________________
909
DECEMBER, 1839.]
HISTORY OF THE BAHMANI DYNASTY.
entered into a correspondence with the Sultan, imploring him to oust Kâsim Barid from the government of the dominions of the Dakhan, in order that they might submit themselves loyally to the Sultan, and cease fighting; yet as the Sultan had no longer any control over the affairs of State, he was unable to comply with their request. The amirs were then under the necessity of fighting against the army of Sultan Mahmad. It is related that when the Dakhani amirs attacked the army of the Sultan, both sides fought so furiously that they made the dust of the battle-field like a tulip garden, and the dead were thrown in heaps on the surface of the ground. Kasim Barid seeing the bravery of the amirs knew there was no use in continuing the battle, so he took to flight. In the midst of this the Saltân, from the charging of the warriors of the army, and the horses and elephants dashing against one another, fell off his horse, and his delicate body became acquainted with the dust of the battle-field. When the amirs saw their king fallen, they were excessively afflicted and ashamed. They dismounted from their horses and kissed the ground before the Sultân; and mounting him on a swift horse, sent him on to the capital. Each of the amire then turned towards his own country. Sultan Aḥmad Babri Nizam-al-Mulk also, taking his leave of the Sultan, turned towards the district of Junnar. After the amirs had dispersed and gone to their own districts, Kasim Barid again went to court and assumed supreme power. In several histories it is stated that this event occurred in the latter days of the reign of the Sultan, and that he died one year after that: as will hereafter, please God! be related.
In the midst of these events there came to the cars of the Sultan a memorial to the following effect from Malik Yusuf Turk, who had obtained the title of Majlis-i Rafi' 'Adil Khan, and was at that period in possession of Rayachûr, Belgaon, Targal [Naregal?] and other towns47:
"Malik Dinar Dastûr-i Mamalik, an Abyssinian eunuch, having placed his foot outside the path of obedience and subjection, has become a traveller on the paths of rebellion and resistance. This slave of the court, in concert with Your Majesty, will bring about the punishment of that perfidious unbeliever by placing the lightning-striking sword in 's embrace, and so recompense his ingratitude and rebellion. At this time again, Malik Khush Kadam Turk Aziz-ul-Mulk, who was formerly a ruler, having become a fellow-traveller with that black-faced, abandoned one, they have scratched the face of fidelity and agreement with the nail of oppression and hypocrisy."
Immediately upon hearing these dreadful words, the fire of the Sultan's world-consuming anger blazed up, and he ordered the royal army of Turks and Khurâsânês to be got ready for battle and assembled at court in order to extirpate these worthless enemies. When the Sultan heard of the assembly of the army he mounted his horse and hoisted the royal standard. Kasim Barid-i Mamâlik who was the [real] ruler of the kingdom of the Dakhan with other amirs and nobles set ont with the Sultan.
When Majlis-i Raff Adil Khân and Masnad-i 'Ali Fakhr-ul-Mulk obtained information of the approach of the Sultan, they hastened to join the royal camp and make their obeisance.
The Sultan then paying attention to the arrangement of his army, gave the command of the right wing to Majlis-i Raff Adil Khan and Masnad-i Ali Malik Fakhr-ul-Mulk; and that of the left wing to Malik Kasim Barid-i Mamâlik and Kadam Khan and Jahangir Khân; while the Sultan himself with the armed Turks and Afghans and the warriors of Hind and Khurâsân, with all the flower of the army, hoisted his standard in the centre. The proud rebels too busied themselves in preparing to encounter the royal army. They disposed their forces in perfect readiness, and hoisted the standard of bravery and boldness. After that, the warriors of each of the two forces, like two mountains of iron and steel, getting into motion, rushed on one
46 From this period may be said to date the establishment of the Barid-Shi hi dynasty and the overthrow of the Bahmani.
He was the founder of the 'Adil-Shahi dynasty.
