South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c11.9.4

c11.9.4

It is this state of affairs that Amir Khusru described when he states that ‘the two Rais of Ma’bar, the eldest named Bir Pāṇḍya, the youngest Sundara Pāṇḍya, who had up to that time continued on friendly terms, had advanced against each other with hostile intentions and that Bellal Deo, the Rai of Dhur Samundar, on learning this fact, had marched for the purpose of sacking their two empty cities, and plundering the merchants; but that, on hearing of the advance of the Muhammadan army, he had returned to his own country.’¹ On Wednesday, 18th of Shawwal, Malik Kafur set forward on his expedition to Ma’bar and arrived at the mountains which separate Ma’bar from the Hoysala country after five days. There were two passes through these mountains, which Amir Khusru calls ‘Sarmali and Tabar.’ After traversing the passes they arrived at night on the banks of the river ‘Kanobari’ and bivouacked for the night on the sands. They then set forward for ‘Bir Dhul’ and committed massacre and devastation all round it. The Rai Bir wished to seek security by fleeing ‘to his islands in the ocean.’ He was advised to seek protection on the land itself. He took a certain amount of treasure and property with him and fled for protection to ‘Kandur.’ Not finding it secure enough from the enemies he fled further into the jungles. Malik Kafur pursued him, and found at Kandur some Musalmans, who were subjects of the Hindu ruler.