A. H. 845.
A. D. 1441.

At all events, in the year 845, he reached Mando, and distributed alms to all the poor in consequence of his safe return after so long a campaign. During the same year he repaired to the town of Nalcha, where he built some beautiful palaces and musjids; but his enterprising mind was ill calculated to indulge long in such pursuits: he assembled his army, and was about to proceed towards Chittoor. At this time he heard that Nuseer, the son of Abdool Kadur of Kalpy, having proclaimed his independence, had assumed the title of Nuseer Shah, and adopted principles in opposition to the tenets of the true faith. Sooltan Mahmood now directed his arms to that quarter. As soon as Nuseer Khan heard of the movement of the King, he deputed his tutor, Ally Khan, to wait on Sooltan Mahmood with rich presents, which were all rejected, and the ambassador was not even allowed to enter the camp; till on the arrival of the King of Malwa at Julalpoor, in consequence of the repeated en­treaties of his father, Azim Hoomayoon, Ally Khan was admitted to the presence, his offerings were received, and the submission of Nuseer Khan accepted. Sooltan Mahmood, however, marched on within a short distance of Kalpy, before he shaped his course towards Chittoor. After having crossed the Bunas river, he sent on detachments of light troops to lay waste the country. The main body continued to advance slowly, and was engaged every day either in taking prisoners or in destroying temples, and in building musjids in their stead. Sooltan Mahmood now attacked one of the forts in the Koombulmere district, defended by Beny Ray, the deputy of Rana Koombho of Chittoor. In front of the gateway was a large temple which commanded the lower works. This building was strongly fortified, and employed by the enemy as a magazine. Sooltan Mahmood, aware of its importance, determined to take pos­session of it at all hazards; and having stormed it in person, carried it, but not without heavy loss; after which, the fort fell into his hands, and many Rajpoots were put to death. The temple was now filled with wood, and being set on fire, cold water was thrown on the stone images, which causing them to break, the pieces were given to the butchers of the camp, in order to be used as weights in selling meat. One large figure in par­ticular, representing a ram, * and formed of solid marble, being consumed, the Rajpoots were com­pelled to eat the calcined parts with pân†, * in order that it might be said that they were made to eat their gods. Sooltan Mahmood having reduced this fort, which the kings of Guzerat, notwith­standing frequent and long sieges, had never been able to effect, caused public thanksgiving to be made, at which every person in camp was re­quired to attend. From Koombulmere the army marched to Chittoor, and carried by storm the lower fort, in consequence of which the Rana fled to the hills, closely pursued by the King, while his father, Azim Hoomayoon, proceeded to occupy the districts surrounding Mundsoor; on which service he fell sick, and shortly afterwards died at that town. Although from the age of Azim Hoo-mayoon such an event was to be expected, yet Mahmood no sooner heard the news than he re­paired to Mundsoor alone, caused the remains of his parent to be embalmed and conveyed to Mando, and became almost distracted with grief, so that he tore his hair and raved like one be­reaved of his senses. In a few days after, having appointed Taj Khan to the command of the force at Mundsoor, and conferred on him the title of Azim Khan, the King returned to join his army at Chittoor. As the rains were now approaching, he endeavoured to find some elevated spot on which he might canton during the wet season, having determined to besiege the fort of Chittoor imme­diately after. Rana Koombho, however, on the

Zeehuj 25.
A. H. 846.
April 24.
A. D. 1443.

night of Friday the 25th of Zeehuj, in the year 846, made an attack on the Malwa lines, with a force consisting of twelve thousand cavalry and six thousand in­fantry. Sooltan Mahmood had taken up an ad­vantageous position, and his advanced pickets were strongly posted, so that the line being enabled to turn out before it could be surprised, the assault completely failed. The Rajpoots suffered severely on this occasion. On the following night, Sooltan Mahmood attacked the Rana's lines, which were destroyed, many Rajpoots killed, immense booty obtained, and the Rana himself obliged to seek shelter in the fort of Chittoor. Sooltan Mahmood, having ordered public prayers to be read on this occasion, determined to defer the siege of Chittoor till the next year, and returned without molestation to Mando, where he built a beautiful pillar seven stories high, in front of a college, which he founded opposite the musjid of Sooltan Hooshung.

A. H. 847.
A. D. 1444. In the year 847, an ambassador ar­rived at Mando from Mahmood, the son of Ibrahim Shah Shurky, King of Joon-poor, bringing with him the usual offerings, and representing that Nuseer Khan, the son of Abdool Kadur of Kalpy, having abandoned the doctrines of the true faith, propagated opinions subversive of Mahomedism; and that he had carried this apostasy to such lengths as to make over a number of Mahomedan females to be taught the art of dancing by Hindoos. The ambassador observed, that as the governors of Kalpy, since the time of Sooltan Hooshung of Malwa, had been ap­pointed from that court, the King of Joonpoor had deemed it proper to acquaint Sooltan Mahmood with the circumstances of the defection of Nuseer Khan; stating, that if he had not time to march in person to punish the apostate, Mahmood Shah Shurky begged that he might be permitted to do so in the name of the King of Malwa. Sooltan Mahmood replied, that his own army was at present employed at Mundsoor, in propagating the faith among the infidels, and that he entirely approved of Mahmood Shah's intention: after which the ambassador having received an honorary dress, and some presents for his master, took his leave. Mahmood Shah Shurky was so gratified with the reception his ambassador met with from Sooltan Mahmood, that on the following year he sent to him twenty of his finest elephants.

In the mean time, Mahmood Shah Shurky marched to Kalpy, and assuming the right of a master, expelled Nuseer Khan from the town. The latter addressed a petition to Sooltan Mahmood, stating, that his family had always considered themselves the subjects of Malwa since the reign of Sooltan Hooshung till the present period; that now Mahmood Shah Shurky having penetrated into his district had expelled him without any cause whatsoever, excepting the wish of extending his territory; that Nuseer Khan had accordingly fled towards Malwa, being at present at Chundery, and he requested that Sooltan Mahmood would afford him protection and redress. On the receipt of this letter, the King of Malwa deputed Ally Khan to the court of Joonpoor, requesting that as Nuseer Khan had returned to the right path his estate might be restored to him. Mahmood Shah Shurky remained sulky and sullen during the conference with Sooltan Mahmood's ambassador, and refused to give a direct reply to his communication. The King of Malwa, incensed at this indignity, marched

Shuval 2.
A. H. 848.
January 8.
A. D. 1445.

his army on the 2d of Shuval, A. H. 848, to Chundery, where he was met by Nuseer Khan, and thence went towards Eerich and Bhandere. Mahmood Shah Shurky, on hearing this, moved also, and encamped in the neighbourhood of Eerich; where having seized the person of Moobarik Khan, (the son of Jooneid Khan, whose family had held the govern­ment of Eerich for many generations,) placed him in confinement, and took up a strong position in the broken ground on the bank of the river Bétwa. * Sooltan Mahmood, desirous of replacing Nuseer Khan in his government, passed Eerich, and marched, in the first instance, direct to Kalpy. Mahmood Shah Shurky followed. Sooltan Mahmood now caused a detachment of his army to make a detour, which falling on the rear of the Joonpoor army, cu off it s baggage on the line of march, while the King of Malwa halting with the main body brought on a general action, which lasted till sun­set, when both armies mutually retreated, and en­camped near to each other. The rainy season then approaching, and Sooltan Mahmood having no ob­ject to gain by another battle, broke ground, and moved to Futtehabad, where he built a palace seven stories in height. During this occupation the inhabitants of Eerich made complaints against the governor, Moobarik Khan, who had again returned. Sooltan Mahmood in consequence nominated Moo-zuffur Ibrahim, the governor of Chundery, to at­tack and reduce him, while Mahmood Shah Shurky, on his part, ordered one Mullik Kaloo to oppose Ibrahim. These two officers met at the town of Rohut, where Mullik Kaloo was defeated, and fled. Moozuffur Ibrahim, however, consider­ing the security of his own district of main im­portance, returned to Chundery; and Mahmood Shah Shurky, on hearing of Mullik Kaloo's dis­comfiture, proceeded to Rohut. The war between the Malwa and Joonpoor kings being thus pro­tracted to a considerable length, and many of the faithful destroyed on both sides in several actions, Sheikh Chand of Malwa, one of the most learned and respectable men of the time, engaged to compose the differences; and at the desire of Mahmood Shah Shurky addressed a letter, offering the following terms of peace to Sooltan Mahmood Khiljy:—