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AUGUST, 1899.]
HISTORY OF THE BAHMANI DYNASTY.
213
Sultan, who divided the booty among his troops and forbade their pursuing Alp Khân. He sent the whole of Alp Khan's haram in travelling-litters and handahs by the road they had come, together with their eunuchs, and ordered 500 cavalry to escort them to the frontier and hand them over to Alp Khâu's people, and to protect them from any molestation by the soldiery. This action of his is a manifest sign of his generosity and manliness.
The Sultan having taken possession of Narsiph's territory as far as the town of Mahar assigned it on feudal tenure to Prince Maḥmad Khan, who was his middlemost son; and until Mahmud Khan was imprisoned for life, this tenure remained unchanged.
After the Sultan had fluished the settlement of Alp Khan's affairs be returned in triumph to his capital.
In the midst of these affairs the Sultan sent a messenger with many valuable gifts to the presence of his spiritual guide - the synopsis of persons of merit, pattern to his peers, king of the teachers of truth, prince of holy men, essence of the descendants of the head of the apostles - Shah Nar-ud-Din Ni'mat-Ullah Wall (may God sanctify his beloved grave!), asking him to send to this country one of the glorious descendants of that guide to the way of truth, and in this matter solicited and urged much. His Highness having no other fruit in the garden of his life but Shah Khalll-Ullah (to separate himself far from whom was inconvenient) he sent to the Dakhan a fresh flower from the rose-garden of sincere friendliness, Mirza Nar-Ullah, son of Shah Khalil Ulláh Wali, according to the urgent request of the Sultan; and in the year 843 (A. D. 1439) 06 when Shah Nur-ud-Din Ni'mat-Ullah Wali died, Shah Khalfl-Ullâh also proceeded to the Dakhan, The Sultan received Mirza Nûr-Ullah with the utmost respect and reverence, and exalted him above all the saiyids, shekhs and learned men of the Dakhan; and when Shah Khalil-Ullâh arrived there his son, Nûr-Ullah, died.
Disagreement between Sultan Ahmad and Sultan Ahmad of Gujarat.
It has already been mentioned that the Sultan had sent Khalf Hasan Malik-ut-Tijár to take possession of the Konkan and the forts and bills of that country. When Khalf entered that territory, having conquered all the forts, towns, sea-coast and hills, he made an incursion into the island of Mahâ,im (Bombay), which is within the territory of Gujarât, and conquered that country also; upon which the inhabitants of Maha,im complained to Sultan Ahmad of Gujarat. The latter being jealous at this, appointed his own son and successor, named Muhammad Shah, to put down the rebellion of Khalf. The Sultan on being informed of the approach of the Gujarât army despatched Prince Zafar Khân - who was his heir-apparent, and who during the Sultan's reign received the title of Snltán ‘Ald-ud-Din (as will be mentioned mentioned in due course) - with a large force to the assistance of the brave Khalf Malik-ut-Tijár.
Prince Zafar Khan with his army in due time encamped on the shore of the creek (khaly) of the island of Mahâ,im, and Muhammad Shah with the Gujarât army encamped on the further side of the creek; and for some time the two armies remained facing one another, and all day long, prepared for battle, they used to come to the shore and stand facing one another; but neither of them had the boldness to cross the creek. When this had lasted for some time the Dakhani nobles, moved by jealousy which is inevitable towards foreigners, represented to Prince Zafar Khân: "We do all the fighting and killing, but Khalf Hasan will get the credit of it." The prince being still in the flower of youth did not perceive the perfidy and evil inspirations of those deceitful Dakhani amirs, who with insidious arguments convinced the hapless prince. In a most shameful and dishonourable manner they left Khalf in the lurch, and earned for themselves an evil repatation in the world.
When the Gujarat army obtained information of this dispute, confident of victory, they fell upon Khalf ħagan. The latter, without allies, being unable to oppose a large army, left Mabâ,im, and the Gujarat army plurdered all his baggage and took prisonor Khalf's brother, Husain bin Hasan, and then turned towards Gujarat.
* According to Firishtah he died in A. H. 834 (A, D. 1431) - vide Briggs, Vol. II. p. 41.
