128
HISTORY OF INDIA.
' liOOK I .
A.U. I5<jr,.
Campaign
against this Usbuka.
A serioiis reverse repaired
Proceedinga in Cabool.
Akljcr, liiuUug that littN; |)ro;rn;s.s was uvula by lii.s officers in suijpressin;^ the revolt, detenniiied to take the field in person. A fever, with which he w{i.s seized, obliged him to retuiTi to Agra, where he remained till April, lofifi, and then resumed the campaign. Taking a select body of horse, he j)roceedefl by a forced march toward Lucknow, in the hope of surjjrising Sikun<lur Khan; Ijut that rebel chief, having received warning, evacuated the place and joined his confederates. Several of these, worked upon by emissanes from Aklicr, who always displayed great dexterity in breaking up any confederacy formed against him, abandoned the cause as hopeless, and made their submission ; but a formid- able opposition was still offered by Bahadur Khan Seestany, who, after crossing the Jumna and raising disturbances in the Doab, encountered the royalist general, Meer Moiz ool -Moolk, in the open field. The royalists were at first successful; and, in the full confidence of victory, commenced the pursuit without observing any order. Baliadur Khan immediately seized the advantage, and changed his defeat into a victory, so complete that Akbers first tidings of the resvilt were received from Meer Moiz himself, who never halted in his flight till he joined him at Canouge, with the wreck of his army.
The loss was greatly aggravated by its indirect effects — ^some of the confed- erates, who had made their submission, conceiving new hopes, and again joining the revolt. Among these was Khan Zuman, who immediately occupied Ghazi- poor and the adjoining country. Akber set out against him with all expedition, but Bahadm* Khan, taking advantage of his absence, advanced to Juanpoor and captured it by escalade. This disaster seeming the more serious of the two, Akber retraced his steps, and, by the junction of forces from the loyal provinces, was soon at the head of an army strong enough to crush the rebellion. Bahadur Khan accordingly evacuated Juanpoor and fled toward Benares, from which he sent an offer of submission. The offer was accepted; for all Akbers leanings were to the generous side, but on this occasion his leniency was carried to an extreme. When the king, after having given his royal word of pardon, ordered liim and his brother Klian Zuman to appear at coui't, the latter answered "that shame for his past offences alone prevented him from appearing in the presence, till tima should have convinced his majesty of his loyalty; but that when the king should return to Agra, both he and his brother Bahadur Khan would, at a future time, pay their respects." There was no sincerity in these words, for the brothers were only endeavouring to gain time, and took the first opportunity of revolting and seizing upon GuiTah.
The next quarter to which Akbers attention was .specially called was Cabool. It was in the hands of his half-brother, Mahomed Hakim Mirza, who was threatened by Suliman Mirza, chief of Budukshan. and sent a message to Akber, earnestly soliciting his aid. A strong reinforcement was accordingly sent ; but before it arrived the struggle was over. Suliman Mirza had made good his threat by attacking Cabool, and Mahomed Hakim Mii'za had been compelled
