Page:History of India Vol 4.djvu/249

Rh His successor, Bahadur Khan, had none of his ability, and advice was thrown away upon him. The line was drawing to a close and fortune had averted her face. Shaikh Farid invested the fort and reported the fact to the emperor, who sent him reinforcements, and himself passed over the Narbada on his way to superintend the siege. On the 4th of Ramazan the new year of the emperor occurred, and his Majesty halted three days to celebrate the festival. The march of the Imperial force was then resumed.

Letters now arrived from Shaikh Abu-l-fazl, who was coming from the Deccan with the elephants and valuable effects of the late prince, and who announced his arrival at Burhanpur. He had received orders to join Shaikh Farid and to concert measures with him for the punishment of the recusant prince. On the 4th of Farwardin the army marched and encamped two leagues from the fort of Asir, because on that side there was no ground nearer the fort which was fit for a camp. Baz Bahadur Uzbek and Karabeg were sent forward immediately to select positions for the trenches and for the encampment of the besiegers.

On their return they reported that they had never seen in any country a fort like this; for however long an army might press the siege, nothing but the extraordinary good fortune of the emperor could effect its capture. Old soldiers and men who had travelled into distant lands, men who had seen the fortresses of Iran and Turan, of Rum, Europe, and of the whole habitable world, had never beheld the equal of this. It