a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第32章

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sailants　retreated　in　confusion　and　with　great　loss。

Rama　Rajah　was　now　a　very　old　man　　Couto　says　〃he　was　ninety…six　years　old；　but　as　brave　as　a　man　of　thirty〃　　and；　against　the　entreaties　of　his　officers；　he　preferred　to　superintend　operations　from　a　litter　rather　than　remain　for　a　long　time　mounted　　a　dangerous　proceeding；　since　in　case　of　a　reverse　a　rapid　retreat　was　rendered　impossible。　But　he　could　not　be　induced　to　change　his　mind；　remarking　that　in　spite　of　their　brave　show　the　enemy　were　children　and　would　soon　be　put　to　flight。　So　confident　was　he　of　victory　that　it　is　said　he　had　ordered　his　men　to　bring　him　the　head　of　Hussain　Nizam；　but　to　capture　the　Adil　Shah　and　Ibrahim　of　Golkonda　alive；　that　he　might　keep　them　the　rest　of　their　lives　in　iron　cages。

The　battle　becoming　more　general；　the　Hindus　opened　a　desolating　fire　from　a　number　of　field…pieces　and　rocket…batteries。　The　left　and　right　of　the　Muhammadan　line　were　pressed　back　after　destructive　hand…to…hand　fighting；　many　falling　on　both　sides。　At　this　juncture　Rama　Raya；　thinking　to　encourage　his　men；　descended　from　his　litter　and　seated　himself　on　a　〃rich　throne　set　with　jewels；　under　a　canopy　of　crimson　velvet；　embroidered　with　gold　and　adorned　with　fringes　of　pearls；〃　ordering　his　treasurer　to　place　heaps　of　money　all　round　him；　so　that　he　might　confer　rewards　on　such　of　his　followers　as　deserved　his　attention。　〃There　were　also　ornaments　of　gold　and　jewels　placed　for　the　same　purpose。〃　A　second　attack　by　the　Hindus　on　the　guns　in　the　centre　seemed　likely　to　complete　the　overthrow　of　the　whole　Muhammadan　line；　when　the　front　rank　of　pieces　was　fired　at　close　quarters；　charged　with　bags　of　copper　money；　and　this　proved　so　destructive　that　5000　Hindus　were　left　dead　on　the　field　in　front　of　the　batteries。　This　vigorous　policy　threw　the　Hindu　centre　into　confusion；　upon　which　5000　Muhammadan　cavalry　charged　through　the　intervals　of　the　guns　and　cut　their　way　into　the　midst　of　the　disorganised　masses；　towards　the　spot　where　the　Raya　had　taken　post。　He　had　again　changed　his　position　and　ascended　his　litter；　but　hardly　had　he　done　so　when　an　elephant　belonging　to　the　Nizam　Shah；　wild　with　the　excitement　of　the　battle；　dashed　forward　towards　him；　and　the　litter…bearers　let　fall　their　precious　burden　in　terror　at　the　animal's　approach。　Before　he　had　time　to　recover　himself　and　mount　a　horse；　a　body　of　the　allies　was　upon　him；　and　he　was　seized　and　taken　prisoner。

This　event　threw　the　Hindus　into　a　panic；　and　they　began　to　give　way。　Rama　Raya　was　conducted　by　the　officer　who　commanded　the　artillery　of　Hussain　Nizam　to　his　Sultan；　who　immediately　ordered　his　captive　to　be　decapitated；　and　the　head　to　be　elevated　on　a　long　spear；　so　that　it　might　be　visible　to　the　Hindu　troops。

On　seeing　that　their　chief　was　dead；　the　Vijayanagar　forces　broke　and　fled　〃They　were　pursued　by　the　allies　with　such　successful　slaughter　that　the　river　which　ran　near　the　field　was　dyed　red　with　their　blood。　It　is　computed　on　the　best　authorities　that　above　one　hundred　thousand　infidels　were　slain　in　fight　and　during　the　pursuit。〃

The　Mussulmans　were　thus　completely　victorious；　and　the　Hindus　fled　towards　the　capital；　but　so　great　was　the　confusion　that　there　was　not　the　slightest　attempt　made　to　take　up　a　new　and　defensive　position　amongst　the　hills　surrounding　the　city；　or　even　to　defend　the　walls　or　the　approaches。　The　rout　was　complete。

〃The　plunder　was　so　great　that　every　private　man　in　the　allied　army　became　rich　in　gold；　jewels；　effects；　tents；　arms；　horses；　and　slaves；　as　the　sultans　left　every　person　in　possession　of　what　he　had　acquired；　only　taking　elephants　for　their　own　use。〃

De　Couto；　describing　the　death　of　Rama　Raya；　states＇329＇　that　Hussain　Nizam　Shah　cut　off　his　enemy's　head　with　his　own　hand；　exclaiming；　〃Now　I　am　avenged　of　thee！　Let　God　do　what　he　will　to　me！〃　The　Adil　Shah；　on　the　contrary；　was　greatly　distressed　at　Rama　Raya's　death。＇330＇

The　story　of　this　terrible　disaster　travelled　apace　to　the　city　of　Vijayanagar。　The　inhabitants；　unconscious　of　danger；　were　living　in　utter　ignorance　that　any　serious　reverse　had　taken　place；　for　their　leaders　had　marched　out　with　countless　numbers　in　their　train；　and　had　been　full　of　confidence　as　to　the　result。　Suddenly；　however；　came　the　bad　news。　The　army　was　defeated；　the　chiefs　slain；　the　troops　in　retreat。　But　still　they　did　not　grasp　the　magnitude　of　the　reverse；　on　all　previous　occasions　the　enemy　had　been　either　driven　back；　or　bought　off　with　presents　from　the　overstocked　treasury　of　the　kings。　There　was　little　fear；　therefore；　for　the　city　itself。　That　surely　was　safe！　But　now　came　the　dejected　soldiers　hurrying　back　from　the　fight；　and　amongst　the　foremost　the　panic…stricken　princes　of　the　royal　house。　Within　a　few　hours　these　craven　chiefs　hastily　left　the　palace；　carrying　with　them　all　the　treasures　on　which　they　could　lay　their　hands。　Five　hundred　and　fifty　elephants；　laden　with　treasure　in　gold；　diamonds；　and　precious　stones　valued　at　more　than　a　hundred　millions　sterling；　and　carrying　the　state　insignia　and　the　celebrated　jewelled　throne　of　the　kings；　left　the　city　under　convoy　of　bodies　of　soldiers　who　remained　true　to　the　crown。　King　Sadasiva　was　carried　off　by　his　jailor；　Tirumala；　now　sole　regent　since　the　death　of　his　brothers；　and　in　long　line　the　royal　family　and　their　followers　fled　southward　towards　the　fortress　of　Penukonda。

Then　a　panic　seized　the　city。　The　truth　became　at　last　apparent。　This　was　not　a　defeat　merely；　it　was　a　cataclysm。　All　hope　was　gone。　The　myriad　dwellers　in　the　city　were　left　defenceless。　No　retreat；　no　flight　was　possible　except　to　a　few；　for　the　pack…oxen　and　carts　had　almost　all　followed　the　forces　to　the　war；　and　they　had　not　returned。　Nothing　could　be　done　but　to　bury　all　treasures；　to　arm　the　younger　men；　and　to　wait。　Next　day　the　place　became　a　prey　to　the　robber　tribes　and　jungle　people　of　the　neighbourhood。　Hordes　of　Brinjaris；　Lambadis；　Kurubas；　and　the　like；＇331＇　pounced　down　on　the　hapless　city　and　looted　the　stores　and　shops；　carrying　off　great　quantities　of　riches。　Couto　states　that　there　were　six　concerted　attacks　by　these　people　during　the　day。

The　third　day＇332＇　saw　the　beginning　of　the　end。　The　victorious　Mussulmans　had　halted　on　the　field　of　battle　for　rest　and　refreshment；　but　now　they　had　reached　the　capital；　and　from　that　time　forward　for　a　space　of　five　months　Vijayanagar　knew　no　rest。　The　enemy　had　come　to　destroy；　and　they　carried　out　their　object　relentlessly。　They　slaughtered　the　people　without　mercy；　broke　down　the　temples　and　palaces；　and　wreaked　such　savage　vengeance　on　the　abode　of　the　kings；　that；　with　the　exception　of　a　few　great　stone…built　temples　and　walls；　nothing　now　remains　but　a　heap　of　ruins　to　mark　the　spot　where　once　the　stately　buildings　stood。　They　demolished　the　statues；　and　even　succeeded　in　breaking　the　limbs　of　the　huge　Narasimha　monolith。　Nothing　seemed　to　escape　them。　They　broke　up　the　pavilions　standing　on　the　huge　platform　from　which　the　kings　used　to　watch　the　festivals；　and　overthrew　all　the　carved　work。　They　lit　huge　fires　in　the　magnificently　decorated　buildings　forming　the　temple　of　Vitthalasvami　near　the　river；　and　smashed　its　exquisite　stone　sculptures。　With　fire　and　sword；　with　crowbars　and　axes；　they　carried　on　day　after　day　their　work　of　destruction。　Never　perhaps　in　the　history　of　the　world　has　such　havoc　been　wrought；　and　wrought　so　suddenly；　on　so　splendid　a　city；　teeming　with　a　wealthy　and　industrious　population　in　the　full　plenitude　of　prosperity　one　day；　and　on　the　next　seized；　pillaged；　and　reduced　to　ruins；　amid　scenes　of　savage　massacre　and　horrors　beggaring　description。

Caesaro　Federici；　an　Italian　traveller　　or　〃Caesar　Frederick；〃　as　he　is　often　called　by　the　English　　visited　the　place　two　years　later；　in　1567。　He　relates　that；　after　the　sack；　when　the　allied　Muhammadans　returned　to　their　own　country；　Tirumala　Raya　tried　to　re…populate　the　city；　but　failed；　though　some　few　people　were　induced　to　take　up　their　abode　there。

〃The　Citie　of　BEZENEGER　is　not　altogether　destroyed；　yet　the　houses　stand　still；　but　emptie；　and　there　is　dwelling　in　them　nothing；　as　is　reported；　but　Tygres　and　other　wild　beasts。〃＇333＇

The　loot　must　have　been　enormous。　Couto　states　that　amongst　other　treasures　was　found　a　diamond　as　large　as　a　hen's　egg；　which　was　kept　by　the　Adil　Shah。＇334＇

Such　was　the　fate　of　this　great　and　magnificent　city。　It　never　recovered；　but　remained　for　ever　a　scene　of　desolation　and　ruin。　At　the　present　day　the　remains　of　the　larger　and　more　durable　structures　rear　themselves　from　amongst　the　scanty　cultivation　carried　on　by　petty　farmers；　dwellers　in　tiny　villages　scattered　over　the　area　once　so　populous。　The　mud　huts　which　constituted　the　dwelling…places　of　by　far　the　greater　portion　of　the　inhabitants　have　disappeared；　and　their　materials　overlie　the　rocky　plain　and　form　the　support　of　a　scanty　and　sparse　vegetation。　But　the　old　water…channels　remain；　and　by　their　aid　the　hollows　and　low　ground　have　been　converted　into　rich　gardens　and　fields；　bearing　full　crops　of　waving　rice　and　sugar…cane。　Vijayanagar　has　disappeared　as　a　city；　and　a　congeries　of　small　hamlets　with　an　industrious　and　contented　population　has　taken　its　place。




Here　my　sketch　of　Vijayanagar　history　might　well　end；　but　I　have　thought　it　advisable　to　add　a　few　notes　on　succeeding　events。

Tirumala　took　up　his　abode　at　Penukonda；　and　shortly　afterwards　sent　word　to　the　Portuguese　traders　at　Goa　that　he　was　in　need　of　horses。　A　large　number　were　accordingly　delivered；　when　the　despotic　ruler　dismissed　the　men　to　return　to　Goa　as　best　they　could　without　payment。　〃He　licensed　the　Merchants　to　depart；〃　writes　Federici；　〃without　giving　them　anything　for　their　Horses；　which　when　the　poore　Men　saw；　they　were　desperate；　and；　as　it　were；　mad　with　sorrow　and　griefe。〃　There　was　no　authority　left　in　the　land；　and　the　traveller　had　to　stay　in　Vijayanagar　seven　months；　〃for　it　was　necessarie　to　rest　there　until　the　wayes　were　clear　of　Theeves；　which　at　that　time　ranged　up　and　downe。〃　He　had　the　greatest　difficulty　in　making　his　way　to　Goa　at　all；　for　he　and　his　companions　were　constantly　seized　by　sets　of　marauders　and　made　to　pay　heavy　ransom　for　their　liberty；　and　on　one　occasion　they　were　attacked　by　dacoits　and　robbed。

Tirumala　being　now　with　King　Sadasiva　in　Penukonda；　the　nobles　of　the　empire　began　to　throw　off　their　allegiance；　and　one　after　another　to　proclaim　their　independence。　The　country　was　in　a　state　of　anarchy。　The　empire；　just　now　so　solid　and　compact；　became　disintegrated；　and　from　this　time　forward　it　fell　rapidly　to　decay。

To　the　Portuguese　the　change　was　of　vital　importance。　Federici　has　left　us　the　following　note　on　their　trade　with　Vijayanagar；　which　I　extract　from　〃Purchas's　Pilgrims：〃　

〃The　Merchandize　that　went　every　yeere　from　Goa　to　Bezeneger　were　Arabian　Horses；　Velvets；　Damaskes；　and　Sattens；　Armesine＇335＇　of　Portugall；　and　pieces　of　China；　Saffron；　and　Scarletts；　and　from　Bezeneger　they　had　in　Turkie　for　their　commodities；　Jewels　and　Pagodas；＇336＇　which　be　Ducats　of　Gold；　the　Apparell　that　they　use　in　Bezeneger　is　Velvet；　Satten；　Damaske；　Scarlet；　or　white　Bumbast　cloth；　according　to　the