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190
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JULY, 1899.
For every affair of consequence founded upon deception and treachery inevitably ends in destruction and regret; and the sages have said: "The most foolish of men are those who awaken sleeping tumult." I
Sultan Ahmad had stopped two days in Ni'matabad, when at the middle hour between sun-rise and meridians a cloud of dust arose on the road and a portion of the royal army with the elephants came in view, upon which Sultan Ahmad purposed retreating without offering any opposition; but Khalf Hasan went up to him and said :
"To leave the battle-field without a wound is shabby; let his Highness wait a little till his slave exposes himself in battle and strives his utmost."
It fortunately happened that a band of cattle-hirers (mukarián) called Banjarahs in the dialect of Hindustan had halted in the neighbourhood of that place, having with them a great number of bullocks. Sultan Ahmad, on the principle that "War is fraud," having thought of a stratagem, purchased the whole of their bullocks at a high price, and after tying cloths on their horns, arranged a troop of these bullocks facing, the enemy, while he himself advanced with 400 well-equipped cavalry. The plan was, fortunately, as successful as he anticipated. A portion of the Sultan's force, which fell upon the bullocks, at sight of them being completely overcome with terror, stood still and then fell back on the others as Sultan Aḥmad and Khalf Hasan attacked them. An elephant of mountain-like body and demon-like aspect was foremost in the royalist force; Khalf Hasan threw a spear and hit it in the trunk, upon which the elephant turned on its own ground and took to flight, and the royalists seeing this, also turned and fled. Sultan Ahmad pursued them, and the generals seeing that, their only resource was submission, came forward from their troops, and throwing themselves from their horses, respectfully kissed the ground before Sultan Ahmad in token of submission. The Sultan treated them courteously and made them hopeful of his favour. He took possession of all the elephants, horses and baggage of Hûshyâr and Bidâr; and those two men -unsuccessfall and discomfited like their own fortune were soon put to death by the troops.
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After that, Sultan Ahmad with a large army set out on the march for Kalburgah; and at every stage nay, even at every step-amirs with their horsemen and retinue vied with one another in hastening to pay their respects to him, and were rendered happy by kissing the ground in submission to him, and were enrolled among his adherents.
When the news of the approach of Sultan Ahmad was passed on, the sons and slaves of Sultan Firuz made him nolens volens mount and go out of the city to give him battle. Historians have related that one day Sultán Firûz having collected 7,000 eavalry went out of Kalburgah with the intention of fighting Sultan Ahmad, but next day, on investigation, only 3,000 remained, the rest having hastened off to join Sultan Ahmad. When Sultan Firûz saw the state of affairs, abandoning all idea of opposition, he returned to Kalburgah, and with the tongue of inspiration attered these words:"When my good fortune was in the ascendant, each time that I rode forth from the city such an army used to assemble at my heaven-like court that calculators, through inability, used to abandon the attempt to compute its numbers; but to-day, when fortune has turned against me and the throne of sovereignty has become the prize of another, seven thousand horse become one thousand."
When the news of the return of Sultan Firuz to the city reached Sultan Ahmad, hastening to traverse the intervening distance, he alighted near a place of prayer of Kalburgah, and Sultan Firûz sent the saiyids and learned men of the state to him with the keys of the fortress.
In an hour's time Sultan Ahmad of fortunate aspect like his own auspicious fortune - arrived at the court; and acting in the same ceremonious and respectful manner which had been his former habit, he alighted at his brother's door, and in his accustomed manner saluted
62 Chdaht-gah, breakfast time.
.stratagem is necessary in war ,. . لحرب خرمة .
