hasan when dying had written to the Sultán. But disturbances arose, and he was unable to go, and has now come to you to complain of his brother. If Your Majesty will confer these parganas on Sulaimán, Faríd Khán will very quickly come unto your presence again. It is now long since that Sulaimán, flying from him, sought refuge with me; and if he attains his rights, he will ever be your obliged servant.” Sultán Muhammad replied, “He has done me much good service, how can I give away his jágírs to another, and that for a trifling fault, and without inquiry? However, to please you they shall both bring their cause before you. Both are similarly related to you—do you favour neither, that the right may be established, and the dust of the enmity which exists between them may be allayed.”

Muhammad Khán, when he was dismissed, returned to his own jágír, and sent Shádí Khán, his confidential servant, to Faríd Khán with a message to this effect:—“It is not right for you to take possession of both parganas and to disinherit your brothers, and lay the foundation of strife among your own kindred. I have sent Shádí Khán to you, and I hope you will take heed to what he will say to you. Your brothers have now been a long time with me, and the laws and customs of the Afgháns are no secret to you.”

When Shádí came to Sher Khán, and delivered at full length Muhammad Khán's message, Sher Khán replied:—“Do you, Shádí Khán, tell the Khán from me, that this is not the Roh country that I should share equally with my brothers. The country of India is completely at the disposal of the king, nor has any one else any share in it, nor is there any regard to elder or younger, or to kindred. Sikandar Lodí thus decided: ‘If any noble dies, whatever money or other effects he may leave should be divided among his heirs according to the laws of inheritance; but his office and his jágírs and his military retinue let him confer on whichever of the sons he thinks most able; and in these no one else has a right to share, nor is any remedy open to them.’ Whatever goods and money my father left, Sulaimán with my brothers appropriated before he sought refuge with you. Hitherto, out of regard for my relationship to you, I have said nothing; but whenever he may quit you, I shall reclaim my share of my patrimonial inheritance from him. The jágír and office were conferred on me by Sultán Ibráhím; in them no one has any share. But I said to my brothers, ‘The jágírs which you enjoyed in my father's lifetime I will continue, nay increase to you; but no one can participate in my office.’ It does not become you to say, ‘Give up Tánda and Malhú to Sulaimán.’ I will not willingly yield them. If you take them by force, and give them to him, it is in your power to do so. I have not another word to say.”

When Shádí returned from Sher Khán, and reported the whole affair to Muhammad Khán, he was much enraged, and said to Shádí, “Take all my forces with you, seize parganas Tánda, and Malhú, and make them over to Sulaimán and Ahmad. If he resists you, fight him with all your might; and if you defeat and put him to flight, make over both parganas to Sulaimán, and, leaving your army to assist him, return to me, lest when he sees Sulaimán with few followers he will attack him.”

When this news reached Sher Khán, he wrote to Sukha, his slave (father of Khawás Khán), the shikkdár of Tánda and Malhú, near Benares, and with whom the greater part of Sher Khán's forces were, apprising him that Sulaimán, accompanied by Shádí Khán, was advancing against him, and directing him not to yield up Tánda and Malhú without resistance. When the army of Muhammad Khán approached, Sukha came out of the city to meet it. In the engagement which followed, Sukha was slain, and his army were defeated and fled to Sher Khán, at Sahsarám, nor did they even rally there.

Some persons advised Sher Khán to go to Sultán Muhammad, but he did not agree to this, saying, “These are uncertain times, the Sultán will not quarrel with Muhammad Khán for my sake. He will endeavour to bring about some compromise; but it is not my interest to enter into a compromise.” Míán Nizám Khán said, “If it be not your interest to make a compromise, I think it will be best to go to Patna; thence, through the inter­vention of some proper person, to procure an interview with Sultán Junaid Birlás, at Ágra, and to offer to enter his service. Perhaps this might afford an opportunity not only of vengeance on Muhammad Khán, but even of driving him out of Chaundh.” Sher Khán agreed to this, and went to Patna, and sent an agent to Sultán Junaid, at Ágra, saying, “If Sultán Junaid will give me his parole, and promise not to molest me, I will come and wait upon him, and serve him loyally with all my heart and soul.” Sultán Junaid agreeing to this, Sher Khán came to him, bringing with him a very large present. Sultán Junaid was much pleased, and gave him the aid of a large force to recover his parganas. Muhammad Khán and Sulaimán, unable to resist, fled to the hill of Rohtás, and Sher Khán got possession not only of his own parganas, but also of Chaundh and of several parganas which had formerly appertained to the crown. To many of the Afgháns and his kindred who had fled to the mountains, he wrote, pro­mising to double their former jágírs, and said, “The honour of our women is one (to us all); I have accomplished my revenge, and have regained my parganas.” Consequent on the acquisi­tion of these parganas, many Afgháns came to him. When he perceived that many of the Afgháns were collecting round him, he became at ease; gaining confidence, he dismissed the army which Sultán Junaid had sent to his aid with very handsome presents. Sher Khán then wrote to Muhammad Khán Súr, the former ruler of Chaundh, who had fled to the hills, to this effect: “Do not let any fear find its way to your heart, but make your mind quite easy, and come and take possession of your pargana. I have acquired several parganas which formerly paid revenue to Sultán Ibráhím, and do not covet the possessions of my kindred. This is a time of sedition and misfortunes. Every Afghán who has any forces is coveting my government and country, and it therefore behoves those who have the means in such a time to collect for their aid and assistance soldiery of their own tribe, so as to preserve their own dominion, and even gain fresh territory. This, therefore, is the wisest course; let us put away our former envy and hatred, and in place of it let us plant the young tree of love and kindness in our hearts, that it may bring forth the fruit of friendship; and this may be the means of our collecting our friends, and so of attaining high station and dignity.” On receiving Sher Khán's letter, Muham­mad Khán came down from the hills, and again took possession of his own parganas of Chaundh, etc.; and he and Sher Khán forgave each other their previous enmity; and Muhammad Khán thus came under obligations to Sher Khán.