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236 THE EMPEROR HUMAYUN design was apparently to avoid a pitched battle, and rather to harass and, if possible, surprise the imperial army than to attempt its destruction in the field. Huma- yun accordingly was suffered to march along the left bank of the Ganges as far as Monghyr, where he delib- erately crossed over to the right or south bank the side on which Sher Shah lay in order apparently to show that he was not afraid of him. Thus he proceeded past Patna till he reached a spot close to where the battle of Baxar two hundred and thirty years later once more decided the fate of the same Moghul empire. Here, at Chaunsa, the army was sud- denly checked by Sher Shah, who, tempted by the dispirited state of the imperialists, abandoned his watch- ing attitude and rode in hot haste to stop their advance. The two forces camped opposite one another, and as neither seemed strong enough to warrant an attack, they remained facing each other for two months. The imperial troops were suffering grievously. The cattle and many of the horses were dead, troopers were dis- mounted, the country in front was in the enemy's hands, supplies were scarce, and there was no hope of help from Agra. The situation was desperate and Humayun opened negotiations. A treaty was arranged by which Sher Shah was to retain Bengal and part of Bihar, on condition of due and public recognition of the emperor as his suzerain. Everything seemed settled, or on the point of settlement, and the two armies began to frat- ernize while preparing to break up their camp. Sud- denly, in the midst of the confusion of the removal, at