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282
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(OCTOBER, 1921
1
After the sacking of the city of Burhanpûr the royal army marched from the city to be siege Asirgash,191 Changiz Khân being in command of the advanced guard. When Miran Muhammad Shah heard of the approach of the army of Ahmadnagar, he sent Sayyid Zain-ud. din, who was vakil of the kingdom of Khandesh, with a large army and several elephants, to oppose its advance, and the army of Miran Muhammad Shah and the advanced guard of the army of Ahmadnagar met between Burhanpur and Asîr. A fierce battle ensued in which the advantage lay at first with the army of Burhånpûr, and the advanced guard of the royal army was on the point of suffering a defeat. As soon as the king heard of the insolent persistence of the enemy, his wrath burst into flame, and calling for his horse he mounted it and dashed off towards the field without taking time even to arm himself properly. The amirs, who were in attendance on him, tried to dissuade him from going personally into the fight, saying that that was the business of themselves and of the troops under them. With some difficulty they prevailed on him to stay where he was and send a force to the aid of the advanced guard: At that moment news was received that Changiz Khân had attacked the enemy with great dash and determination, and had defeated and dispersed them, slaying many and taking many prisoners, and capturing also several elephants. The king was much rejoiced by this news and pressed on with the main body of the army towards Asir. The army of Miran Muhammad Shah, which was encamped around the fortress, was smitten with terror and fled, leaving the whole of their camp equippage, baggage, goods, and chattels in the hands of the victors. The royal army pursued them to the borders of the dominions of the emperor Akbar, slaying all whom they overtook. Much spoil fell into their hands and they laid waste the whole country about Asir and Burhånpar.
When the royal pavilion was set up over against the fortress of Asir, commands were issued that the siege should be begun, and the army surrounded the fortress.
The fortress of Asîr is situated on a very lofty hill and is so strong that it has baffled the attempts of many to take it. The rock on which the fort is built is so high and smooth, and has been so scarped that the ascent of it is impossible, and the fort can be approached only by a very rough and difficult road cut in the rock, while its walls and bastions are beyond the reach of artillery. From the day of its foundation to this time it had never been captured and had never been surrendered.
The royal army, having now surrounded the fortress, closed all roads of ingress and egress to the besieged. Miran Muhammad Shah, who had been induced by Ibråhim Qutb Shab to break his faith, now saw that his conduct would have no other result than the ruin of his country and the dispersal of his subjects, and therefore set himself to beseech the king for pardon and forgiveness. He sent the Khân khânån, who had formerly been a servant of the court of Ahmadnagar and whose great power as vakil of that kingdom has already been mentioned, as an envoy to the court of Murtaza Nizam Shah tu pray for pardon for his faults and transgressions and to promise payment of nine lakhs of Muzaffari rupees as na'l-baha 198 to be paid whenever the royal army should retire from before Asîr and arrive at Burhånpûr. Changiz Khan and the rest of the amirs and
197 Firishta's version of this event is as follows :-Changiz Khân, who had heard much of the fortress of Asirgaph, was desirous of inspecting it and, with the permission of Murta ,A Nizam Shah, set out to do so with an escort of 2,000 horse. Muhammad Shah Faruqi sent against him a force of seven or eight thousand hors, and ordered the amirs who accompanied it to surround Changiz Khan's force and put him to death -F. ii. 269.
118 Na'l-band is money paid to an invading army to induce it to abstain from plunder and dovas. tation. Firishta says that the indemnity amonnted to 1,000,000 Muzaffaris, vix 200,000 to Murtas Ni£m Shah himself and 400,000 to Changiz Khan -F. ii. 269.
