________________
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XXIV.
It is remarkable that the inscription is silent about some of the other warst of Ahmad, particularly with those of the Chūdāsama Chief of Girnar, King Nasir of Khandesh, Rājā of Chămpāner whom he made a vassal in 1422, and the Bahmani king, Ala-ud-din Ahmad of the Deccan.
About Ahammada's son, Mahammada, the inscription has not much to say and rightly so. For though he is credited with victories over Räjä Bir of Idar, Räni Kumbha of Mewär, and Räjä Gangadās of Champaner, some Muhammadan historians describe him as & coward who turned his back when attacked by Sultan Mahmud of Malwa and as a result of his cowardice was poisoned and killed by his wife at the instigation of some officers. Mahammada's one virtue was that he was exceedingly generous, for which he was called “Karim " by the Muslims.
Immediately after Mahammada, we are introduced to Mahamuda, omitting, as mentioned above, his two immediate predecessors. Mahamūda is popularly known as Mahmud Begarba (Gujarati Bēgado). The inscription says that he was nobles in warfare and further speaks something of Gyásaddina, and it is not clear whether it refers to Mahamüda or to some one in his family. If it does refer to Mahamuda then it is surprising to find this title, meaning "the Aid of the Faith” (Ghiyas-ud-din), given to Mahmūd, because the title given to him in his coins and inscriptions is usually Nasir-ud-duniya Wa-ud-din meaning "Defender of the Faith and the World," whereas Muhammad II, son of Ahmad I, alone is called by the epithet "Ghiyās-ud-din " in his coin legends.11
Unfortunately there are some breaches in the lines dealing with his wars, which make it difficult to identify them in all cases. Verse 8 says something about Mahmud's relation with the Lord of the South' and the Chief of Damana (?) and his subjugation of the earth (?) till the Raivata. The first reference seems to be the help that Mahmud gave to Nizam Shah, the King of the Deccan against the two attacks of Mahmud Khilji of Mālwā in 1462 and 1463. The second reference appears to relate to the submission of the King of Pārdi, near Daman, to Mahmud in 1464.13
The mention of Raivata, that is, Mt. Girnar at Junagarh, has reference, perhaps, to the first invasion of that state by Mahmud in 1466, when its chief Rao Māndalik was compelled to pay tribute and to discontinue even the insignia of royalty.14 The next verse says that Mahmud conquered that impregnable fort (!) of Junagarh (Jirpa) and to commemorate this victory, the moun. tain Raivata itself was made a pillar of victory. This implies the final conquest of the Juna
1 See C. H. I., Vol. III, pp. 296-99. * See below, p. 217, n. 4. .C.H.I., Vol. III, pp. 300-01 ; Briggs, op. cit., Vol. IV, p. 36; Faridi, op. cit., pp. 23-24. See below, p. 217, n. 4.
Briggs, op. cit., Vol. IV, p. 36; Faridi, op. cit., p. 26 attributes this action to one Sayad. • In Mirdit-j-Silandars, p. 23, it is said that he earned for himself the name of "Gold Giver ".
Briggs, op. cit., Vol. IV, p. 38, "Kurreem or the Merciful ". Cf. Bird, op. cit., p. 196, "Zir. Baksh". See below, p. 217 and Firishta, op. cit., Vol. IV, pp. 69-70.
Catalogue, Sultan of Gujarat, p. xil. 1 Ep. Indo-Mos., 1929-30, pp. 3-5; Rer. List, p. 263. u Catalogu., op. cit., p. Ixi.
11.0.H.I., Vol. III, pp. 804-06; Briggs, op. cit., pp. 49-51 ; Faridi, op. cit., pp. 60-62; Bird, op. cit., p. 206 mentions one encounter (1461-2) only; Rosa, op. cit., p. 17.
1Ibid., p. 305; not mentioned in Bird, ibid. ; Briggs, op. cit., p. 51 does not mention Daman but refers to & march between Gujarat and Konksy in 1465; Faridi, op. cit., p. 52 mentions & march against the Barodar mountains and the conquest of rock fortress; Ross, op. cit. p. 18, mention the conquest of Bardu," on hiutop overlooking Daman".
140. H. I. Vol. III, p. 306; Briggs, op. cit., Vol. IV, p. 52, places the first invasion in 1469: Faridi, op. cit., pp. 63-64 and Bird, op. cit., place it in about 1467; Rom, op. cit., p. 19.
