506 A. D. 1554. Humayun resolves to reconquest of India. BOOK SEVENTH. HUMAYUN'S RECONQUEST OF INDIA, AND death. HUMAYUN RESOLVES ΤΟ ATTEMPT THE RECONQUEST OF INDIA. HIS SUSPICIONS OF HIM NIFICENTLY AT KANDAHÁR AND ARRANGES TO ACCOMPANY BIRAM KHAN HEND. CONTINUED DISTRACTIONS IN HINDUSTÁN. SEKANDER SHAH. HEND. FLIGHT OF SEKANDER, AND DISPERSION OF HIS FORCES. SHAH ABUL MAALI. DECISIVE EFFECTS OF THE VICTORY AT SIRHEND. — HUMÁYUN RE-OCCUPIES DELHI. DISTRIBUTES THE PRO VINCES, WHICH ARE RAPIDLY REDUCED. SURRENDER OF BIÁNA. MAALI IN THE PENJÁB. HE IS SUPERSEDED BY AKBER, WHO EXPELS BOOK VII. No sooner was Humayun released from the danger of rebellion and civil war by the blindness and banishment of Kámrán, his only surviving brother, than his attempt the mind reverted to his long-cherished wish for the recovery of the throne of Delhi. But, before venturing on such an enterprise, it was necessary to secure himself in his kingdom of Kábul and its dependencies, that, while attempting the conquest of India, he might not see himself deprived of his older dominions in the West. Biram Serious doubts of the fidelity of Biram Khan, his His suspi. most powerful subject, had been infused into his mind. cions of Biram had lately done him an important service, by Khan, placing Haji Muhammed in his hands. But he nevertheless stood in an ambiguous position. For several years Biram had ruled Kandahár with nearly absolute power in correspondence with Humayun as his sovereign, though, as it would appear, he also represented himself to the Shah of Persia as his servant. Humáyun, after ceding Kandahár to the Persians, had surprised it by treachery; and, to pacify the Shah, pretended that he held it only for a time, and that Biram, the Shah's natural-born subject, in reality held it for both sovereigns, till it could be restored to Persia. This double relation, though recognised by both monarchs, was but too well fitted to allure a bold and ambitious man to indulge in schemes of independence; and instances of treason were in that age so common, that the insinuations against Biram seemed not improbable, and were easily believed. To advance into India, leaving behind a man so powerful and so dangerous, if hostile, would have been imprudent, and Humayun determined to remove him from his government. tains him Kandahár. A. H. 961. Humayun's chief confidence seems at this time to who enterhave been placed in Monaim Khan, an Amír of pru- magnifidence and experience, who had for some time been cently at atálík, or governor, to Akber. Eager to carry his plans against Biram into execution, though the winter was yet severe and the ground covered with snow, Humáyun set out from Kábul, attended by his Minister, and proceeded by Ghazni for Kandahár. Biram, who was not unaware of the Emperor's suspicions, but who preferred a dependance upon him to becoming the slave of the Persian King, adopted a decided line of conduct suited to his manly character. On Humayun's approach, he advanced with a pompous cavalcade nearly forty miles from Kandahár to meet him, put himself at A. D. 1554. BOOK VII. Once into his power, professed the most unlimited devotion to his interests, and comported himself with so much submission and frankness, that he not only entirely removed the Emperor's suspicions, but, by his insinuating address and the sure influence of a strong mind over a weak one, soon regained his usual ascendency over him. Humáyun, faithful to his original plan, still offered Monaim Khan the government of Kandahár; but that honest Minister advised his master on no account to make any such change when about to set out on an expedition of so much importance; but intimated that, if successful in India, it would be in his power to act in regard to Kandahár as he might think proper, and with perfect safety. Humáyun spent the rest of the winter at Kandahár, where Biram Khan entertained him with unostentatious magnificence.* In the spring, Humayun set out on his return towards Kábul. He was accompanied as far as Mukur by Biram him on his Khan, now once more his prime adviser. Sensible, however, of the uncertain tenure by which even the most faithful subject holds his favour when at a distance from the court, and desirous, perhaps, of sharing the danger and the glory of a mighty undertaking, Biram requested that he might be allowed to leave a deputy in the government which he had so long held, and permitted in person to attend his Majesty in the expedition that he meditated. This was readily granted. He returned to Kandahár, to make arrangements for its government in his absence, and to prepare the chosen body of troops with which he was to join the invading army. He prevailed upon the Emperor to remove Terdi Beg Khan from the government of Zemíndáwer, which lay in his neighbourhood, and to and arranges to accompany invasion. * At Kandahár, Humáyun found Khwaja Gházi just returned from a mission to Persia, and restored him to the office of diwán, the duties of which he had so honestly discharged. bestow it on a dependant of his own.* Terdi Beg, of whom Biram seems to have been already jealous, probably got at this time, in compensation, the government of Anderáb and other districts to the north of the Hindu-kúsh mountains.† at Kabul, Humayun now proceeded towards Kábul, whence he Humayun's addressed letters, not only to the different parts of his preparations own dominions, but to Samarkand, Bokhára, and the cities of the north, inviting adventurers to join him in his grand enterprise. The rest of the summer he devoted to settling and securing the territories he already possessed, and to providing arms, military stores, and other requisites for the campaign which he meditated. Biram Khan, faithful to his agreement, joined him He is joined at Kábul the day after the Id, or grand festival at the by Biram conclusion of the Muhammedan fast of Ramzán: and Shawal 2. so delighted was Humáyun with his arrival, that, to do Augst, 31. him honour, he commanded the whole festivities of that day of rejoicing to be repeated. go Khan. tion The necessary preparations for the expedition being sets out on at length completed, Humayun appointed his infant his expedi son, Mírza Muhammed Hakim, to be the nominal vernor of Kábul, entrusting the active direction of affairs to the fidelity and experience of Monaim Khan. He himself, taking with him his eldest son Akber, then between twelve and thirteen years of age, set out, about the middle of November, at the moment selected middle of by the astrologers of the court as presenting a most propitious aspect of the stars and the heavens. His family and harem he left behind at Kábul. He was accompanied by only three thousand horse, Biram Khan being left behind to complete the remaining arrangements, and to bring on the artillery, stores and Beháder Khan Sistáni, who became distinguished in Akber's reign. † Anderáb and Ishkemish, Akbernáma, ff. 90, 91.; Tab. Akb. f. 166.; Tar. Niz. f. 204.; Tar. Zihajeli, A.D. 1554. A. H. 962. end of Moharem. Sefer 6, BOOK VII. reinforcements which were daily arriving. Humáyun, on reaching Júi-sháhi, embarked on a raft, was floated down the Kábul river, and reached Pesháwer in the latter part of December, when he loaded Sekander Uzbek with praises for his gallant defence of the place and raised him to the rank of Khan. On the last day of the year 1554 his standard waved on the banks of the Indus, where he halted three days, and was joined and reaches by Biram Khan and the rest of the army from Kábul; at the same moment that he received with surprise the gratifying intelligence that Tátár Khan Kási, the Afghán governor of the northern part of the Penjáb, on hearing of his march, had abandoned the fort of Rhotas, the strongest in the Penjáb, of which it was regarded as the northern bulwark, and had retired with his whole force to the south. the Indus. State of India. Sefer 8. A. D. 1555. Indeed no moment could have been more favourable for an invasion of India. Selím Shah, a vigorous prince, had now been dead about a year, and had been succeeded by Adeli, whose accession, we have seen, was the signal for general revolt and rebellion. Four competitors for the throne of Delhi had appeared among the Afgháns, each possessed of a large extent of country and of a powerful army. The whole empire of Delhi was one scene of civil war and of intestine confusion. The capital itself had been repeatedly taken and retaken. Ahmed Khan, the Afghán governor of Láhúr, who, under the title of Sekander Shah, was one of the candidates for the throne, had carried away the army of the Penjáb to Delhi; so that the province was left without troops for its defence, and the garrisons had been withdrawn or neglected while Sekander was at a distance, busily employed in playing the greater game of Delhi. The retreat of Tátár Khan from Rhotas was, therefore, probably only a measure of prudence or necessity. Humayun crossed the Indus unopposed on the 2nd of January 1555, and pursued |