________________
294
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1898.
be killed, become martyrs, and if they kill, they will become ghasis [heroes] : how can you compel them to submit to you? Very shortly the army of the Dakhan will arrive ; the road of going to and fro will then become closed on you, and after much ruin and misfortune, trouble and injury, you will return with the greatest difficulty, and seek assistance and protection in the service of the King. And certainly what I am now saying will also be represented to His Majesty the King."
Mir Muhammad Zaman also in that assembly fearlessly made a well-weighed and manly speech, and convinced his opponents.
Several days were spent in this controversy, and the pacification was delayed, till news of the approach of the formidable army of the Dakban was circulated in the Mughal army. Spies brought information that about 70,000 cavalry with many elephants and artillery were advancing march by march; consequently the amirs of the Mnghal army, deeming it advisable to abandon contention and dispute about Daulatabad, forbore to make useless demands, and contenting themselves with the province of Varhad [Berâr], concluded the treaty of pence. On Tuesday, the 23rd of the month of Rajab [14th March, A. D. 1596], the lords of peace and reconciliation came and went from both sides.
Since the provisions of the fortress were exhausted, the besieged were in great difficulty. In these days when Almal Khân was in the Mughal camp the people of the fortress several times wrote to him, saying :-" By whatever means it is possible, conclude the treaty of peace quickly, for we cannot hold the fort another day." Moreover most of the people of the fortress, owing to the scarcity of food and want of strength, had agreed among themselves and intended throwing themselves down from the towers and walls and taking refuge with the Mughal army. On this account Afzal Khan arranged with the Mughal amirs that they should send Sayyid Murtaza and Kaçi Hasan to the gate of the fortress to arrange the terms of peace. The two being appointed for the purpose, hastened to attend at the court, and were distinguished by royal favours. These nobles, for the sake of peace, and owing to the exigency of the time, consented to give Varhad [Berár), and the foundations of friendship and agreement were strengthened by a treaty. Muhammad Khan with a number of the great men of the country and celebrated men of the State, for the purpose of completing the treaty of peace, hastened from the fortress to the presence of the Prince, and had the honour of kissing his hand, and were distinguished by royal kindnesses according to their circumstances. Their leader was treated with the greatest honour, and all the amirs and khans of the assembly were presented with special robes of honour and Arab horses.
When from both sides the foundations of friendship and agreement were laid, the matters of contention and resistance ceased ; and the causes of alienation being changed to a state of courtesy and anity, the gardens of good-fellowship flourished ; the bases of familiarity and friendship received fresh strength; the ties of faith of the agreement of both sides arrived at a stage of firmness; and the affairs of religion and the State, and the affairs of the kingdom and the faith, by the blessing of this reconciliation were arranged anew. Muhammad Khan, Chingiz Khân and all the great men returned from the Prince's camp with happy and cheerful hearts, and had the honour of kissing the vestibule of sovereignty of Her Highness the Bilkis of the age ; and the endeavours of all in arranging the affairs of State having met with Her Highness' approbation, they were distinguished by innumerable royal favours.
The Mughalariny also withdrew their hands from the siege of the fortress, and their feet from the plain of war and battle ; and returned the sword of contention and opposition to the scabbard of agreement.
The people of the fortress of Aḥmadnagar who from weakness and want of provisions had been reduced to helplessness, stepped from the narrow Pass of the siege into the open plain of the desert, and opened the doors of purchase and eale with the army. The Maghal troops, who in the days of the siege had hoarded up much grain, having by the peace obtained tranquillity of mind, and being relieved from the troubles of the siege and fighting, now made themselves lightly loaded. In two or three days the people of the fortress collected so much provisions, that if there had again been war and a giege, they would have been free from anxiety.
