being at hand, than he flew to his son's assistance, bringing with him his eldest son Moiz-ed-din, and his best generals with their troops. The combat now thickened apace, when an event happened which, by turning the fortune of the day in favour of the Imperialists, was received as a token of approbation from Heaven. There arose suddenly such a violent wind as seemed to give the combatants an idea of the dreadful serser that buried the whole tribe of Aad[1] under the sands of Arabia. This wind blew on the back of Sultan Muazem and in the face of Aazem-shah's army. This last prince had given the command of his left wing to his eldest son Bedar-bakht, and that of his left to his second son Wallajah. Aazem-shah led the centre against the enemy, having his youngest son Aali-tebar, then a child, with him upon his elephant. But he had left Assed-khan his vezir in the camp at Gualiar with a body of troops. The prince meanwhile pushed forward with ardour. Zulficar-khan, who had been generalissimo under Aurengzib, represented to him that the day was far spent, that a violent tempest blew towards them, and that great part of the infantry and artillery were still at a distance in the rear, for which reasons he conceived
- ↑ This is an historical event alluded to by the author. The effects of the serser or simum are confirmed by modern travellers, who have seen them in the Arabian deserts.
