Swords From the East (74 page)

The weak point of the citadel was the covered run-the long tunnel of solid masonry that descended to the lower water tank. This point had been assigned to my own household troops.

When the signal was given the citadel was assailed on all sides, but our real effort was made in the covered way. Here the pagans had placed picked men, and stones and flaming pots and beams were cast down on my warriors. Through the smoke and the flames and the weapon-play they pressed on and up, until Shahem Nur Beg climbed out of the covered way where it joins the main wall.

Elsewhere we had gained a footing in two or three places, and now the pagans in the water-run fled back into the citadel and we had taken that part of the works. My men pushed ahead at once, and the inner walls of the citadel were stormed more easily.

Then a strange thing happened.*

After a short pause in the fighting the Rajputs rushed out, without clothing of any kind, sword in hand. They fell upon my men in desperation and put many to the sword. But the pagans, who seemed to be bereft of all reason, began to leap over the ramparts, falling to their death on the stones below.

The cause of this desperate sally was that they had given up the place for lost. They had put to death all their wives, women, and children. Resolving to perish, they had stripped themselves and rushed out. Their ungovernable desperation drove our people back along the ramparts.

Two or three hundred pagans had gone into Medini Rao's house, where numbers of them slew each other in the following manner. One person took his stand by the door, sword in hand, and the others crowded in and stretched out their necks, eager to die. In this way many went to and I gained this famous fort without raising my standard or beating my kettle-drum, or using the full strength of my arms.

I gave Chanderi to one of my shahs, leaving him three thousand Moghuls and Hindustanis for support, and hastened by forced marches toward Agra and the north.

Chapter VII

The Tiger Fights with Death

A good deal of mischief had been done in my absence. The remnant of my eastern forces had fallen back again from Kanauj and the rebels had stormed the fort of Shelnsabad. We were delayed three or four days in crossing the broad Jumna, and when we neared Kanauj we learned that the Afghans had left the city and had recrossed the Ganges. They were drawn up on the east bank, believing that they would be able to keep my men from crossing. And they had collected all the boats for leagues upand downstream on their bank.

I went and camped on the west bank of the Ganges, and my men went out and seized some of the enemy's boats which they brought in.

But the boats were too few to serve any useful purpose, and the river could not be forded here. I sent for an officer who was skilled at construction work, and ordered him to throw a bridge across the Ganges and to requisition everything in the way of materials that he needed.

The Afghans were amazed at our preparations to throw a bridge across the Ganges and treated the whole thing with contempt. Their contempt and laughter was not as great when Ustad Ali brought up a gun to test out the range, and began his fire.

For several days he played his gun remarkably well. The first day he discharged it eight times, the second sixteen, and the third and fourth day he kept up this rate of firing.

The gun he fired was that same great piece called the Dig GhaziVictorious Cannon-that had been used in the battle against Rana Sanga, whence it got this name. Another piece, larger than this, had been planted, but it burst at the first fire, killing eight or ten men.

The matchlock men as well were active with their pieces and struck down a number of warriors and horses, including two of the royal slaves. They manned a breastwork that had been thrown up on the bank above the place where the bridge was to be. Below the bridge a swivel had been planted on an island, and harassed the Afghans.

But my warriors were not content with the firing of the cannon. About evening prayers one day two sultans with about fifteen men crossed over in a boat without any incentive except foolhardiness, and returned without fighting, having accomplished nothing at all. I reprimanded them for having crossed.

Malik Kasiin, the Moghul, ventured across once or twice in a boat and had very creditable skirmishes with bodies of the Afghans. Yet, at length, after driving back a strong party, they were carried away by overconfidence and pursued the fugitives up to the lines of the Afghan camp. The enemy sallied out in strength and attacked him, driving his men back to their boat.

They climbed in hurriedly and pushed off, but before they could get clear, an elephant came up and swamped the boat. In this manner Malik Kasim perished.

All this while the floats of the bridge were being pushed steadily toward the Afghan bank, and as soon as the bridge was nearly finished I moved forward some light troops to hold it. As the Afghans had retired beyond range of Ustad Ali's cannon, these light troops-infantry and La- horis-crossed over and skirmished a bit. Two days later part of my household warriors-my best men-supported by foot musketeers, went over the bridge.

The Afghans lost no time in mounting for battle, horse and foot and elephants, and attacked my division. At one time they made headway against my left flank, but the men in the center and right stood firm and soon drove the enemy from the ground.

Two of my warriors hurried on too eagerly and rode some distance beyond the body where they belonged. One of them was cut off, dismounted, and taken on the spot; the other-man and horse-was wounded in several places. He fell, dying, and his horse, feeble and tottering, broke away and dropped dead when it reached its position in the party of my men.

That day seven or eight heads were brought in, and many of the enemy were wounded by arrows and matchlock balls. The fighting kept up sharply until afternoon prayers. And the whole night was spent in bringing back my scattered detachments across the bridge.

If that same evening I had moved forward my main forces, it is probable that most of the enemy would have fallen into my hands. But it came into my head that it would not do to trust fortune too far.*
On Saturday our artillery moved over and at the next dawn all my men, horse and foot, crossed the Ganges.

About the beat of the morning drum our advance patrols brought in word that the enemy had gone off and fled in the night. I had crossed over at early morning prayers, and had sent the camel train to ford the river lower down.

I commanded Chin Timur Sultan with a strong body of horse to gallop on after the Afghans. They pressed after the enemy without respite and without rest, until the Afghans had scattered, and much of their baggage and families and a few prisoners fell into our hands. So the Afghan rebellion was brought to an end.

A week later I reached Lucknow and surveyed it. Here I halted to settle the affairs of Oudh and the district and discovered on the banks of the river a well-known country called the Hunting Ground. When I had bathed in the river, either from the effect of the air or because some water got into my head, I became deaf in the right ear. After this I mounted and set forth on a hunting party.

The pain in my ear came and went and I took opium to ward off the cold rays of the full moon. Oppressive sickness followed the opium next morning, but in spite of it I went all over the palaces of the Rajas Mansing and Bikramajit. I had already visited the Rajput stronghold of Gwalior, but in the moonlight these two palaces were singularly beautiful. Lofty and splendid, and built of hewn stone, overlaid with white stucco-their domes covered with plates of gilded copper, the walls inlaid with painted tiles in the shapes of trees-they rise the height of twenty spears from the gardens. I took some peach flowers from the gardens and planted them in the palace grounds of Agra.

At this time, Rana Sanga having died in the forests to which he retreated after Kanwaha, messengers arrived from Raja Bikramajit, his second son, who was then in the nearly impregnable stronghold of Rantambor. He offered to render allegiance, and expressed the hope that an annuity of seventy lakhs would be granted him.

The bargain was concluded, and it was settled that he should give up Rantambor for another city, less strong. No sooner had he ranked himself among my subjects than he sent me the splendid crown-cap and golden girdle of Sultan Mahmud, which had been in the hands of Rana Sanga.

If the young prince stood by his terms, I agreed that by the blessing of God I would make him Rana in his father's place and settle him in Chitore, the chief city of the Rajputs.

At this very time a runner came from the hills with news that Humayun had got a son, by the daughter of Yadgar Taghai.

I wrote to Kabul, to Humayun and Kwajah Kilan that I had triumphed over the rebels in the east and west of Hindustan, as well as over the last of the pagans, and that in the next spring I would make an effort to return in person to Kabul:

To Humayun, whom I remember with longing to see him again-health. Thanks be to God, who has given you a child-He has also given to me comfort and an object to love.

You who are seated on a throne ought to know that this is the season for you to expose yourself to danger and hardship and to exert your prowess in arms. Fail not to exert yourself, for indolence and ease suit but ill with royalty.

Remember to act generously by your brothers. I have some quarrels to settle with you. In many of your letters you complain of separation from your friends in Hind. It is wrong for you to give way to such a complaint. There is a saying- "If you are fettered by circumstances, submit; if you govern circumstances, act boldly."

There is no greater bondage than a king's, and it ill becomes him to complain of separation.

To comply with my wishes you have indeed sent me letters, but you have certainly never read them over; if you had attempted to read them you would have found it impossible. I managed to decipher your last letter, with much difficulty. It is confused and crabbed, and you have used far-fetched words. You fail in writing because you try to display your knowledge. In future write unaffectedly, using plain words which cause less trouble to writer and reader.

You are now about to set out on an expedition of importance to recover Balkh from the Uzbeks. Call your most experienced noblemen into council and guide yourself by their advice.

If you value my approval, do not waste your time in private parties. Watch the discipline of your army and keep the hearts of your officers by courtesy of manner.

I once more repeat my earnest wishes for your health. Written on Thursday the thirteenth of the first Rabi.

For the first time since I entered Hind there was no need to take the field against the enemy. The condition of the Purab was still unsettled, and I sent word to the army in the east that if there was need of moving against the Bengalis I would, God willing, mount and join them without delay.

I had ordered the road from Agra to Kabul to be measured, and minars (towers) to be erected along the way, with post-stations for six horses every few miles.

And, in order fittingly to receive the ambassadors who had come to wait on me, and to reward my own followers, I gave a great feast in the garden at Agra. It was then the beginning of winter.

I sat in an open pavilion that had just been built and covered with damp khan grass for coolness. On my right and left sat the sultans and ameers, the noblemen and officers. The Red Hat*
ambassadors were seated under an awning, fifty paces distant with Iny veteran commander Yunis Ali to attend upon them. On the other side the Uzbek and Hindu ambassadors were likewise stationed. Before the dinner was served all the khans, sultans, grandees, and officers came to present their congratulatory gifts of red and white and black money and other articles.

Woolen cloths were spread before me into which the gold and silver were thrown, as well as purses-heaped up, one upon another.

Before dining, while the presents were coming in, there were fights of furious camels and elephants in a cleared space within the garden. Then came ram fights and wrestling matches.

As the dinner was placed I began to give my presents of robes of honor and balls of pure gold and silver. A rich reward was given, deservedly, to the officer who had built the bridge over the Ganges.

And to the veterans who had come from Andijan, my homeland-who, without a country and without a home, had roamed with me in my wanderings through the hills-to all these veterans and tried men, I gave vests and rich dresses of honor, with gold and silver clothes.

While we were eating dinner the Hindustani jugglers were brought in, and exhibited their feats. One of their tricks is the following: They place one hand on the ground, then raise up their other hand and two feet, all the while spinning around three rings in hand and feet. And, clinging to a single wooden pole, they walk about on it, without fastenings to their feet.

One of the most remarkable feats is when a tumbler supports a long pole at his waist and another mounts the pole to perform his tricks. In another case, a young tumbler stands on the head of an older one while both exhibit their tricks. Many pateras, or dancing girls, were also brought in, and danced.

Toward evening a great quantity of gold, silver, and copper money was scattered. There was a precious hubbub and uproar. As night drew on I made the most distinguished guests sit down by me and talked with them until the end of the first watch.

It seemed as if Hindustan were at last reduced to quiet, and, God willing, I meant to set out for the hills without losing a moment's time. Just then came tidings that Sultan Mahmud and other chieftains had gathered together an army of a hundred thousand men to oppose me in the country beyond the Ganges.

I was suffering from fevers, and a Roumi administered to me a new remedy-boiling pepper dust and standing in the steam that rose from the earthen pot. Being then in the jungle country where wild elephants were found, near Chunar, we were setting out to hunt when a galloper brought tidings that Sultan Mahmud was not far away. I was obliged to leave the hunting and advance at once by long marches.