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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ SEPTEMBER, 1921
never more and never less. Tufâl Khân was not strong enough to turn and oppose the royal army and the latter could not march fast enough to overtake Tufal Khân.
As the king had issued orders that nobody in the army should vex or harass the inhabitants of Berar in any way, all the people readily submitted to and obeyed the royal commands, and paid their land revenue to the king, while the land was apportioned in jager to the amirs and officers of the army.
At this time Chaghatai Khân, one of the amirs of Tufal Khân, having asked for a safe conduct, came in and submitted to the king and was received in the royal service and highly honoured.
Tufal Khân, who had long been harassed and hard pressed, was now reduced to great straits, and the army of the Dakan was also weary. Tufal Khan fled to Burhanpur and took refuge with Mirân Mubammad Shah.186 Murtagâ Nizâm Shâh therefore sent a message to Mîrân Muhammad Shah, saying that Tufâl Khân had been guilty of ingratitude and treason to his own master, and had then, in defiance of treaties, declared war against the king. dom of Ahmadnagar and when the army of Ahmadnagar marched against him, had in terror taken refuge in Burhanpûr. The message went on to say that it was hoped that Mirân Muhammad Shah would remember, observe, and be willing to renew the treaties which had long existed between the Nizâm Shâhî and Faruqi dynasties and would refrain from stirring up strife or harbouring offenders against peace and would use his endeavours to promote peace and goodwill between the two kingdoms.
Miran Muhammad Shah feared to oppose the wishes of Murtaza Nizam Shah, and at once expelled the wretched Tufal Khån from his country. He received the envoy with great humility and treated him well, and then dismissed him with honour. He then set out in person to meet Murtaza Nizam Shah.
The meeting took place on the bank of a river named Parandi. Murtaza Nizâm Shah crossed the river with a few of his courtiers and Miran Muhammad Shâh paid his respects to him. At the end of the interview a Qur'an in the handwriting of Ali, the Leader of the Faithful, was produced from Murtazi Nizam Shah's library for the purpose of the oaths to be taken for the confirmation of the treaties and engagements entered into. Mîrån Mubammad Shah pointed out that this was the Qur'an which had been used for the treaty entered into with Ibrâhîm Qutb Shâh. Nevertheless it was afterwards Miran Muhammad Shah who broke the treaty
Now that Tufal Khân could find no place of refuge or rest in any country, he resolved to shut himself up in one of his forts. He therefore separated from himself, like his own good fortune, Shamshir-ul-Mulk, who was in truth the right arm of his kingdom, and dispatched him to Gâwil, while he, with infinite difficulty, threw himself into the fortress of Narnâla.187
When spies brought news of Tufal Khân's taking refuge in the fortress to the royal camp, the army of Ahmadnagar set forth on his track and on reaching Narnâla, surrounded the fort and laid siege to it, encamping around the lofty hill on which it is built.
196 This was Muhammad Shah II, the tenth of the Faruqi dynasty of Khandesh, who reigned from Doc. 19, 1586 to 1577.78.
191 Narala, in 21° 15' N. and 77° 4' E., on the southernmost range of the Satpora hills, is one of the three hill fortroence of Berar, the other two being Gawil, the old fortress ospital, in 21° 32' N. and 77° 23' E. Join the Satpure hills, and MAh Or, in 19° 50 N. and 77° 59 E., to the south of the Penganga.
