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SEPTEMBER, 1921) HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHI KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
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After the departure of 'Ali Adil Shah, Murtaza Nizâm Shâh appointed Amin-ul-Mulk and his brother Nizâm Khân, with a picked force from the army, to lay waste the country around Golconda, while he himself with the main body of the army marched along the bank of the river, and when he arrived at Kaulâs, the force which had been sent in advance to devastate the environs of Golconda returned and rejoined the main body of the army, having laid waste and plundered that country. As the rainy season had now begun and movement was very difficult, the king remained in standing camp with his army at Kaulas, and when the rainy season was over, marched thence and invaded Berar by way of Pâthrî. Some of the chief officers, such as Khudavand Khân, Rustam Khân, and others were sent on ahead with the advanced guard.184
When the royal army reached Pathri all the inhabitants of that town and the district surrounding it, from fear of the troops, left their dwellings and fled and took refuge in the distant hills (of the Bâlâghât). Since, however, the king's object was the annexation and not the devastation of Berar, Changiz Khân reassured the inhabitants of Pathri, holding out to them hopes of the royal favour and clemency, and issued to them a written guarantee which so reassured them that all hastened to make their submission and pay their respects at the royal court, where they received marks of the royal favour and were thus enabled to return to their fields and their dwellings and to follow their usual avocations. The civil officers, in accordance with the royal commands, apportioned the whole of the Pathri district in jager to the officers of the army.
News was now brought to the king that Tufal Khân and his army had set out with a view to undertaking an expedition into the Kandhâr country, and the royal army therefore march. ed rapidly in that direction, lest the king's subjects in that district should suffer at the hands of the invaders. When Tufal Khân heard of the retirement of the royal army, he abandoned his intention of invading Kandhâr and marched towards Bidar. 185 The royal army followed him up march by march, until the two armies met in the neighbourhood of the hunting ground of Bidar at about sunset. The circumstances of the case were as follows - When the royal army halted, spies brought news that Tufal Khân with a very large army was encamped in the neighbourhood of the army. Changiz Khân in accordance with the royal command, at once set out with a picked force to attack the enemy. On his approach Tufal Khân came forth from his encampment and drew up his army in line facing the attacking force. Changiz Khân then sent on in advance a picked body of foreign horse with Shâh Vardi Khân, Sultân Quli Beg Rûmla, Ahmad Beg Aishâr, Shir Khân Yarâqi, Yonas Beg, Muzaffar Anji, and others, numbering some two hundred, and Tufâl Khân Bent 5,000 horse under Shamshîr-ul-Mulk to meet and repulse this force. Some twenty of the foreigners of Ahmadnagar, sword in hand, then hurled themselves on the centre of the enemy's 5,000 horse and slew many. It chanced, however, that an arrow pierced Sultân
104 According to Firishta (ii, 263, 264) Murtaza Nizam Shah, before invading Berar, sent Mulla Haidar Kashi on a mission to Tufal Khan, bearing a letter purporting to recall him to a sense of his duty to his master. Murtaza said that Tufal Khan's regency had been reasonable and natural during the minority of Burhan 'Imad ShAh, but now that the young king had come to years of discretion, it was the duty of Tufal Khan to release him from ostraint, to surrender all authority to him, and to place himself entirely at his disposal. Tufal Khan showed the letter to his son, Shamshir-ul-Mulk, and sought his counsel. Shamahir-ul-Mulk said that the letter was a mere pretext for aggression and that Murtaza Nizam Shah was evidently bent on invading and annexing Berar. By his advice Mulla Haidar was sent back without an aniwer, and he rejoined Murtad Nizam Shah's camp at Pathri.
186 Firishta gives no indication of the scene of the fighting between the armies of Ahmadnagar and Boras, but saye (ii, 264) that Murtara Nizam Shah, after the return of his envoy, marched towards Eliehpur.
