________________
NOVEMBER, 1899.]
HISTORY OF THE BAHMANI DYNASTY.
ordered his army to be assembled, and from all quarters countless troops flocked into the
court.
287
The Sultan with an army more numerous than drops of rain or the sand of the desert proceeded towards the fortress of Balganw (Belgaum); one which is distinguished and exceptional in strength among all the forts of the Dakhan: from the foundation of the walls to the niched battlement, all built of cut stone, and it had a deep wet ditch. In due time the Sultan encamped in the neighbourhood of that fortress, and being anxious to take it he ordered his troops to be drawn up in great force in front of it. The royal engineers apportioned the ground to the different amers and heads of the army, and in a few days the attack commenced with loud noise and they battered the towers and battlements with cannons, guns, mangonels and all the implements of war. Each day they used to throw the day of resurrection into the fortress of the infidels, and with the crash of cannon and mangonels destroyed the buildings and dwellings of the infidels and filled in the ditch with earth and rubbish.
When for a long time the troops of Islam had been contending in this manner with the infidels, the hearts of the latter were filled with the greatest dread of the army of Islam, and they began to give way. But Parkatapah, who was the chief of the lords of hell, seeing the state of terror of his followers, resolved to resort to stratagem and deception to induce the royal army to raise the siege. He therefore sent a person to the amire and ministers and bribed them to induce the Sultan by some means or other to refrain from taking the fortress. Next day, when the nobles went to make their obeisance to the Sultan, they all, with one accord, interceded for the cursed Parkatapah. When the Sultan saw the unanimity of the amirs in interceding for the worshippers of idols he smiled a forced smile, and spoke as follows in elegant language:"What boldness is this on the part of the cursed Parkatapah, that he dares to contend against our forces! Against us, the foremost among the sons of men, who have inherited the name of Sultan' and the title of Kayân' from our illustrious ancestors: against us who from the time of Bahman, son of Isfandyar, 30 to Kayûmars have been illustrious sovereigns. With God's help I will make into fuel for hell that accursed, contemptible one with all his kindred, in order that other rebels may take example from him."
The Sultan then urged his troops to make fresh endeavours; and in order to see the progress of the fight, and encourage the hearts of his brave warriors, he rode his pie-bald charger; and from his regal dignity and majesty the strength of the army was increased so that each one became equal to a thousand, and instilled the utmost fear into the hearts of the infidels.
When Parkâtapah saw the helpless state of the garrison, he trembled and himself sent his family from the towers of the fortress to make their obeisance to the Sultan, while he himself came out from a tower in front of the royal court, with a rope round his neck, and tying himself to a pillar stood like a slave. The Sultan on seeing this and the coming of his family, took pity on the wretched creatures, and forgiving their offences spared their lives; and bestowed the fortress on his minister Khwajah Jalan.
After that the Sultan returned towards his capital; but on the way stopped some days at Bijapur, and bestowed handsome presents on his nobles and ministers, and rewarded all according to their several merits and services. He then returned to his capital.
In the same year a great famine occurred in the Dakhan; and since that sndden misfortune originated in Bijâpûr it was generally known as the famine of Bijâpûr: it extended to most of the districts, and many people died of hunger and destitution. After that the Creator of the world and Provider of the necessaries of life opened the doors of comfort in the face of man59 Manjanik.
26 Laterite.
the celebrated Artaxerxes LongiBahman, son of Isfandyar, is commonly known as Ardabir Darkz-dast Malcolm's Hist. manus of the Greeks. The name Bah-man is a Sanskrit compound signifying" possessing arms." of Pers. Vol. I., Chap. IV.
