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APRIL, 1921 ]
HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHÍ KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
105
dynasty and to show hostility to Ahmadnagar, which line of conduct tended of necessity to the ruin of his kingdom.
All Adil Shah in person entered the territory of Vijayanagar and led Sadashivaraya astray by means of costly gifts, and he and Sadashivaraya then entered the kingdom of Abmadnagar with an army more numerous than the raindrops, and sent a message to Ibrahim Qutb Shah, urging him to join them. He was already beholden to Sadashivaraya for the protection afforded to him by the latter in the reign of Jamshid Qutb Shah, and therefore considered that he was not at liberty to oppose him. He marched to Telingana with his army and joined 'Alt Adil Shah and Sadashivaraya. The three armies then marched through the kingdom of Ahmadnagar and the army of Vijayanagar plundered and devastated the whole country through which it passed. When the news of the approach of these armies was brought to Husain Nizam Shah by the fugitives from the districts through which they had passed, the king summoned his advisers and took counsel with them regard. ing the plan to be adopted. They advised the king, as the army of the enemy largely outnumbered that of Ahmadnagar and was too strong to be successfully withstood, to abandon the capital with his army and to remain in the country where he was not likely to be overtaken, owing to the slow ness of the enemy's movements, and where he could amuse himself with hunting. They said that this policy should be continued until the rainy season, when, owing to the rain and the mud, and to the impossibility of obtaining supplies, the enemy would not be able to remain in the country and would either flee or sue for peace.
The king, following this advice, placed a garrison of picked men, well provided with artillery and other munitions of war, in the fort of Abmadnagar, and then, with the rest of his army, crossed the Godavart and made Paithan his headquarters. Immediately after his departure, Sadashivaraya arrived at Ahmadnagar with the army of Vijayanagar and encamped before the fortress, and the Hindus began to plunder the country, to overthrow the dwellings of the people, and to persecute the poor among the Muslims. Sadashivaraya, 'Ali `Adil Shâh, and Ibrahim Qutb Shah remained thus for some time at Ahmadnagar, laying waste all the country round about ; and then the rains broke with great violence. The mud and mire were so deep that the troops could not move and the elephants began to die for want of fodder. Meanwhile, the army of Ahmadnagar began to harass the enemy by attacking the outskirts of the camp and slaying all whom they found, until none dare venture forth. Sadashivaraya then ordered Sadashiva Naik, one of the chief officers of the army of Vijayanagar, to take his troops and harry the country as far as the Godâvari, slaying all whom he met ; but spies brought information of this design to the king. The king sent an army of 'Iraqi and Khurasani horsemen under Mavali Khan, Sanjar Khan, Daulat Khan, Dastûr Khan, Vazir Khan and Satya to intercept the Hindus, and free the earth from their foul existence. This force came upon the Hindûs near the town of Jamgaon and, alter a determined battle, defeated them. The infidels had much difficulty in saving their lives by flight, and many horses, arms and standards fell into the hands of tbe army of Islam, who encamped on the battlefield. At this time Mir Husain, brother of Yughrish Khân, arrived and brought news that the accursed Bhôpål Râi, who had been appointed by the king to the command of the fortress of Kaliyani, had surrendered that fortress to the enemy. When this news was brought to the king, he decided, in accordance with the advice of his counsellors, to make peace with Sadashivaraya, and sent Maulana ‘Ali Mazandaránt to Kaliyani in order that he might secure the property of all the king's servants and surrender the fort. He also returned to Sadashivaraya the horses and arms