Mirza Jehangeer having fallen in the late ac­tion, the King had recourse to the advice of Assud Khan as to the measures necessary to retrieve his disaster. Assud Khan observed, that as his loss was great, and the troops were dispirited, it would be advisabe to return for the present to Beejapoor, and lay aside all thoughts of revenge till he could strengthen himself by an alliance with Boorhan Nizam Shah, and remove his natural enemy Ameer Bereed from his border. These objects being once effected, the punishment of the infidels might be subsequently accomplished. The King approving this advice marched from the Krishna to Beeja-poor; and conferring the dignity of Sipahsalar on Assud Khan, added several districts to his jageer, and made him henceforward his principal coun­sellor in all important affairs.

Syud Ahmud Hirvy, who had formerly been sent as ambassador from Ismael Adil Shah to the King of Persia, was now despatched in the same capacity to Ahmudnuggur, to cement the bonds of friendship with that state; and being met near the city by Shah Tahir and the principal nobles, he was introduced to Boorhan Nizam Shah, and received with great honour. Letters and civi­lities having been previously interchanged, it was determined, that an interview should take place between the Kings of Beejapoor and Ahmud-nuggur at the town of Sholapoor. On which occasion, Boorhan Nizam Shah demanding the hand of Muryum, the sister of Ismael Adil Shah, the nuptials were concluded with due ceremony. Valuable presents, including elephants and horses, were interchanged by both kings; and the re-joicings in honour of this alliance continued during

Rujub,
A. H. 930.
May,
A. D. 1524.

the whole month of Rujub, of the year 930; after which, both kings took leave of each other, and returned to their re­spective capitals.

It is asserted, that in the treaty of alliance formed on this occasion Ismael Adil Shah con­sented to give up, as a marriage-portion to his sister, the fort of Sholapoor * with its five and a half districts taken by the late regent from Zein Khan; but it is certain this article was not imme­diately fulfilled. Boorhan Nizam Shah, for some time, neglected noticing the omission; but in the next year, having secured the co-operation of Imad Shah, King of Berar, and of Ameer Bereed, Regent of Bidur, the confederates marched with forty thousand men to besiege Sholapoor, and to occupy the ceded districts.

Ismael Adil Shah, collecting ten thousand fo­reign cavalry, moved to oppose the invasion; and both armies continued encamped during forty days between the forts of Sholapoor and Nuldroog, at the distance of four miles from each other, without coming to action. Three thousand foreign bowmen of Ismael Adil Shah were sent forth daily to hover round the enemy's camp, and cut off his supplies; in which service they were very suc­cessful. Khwaja Jehan Deccany, governor of Purenda, in consequence, vexed with the inactivity of Boorhan Nizam Shah, quitted the camp attended by four thousand select Deccany cavalry, with the resolution of surprising the Beejapoor archers. On the following evening, the foreigners, as usual, took up their post for the night on the banks of a rivulet, and having picketed their horses, were unarming, and waiting for their servants to dress their food. At this time, when the night had just shut in, Khwaja Jehan Deccany, with a reconnoitring party, came upon them, but was discovered at a short distance from the out­posts by a sentry, who gave the alarm. The bow­men instantly took to their horses; but before they were all mounted, Khwaja Jehan fell upon them, and killed about three hundred; the rest owed their escape to the speed of their horses. Khwaja Jehan's Deccanies, after returning from the pursuit, came to the spot on which the archers had been encamped, and dismounting, employed them­selves in plundering and in eating the victuals which had been left in the pots on the fires. The Beeja-poories, stung by the disgrace of this shameful defeat, determined on turning it to advantage, and concluding the enemy's army might also be sur­prised, they resolved to make an attack on the camp of Boorhan Nizam Shah. They accordingly moved direct to his lines, and the sentinels, taking them for Khwaja Jehan's detachment returning to camp, permitted them to pass. When in the midst of the camp, the Beejapoor bowmen discharging their arrows made great havoc, and pursued their route direct to the tents of Boorhan Nizam Shah. Confusion soon prevailed in every quarter; friends could not be distinguished from foes; and the bowmen, when sated with slaughter and plunder, retired with very little loss. On the fol­lowing morning, Ismael Adil Shah advanced to give battle to the enemy while yet suffering from the terror occasioned by the night-attack. Boor-han Nizam Shah and Imad Shah drew up their line, but in so great disorder and with such preci­pitation, that they were unable to withstand the assault of the Beejapoor troops. Imad Shah being charged by Assud Khan fled from the field with­out scarcely making any opposition, and did not halt, except at night, till he reached his fort of Gawul in Berar. Boorhan Nizam Shah was also on the point of giving way; but being timely re­inforced by Ameer Bereed with six thousand fresh horse, continued to oppose for some time longer. At last, Khoosh-Geldy Agha and Ismael Agha, Toorky officers in the Beejapoor service, gained the enemy's rear with two thousand horse, while Assud Khan made a simultaneous attack on the right wing. These assaults threw the enemy into utter confusion; and Boorhan Nizam Shah, overcome by the weight of his armour, was nearly falling from his horse through faintness. In this state of the action, some Toorky slaves, observing the condition of the King of Ahmudnuggur, led his horse off the field, and the rout of his army instantly succeeded. About three thousand of the Ahmud-nuggur troops were slain in the pursuit, and the royal standard of Nizam Shah fell into the hands of Assud Khan, besides forty elephants, many pieces of cannon, and the tents and baggage of the enemy, which became the reward of the victors. Ismael Adil Shah, after this victory, returned in triumph to Beejapoor, where he made rejoicings for a whole month, and conferred rewards and honours on the officers who had most distinguished themselves. To Assud Khan he gave five large and six small elephants, and on the same occasion he increased the pay of every soldier in his army. To enable him to bear this expense, he appro­priated all the lands hitherto allotted for the sup­port of the seraglio to his troops, and gave up half the customs levied at the forts for the same object. Being one day told that some officers were still unprovided for, and on the ministers saying, that the treasury could not maintain so many troops on the present pay, he asked what number of dis­tricts were set aside for the support of his ward­robe and kitchen? and having ascertained they amounted to twenty-four, he commanded half to be allotted to the pay of the troops; saying, that it was better for him to suffer some inconvenience than that the soldiers should have reason to com­plain.

A. H. 935.
A. D. 1528. In the year 935, Boorhan Nizam Shah, accompanied by Ameer Bereed, again invaded the territories of Ismael Adil Shah. They were, however, completely de­feated, within twenty coss of Beejapoor, by Assud Khan; on which occasion, Khwaja Jehan of Pu-renda and several officers of distinction were taken prisoners. Assud Khan pursued the fugitives as far as Purenda, and took much baggage and twenty elephants, among which was that which carried the ambarry * of Nizam Shah. Ismael Adil Shah con­ferred all the elephants on Assud Khan, except one named Alla Buksh (or the Gift of God), and honoured his general with the title of Furzund (or Son) in the firmans addressed to him. The King, by his advice, this year, gave his sister Khoodeija in marriage to Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah, King of Berar; and these two monarchs had a meeting in the town of Oorsingy to celebrate the nuptials; after which, they took leave of each other with mutual presents and professions of regard.

This year, also, Bahadur Shah of Guzerat having invaded the territories of Boorhan Nizam Shah, Ismael Adil Shah sent ten lacks of hoons† * and six thousand horse to assist his ally. These troops, after the retreat of Bahadur Shah, return­ing to Beejapoor, informed their sovereign that Ameer Bereed had endeavoured to corrupt their fidelity, and to prevail on them to join him in an attack on Beejapoor, promising to reward them with a share of territory. Ismael Adil Shah, justly incensed at this treachery, resolved to punish

A. H. 936.
A. D. 1529.

Ameer Bereed; and in the year 936 sent intelligent ambassadors to Boorhan Nizam Shah, complaining that Ameer Bereed had frequently conspired against his family, and had more than once induced his enemies to invade his dominions; that he (Ismael Adil Shah) had hitherto refrained from attacking him, but that now he had resolved to do so, both from re­ligious and political motives; for, he observed, it was contrary to wisdom to treat the wolf with gentleness, or the snake with kindness. He con­cluded by stating, that if Boorhan Nizam Shah would remain neutral on the occasion, he intended shortly to take ample vengeance on the ancient enemy of his house. Boorhan Nizam Shah, who lay under obligations to the King for his late suc­cours, acquiesced in his wishes. The ambassadors returned with this answer; and Ismael Adil Shah immediately prepared for his intended expedition.