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DECEMBER, 1899.)
HISTORY OF THE BAHMANI DYNASTY.
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intemperate language, and sent back nothing. Having no other resource, Sultan Mahmud Gujarati sent an ambassador with many presents to the court of Sultan Mahmud Bab mani, and sent by his hands a letter concerning the high-handed conduct of Bahadur Gilani, to the following effect :
"For a long time a strong friendship has existed between our dynasties, and, moreover, the friendship which existed between our ancestors bas descended by heritage to their progeny. At this time Bahadur Gilint, the servant of Kishwar Khân Khwajah Jabâni - who is seated in the place of Kishwar Khin, and who has shut in his own face the doors of obedience and subjection 50 - hus taken possession of all the sea ports and fortresses of the coast of the kingdom of the Dakhan frem Dabhol, Goa, Barboli,61 Chandan-Wandhan, Satârâ and Panâ la52 to Miraj, Jamkhandi, eto. In the excess of his presumption he has hoisted the standard of rebellion, and has forcibly taken possession of twenty ships laden with various goods, jewels cloths and thorough-bred horses, and seized the merobants also. Not content even with this he has sent to the port of Mahim (Bombay) 200 ships and hurábe filled with his tyrannical army; levelled that place with the ground; burned several Ķur,áns and masjids; thrown into the sea most of the merchants of the country, and having made prisoners of two amírs of Gujarât, who were in the port at the time, has carried them off with him. When I heard this news I wrote and sent to him a farmán on the subject, and he sent an excessively rebellious reply. As he is one of the servants of Your Majesty's court, it seemed necessary to bring to your hearing the detailed circumstances of his rebellion, in onder that you might arrange to drive away that abandoned rebel ;- for his expulsion is an absolute necessity, from religious as well as from worldly motives. If you do not undertake to repulse him from your direction, theu give me leave and I shall chastise him from my side."
When the Sultan bad heard the contents of the letter of Sultan Mahmûd of Gujarat, he said: - "The driving away of that synopsis of the lords of rebellion and sedition is absolutely necessary. For the sake of my own peace of mind that man of evil disposition must, by some means or other, be chastisod as an example to others." But it ocourred to the royal mind that in the first instance the ears of the understanding of Babâdur Gilani should be weighted by the pearls of kingly exhortation and admonition; then if he did not act aceording to orders, but persisted in opposition, he should be handed over to the executioner. A letter to the followiny effect was therefore written to Bahadur Gilâni according to the Sultan's orders :
"Be it known to you that a letter bas arrived from Sultan Mahmûd Gujarati, containing such and such matters, on, hearing whieh the king was much astonished. It is necessary that immediately upon receipt of this royal farmán, you shall send to the royal court all the goods belonging to Sultan Mahmud Gujarati and bis merchants, and send the ships back by sea. Do not on any account put your foet beyond your own blanket.53 The prisoners, with the elephants and goods, are to be handed over to the deputy of the court. Show no delay or Degligence of any kind; and in future do not open on yourself the door of sedition and trouble, por set your foot on the road of rebellion and ingratitude."
When the royal mandate had been written and despatched to Bahadur Gilán'i, the Sultân ordered eloquent secretaries to write in elegant language a reply to the letter of Sultâu
- From this it appears that Kisbwar Khan was the legitimate governor of the Konkan province, and Bahadur Gilani acabordinate under him; but Babadur Gulant oustod Kishwar Khan, and then broke into rebellion. The words of the text are :
درينوقت بها در کیلا نی چا کر کشور خان خواجه جهانی که بجای کشور خان نشسته و ابواب اطاعت و انقياد بر روی خود بستر
# Not identified. Perhaps Dapoli. * I.., mind your own business,
* An isolated hill fort a few miles from Kolhapur.
