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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JUNE, 1920
THE HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAH KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR.
BY LT.-COLONEL T. W. HAIG, C.S.L, C.M.G.
(Continued from p. 91.) IX.-AN ACCOUNT OF THE THIRD EXPEDITION OF THE PRINCE'S ENEMIES AGAINST
HIM, AND OF THEIR CAPTURE BY Romi KHÂN. The amirs, already mentioned, left the city with a large army to take vengeance on the prince, and pursued him, but when the amirs who had first been sent against him, heard that he had visited Bidar, and carried off their wives and families, fear and trembling fell upon them and they were divided and scattered, so that the prince's object was gained. On the receipt of this news, a numerous and well-appointed army was dispersed, and its officers repaired to court complaining bitterly, and in the strongest language of the negligence of the amirs who had been at court when the raid was made. When the prince's spies informed hina of the approach of these amirs, and the news of the dispersal of the army, which had been encamped at the Meri Ghật, became known in his army, he left the wives and families of the amirs where they were and marched on his capital by way of Parenda. The king's troops, who had followed him from Bidar, emboldened by his marching away from them, followed in his tracks,
When the prince halted at Parenda," he sent for Jalal Rami Khan and told him that his forces were much weakened, for a detachment had gone with the haram, and many, exhausted by his forced march on Bidar, had fallen out by the way. He then ordered Rami Khân to hold Parenda and await the arrival of the stragglers, while he marched on one stage, in order that the royal army might believe that he was fleeing from them, and might pursue him, and not on any account to emerge from Parenda until the pursuers had passed it, in order that he (the prince) might then make a stand while Rami Khan issued from the fortress in the enemy's rear and thus surrounded him Jalal Rûmî Khân promised to obey these orders and remained in the fort while the prince marched on one stage, and when the amirs heard that the prince had passed Parenda, they were puffed up with pride, and pressed on with all haste in pursuit of the prince, until they came to the stream which is known as Alat Nadi,34 and flows past the town of Parenda. Here they halted and circulated the wine-cup and had music, paying no more attention to Jalâl Rami Khånd, who was in Parenda, than if he had not existed. So careless were they that they took no heed of anything until they fell into a drunken sleep.
When Rami Khân heard of the state of the enemy's army, he wisely thought that he could best serve the prince by disobeying his orders, seeing that the enemy's negligence promised him a certain victory and the oppertunity was one not to be neglected. He therefore assembled his army and with a strong force, fell upon them when many of them were in a drunken sleep and many more had barely slept off their debauch. Some were sent to eternity from a drunken sleep and some opened their eyes only to be sent by the same road. Not a single man of the enemy had any time to prepare for the fight, and large numbers were sent to hell by Rami Khan's troops. The amirs and the principal
. *This appears to be an account of the operations of the royal troope after Jabangir Khan bad taken command.
* Situated in 18° 18' N. and 76° 27' E. The fort of Parenda was built by the great minister Mahmad Gavan.
* Parenda stands between two small tributaries of the Sina, which is a tributary of the Bhime..
