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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1899.
When they had explained this plan to Sultan Mahmûd he taxed his courtiers with meanness and want of spirit, and ignoring their advice he without delay marched with his army towards the Dakhan; and in due time arrived at Sultanpûr and Nandurbâr, near the frontier of the Dakhan, where he encamped.
In the meantime the army of the Dakhan,, which by the accidents of fortune had become scattered like the constellation of the Bear;13 like the Pleiades soon re-assembled under the shadow of the Sultan's victorious standard. The personal property and the families of most of the troops being in the citadel of Bidar, their sense of honour, zeal and bravery was roused, and attracted them back to their allegiance to the Sultan. Just then the news of the arrival of Mahmûd (Gujarati) at Sultanpûr reached the Sultan, and inspired both him and the army with fresh courage. A continuous correspondence then took place between the two Sultans.
Sultan Mahmûd (Khilji) was for a long time engaged in the siege of Bidar: every day he used to fill the ditch of the citadel with earth and rubbish, but when night came the defenders used to come out and entirely remove it and restore the ditch to its former state. A number of historians have related that Sultan Mahmûd Khilji on his journeys used to carry about with him various kinds of vegetables growing in wooden frames, so that at each halting-place he might, at the time of eating, have fresh vegetables on his table. During the siege of Bidar his supply of vegetables being exhausted, he ordered that somehow or other by lawful means vegetables should be procured for him. He summoned one of the shekhs of Bidar, called Maulana Shams-ud-Din the Truth-teller who on account of his friendship for Shah MuhabbUlláh, had remained in Bidar and consulted him, saying:
"If we buy vegetables in this place for the use of the Sulțân, and pay for them, will it be lawful ?" The above-mentioned mauláná fearlessly replied: "You must surely be in jest to invade the territories of Musalmâns; to lay waste their country and houses, and rob them of their property; and then to ask for a legal decision from the doctors of the law on the subject of vegetables, is not the act of people of understanding."
When Sultan Mahmud Khilji heard the news of the assembly of the army of Sultân Nizam Shah, and that Sultan Mahmûd Gujarati was coming to his assistance, he raised the siege, and taking Shah Muḥabb-Ulláh and his followers with him, marched from Bidar and set off two or three stages towards Kalyani so as to escape by way of Chândor; but in the meantime spies brought the news that Saltan Mahmûd Gujarati with his army was proceeding in that direction; so Mahmûd Khilji in fear of his life turned from that direction and hastened towards his own dominions by way of Burhanpur and Asfr.
When the news of the flight of Khilji reached Sultan Nizâm Shâh he ordered Khwajah Jahân with a large force to go in pursuit of him, and to hang on the rear of the enemy's army, and slaughter and plunder them wherever he found them. Marching with all speed he came up with the rear of the enemy's army, plundered their baggage and killed great numbers of them.
On the road news again reached Sultan Mahmûd Khilji that the Gujarât army was encamped in the neighbourhood of the district of Sultanpur, so, seeing that that road aleo was closed against him, he summoned the chief of Gondwârah and soothed him with various kinds of favour and kindness in order that he might lead them by some other route by which they might avoid molestation from the enemy. The chief said: "In this neighbourhood there is no practicable route for the army and baggage; but there is a road like the place of Hârût and Mârût1 towards Akot and Elichpur, far removed from the route of the army of the king of
13 As having the stars scattered, in opposition to the Pleiades where they cluster.
14 Names of two angels who, baving severely censured mankind before the throne of God, were sent down to earth in human shapes to judge of the temptations to which man was subject. They could it withstand them: they, were seduced by women, and committed every species of iniquity; for which they were suspended by the feet in a well in Babylon, where they are to remain in great torment till the day of judgment. Johnson's Dictionary.
