________________
210
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1899.
In the month of Rajab in the second year of his reign (June, 1423, A. D.) the Sultan with the princes, nobles and ministers and all his retinue marched from Kalburgå towards the city of Bidar, and established the seat of government in that excellent city, where the face of the earth from the multitude of flowers and odoriferous herbs, adorned and coloured like the floor of the sky, resembled a peacock's tail; while its buildings in loftiness rivalled the heavens, and in elegance equalled the palaces of paradise ; and the splendour of its ramparts and the lustre of its walls made the people independent of the rays of the sun.
Also in this year the Sultan cultivated friendly relations with (Mirân) Mubarak Khân Fârûķi, who was the Wali of the country of Asir and Burhanpur, and to strengthen its foundations by a union of the families, asked his daughter in marriage for Prince Zafar Khan. The Sultân gave a magnificent entertainment on the occasion of the marriage, the city of Bidar was elaborately decorated and pleasure and joy were universal.
Sultan Ahmad Shah wagos war against the rebellious and idolatrous people
in the neighbourhood of his dominions. The Sultân being then resolved to wage war against the infidels, led his army into the mountainous country,61 and the inhabitants being unable to oppose him fled into the interior, hiding themselves and their goods in the recesses of the mountains, where the royal troops pursued them, slanghtering and plundering as they went. The Sultan destroyed their temples and places of Worship, erecting masjids in their place. From there the Sultan torned towards Marmat63 and put to the sword the inhabitants of that district also, and plundered and devastated the country. He then returned to the capital and busied himself in the affairs of government.
After a short time the idea of eradicating idolatry again entered his mind and he ordered an army to be assembled. Accordingly such an army presented itself before the door of the court that the muster-master was unequal to the task of compating its numbers. With this army the Sultan marched from his capital and proceeded against the country of Tilang (Telingânâ). When the report of his approach reached the infidels of that country, washing their hands of life, they crept into their forts and bye-paths. The Snltan penetrated to the farthest limits of Tilang (Telingana) and took the fortresses of Mandal63 and Warangal which are among the principal forts of that country. He devastated the whole country and levelled the idol-temples with the ground, plundered the dwelling-places and freed the face of the earth from the impurity of the existence of the troops of devils and accursed infidels. The Rayas of Devarkonda and Rájkondâ being afraid to meet the attack of the victorious army, sent to the Sultan ambassadors understanding the language and tendered their submission, and sending numerons and valuable presents to the court, agreed to pay tribute. The Sultân showed them mercy and returned to the seat of government, Muhammadâbâd Bidar (sic); where he spen his time in administering justice and building cities and towns.
A year afterwards he conceived the idea of taking the fortress of Mahar which is one of the greatest and strongest forts of the kingdom of the Dakhan. Accordingly with a large army he marched towards the above-mentioned fortress. The army seized the country surrounding it, and making the fortress the centre of a circle, slaughtered and pillaged all round, and burned the harvest of life of the infidels of that country; and sweeping with the broom of plunder the permanent homes of the idols, seized whatever moveable and immoveable effects they could lay their hands upon.
After the siege had continued a long time the Sultan thought it advisable to return to the capital, and in the following year, after the troops had rested and the cavalry horses become
* It is not stated what part of the country this was.
Not identified. • Not identified. Possibly Ailgandal or Malangür is incant, both N.-W. of Warangal.
