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[DECEMBER, 1921
I'tibar Khân, but Mu'tabar Khan, who then held the office of Divan, submitted a petition to the king to the effect that I'tibâr Khân had produced what purported to be a royal order regarding this belt, but that as its value was so high that it was not considered that anybody save the king himself could worthily receive it, further orders were awaited. In reply to this the king wrote saying that he had no knowledge of any such order as that produced by I'tibâr Khân, but that as I'tibâr Khân had founded his hopes on the royal generosity, the belt should be delivered to him without delay and that he should not be accused of forgery. Mu'tabaz Khan did not obey the royal command that this matter should be kept secret, but published all the circumstances, so that I'tibâr Khân's forgery became known to all.
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
When the king heard of Murtaza Khân's disobedience he degraded him from the post of divan and imprisoned him, at the same time sending the belt to I'tibâr Khân. It would, in short, be impossible to recount all Murtaza Nizam Shah's acts of generosity and munificence.
Another officer who, after the return from Berar, attained the rank of amir was Asad Khân, who had performed eminent services in the capture of the various fortresses of Berar, especially Narnâla, and had served the artillery extremely well. After attaining to the rank of amir, he daily advanced in the royal favour until he ultimately became vakil and pishvi.
At this time news was received by the king that a person in Berar named Firûz Shâh giving himself out to be of the 'Imâd Shâhî family, had risen in rebellion, collected the scattered remnants of Tufâl Khân's army and defeated the officers who held Berar on behalf of the king, so that most of the zamindars had forsworn their allegiance to Ahmadnagar. The king appointed Sayyid Murtaza, who had then attained the rank of amir and was governor and jagirdar of Bîr, to the governorship of Berar, with the rank of amir-ul-umard investing him with a special robe of honour.
Sayyid Murtaza marched towards Berar, and when he reached Jâlnâpûr, Jamshîd Khân, with troops under his command, joined him, and the amirs of Berar, as he approached that country, joined him. Sayyid Murtazâ, with his large army, advanced into Berar and halted not until he reached the town of Bâlâpûr. When Firûz Shâh heard of the advance of the army he, realizing that he could not withstand it, fled before it, pursued daily by Sayyid Murtaza and his troops, who were only one day's march behind him. At last, weary of ceaseless wandering, he threw himself into the fort of Amner Charbi.203
While Firûz Shah was thus throwing Berar into confusion, bands of misguided Gond rose in rebellion and laid waste several of the border villages. Sayyid Murtazâ therefore sent Mîrzâ Yâdgår, Chandhâ Khân, and some other officers to besiege Amner Charbî, while he, with rest of the army, marched against the rebellious Gonds with the object of laying waste Gondwâra. He destroyed several of the villages and parganas of Gondwâra and carried fire and sword through that country, while the amirs who had been left to besiege the fort, succeeded in capturing it and slew Firûz Shah. Sayyid Murtazâ, having completed the devastation of Gondwâra and utterly subdued the rebels, returned to Ahmadnagar and had the honour of being received by the king.
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203 This is Amner on the Tapti, in 21° 32' N. and 76° 51′ E, known as Amner-Jalpî from a neigh bouring pargana town, the two parganas being always mentioned together. The Gonds' here mentioned are the Korkus of the Melghat, in northern Berar, and Gondware' is their country, the Melghat. They are always called Gonds by Muḥammadan writers, an error made by the British officials appointed to administer Berar on its assignment in 1853, and for some years afterwards. They differ from the Gonds both in race and language.
