Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/160

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III.STOl;^' OF INDIA.

[i;ooK I.

A 1). ir,in.

Sie^j of Moi'Cu.

Malwah.

Rivalship among Akber's officers.

'I'lic sicgi! of Mt'ita proved nioic (lifHi.i.ilt Lliaii liu'l l.ct-ii anticipated. Two of the principal Rajpoot cliiefs of Marwar had thrown themselves into it, and conducted the defence with so much skill and valour that the mirza's ojierations, though carried on with great vigour, were completely baffled, Aft<ir carrying mines under one of the bastioas, and making a prfK;tiwi])le breach, he advanced to the assault, but was re))ulsed. In the morning, when he was preparing to i-enew the assault, he found that in the course of tlie night the breach had been built up. Some montlis had thas passed away when want of provisiorts compelled the garrison to capitulate. Favourable terms were given; but one of tlie fajalis disdaining to accept of them, collected 500 of his followers, and, after burning whatever they could not take with them, rushed out and cut tlieir way through the enemy. About half the number succeeded ; the rest perished.

The war with Baz Bahadur, in Malwah, still continued, though he was at last so closely pressed that he was obliged to seek a refuge at Boorhanpoor, within the limits of Candeish. Still, however, he had no thoughts of peace, and not only kept the country in a con.staut state of ferment and alarm Ijy fre- (juent incursions, but by means of an alliance with the rulers of Candeish anrl Berar, was enabled to take the field with so powerful an army that the Moguls were obliged to retreat before it Peer Mahomed Khan fell back on Beezygur ; when, conti-ary to the advice of his officers, he resolved to risk an engagement. He was defeated, and lost his life in attempting to cross the Nerbudda ; while Baz Bahadur continued the pursuit as far as Agra, and once more became master of all Malwah in 1 561 . His triumph was short-lived, for the governor of Kalpee, being appointed to the command, expelled him a second time, and obliged him to flee to the mountains.

One of the greatest difficulties with which Akber had to contend, arose from rivalry and strife among his leading officers. Mahomed Khan Atka. who had been appointed minister at Delhi with the title of Shahab-u-din, was high in favour at court For this he was hated by Adam Klian Khoka, who endea- voured to undermine him ; and for this pm-pose had recoui-se to intrigues, which only issued in his own disgrace. He determined on revenge; antl one day, whUe the minister was sittino- in the hall of audience reading the Kc)ran, entered and saluted him. The minister continued, as was visual in such circumstances, to read on without taking any notice of his enti^ance, and Adam Khan, whether from momentary im])ulse or premeditation, drew his dagger and stabbed him to the heart. Akber was sleeping in one of the inner apartments, and, liearing the noise and ascei-taining the cause, rushed out in his sleeping dress. There lay the minister weltering in his blood, while the murderer stot)d, as if stupified by his own atrf)city, on an adjoining teiTace. Akber s first impvdse was t(» draw his sword and put him to death, but, recollecting himself, he letm-ned the sword to its scal)bard. Adam Klian took advantage of the interval to clasp