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aughtered the people without mercy； by their actions seeming to discharge the treasured malice and resentment of ages。 Sultan Firoze Shaw； in the exigence of distress； requested aid of the sultan of Guzarat； who； having but just acceded to the throne； could afford none。 At last fortune took a turn favourable to his affairs； and the enemy； after repeated battles； were expelled from his dominions by the Sultan's brother； Khankhanan； but these misfortunes dwelt on the mind of Firoze Shaw； now old； and he fell into a lingering disorder and lowness of spirits。〃
The Sultan desired the throne for his son Hasan； husband of the beautiful Pertal； but on Ahmad Khankhanan taking up arms to support his intended usurpation and advancing； supported by most of the nobles； to the capital； Firuz gave way and nominated him Sultan in his stead。
Firuz died on September 24； A。D。 1422；＇103＇ and Khankhanan became Sultan of Kulbarga under the title of Ahmad Shah I。
The first act of the new monarch； after 〃impressing the minds of his people with affection to his government〃 probably； that is； after an interval of a few months was to strengthen his army in order to take revenge for the invasions of the Raya； and having made all preparations he advanced to the attack。 Deva Raya's generals collected their troops； sent for aid to Warangal； and marched to the Tungabhadra where they encamped。 From this it appears that they had retired from the Doab after their successful raid。 The Sultan arrived on the north bank of the river opposite the Hindu camp； and LAAGERED； if we may use the term now in fashion。 Firishtah says that he 〃surrounded his camp with carriages （carts and waggons）； after the usage of Room （Turkey in Europe）； to prevent the enemy's foot from making night…attacks。 Here he halted for forty days。〃 We are now； therefore； probably in the dry season at the beginning of the year A。D。 1423； for if the river had been in flood there would have been no fear of the enemy's crossing it。 In the early months of the Christian year that river is usually shallow in the open country east of the Hindu capital and away from the hills that surround it； having only thin streams running in its rocky bed。 Indeed； Firishtah himself tells us that the river was at that time fordable。
Then ensued a dramatic episode。 The Muhammadan cavalry had crossed the river and devastated the country of the Raya； who remained inactive； and the Sultan determined on a direct frontal attack。 The troops of Warangal deserted the Raya and withdrew。
〃Early in the morning Lodi Khan； Aulum Khan； and Dillawer Khan； who had marched during the night and forded the river at distance； reached the environs of the enemy's camp。 It happened that the roy was sleeping； attended by only a few persons； in a garden； close to which was a thick plantation of sugar…cane。＇104＇ A body of the mussulmauns entered the garden for plunder； and Dewul Roy； being alarmed； fled almost naked into the sugar…cane plantation。 Here he was found by the soldiers； who thought him only a common person； and having loaded him with a bundle of canes； obliged him to run with it before them。 Dewul Roy； rejoiced at his being undiscovered； held his peace； and took up the burden readily； hoping that he should be discharged as a poor person or be able to make his escape。
〃They had not gone far when the alarm of Sultan Ahmed Shaw's having crossed the river； and the loss of the roy； filled the camp； and the Hindoos began to disperse。 The sultan entered the camp； and Dewul Roy's masters； hoping now for more valuable plunder than sugar…cane； hastened to join their own fronds； leaving him to shift for himself。 Dewul Roy ran with his own troops； and about noon came up with some of his nobles； by whom he was recognised and received with great joy。 His safety being made known； his army rallied into some order； but as he regarded the late accident as an ill omen； he laid aside all thoughts of engaging in the field； and fled to Beejanuggur。＇105＇
〃Ahmad Shaw not stopping to besiege the city； overran the open country； and wherever he came； put to death men； women； and children； without mercy； contrary to the compact made by his ancestor Mahummud Shaw with the roies of Beejanuggur。 Laying aside all humanity； whenever the number of the slain amounted to twenty thousand； he halted three days； and made a festival in celebration of the bloody work。 He broke down the idol temples； and destroyed the colleges of the Bramins。 During these operations a body of five thousand Hindoos； enraged to desperation at the destruction of their country and the insults of their gods； united in taking an oath to sacrifice their lives in attempting to kill the sultan； as the grand author of all their sufferings。 For this purpose they employed spies to observe his motions； that they might seize the first opportunity of action。
〃It happened； that the sultan going to hunt； in the eagerness of chase separated from the body of his attendants； and advanced near twelve miles from his camp。＇106＇ The devoted infidels； informed of the circumstance； immediately hastened to intercept him； and arrived in sight when even his personal attendants； about two hundred Moguls； were at some distance from him。 The sultan alarmed； galloped on in hopes of gaining a small mud enclosure which stood on the plain as a fold for cattle； but was so hotly pursued； that some broken ground falling in his way； he was not able to cross it before his pursuers came up。 Luckily some archers at this instant arrived to his aid； so that the enemy were delayed sufficiently to give the sultan time to reach the enclosure with his friends。 The infidels attempted to enter； and a sharp conflict took place； all the faithful repeating the creed of testimony； and swearing to die； rather than submit。。。。 Their little troop being mostly killed and wounded； the assailants advanced close to the wall； which they began to throw down with pickaxes and hatchets； so that the sultan was reduced to the extremity of distress。 At this critical juncture arrived Abd…al…Kadir； first armour…bearer to the sultan； and a body of troops； with whom； fearful of some accident having happened to occasion his absence； he had left the camp in search of his master。 The infidels had completed a wide breach； and were preparing to enter； when they found their rear suddenly attacked The sultan with his remaining friends joined Abd…al…Kadir in attacking the enemy； who after a long struggle were driven off the field； with a loss of a thousand men； and about five hundred of the mussulmauns attained martyrdom。 Thus the sultan； by the almost inspired caution of Abd…al…Kadir； acceded； as it were； a second time； from the depths of danger to the enjoyment of empire。＇107＇ It deserves place among the records of time； as a remarkable event； that two sovereigns at the head of armies； should fall into such danger for want of numbers； and both escape uninjured。。。。
〃after this event Ahmed Shaw； having laid waste the whole country； marched to Beejanuggur； which he kept so closely blocked up； that the inhabitants were reduced to the greatest distress； when Dewul Roy； to spare his people； sent ambassadors to the sultan entreating peace； to which he consented； on condition that he would send the tribute of as many years as he had neglected to pay；＇108＇ laden on his best elephants； and conducted by his son； with his drums； trumpets； and all the other insignia of state； to his camp。 Dewul Roy； unable to refuse compliance； agreed to the demands； and sent his son with thirty favourite elephants； loaded with treasure and valuable effects。 The sultan sent some noblemen to meet him； and after being led in ceremony through the market and great streets of the camp； he was brought to the presence。＇109＇ The sultan； after embracing； permitted him to sit at the foot of his throne； and putting on his shoulders a magnificent robe； and girding him with a sabre set with jewels； gave him twenty beautiful horses of various countries； a male elephant； dogs for the chase； and three hawks； which the Carnatickehs were till then strangers to the use of。 He then marched from the environs of Beejanuggur； and on his arrival on the bank of the Kistnah dismissed the roy's son and returned to Koolburga。〃
To form some idea of the date of this cessation of hostilities we must see what follows in Firishtah's narrative。 The historian states that during the year of the Sultan's return to Kulbarga there was a grievous famine in the Dakhan； and 〃the next year also； no rain appearing； the people became seditious。〃 These two years were probably A。H。 826； 827； extending from 15th December A。D。 1422 to 23rd November 1424。 He continues； 〃In the year 828〃 the Sultan marched against Warangal。 The last campaign began about December A。D。 1422； and since we must allow some months for Ahmad's blockade of Vijayanagar； which resulted in his reducing the inhabitants to a state of starvation so that the Raya was compelled to capitulate； the date for the end of the war cannot be safely placed earlier than the winter of the year A。D。 1423。 During these twelve months； however； there was a famine and failure of rain； so that the Sultan may have been able to traverse the cotton plains lying between Vijayanagar