118
TTISTORV OF INDIA.
[Bf^oK F.
He recover Cabool.
A.I). I'.is many niortityiug circuia.stances, Before lie couM obtain any a.s.siHtance, he wa.s
obliged to cede the province of Kandahai', and a/lopt the Shiite form of Maho-
metanism. After these conceasions, he va,s furnished with a body of H-,00()
horse, under the command of the whah's son, Morad Mirza. His own followern
mustered oidy about 700. He first proceeded agaiast Kamlahar, which he
reached in March, 154:5. It was in possession of Mirza Askari, as governor i>i'
Hoomayooii his other brother, Kamran. The siege was immediately commence^l, Vjut pro- recovers , Kandaimr. cceded languidly for five montlis, at the end of which desertion and famine
obliged Mii'za Askari to surrendei'. Hoomayoon, probably soured by misfortune, forgot the humanity which had formed the best feature in liis character ; and, disregarding the promise of pardon which he had given, subjected his brother to the most contumelious treatment, and then kept him nearly three yeara as a prisoner in chains He also violated his agreement with the shah, by keeping Kandahar to himself, and maltreating his Persian auxiliaries.
From Kandahar he proceeded against Cabool, and e.xpelled Kamran, who was obliged to take refuge in Scinde The capture was the more gratifying that it enabled him to recover his son Akber, now a child of about three vears of age. After a time Kamran returned, and a series of struggles took place, dm'ing which the greatest barbarities were perpetrated on both sides; and Akber, who had again fallen into the enemy's hands, escaped almost miractdously, after Ms uncle had. with savage cruelty, exposed him to the full tii"e of his fathers cannon. Kamran was ultimately defeated and obliged again to tiee ; but, by the aid of the Usbeks, obtained possession of Budukshan Tliither Hoomayoon followed He was victorious, and returned in triumph to Cabool in the end of 154)8. His affairs now assumed so promising an appearance that he began to talk of attempting the conquest of Transoxiana ; but his bad fortune retmiied, and in a battle vith Kamran, who had once more taken the field, he sustained a total defeat. On this occasion he made another of his remarkable e-scapes. A soldier had wounded him. and was about to repeat the blow, when he was so confounded by the sternness with which Hoomayoon exclaimed, 'Wretch! how dare you?" that he dropped his arm and let him escape. He lied Avith only eleven attendants, while Akber again fell into liis uncle's hands. Another tm*n in the wheel of fortune placed Hoomayoon in the ascendent, and Kamran became his prisoner. The manner in which he disposed of him is a great blot on liis memory. At first he gave him a most friendly reception, seated him on his right hand, feasted him, shared half of lus shce of water-melon with him. and sjjent the evening with lum in "jollity and carousing." In the morning his peremptory orders were to put out his brother's eyes. They were executed, Kamran exclaiming during the agony of the tortm-e, "O Lord, my God! what- ever sins I have committed have been amply punished in this world; have com- passion on me in the next." He died soon after at Mecca, where he had wished to end his days.
New vicissitudes
