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212
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(ACGUST, 1899.
him a lak of rupees (sikkah) if he would come to his frontiers : and Alp Khân, forgetting the rights of Islâm and good faith, proceeded to the assistance of those villains.
When Alp Khân with a large force arrived in the district of Khêrlâ, the Sultân saw that the most advisable course to pursue was to return two or three stages into his own dominions, and then if Alp Khân, resolving to make war against Musalmans, should also return, then the lives and property of Musalmans wonld certainly be safe ; and if, deceived by the persuasions of the devil, he should be audacious enough to invade the Dakhan, he (the Sultan) might return and chastise him, and with the sword pat such ideas ont of the brain of that foolish one.
Accordingly having marched away from the neighbourhood of the fortress of Khêrla he turned towards his own country. When the ministers and generals became aware of the Sultân's (apparent) timidity, being ashamed of turning away from before the enemy they boldly represented that the return of the Sultan would assuredly give occasion for presumption on the part of the enemy; they therefore recommended the Sultan to wait a little till they engaged in battle with Alp Khân to the best of their ability, and perhaps the enemy would be defeated.
In spite of the strong representations of the nobles the Sultân paid no attention to them, but marched towards his own dominions, and when the news of his retreat reached Alp Khân he deemed it due to fear on the part of the Sultan, and hastened boldly in pursuit of him, so that as the royal camp used to march away from each balting-place he used to arrive at it.
When the Sultan had gone two or three stages into his own country, and ambassadors brought the knews that Alp Khân was thus following the camp and was bent apon war with the army of Islâm, the Sultan assembled the shekhs and learned men and asked them the following questions : - " Whenever & Musalman king in aiding infidels makes war against Musalmang, is it deemed lawful according to the shar'a to fight against him P"
The learned men were ananimous in saying:- “From all past times repelling the allies of infidels has been considered the same as a religious war, and is incumbent upon all, just as much as reinforcing and aiding the true believers."
The Sultân having thus obtained a legal decision from the learned men of Islâm he turned towards the nobles and generals and said : -"My motive in returning was this : Alp Klan is a Masalman king, and to as who profess Islâm it is not allowable to initiate war, moreover he who does so incurs the reproach of God, according to the saying, The curse of God is on those who awaken sleeping discord;" we therefore marched towards our own country in order that if Alp Khân should enter our territory we should not be the instigator of war with him ; but now that he has had the presumption to invade our territory it behoves us to chastise him."
The Sultân then turning to his troops encouraged them to fight bravely, and led them to expect increase of rank. The royal army being arrayed with the utmost quiet, unfurled the standard of valour, and the various regiments were formed up facing the enemy. The Sultan in person having selected from the midst of the army 2,500 cavalry clad in steel armour and armed with lances, took post on one flank. When the ranks of the two hostile armies were drawn up, the customs of courtesy and mercy being discarded, they fell upon one another with sword, battle-axe and arrow, and strife and slaughter blazed up like a fire, only to be extinguished by the swords of the warriors. The battle lasted from morning till evening and the heavens were obscured by the dust. At last the Sultan with those 2,500 lancers which he had with him fell upon the enemy like a thunder cloud. Alp Khân, in spite of all his endeavonrs, was unable to shake them, and finally, turning his back on the battle, took to flight, and leaving :ll his baggage, court, tents, tent-walls,65 his ḥaram, retinue and whatever is necessary, more or less, for kings, fled for his life. The royal troops having seized the whole of the stores, tents, pavilions, horses and elephants of Alp Khan and his troops collected them at the court of the
Bard-pardah -
wall of canvas surrounding a cluster of tenta.
