[Text, vol. iii. p. 713.] Since the time when the Emperor withdrew his gracious attention from the Dakhin, fresh misfor­tunes had fallen upon that country, and discontent grew rife. Nizámu-l Mulk Burhán was dead, and his son Ibráhím, who succeeded him, took to evil courses. An army marched from Bíjápúr against him, and on the 16th Amurdád a battle was fought about forty miles from Ahmadnagar, in which he was killed by an arrow. The Bíjápúr army returned triumphant, and the Nizámu-l Mulkí forces were scattered abroad.

Invasion of the Dakhin.

[Text, vol. iii. p. 741.] Prince [Murád], in pursuance of orders, now prepared for the invasion of the Dakhin; but Khán-khánán was delayed by the tardy gathering of his men. Before he joined, some little dissension had sprung up between them. The Prince's desire was that the heads of the army should all join him, and proceed by that road [from Gujarát] to the Dakhin. It was the opinion of the commander-in-chief (Khán-khánán), that he should advance from Málwa. As their opinions did not agree, the Prince, on the 20th Ábán, marched from Ahmadábád, and rested awhile at Broach, in expectation of getting more men. On the 22nd Khurdád, he left Broach. Khán-khánán remained for some time at Bhílsa, which was in his íktá', to assemble his forces. On the 9th Amurdád, he marched for Ujjain. This greatly incensed the Prince, who sent him an angry message. He wrote in reply that he would join the Prince's army as soon as he had received the promised contingent from the ruler (marzbán) of Khándesh; the Prince might meanwhile enjoy the pleasures of the chase in Gujarát. The Prince was enraged with this reply, and his flatterers fanned his anger. He marched with his army towards Ahmadnagar.

The chief nobles, and Rájá 'Alí Khán, were inclined to the Prince, and when Khán-khánán became aware of this, he left his army, artillery, and elephants with Mirzá Sháh Rukh and other amírs, while he started off express with Rájá 'Alí Khán (to meet the Prince). On the 19th Ázur, he met the Prince at the fort of Chánd, thirty kos from Ahmadnagar. The meeting was not cordial. After a great deal of talk, a darbár was held. When the army moved, there was no unity of feeling. Khán-khánán, with his numerous force, was offended, and kept aloof from the management of the business. Sádik Khán brought up an old grievance which he had against Sháhbáz Khán, and rarely went to the darbár. On the 8th De, the army encamped half a kos from the city, and on that day Khán-khánán and Sháhbáz Khán went to the city (ba shahr raftand). Through their negligence an attack was made upon the baggage of the army, which was with difficulty repelled, and the people of the city were encouraged by the evident signs of dissension. On the 8th, the fortress was invested. Chánd Bíbí, sister of Burhán, prepared for resistance. As they had carried off Ahmad,* the son, Ikhlás Khán came to Ahmadnagar with Motí, and being defeated, fled to Pattan.

When the royal army approached, Manjúh (the wazír) carried off Ahmad, with a portion of the treasure and some of the elephants, to Bíjápúr; but he was nearly taken prisoner. From want of proper munitions, the siege was protracted. Chánd Bíbí was afraid of being taken prisoner; but being informed of the condition of the assailants, she was encouraged to defend the city. On the 9th, Sháh 'Alí and Abhang Khán made a night attack in force upon the battery of Khán-khánán; but the defenders fought bravely, killed many of the assailants, and repelled the attack. If the repulse had been followed up, the pursuers might have entered the fort with the fugitives, and the place would have fallen.

The close blockade and scarcity of provisions were taking effect on the garrison. * * On the 13th, an unsuccessful attack was made upon the camp. * * On the 16th, a caravan from Gujarát came near, and was plundered by Sa'ádat Khán. * * On the 19th, Sher Khwája, Shaikh Daulat, Kámrán Beg, and Daulat Khán, were sent with a force towards Pattan. They inflicted a defeat on Ikhlás Khán, and secured great booty. Then, eager for further plunder, they pillaged the inhabitants of Pattan, a city which had received letters of protection. On the 11th Isfandármuz, a portion of the wall was broken down. A mine was carried from the battery of the Prince, and a hole cleared out under the wall. It was filled with powder and ex­ploded, when it brought down about thirty gaz of the wall. The troops were ready for the assault; but another mine, which had been carried under the wall from the battery of Sháhbáz Khán, was discovered by the garrison and emptied. From fear of a disaster like that which occurred at Chítor, the storming party was held back, and such a delay occurred, that the day­light passed away, and during the night the garrison repaired the breach. But the garrison was greatly disheartened by the activity of the besiegers, and now proposed an accommodation. They offered to elevate Bahádur, son of the son of Burhánu-l Mulk, to the throne, with the title of Nizámu-l Mulk, and as a vassal of the Imperial throne. The territory of Ahmadnagar was to be confirmed to him, and the province of Birár given up to the Emperor. Jewels, the pick of the elephants, and other things were to be sent as tribute to the Emperor. Notwithstanding the desperate state of the place, and the scarcity of provisions, these unworthy terms were agreed to, and a treaty was concluded on the 17th Isfandármuz.