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DECEMBER, 1898.]
THE SIEGE OF AHMADNAGAR.
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with stone and sun-dried brick, they got through the wicket, and, having opened it, sent someone running to Abang Khân to tell him to come quickly, as they had opened the wicket.
Meantime Chand Bibi, having been informed of this occurrence, sent some one to summon the officers of the garrison, and she urged them to desist from this idea of rebellion); and in obedience to her orders, some went from her presence, but others, disobeying her, remained at the gate and prepared for hostilities. Then Abhang Khin came near the gate of the fort and sent forward an A byssinian slave named 'Ambar Chapo, who was one of his servants. Chând Bibi had sent some people to fetch the remainder of the garrison, and they, obeying the order, came to the front ready to fight, and from both sides arrows and guns were discharged. The (rebel) garrison of the fort, being unable to stand against Chand Bibi's force, took to flight and got oat through one of the wickets. Ambar Chapů, who had come in through another wicket, made his way out through a second, for he saw that the garrison of the fort, having been defeated by Chand Bibi's force, were going out, and the latter were in pursuit of them.
Standing on top of a tower of the gate of the fort, Malik Sandal Baridi, on whom had been conferred the title of Masnad-i Ali, with two hundred of his own private retinue, discharged grenades and guns among the force of Abhang Khân, and sometimes among the fort garrison. “Ambar Chapů, owing to the number of people, could not find a way out, and there was no room to make a stand, and as there was a heavy fire from above, he was obliged to turn back. Abhang Khan dismounted and came near the gate of the fort to enter it, but some of his followers were annihila ed and dispersed by a cannon-ball, and he himself, having no standing-place and no way of advancing, retreated and joineil his own force, and Ambar Chapû made his way to him. Some of the garrison of the fort, when they found an opportunity, went outside and escaped, but some of them were made prisoners.
Four times in the space of fourteen months (that I remained in Ahmadnagar) I made peace between the contending factions, and again each time they came into collision, so I became hopeless. Just then news came from the frontier that some of the amire of Sultan Murid had laid the foundations of plander in the country, and had taken foreible possession of some villages and their dependencies; and that a large force was following to assist them, and would soon reach Ahmednagar.
I sent to Alam-Panîh a written account of all that bad ocurred; and when it reached him, he sent me an order saying that it was not advisable for me to remain any longer ; and that immediately on receipt of the order, I was to return to Bijapur. I showed the order to Chand Bibi, and asked her permission to depart. She gave it - but reluctantly, saying: "Whilst you have been here, on the three or four occasions when the fire of rebellion has broken out, you by strenuous efforts have thrown water on the fire of that clique, and succeeded in quenching it ; now who is to say anything to them to keep them from carrying out their threats?" At last she gave me leave to depart.
Next day I left the city, and at a distance of two or three farsalehs on the way, halted for some necessary matters. All the amirs, both small and great, unceasingly cance and handled in written petitions about their claims. Then we started from there for Bijapur ; and next day about 20,000 men - some on horseback, some on foot - with women and children ; bigh and low, owing to the revolution and the wretchedness of their affairs and being deprived of their ordinary habitations, travelled in company with us, because there was danger on the road farther on. Having arrived safely in the vicinity of Bidbûpûr (Bijapur), when they had recovered from the fatigue and danger of the jonrney, they dispersed and took refuge in various parts of the country.
When I had been exalted by kissing the threshold of Alam-Panah's court, I was reinstated in my former appointment ; that is to say, governor of the capital. Alam-PanAb said so many flattering things to me, which were a hundred times beyond my deserts, that if I were to relate them, I should rouse people's envy: for this reason I have abridged them,
> Here for the first time appears on the soene the celebrated Malik 'Ambar who afterwards became absoluto ruler of nearly half of the Abmadnagar dominions.
