Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 78.4.6

78.4.6

Nursing Ray was a powerful raja possessing the country lying between the Carnatic and Tulinggaoa, extending along the sea-coast to Muchlyputtun (fish-town), and had added much of the Beejanuggur territory to his own by conquest, together with several strong forts. He had frequently excited the zemindars on the Bahmuny frontier to rebel; and the officers on the borders, unable to control his power, had more than once represented his conduct to court, which had, at length, induced the King to attack him. Mahomed Shah, in the beginning of this expedition, marching by a ruined fort, and being told that it had been erected by one of the kings of Dehly to overawe the borderers, halted, and commanded it to be repaired without delay. Khwaja Mahmood Gawan made such exertions that the ordinary work of two years was accomplished in the short space of six months, a garrison established, and ample stores of all kinds laid in for its defence. On Mahomed Shah finding the work completed in so short a time, he exclaimed, "The Almighty hath bountifully conferred upon me "two incalculable blessings; a great kingdom, and "such a servant as Mahmood Gawan!" Having said this, he took off his upper robe, and putting it on the shoulders of Khwaja Mahmood, took his in return, and put it on his own person. No history, I believe, records an instance of so great an honour being conferred by any king on a subject.