THE EMPEROR IN JEOPARDY. 
73 
retire with his family, and the Moghul Emperor took 
possession of the immense treasure contained in this 
celebrated fortress. “ The great strength of this 
place/’ says Ferishta,* “the numerous garrison, the 
boldness and success of the enterprise by which its 
capture was achieved, render this action equal, in 
the opinion of military men, to anything of the kind 
recorded in history. Here the treasure of Guzerat, 
the accumulation of many years, was distributed 
among the troops ; Humayoon gave to his officers and 
soldiers as much gold, silver, or jewels, as could be 
heaped on their respective shields, proportioning the 
value to their rank and merit : for the wealth of 
Room, Khutta, and Furung (that is, of Asia Minor, 
Tartary, and Europe,) which had been there collected 
to a vast amount, fell into the hands of the captors 
upon this occasion.” 
The fort of Champanere was taken by Humayoon 
four years after his accession to the throne of Delhi, 
from which six years subsequently he was deposed by 
Shere Shah, having been defeated by him in a san- 
guinary conflict, in which his life was saved by a 
water-carrier. The King had urged his horse into the 
Ganges, where the animal, unable to bear up against 
the current, sank, and left the Sovereign struggling for 
his life in the midst of the stream. At this critical 
moment a water-carrier, named Nizam, having in- 
flated his leathern bag, threw it to the Emperor, who 
was thus enabled to cross the river in safety. On 
reaching the bank he asked the name of the person 
who had saved his life. “ Nizam,” replied the man. 
* Life of Humayoon, vol. il. pp. 79 — 80. Briggs’ translation. 
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