The King, informed of these transactions, sent Futteh Khan, son of Moozuffur Khan Guzeratty, with other nobles of distinction, to reinforce Imadool-Moolk, on which he marched out, and offered battle to Ameer Sheikh Ally. A sanguinary engagement ensued, in the commencement of which the Moguls gained some advantage; but after the death of Futteh Khan of Guzerat, the King's troops, inspired with revenge, fought more desperately, and gained the victory. Ameer Sheikh Ally was totally defeated; and having lost all his -plunder, escaped with a few attendants only to Kabul; his whole army being either killed or drowned in the Jheelum in their attempt to escape. Imadool-Moolk pursued the fugitives to Shewur, and returned to Mooltan, while the nobles who had come to his aid repaired, by the King's orders, to Dehly. Soon after this event, the King becoming jealous of the popularity of Imad-ool-Moolk at Mooltan, recalled him to court. Jusrut Gukkur taking advantage of his absence, crossed the Jhee-lum, the Ravy, and the Beea; and attacked Mullik Sikundur Tohfa near Jalendur, whom he defeated and made prisoner, together with all his treasure and baggage. Jusrut Gukkur now advanced and laid siege to Lahore. Ameer Sheikh Ally was also instigated by Jusrut to make another incursion into Mooltan, and having taken Toolumba by capitulation, he broke his pledge, plundered the place, and put to death all the men able to bear arms; he also burned the town, and carried the wives and children of the inhabitants into captivity. Jumad-ool- A. H. 835. Jan. 3. A. D. 1432. Folad of Surhind, taking advantage of these events, marched out of his fort, and invading the country of Ray Feroze, defeated and slew him. On the 1st of Jumad-ool-Awul, 835, the King, therefore, took the route of Lahore. Mullik-Survur-ool-Moolk was a second time appointed governor, and received the command of the advance guard of his army. The Vizier arriving at Samana, Jusrut raised the siege of Lahore, and retreated to the hills: Ameer Sheikh Ally fell back on Kabul; and Folad again shut himself up in Surhind. The King deprived the Vizier of the government of Lahore a second time, and nominated Noosrut Khan Goorgandaz* to the office, himself encamping near Paniput, on the banks of the Jumna. From hence he sent Imad-ool-Moolk, with a part of the army, to suppress some insurrections about Gualiar, while the Vizier, Survurool-Moolk, being left to besiege Surhind, the King returned to Debly. August. In the month of Zeehuj Jusrut GukZeehuj. kur advanced again to Lahore; and having commenced hostilities against Noosrut Khan, the King was induced, in the year 836, to march from Dehly as far as Samana. Intelligence was brought to him at that place of the death of his mother, Mukdooma Jehan, when he immediately returned with a few attendants to the capital, and after per A. H. 836. *This epithet was given to this chief, probably, from his having personally got the better of a wolf. forming the funeral obsequies rejoined his army. After his arrival in the camp he suddenly marched towards Mewat, conferring the government of Lahore upon Mullik Alla-dad-Lody, who promised to expel Jusrut. The Gukkur chief on hearing of the King's return, and being joined by a large body of his tribe, was enabled to defeat Alla-dad-Lody before he reached Lahore. A. H. 836. The King having received the news of this disaster, and also that Ameer Sheikh Ally was coming towards Surhind, again took the route of Punjab, sending before him Imad-ool-Moolk to reinforce the army besieging Surhind. On the approach of Imad-ool-Moolk, Ameer Sheikh Ally, who had formerly sustained a defeat from him, laid aside his intentions of coming to Surhind, and retreated by forced marches towards Lahore, which he surprised. Hearing, however, the King had reached Toolumba, Ameer Sheikh Ally left a garrison of 2000 men in Lahore, and retreated to Kabul, ravaging the country on his route, and leaving his nephew Moozuffur Khan in the fort of Shewur. Mullik Sikundur Tohfa, who had procured his release out of the hands of Jusrut Gukkur, by the payment of a large sum of money, was reinstated by the King in the government of Lahore, Depalpoor, and Jalendur; upon which he advanced and laid siege to Lahore, which surrendered by capitulation, and the garrison was permitted to retire to Kabul. The King now crossed the Ravy near Toolumba, and invested Shewur. Muzuffur Khan defended the place for a whole month; but being hard pressed, he capitulated, and, moreover, gave his daughter to the King, and paid a large ransom for his liberty. The King left a part of his army at Depalpoor, and with a select body proceeded in person to Mooltan, where he visited the tombs of the saints. From thence he returned in a few days to his camp. At this time he divested Mullik Sikundur Tohfa of the government of Lahore, and giving it to Imad-ool-Moolk, returned to Dehly. Being jealous of the power of the Vizier, Mullik Survur-ool-Moolk, the King united Kaly Khan with him in the office of vizier, and the latter being a man of superior abilities, soon gained the favour of his sovereign and the good will of the people. Rubbee-ooloola 17. Mullik Survur-ool-Moolk, dissatisfied with this arrangement, gained over Sudanund, the son of Gungoo Kutry, Meeran Sudr, deputy to the chief secretary, Kazy Abd-oos-Sumud, and others, who watched an opportunity for assassinating the King. At this time, the King ordered a city to be founded on the banks of the Jumna, and called it Moobarikabad, and made an excursion towards Surhind, in order to take the diversion of the chase. On the way, he received advice that Surhind was taken, and the head of the rebel Folad was presented to him, after which the King returned to the new city. Here he gained intelligence that war had broken out between Ibrahim Shah Shurky and Sooltan Hooshung of Malwa, whose armies were then near Kalpy. This information promised to afford A. H. 839. Oct. 10. A. D. 1435. the King an opportunity of expelling Ibrahim Shah Shurky from his dominions; he accordingly gave orders to collect his army, and caused his tents to be pitched outside the city of Dehly. A few days elapsed in the necessary organisation of his forces, during which time the King continued to visit the new works: he was, however, little apprehensive of the event which soon after took place, never having given offence to his nobility, except in changing or removing them from their governments when they misbehaved. Rujub 9. Jan. 28. Al On the 9th of the month of Rujub, in the year 839, according to custom, he went to worship at a mosque lately A. D. 1435. built in the new city, with only a few attendants. On which occasion, Meeran Sudr, and Kazy Abd-oos-Sumud, with a band of Hindoos clothed in armour, entered the mosque; while Sudanund, the son of Gungoo Kutry, with another party of Hindoos, kept guard without, to prevent people from either going in or coming out. though the King perceived the conspirators were in armour, he took no immediate notice of them; till at length Sidpal, one of the Hindoos, drawing his sword, rushed on him, and the rest following -his example, they basely murdered this worthy and excellent Prince. Meeran Sudr, instantly quitting the spot, repaired to the house of the Vizier, and acquainted him, according to agreement, with what had happened; and Survur-ool-Moolk, who had -previously arranged matters with Mahomed, one of the grandsons of Khizr Khan, raised that Prince to the throne. |