Sooltan Hooshung, too well acquainted with the troops of Guzerat in the time of Moozuffur Shah, fled on the approach of the detachment, without halting till he arrived at the fort of D'har; while the other detachment under the Prince Luteef Khan defeated and pursued the rebels so closely as to take all their baggage. The author from whom I write states, that Sheer Mullik having escaped, found refuge with the Raja of Girnal.*
Ahmud Shah having a great curiosity to see the
hill-fort of Girnal pursued the rebel in that direction;
and as none of the former rajas had yet bent
their necks to the Mahomedan yoke, he took
advantage of the circumstance of the Raja having
afforded an asylum to Sheer Mullik to make it a
plea for invading his country. On his arrival at the
hills in its vicinity, the King was opposed by the
Hindoo prince, who, unaccustomed to the brunt of
Mahomedan warfare, was defeated, and pursued to
the fortress of Girnal, now called Joonagur. After
a short time, the Raja, having consented to pay an
annual tribute, made a large offering on the spot.
Ahmud Shah left officers to collect the stipulated
amount, and returned to Ahmudabad; on the road
to which place he destroyed the temple of Soma-
A. H. 817.
A. D. 1414.
In the year 817, Mullik Tohfa, one of
the officers of the King's government, was
ennobled by the title of Taj-ool-Moolk,
and received a special commission to destroy all
idolatrous temples, and establish the Mahomedan
authority throughout Guzerat; a duty which he
executed with such diligence, that the names of
Mawass and Girass
*
were hereafter unheard of in
the whole kingdom.
A. H. 819.
A. D. 1416.
In the year 819, Ahmud Shah
marched against Nagoor; on the road
to which place he plundered the country,
and destroyed the temples. After his arrival
there, he attacked the fort, and carried it by storm;
but hearing that Khizr Khan, who had at this time
assumed the government of Dehly, was on his
march towards it, he retreated, and passing along
the confines of Malwa, returned towards Ah-
A. H. 821.
A. D. 1418.
In the year 821, the King learned that
Mullik Nuseer of Aseer and Sooltan
Hooshung of Malwa had united and committed
depredations on the districts of Sooltanpoor
and Nundoorbar. He in consequence marched in
that direction; whence he proceeded to the fort of
Tumbole,
*
and compelled the Raja to pay a considerable
sum of money.
The rains having set in, Ahmud Shah was desirous
of retiring to his capital, but he obtained information
which induced him to prepare for war in
another quarter. During his absence in Buglana,
the rajas of Idur, Champanere, Mundulgur, and
Nadoot, had written petitions to Sooltan Hoo-
Such was the state of affairs when Ahmud Shah
returned to Guzerat. He therefore deputed Mah-
Having thus provided for his absence, Ahmud Shah marched by the route of Mahrasa into Malwa, and found Sooltan Hooshung with a large army posted in a strong position, with his rear thrown back on the village of Kaliada, having a number of low prickly hedges partly protecting his front. Ahmud Shah, after reconnoitring his position, made immediate dispositions to attack the enemy. Mahomed Toork commanded the right wing, and Mullik Fureed, the son of Imad-ool-Moolk, the left. The action commenced by the Guzeratties skirmishing, in order to draw the enemy from his strong position, a manœuvre which only partially succeeded, till one of the Guzerat elephants becoming furious, charged the enemy's line, broke through it, and opened a passage to the cavalry. On this occasion, Ghizny Khan, Prince of Malwa, received an arrow-wound which obliged him to fall back with his elephants; and this circumstance having caused some confusion, was taken advantage of by Mullik Fureed, who galloping round the village fell upon the rear of the Malwites, and completed the defeat. Sooltan Hooshung fled to Mando, and the Guzerat troops pursued the flying enemy till within a few miles of that place. The rainy season having set in, Ahmud Shah returned to Guzerat, and rewarded in the most liberal manner all those officers who had distinguished themselves in the late action.
After the rains, the King having caused the fortress of Soangur to be repaired, proceeded in person to Idur, from whence he detached a force into Malwa to lay waste that country. On the
A. H. 822.
A. D. 1419.
following year an envoy arrived from Sooltan Hooshung, and a peace was concluded between the Malwa and Guzerat sovereigns; but the latter resolved to punish the Ray of Champanere, one of the confederates, who had originally invited Sooltan Hooshung to the invasion of Guzerat. He therefore marched and invested that place, and the Ray consented to pay an annual tribute.
Notwithstanding the recent treaty which had been formed, such was the restless character of Sooltan Hooshung, that in the course of two years Ahmud Shah was again compelled to take the field against him. He marched a force directly to Mando, without meeting opposition; and having encamped opposite the Sarungpoor gate of the fort, he commenced the siege by regular approaches.
Sooltan Hooshung, confident in the strength of the fortress, left Mando, and taking six thousand horse with him, went to Jajnuggur, * where he intended to obtain some elephants, in order to make a stand in the field against Ahmud Shah. For this reason he left the place in charge of a confidential officer, and returned at the expiration of six months, during which time the siege continued; but it is most extraordinary, that he marched out and came back without the besiegers being aware he had left the garrison. The first intimation which Ahmud Shah received of the circumstance was on the return of Sooltan Hooshung, which was announced by flags being hoisted on the bastions, accompanied with the sound of drums and trumpets.
Ahmud Shah, ashamed and vexed, raised the siege, and vented his rage in plundering the country. In this warfare he was frequently opposed by the Malwites, but the Guzeratties were, in general, victorious. The following is an extract from the Tareekh Alfy of Moolla Ahmud, which appears to give a clear and more probable account of the whole campaign, and the cause of its commencement: —
A. H. 825.
A. D. 1422.
“In the year 825,” says Moolla
Ahmud, “Sooltan Hooshung having
“assumed the dress of a horse-mer-