South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c10.5.4

c10.5.4

He detached one thousand of his men under Malik Nasrat, and left him to watch the fort. With the remainder he fell upon the forces of Shankar Deo. After a fierce contest the Muhammadans were hurled back, and were about to retire when Nasarat Khan left the fort without orders and joined the army. The arrival of this new force was mistaken by Shankar Deo’s army for the main Muhammadan army of 20,000 which Alau-d-din gave out was approaching. In an alarm the army broke and fled. Alau-d-din now returned quietly and pressed on the siege of the citadel, putting a number of captives to death and parading the more respectable among them in chains before the fortress. Ram Deo resolved to stand the siege, but discovered, on opening the sacks of the new supply put in, that they contained salt not grain. Finding it impossible to stand the siege much longer he again opened negotiations. Alau-d-din took advantage of the situation as he inferred that the position of Ram Deo must be bad indeed to ask for terms again. Charging the Hindus with breach of faith he insisted upon far heavier terms, and, if Ferishta is to be believed, exacted from them a ‘ransom of 600 maunds of gold, seven maunds of pearls, two maunds of other jewels, thousand maunds of silver, and an yearly tribute of the revenues of the Elichpur province.’ With the wealth thus collected he returned to his own province of Karra.