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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1898.
moth, he suddenly threw himself on the fire of battle; and the army of Vankuji, like a halo, surrounded Sayyid Raju and his allies. Since divine predestination had decreed that the sigh of calamity should come forth from the illustrious house of Sayyid Rájú, and become the smoke of destruction of his family and his army, by the fortune of war, his troops who were brave as lions, being rendered helpless by the attacks, wherever they looked they saw the road of escape blocked by the blades of keen-edged, blood-shedding swords; consequently, washing their hands of their lives, they placed the foot of bravery on the plain of fool-hardiness, and drew the sword of valour. After much strife and slaughter, that sayyid of high degree, with a number of his own people and his allies and assistants, was killed on the field of battle. Some unfortunate ones, whose appointed time was delayed, with a thousand troubles, from that Red Sea of destruction, reached the shore of escape, and spread the news of the death of Sayyid Râjû. From this event immeasurable weekness owing to loss of prestige reached the proud army of the enemy; and the nobles of the conquering dynasty became much elated at the victory.
284.
Simultaneously with this circumstance, news reached the Mughal army that a body of the Gujarat troops accompanying Sayyid 'Alam-who was one of the amirs of that kingdom - bringing with them immense treasure and goods innumerable, was approaching the army. Sa'adat Khan, who was marching through the district of Nasik and those parts, laid an ambush for them, and killed Sayyid Alam together with a great number of his men, and took possession of the whole of the goods, elephants and baggage of that force.
On hearing this news, all at once the hearts of both great and little in Akbar's army were disturbed; and in order to discover a remedy and repair this great weekness, Sadik Muhammad Khân Atâlik, with a large force, was appointed to repel Sa'âdat Khân in order that he might remove the obstruction of that body from before the opposing forces. Sadik Muḥammad Khân, with Mirân Khân, Sayyid Murtaza and a body of chosen warriors and one of selected young men and about 2,000 cavalry, marched with the utmost speed to take vengeance on Râja Jaganâth and Sa'âdat Khân. It was nearly evening when they arrived near the army of Sa'âdat Khân; and as they had marched a long distance, it would have been extremely difficult for them to engage him on that night; so they halted for the night.
When Sa'adat Khan heard of the arrival of the Mughal army, his force was heavily laden with the plunder of the Gujarat army, so making careful arrangements for guarding the baggage and defenceless part of his force, he marched away from Sadik Muhammad Khan's army without baggage, with about three hundred skilled Afghan bow-men, and drew up his force on the bank of a river11 which intervened between him and the enemy. Sadik Muhammad Khan also on the other side of the river, with his army, made ready for battle. In a moment the two forces, from opposite sides of the river, opened the battle, and with their arrows and bullets made brisk the market of destruction. Notwithstanding the smallness of Sa'âdat Khan's force, Sadik Muhammad Khan, putting out of his head the claim of equality, stepped into the valley of return, and opened the door of reproach in his own face. At the time of his return the kids turned topsy-turvy the parganah of Sangampur,13 seized. all the cattle of the country people of those parts, which had been collected in one place, made prisoners of a great number of both little and great of the parganah of Sangampur, and hoisted the standard
of return.
There was an old feud between Sadik Muḥammad Khan and Shahbaz Khân; and the KhanKhânân in all matters used to protect and assist Shabbas Khan. Finding an opportunity at this time when Sadik Muḥammad Khan was not in the camp, the Khan-Khânân sent a person to the Prince with a message, saying, "As long as Sidik Muhammad Khân may be on service, the affair of the conquest of the Dakhan will not advance: the most advisable course is to relieve him from the duties of wakil, and give him permission to return; so that your attentive slaves may accomplish the conquest of the Dakhan, and devote all our energies to taking the fortress." The Prince, according to the exigency of the time, agreed to this suggestion; and in order to please them, went to the dwell
n Probably the Godavari,
13 This must be Sangamner, about half way between Ahmadnagar and Nasik,
