1 128 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
2 The emperor reduced to subjection the rebellious Hindu States of
3 Central India, invaded Mdrwdér and conquered Chittor, which surrendered,
4 Shortly afterwards he moved his army towards Kalanjar, the rdjé of which
5 place refusing to surrender, the fort, one of the strongest in India, was
6 closely besieged. Mines were sunk under the rocks and batteries for
7 artillery constructed to blow up the walls. The emperor, seeing that the
8 siege had made much progress, ordered a general assault, when a shell,
9 bursting in the battery where he stood, set fire to a magazine and blew up
10 several gunners together with the king and many of his chiefs. The king
11 was so scorched that he was carried for dead to his tent, but he survived,
12 and, though, breathing with much distress, he continued to encourage his
13 troops to prosecute the attack with all their might. He was in his death
14 agonies when news was brought to him of the final reduction of the fort.
15 With a cheerful countenance he exclaimed: “ Thanks be to the Almighty
16 Shor Bhah killed‘at God!” and immediately expired. The event took place on May 22nd, 1545,
17 ee when he had reigned as emperor of Hindostdén for about five years.
18 His character. Sher Shah was a man of great military talents, and if the Moghals for
19 a time lost their empire in India, it was due to the strategical skill and
20 tactics of this Pathan king. By his energy and perseverance he had raised
21 himself from the position of a common soldier to the dignity of a king
22 of a mighty empire. He extended the limits of the empire in every direc-
23 tion and applied himself diligently to the civil administration of the
24 His internal country. From the Ganges to the Indus, a distance of 2,000 miles, he
25 improvomentsand —_ ggnstructed a highway, bordered with fruit-trees, which afforded shelter
26 to the weary traveller. Every two miles a well was dug, and at every stage
27 a caravanserai was established for the accommodation of travellers, at the
28 expense of the State. Magnificent mosques were built on the highways,
29 and readers of the Koran and J/ullahs provided for them. Horse-posts
30 were established at convenient distances, to facilitate the conveyance of
31 Government messages, as also to benefit the trading classes and the public.
32 Similar arrangements were made from Agra to Mandu, a distance of 450
33 miles. General security reigned throughout the country, and there is every
34 reason to think that, if the life of this military adventurer had been spared
35 longer, India would, under his munificent reign, have enjoyed the blessings
36 of peace and prosperity. Ferishta relates that Sher Shah, on being one
37 day told that his beard was growing white, replied: “It is true, I have
38 ascended the throne in the evening of my life, a circumstance I always deplore,
39 as it has left me so short a time to make myself useful to my countrymen
40 His last restine. 22d to promote their welfare.” Sher Shah’s remains were carried to Sasse-
41 place. : ram in Behar and interred on his family estate in a magnificent mausoleum
42 erected to his memory, which exists to this day in perféct condition, sur-
43 rounded by a beautiful reservoir of water, and is admired by travellers as
44 a ot the noblest pieces of architecture constructed by the Pathan kiugs
45 of India.
46 Anecdote.
47 SALEM SHAH SUR, ’
48 - On the death of Sher Shah, the officers of the army elect-4 his younger
49 Salem Shah sup- gon, Jalal Khan, to be their emperor in preference to the Were Adil Khan.
50 thorn "Jalal Khan was a brave soldier, and, having always take? 94 active part in
51 his father’s campaign, had become extremely popul.r with the army. He
52 was crowned emperor of Hindostdn in the fortress.of Kalanjar on May 25th,
53 1545, three days after his father’s death, by the “tle of Islam Shah, but
54 was more familiarly known as Salem Shah. pe
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