Chap. VI.] REIGN OF AKBER. I 2<)
to evacuate it. In his retreat he took the direction of the Indu.s, and wa.s a.d. loce.
ungratefid enoiigli to endeavour to compensate himself for the loss of Cabool by seizing u{)ou Lahore. This he was more readily tempted to do, because he believed that Akber's hands were fully occupied in the eastern provinces by the Usbeks. The attempt u])on Lahore was made; and, though it failed, appear- An i.titnii't ances were so alarming that Akber po.stponed a projected expedition against the i.aiioio Usbeks in the Doab, and in November, 1566, directed his mju'ch into the Punjab. In the dead of the night ]Iahomed Hakim Mirza was awakened by the noise of drums and trumpets ; and, calling to ask what it meant, was told that the citizens of Lahore were manifesting their joy at the intelligence they had received of Akber's approach. Without waiting to learn more, he mounted his steed in the utmost alarm, and, taking his cavalry along with him, was off on the instant for Cabool. Fortune was far more favourable to him than he deserved ; for on arriving he found that his enemy, Suliman Mirza, had retired to Budukshan for the winter, leaving Cabool very imperfectly defended. The consequence was, that he recovered it as quickly as he had lost it.
The ab.sence of Akber in the Punjab was no sooner known to the Usbeks Progress of than they put themselves in motion, took Canouge and Oude, and extended revolt. their conquests in all directions. He therefore hastened back to Agra, and having collected his troops, set out for Juanpoor. Khan Zuman Khan, when this startling intelligence reached him, was engaged in laying siege to the fort of Sheergur. He inunediately raised it, and, with his brother Bahadur Khan Seestany, who was besieging Kurra, crossed the Ganges in full retreat to Malwah, intending either to join some insurgents who had a])peared in that province, or to form an alliance with the kings of the Deccan. Akbei', fully alive to the magnitude of the danger which thus threatened, determined, if possible, to overtake him. Such was his haste that, on arriving at the ferry of Muneepoor, and finding no boats in readiness, he mounted his elephant and plunged into the stream. One hundred of his body-guard imitated his example; and though the water was then high, they all reached the opposite bank in safety. At the head of this small party Akber proceeded, and had actually come in sight of the enemy's camp before he was reinforced by the garrison from Kurra.
The enemy, never imagining that Akber would venture to cross without his lurap army, felt perfectly secure, and had accordingly passed the night in festivity. They were first brought to their sen.ses by the ominous sound of the royal mikara, or kettle-drum. Though completely surprised, they were so superior in numbers that the contest was for some time doubtfid, and Akber was in great personal danger; but his elei)hants, advancing rapidly into the midst of the confused mass, left the enemy no time to rally. Khan Zuman, while endeavour- ing to extract an arrow which had wounded him, fell with his horse, and was tram])led to death by an ele]>hant. His brother, Bahadur Khan, was taken prisoner; and on being bronght before the king, who asked him what injury he Vol. I. 17
