Page:Studies in Mughal India.djvu/151
firing, and wait for the arrival of his larger ships (salbs,) when he would put the latter in front and attack the enemy. He therefore began firing his guns and sent a man to hurry up the salbs. These arrived at the time of the evening prayer. From that time to dawn, there was cannonade between the two sides.[1]
SECOND NAVAL ENCOUNTER, 24th January.
Next morning, the Muslims flying their victorious banners, beating their drums, and sounding their bugles and trumpets, advanced towards the enemy firing guns and in this order: First the salbs, then the ghurabs, and last the jalbas and kosas side by side. The enemy lost all courage and firmness, and thought only of flying. They turned the heads of their larger ships away from the Imperialists, attached their jalbas to them, and began to tow back these big ships, fighting during their flight.
Ibn Husain without throwing away caution or making rash haste advanced in his previous formation. At
- ↑ The Alamgirnamah, p. 950, says: — "[After the first naval battle] the enemy fled. Ibn Husain with his light and swift ships gave chase and captured to ghurabs and three halias [=jalbas] from them. Soon afterwards, the larger ships (nawwara-e-buzurg) of the enemy came in sight, for a second time fought a long and severe fight, and at sunset fled from the scene of action. Ibn Husain pursued them, [p. 951] but as the enemy's ships entered the Karnafuli, and his own larger ships had not come up with him, he thought it inadvisable to advance, but withdrew his fleet to a suitable place, and passed the night in keeping watch.
When Buzurg Ummed Khan heard of it, he wrote strongly urging Farhad Khan and Mir Murtaza not to wait for clearing the jungle and making a road, but to hurry up and join hands with the nawwara. He himself gave up road-making and advanced quickly. Next day [24th January,] Farhad Khan arrived at the bank of the river [Karnafuli]. The enemy lost heart at the sight of the Islamic army."