Indian Antiquary Vol 50

SR No.: 032542
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1985
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 339

DECEMBER, 1921) HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHI KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR. 327
Some believed that at that time the king was wont to go nightly in disguise through the streets and bazars of the city while he declined to see the officers in state by day, and that a rumour became the common talk of the city, and it is supposed by some that the king heard some of the lower classes discussing this matter between themselves one night, and, being annoyed by the rumour, issued an order for a general massacre of the lower classes : but a wise man will readily perceive the insufficiency of this reason, for it is inconceivable that a religious king who, as will have been seen from the account already given and as will be evident from what shall be related hereafter, was most scrupulous in executing justice and in observing the commands of the sacred law, should, regardless of the accounts to be rendered by him on the day of the judgment, order a general massacre of the people merely because he had heard a few persons discussing a false and groundless rumour, while the guilt or participation of the great majority of the inhabitants had never been proved.
Some say that at the time when the general massacre was ordered, some of the royal servants whose duties kept them in close atten lance on the king, noticed that close to the sleeping chamber of the king a shed was erected and the likeness of a man's head, made in copper, studded with many iron nails, was set up in the midst of this shed or pavilion, and the issue of the order for the massacre was in some way connected with these arrangements; but this seems to be scarcely sufficient to account for the issue of the order.
Some again say that the king was one night strolling around his palace, when he met, near his own private pavilion, & man. The matter was inquired into and the man proved to be a khawdo: disguised as a groom, who had obtained access to the neighbourhood of the king's private apartments under the pretence of attending to the royal horses. The king was much enraged and issued an order for a massacre of three classes of the people, (1) the lampmen, who are called in the speech of the Dakan, Deott, and who are entrusted with the duty of keeping watch at night, (2) the grooms, who are called Dangs, in the disguise of one of whom the man had obtained access to the neighbourhocd of the king's private apartments, and (3) the khavdss, i.e., the royal servants. It is evident that this reason for the massacre is more satisfactory than the others that have been given.
In any case by reason of some offence known only to the Knower of Secrets, about a thousand people were sent to the next world. LXXXIV.-AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISPATCH OF SOME OF THE AMÈRS WITH THE ROYAL ARME TO THE COUNTRY OF 'Ali ADIL SHAH FOR THE PLUNDER AND DEVASTATION OF THAT
COUNTRY, AND THAT KING'S RETREAT.212 When 'Ali `Adil Shah heard that Murtaza Nizâm Shâh had withdrawn from all participation in public business and that Changiz Khân was no longer alive, he set himself once again to stir up strife and sent an army into the Abmadnagar kingdom to plunder and lay waste the country and slay its inhabitants. Information of the approach of the army was brought to Sayyid Qazi Beg and he, having contrived to gain access to the king, laid the matter before him. In accordance with the royal commands, several of the amirs, such as BÂmi Khân, Muhammad Husain Mirza, one of the bravest and most experienced soldiers of his time, some account of whom already been given, 'Adil Khân Begî, Shâhvardi Khân the Kurd, and Malik Muhammad Khân Hira vî, each of whom was a very tiger in war, were sent with an army to meet and attack the invaders. This army marched with great rapidity into the 'Adil Shâhî dominions, laying waste the country and slaying all whom they met.
'Ali 'Adil Shah and his army feared to meet this enemy and, retreating hastily, took refuge in Bijapur and remained shut up there, declining to come forth to fight, even though the invaders laid waste the country up to the walls and arrived at the Shah pûr gate. As
312 Firishta' makes no mention of this campaign which has perhaps been in rented by Sayyid 'Ali for the glory of the kingdom of Ahmadnagar. It is; however, highly probable that some frontier skirmiehee took place about this time.