a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第7章

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y　marched　towards　them；　leaving　his　encampment　standing。　Towards　the　dawn　he　arrived　at　the　roy's　camp；　and　the　alarm　being　given；　so　great　was　the　confusion；　that　the　infidels　fled　with　the　utmost　precipitation　towards　the　fortress　of　Oodnee；　leaving　everything　behind　them。　Mahummud　Shaw　entered　the　camp　of　their　market　and　baggage；　putting　all　to　death　without　any　distinction；　and　it　is　said　that　the　slaughter　amounted　to　seventy　thousand　men；　women；　and　children。〃

Muhammad　passed　the　hot　weather　and　the　season　of　the　early　rains　that　year　near　Mudkal；　and　after　being　reinforced　marched　against　Adoni　　〃in　the　plains　of　which；　on　the　banks　of　the　Tummedra　（Tungabhadra）；　the　roy　of　Beejanuggur　had　taken　up　his　station　in　his　own　territories；　having　given　the　command　of　Oodnee　to　his　sister's　son。　Here　he　had　collected　a　great　army；　and　brought　elephants　and　all　the　splendid　insignia　of　empire　from　Beejanuggur。〃＇48＇

The　Sultan　had　with　him　a　train　of　artillery＇49＇　and　in　a　short　time　crossed　the　Tungabhadra；　〃and　entered　the　domains　of　Beejanuggur；　which　were　now　for　the　first　time　invaded　by　a　Muhammadan　sovereign　in　person。〃　This　remark　of　Firishtah's　is　historically　correct；　for　the　Delhi　Sultan's　attack　on　Anegundi　took　place　on　the　north　bank　of　that　river。

Before　continuing　the　story　I　must　note　that　Firishtah　calls　the　king　of　Vijayanagar　〃Kishen　Roy；〃　otherwise　Krishna　Raya；　but　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　his　real　name　was　Bukka。　The　historian　collected　his　information　more　than　two　hundred　years　after　these　events；　and　often　misnamed　the　Hindu　kings　of　whom　he　writes。

Muhammad；　then；　crossed　the　Tungabhadra；　and　only　about　twenty…five　miles　intervened　between　him　and　the　great　fortress　of　Adoni；　which　is　situated　on　a　precipitous　range　of　hills　about　that　distance　from　the　river。　The　Tungabhadra　at　this　portion　of　its　course　may　be　considered　as　forming　the　arc；　west　to　north；　of　a　quarter　circle　having　Adoni　for　its　centre；　the　radius　roughly　measuring　about　twenty…five　miles。　The　river　is　fordable　at　most　seasons　of　the　year；　lying　as　it　does　in　a　shallow　rocky　bed　with　low　banks。　It　is　difficult　to　locate　with　any　certainty　the　scenes　of　this　campaign；　but　I　gather　generally　that；　finding　the　Muhammadans　aiming　at　the　reduction　of　Adoni；　Bukka　marched　out　with　a　very　large　force　to　intercept　this　move；　and　placed　himself　on　the　south　bank　of　the　Tungabhadra；　In　the　neighbourhood　of　the　threatened　fortress。　The　Sultan　crossed　somewhere　near　the　present　town　of　Siruguppa；　and　the　great　battle　that　ensued　took　place　in　the　open　cotton…plains；　perhaps　near　Kavutal　（〃Kowtall〃　on　the　Ordnance　Map）。

Here　is　Firishtah's　account：＇50＇　

〃Roy　Kishen　Roy　（I。E。　Bukka）；　on　receiving　the　intelligence　（that　Muhammad　had　crossed）；　called　together　all　the　first　nobles　of　his　court；　and　consulted　on　the　best　mode　of　opposing　the　mussulmauns。　It　was　agreed　that　Hoje　Mul；＇51＇　a　maternal　relation　to　the　roy　and　commander　of　his　armies；　should　have　the　conduct　of　the　war。　Hoje　Mul；　vain　to　excess；　on　receiving　his　command；　asked　the　roy　if　he　should　bring　the　prince　of　the　mussulmauns　alive　a　prisoner　into　his　presence；　or　present　him　only　his　head　upon　a　spear。　Kishen　Roy　replied；　that　a　living　enemy；　in　any　situation；　was　not　agreeable；　therefore　he　had　better　put　him　to　death　as　soon　as　he　should　take　him。　Hoje　Mul；　having　received　his　dismission　marched　to　oppose　Mahummud　Shaw　with　forty　thousand　horse　and　five　hundred　thousand　foot。　He　commanded　the　Bramins　to　deliver　every　day　to　the　troops　discourses　on　the　meritoriousness　of　slaughtering　the　mahummedans；　in　order　to　excite　zeal　for　expelling　them。　He　ordered　them　to　describe　the　butchery　of　cows；＇52＇　the　insults　to　sacred　images；　and　destroying　of　temples；　practised　by　the　true　believers。

〃Mahummud　Shaw；　when　the　enemy　arrived　within　fifteen　coss＇53＇　of　his　camp；　commanded　his　general；　Khan　Mahummud；　to　muster　the　troops；　who　were　found　to　be　fifteen　thousand　horse　and　fifty　thousand　foot。　Ten　thousand　horse　and　thirty　thousand　foot；　with　all　the　artillery；　he　advanced　under　Khan　Mahummud　Khan。

〃On　the　14th　of　Zeekaud　（A。H。　767；　or　Thursday；　July　23；　A。D。　1366）；　the　armies　of　light　and　darkness　met。　From　the　dawn　till　four　in　the　afternoon；　like　the　waves　of　the　ocean；　they　continued　in　warm　conflict　with　each　other；　and　great　numbers　were　slain　on　both　sides。　Mooseh　Khan　and　Eeseh　Khan；　who　commanded　the　right　and　left　wings　of　Khan　Mahummud's　line；　drank　the　sherbet　of　martyrdom；　and　their　troops　broke；　which　misfortune　had　nearly　given　a　blow　to　the　army　of　Islaam。　At　this　instant　Mahummud　Shaw　appeared　with　three　thousand　fresh　horse。　This　restored　the　spirits　of　Khan　Mahummud　as　also　of　the　disordered　troops；　who　rallied　and　joined　him。　Mukkrib　Khan；　advancing　with　the　artillery；　was　not　wanting　in　execution；　greatly　disordering　the　enemy's　horse　and　foot。　He　asked　leave　to　charge　and　complete　the　rout。　Khan　Mahummud　upon　this；　detached　a　number　of　the　nobility　to　support　him；　and　permitted　him　to　advance；　which　he　did　with　such　rapidity　that　the　infidels　had　not　time　to　use　fireworks　（I。E。　cannon）；　but　cane　to　short　weapons　such　as　swords　and　daggers。　At　this　time　an　elephant；　named　Sheer　Shikar；＇54＇　belonging　to　Khan　Mahummud；　refused　the　guidance　of　his　driver；　and　rushed　into　the　center　of　the　enemy's　line；　where　he　was　stopped　by　the　elephants　of　Hoje　Mul　Roy；　and　his　driver　was　killed。　Khan　Mahummud　with　five　hundred　horse　followed；　and　the　elephant　becoming　unruly；　turned　upon　the　enemy；　throwing　their　ranks　into　confusion。　Hoje　Mul　Roy；　after　receiving　a　mortal　wound；　fled；　and　his　followers　no　longer　made　resistance。　The　infidels；　seeing　their　center　broke；　fled　on　all　sides。　The　scymetars　of　the　faithful　were　not　yet　sheathed　from　slaughter　when　the　royal　umbrella　appeared。　The　sultan　gave　orders　to　renew　the　massacre　of　the　unbelievers。　They　were　executed　with　such　strictness　that　pregnant　women；　and　even　children　at　the　breast；　did　not　escape　the　sword。

〃Mahummud　Shaw　halted　a　week　on　the　field；　and　dispatched　accounts　of　his　victory　to　his　own　dominions。　In　performance　of　his　vow　of　massacre　he　next　marched　towards　the　camp　of　Kishen　Roy；　who；　thinking　himself　unable　to　oppose　notwithstanding　his　numerous　force；　fled　to　the　woods　and　mountains　for　shelter。　The　sultan　followed　him　from　place　to　place　for　three　months；　putting　to　death　all　who　came　in　his　way；　without　distinction。　At　length　Kishen　Roy　took　the　road　of　Beejanuggur；　his　capital。　The　sultan；　pursuing；　soon　arrived　with　his　army　near　the　city。〃

To　make　a　long　story　short；　the　Sultan　besieged　Vijayanagar　in　vain　for　a　month；　and　then　retreated　across　the　Tungabhadra；　harassed　at　every　step　by　masses　of　the　Hindus　from　the　city。　He　halted　at　last　in　an　open　plain；　and　the　king　also　pitched　his　camp　at　no　great　distance。　Muhammad's　retreat　had　been　deliberately　carried　out　in　order　to　draw　on　his　enemy；　and　cause　him　by　over…confidence　to　neglect　proper　precautions。　The　ruse　was　successful。　The　Muhammadans　made　a　sudden　and　unexpected　night…attack。　Bukka　（called；　as　before；　〃Kishen〃）　was　off　his　guard；　having　indulged　in　wine　and　the　amusements　provided　by　a　band　of　dancing…women。　The　slaughter　was　terrible；　and　the　Raya　fled　to　Vijayanagar；　ten　thousand　of　his　troops　being　slain；　　〃But　this　did　not　satisfy　the　rage　of　the　sultan；　who　commanded　the　inhabitants　of　every　place　round　Beejanuggur　to　be　massacred　without　mercy。〃

Then　Bukka　tried　to　make　peace；　but　the　Sultan　refused。

〃At　this　time　a　favourite　remarked　to　the　sultan　that　he　had　only　sworn　to　slaughter　one　hundred　thousand　Hindoos；　and　not　totally　to　destroy　their　race　The　sultan　replied　that　though　twice　the　number　of　his　vow　might　have　been　slain；　yet　till　the　roy　should　submit；　and　satisfy　the　musicians；　he　would　not　pardon　him　or　spare　the　lives　of　his　subjects。　To　this　the　ambassadors；　who　had　full　powers；　agreed；　and　the　money　was　paid　at　the　instant。　Mahummud　Shaw　then　said；　'Praise　be　to　God　that　what　I　ordered　has　been　performed。　I　would　not　let　a　light　word　be　recorded　of　me　in　the　pages　of　time！'　〃

The　ambassadors　then　pleaded　that　no　religion　ordained　that　the　innocent；　and　particularly　helpless　women　and　children；　should　suffer　for　the　guilty：　

〃If　Kishen　Roy　had　been　faulty；　the　poor　and　wretched　had　not　been　partakers　in　his　crimes。　Mahummud　Shaw　replied　that　the　decrees　of　providence　had　so　ordered；　and　that　he　had　no　power　to　alter　them。〃

The　ambassadors　finally　urged　that　as　the　two　nations　were　neighbours；　it　were　surely　best　to　avoid　unnecessary　cruelty；　which　would　only　embitter　their　relations　with　one　another；　and　this　argument　had　effect。

〃Mahummud　Shaw　was　struck　by　their　remarks；　and　took　an　oath　that　he　would　not　in　future　put　to　death　a　single　enemy　after　victory；　and　would　bind　his　successors　to　observe　the　same　lenity。〃

For　some　years；　no　doubt；　the　promise　was　fulfilled；　but　we　read　of　wholesale　massacres　perpetrated　by　sovereigns　of　later　date。　As　to　Muhammad；　Firishtah　glories　in　the　statement　that　he　had　slaughtered　500；000　Hindus；　and　so　wasted　the　districts　of　the　Carnatic　that　for　several　decades　they　did　not　recover　their　natural　population。

Thus　ended　the　war；　and　for　some　years　there　was　peace　between　Vijayanagar　and　Kulbarga。

Muhammad　Shah　died　on　21st　April　A。D。　1375；＇55＇　and　was　succeeded　by　his　son　Mujahid；　then　nineteen　years　old。　Shortly　after　his　accession　Mujahid　wrote　to　Bukka　Raya　（still　called　〃Kishen　Roy〃　by　Firishtah＇56＇）；　〃that　as　some　forts　and　districts　between　the　Kistnah　and　Tummedra　（Tungabhadra）　rivers　were　held　by　them　in　participation；　which　occasioned　constant　disagreements；　he　must　for　the　future　limit　his　confines　to　the　Tummedra；　and　give　up　all　on　the　eastern　side　to　him；　with　the　fort　of　Beekapore　and　some　other　places。〃　This　〃Beekapore〃　is　the　important　fortress　of　Bankapur；　south　of　Dharwar。　The　Dakhani　sovereigns　always　looked　on　it　with　covetous　eyes；　as　it　lay　on　the　direct　route　from　Vijayanagar　to　the　sea；　and　its　possession　would　paralyse　Hindu　trade。

The　Raya　replied　by　a　counter…demand　that　the　Sultan　should　evacuate　the　whole　of　the　Doab；　since　Raichur　and　Mudkal　had　always　belonged　to　the　Anegundi　family。　Bukka　declared　the　Krishna　river　to　be　the　true　boundary；　and　asked　that　the　elephants　taken　by　Sultan　Muhammad　should　be　restored。

The　Sultan's　answer　was　a　declaration　of　war。　He　advanced　in　person；　crossed　both　the　rivers；　and　arrived　before　Adoni。　On　hearing　that　the　Raya　was　encamped　on　the　bank　of　the　Tungabhadra；　he　left　one　force　to　besiege　the　fortress；　sent　another　to　advance　towards　Vijayanagar；　and　himself　marched；　probably　in　a　north…westerly　direction；　towards　the　river；　〃by　slow　marches　and　with　great　caution。〃　The　Hindu　prince　at　first　prepared　to　receive　his　attack；　but　for　some　reason＇57＇　lost　heart　and　retired　to　the　forests　on　the　hills　of　Sandur；　south　of　his　capital。

Firishtah　here　pays　a　tribute　to　the　interest　felt　by　the　inhabitants　of　this　part　of　India　in　the　new　city；　then　only　forty　years　old；　but　evidently　growing　in　grandeur　year　by　year。

〃Mujahid　Shaw；　having　heard　great　praises　of　the　beauty　of　the　city；　advanced　to　Beejanuggur；　but　thinking　it　too　strong　to　besiege　at　present；　he　moved