Indian Antiquary Vol 52

SR No.: 032544
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1985
Total Pages: 568
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 24 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
SEPTEMBER, 1923
CIV-AN ACCOUNT OF THE RELEASE OF ŞALABAT KHÂN FROM THE FORTRESS OF
KHERLA BY MUAMMAD KHÂN, THE Amir-ul-Umard OF BERAR, AND OF THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF THE Amirs UNDER HIM AGAINST JAMAL KUAN.
A.D. 1589. At the time when Jamal Khân was stirring up all this strife in Ahmadnagar, Muhammad Khân, sar-i-naubat, was amir-ul-umara of Berar and every Foreigner who could escape from the city found a refuge in Berar, until Muhammad Khan had assembled a large army. As he was apprehensive of Jamal Khân, and some of those in the capital had sought help from the amirs of Berar against Jamal Khân, some of the amirs, such as Bahri Khân, Ikhla, Khân "Aziz-ul-Mulk and others, assembled to take counsel together. They decided to set Şalábat Khân free and to make him their ruler, and then to employ theinselves in overthrowing Jamal Khan and the Mahdauts. They therefore sent a messenger to Sayyid Mugaffar Khan Mazandarani, governor of the fort of Kherla, telling hiin of what had passed among them. Muzaffar Khân approved of the policy of the amirs and released Şalábat Khân from in prisonment and sent him to the amirs. The amírs received $al&bat Khân with great honour and professed obedience to him. They then collected their troops and marched towards Ahmadnagar. On their way thither Bahadur Thân Gilani and other Foreigners of the court, who had escaped from Ahmadnagar at the time of the fighting, met them, and attached themselves to $alábat Khan's army.
When the news of Şalâ bat Khân's release from Kherla, of the confederacy of the amirs and of their march towards the capital reached the misguided Jamal Khân, he, inasmuch as his power was not yet firmly established, and he could not trust the royal army, became disturbed and apprehensive, and began to spend money freely, bestowing largesse on both poor and rich and making them all wealthy, until he was able to assemble a large army. Ho then sent forward the young king's pishthana towards Berar, and taking the young king with him, set out with his army in the same direction.
Jamal Khân reached the town of Shivgaon311 and encamped before it with the prince, and hence were issued letters to the amirs who were with Şalábat Khân, promising them not only forgiveness but also promotion in the royal service if they would leave Şalábat Khân.
When Şalâbat Khân reached the town of Paithan, a number of the amin8, such as Ikhlây Khan, 'Aziz-ul-Mulk and others, owing to relationships which are the cause of mutual attraction, disgraced themselves by violating their agreement, and fled from Salâbat Khan's camp at midnight. Şalâbat Khân sent Bahadur Khân with a number of Foreigners in pursuit of the fugitives, and Bahadur Khân came up with them and captured and turned back 'Aziz-ul-Mulk and his brothers, but Şalábat kban, dreading the effects of the wiles of the Africans and Dakanis and the strife which they had occasioned in his camp, considered it inadvisable to meet Jamal Khan in the field, and without making any attempt to gain honour in battle, began to retreat towards Berar. The rest of Şalábat Khân's army, who had placed confidence in the promises made by Jamal Khân, now left Şalábat Khan and hastened to join Jamal Khân.
When Jamal Khân heard of the retreat of Salábat Khân, he marched from Shivgaon and encamped before Paithan, and sent a body of Kolis to pursue Şalábat khân and Muhammad Khân. This body of Kolis hastened in pursuit of Şalábat Khân, Bahri Khân, Muhammad Khân, and the other Foreigners who had not dared to face Jamal Khân and took from them their horses and elephants, while the inhabitants of the province of Berar also rose against them and reduced them to great straits. With great difficulty, and after suffering many hardships, they contrived to reach the frontier of Burhanpur, where they
323 In 19° 21' N. and 76° 14' E,