[Text, vol. ii. p. 883.] On the 2nd of Ramazán, 1132 A.H. (27th June, 1720), on Friday, during prayers at the mosques, a fearful earthquake was felt. A noise under the earth was heard, doors and walls shook and roofs rattled. During the day and night nine shocks were felt. It was reported that parts of the fort and many houses were thrown down, and that great numbers of persons were killed in Sháhjahánábád and old Dehlí. The writer of these leaves went out on horseback to see and ascertain for himself. * * He found houses destroyed here and there, parts of the ramparts thrown down and damaged, two gates of the city injured, the parapets of the Fathpúrí mosque damaged, and ten or twelve persons killed and wounded. It was very wonderful that for a month and two days the shocks continued, and were felt four or five times in the twenty-four hours. Many persons were so alarmed that they would not sleep under a roof. After this time the force of the shocks decreased; but for four or five months the earth and the houses were found to shake occasionally, until the arrival of the blessed feet of His Majesty, when the shocks gradually ceased.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 885.] On the 1st Zí-l ka'da it was determined that His Majesty should go with Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khán to Dehlí, and that Husain 'Alí Khán should proceed with a number of warlike amírs to the Dakhin. It was now that a quarrel arose between the Saiyids and I'timádu-d daula. This caused a great feeling of alarm for some days, and it was so much talked about that I'timádu-d daula and the braves of Túrán remained under arms night and day.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 885.] Intelligence now arrived that 'Álam 'Alí Khán and many of his officers had been killed. The author has not obtained exact information of this matter; but he will relate what he has gathered from different accounts given to him by trustworthy men.
After the death of Diláwar 'Alí Khán two or three thousand Bárha horse * * were glad to make their escape to 'Álam Khán. This officer, when he heard that Diláwar Khán was approaching, went out of Aurangábád (to join him) with thirty thousand horse. He had reached the pass of Fardápúr, half-way to Burhánpúr, and was engaged in getting his artillery through, when he received the unwelcome news. Several of the Mahratta sardárs and his own associates advised him to return to Aurangábád, or to go to Ahmadnagar, and await the coming of Husain 'Alí Khán. Under the protection of the walls he might enlist men, and carry on the war with discretion, while the Mahrattas might be sent out to ravage and plunder in the vicinity of Nizámu-l Mulk's army, and to carry on that Cossack warfare for which the people of the Dakhin are so famous.
'Álam 'Alí Khán, in his pride, paid no heed to these counsels, but went down with his whole force. After the defeat of Diláwar 'Alí Khán, Nizámu-l Mulk went and encamped at Burhánpúr. When he heard of 'Álam 'Alí Khán's approach, he sent to him the coffins of Diláwar 'Alí Khán and Saiyid Sher Khán; and he wrote a few words of noble advice for 'Álam Khán to send to his two uncles, deprecating any further shedding of the blood of Musulmáns. But this had no effect. Nizámu-l Mulk then marched from Burhánpúr to the river Púrná, sixteen or seventeen kos west of that city. 'Álam 'Alí Khán was encamped near the tank of Hartála, close to the Púrná. Continuous rain, mire and mud, the flood of waters and the want of boats, prevented both armies from crossing the river, and compelled them to wait awhile. Nizámu-l Mulk, to change his ground, escape the mire, and find a ford, made a move of two kos in the direction of Birár, and encamped on the bank of the river, until, through the guidance of the zamíndárs, and the exertions of 'Iwaz Khán, a ford was discovered fourteen or fifteen kos away in the direction of Bálápúr.
In the middle of Ramazán, Nizámu-l Mulk crossed the river with his whole army. This passage was looked upon as a good omen, and inspirited his men. 'Álam 'Alí Khán was disturbed when he heard of the crossing; but he set his forces in motion to meet his adversary. Nizámu-l Mulk waited a day to allow the rear of his army and his baggage to cross. In some places the water was up to the waist, in others to the breast, but all got over in safety without loss to life or property. Next day he marched to fix upon a position in which to give battle. He encamped at Síúgánw, in the súba of Burhánpúr [where his army suffered greatly from heavy rain, want of provisions, and the skirmishing of the Mahrattas]. At length the rain ceased awhile, and he marched to a ruined village three kos from Bálápúr.
The Mahrattas were very daring and troublesome, and 'Iwaz Khán, Muhammad Ghiyás Khán, and Rambhá Nimbálkar were sent to punish them. A fight ensued, in which the Mahrattas were put to flight, and a great spoil of mares, spears, etc., fell into the hands of the victors. Sufficiency of fodder and grain not being procurable, another march was necessary, and they had to bury some heavy guns, which the mud and the weakness of the bullocks prevented them from moving. After remaining three days to rest and recruit near Bálápúr, where sufficient grain was found, on the 5th Shawwál the army marched to the chosen battle-field, two or three kos distant.
Nizámu-l Mulk made his disposition of his forces. * * 'Álam Khán also made his arrangements. * * On his side were Santájí Sindhia, Khándují Dapháriya Senápati, Sankarájí Malhár, Kánújí, and other Mahrattas of repute, on the part of Rája Sáhú, with seventeen or eighteen thousand men, who all called themselves faithful adherents of Husain 'Alí Khán. * * On the 6th Shawwál, 1132 A.H. (1st August, 1720 A.D.), the battle was fought. * * 'Álam 'Alí Khán received a severe wound, but for all that he kept the field. * * The elephant which carried him, unable to bear any longer the arrows and sword-cuts that he received, turned tail. 'Álam 'Alí Khán, dripping with blood from his wounds, turned his face towards the army of Nizámu-l Mulk, and cried out that the elephant had turned his back, but he had not. All his own arrows were exhausted, but such of the enemy's arrows as struck his face, or his body, or his howda, he quickly pulled out and returned. He received so many wounds in succession that he sank under them, and sacrificed his life for his uncles. He was only twenty-two years of age, but he was distinguished by all the determination and bravery of the Bárha Saiyids. Seventeen or eighteen other men of renown, riders upon elephants, fell in the battle, with a large number of inferior men. After the defeat Amín Khán, * * and other men of standing came over and joined Nizámu-l Mulk. Sankarájí, one of Rája Sáhú's ministers (madár), was wounded and made prisoner. The elephants and guns fell into the hands of Nizámu-l Mulk, the rest was all plundered. Of the victorious army * * very few were killed or wounded. * * The wives and dependents of Husain 'Alí Khán, who were at Aurangábád, went with their property and belongings into the fort of Aurangábád. * * Mubáriz Khán, Súbadár of Haidarábád, and Diláwar Khán, his fast friend, with six or seven thousand horse, joined Nizámu-l Mulk.