The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.260

v3.c20.260

On his return from Delhi ‘Alā-ud-dīn made preparations for his great enterprise, and, having appointed Malik ‘Alā-ul-Mulk his deputy in Kara, with instructions to supply the king with such periodical bulletins of news as would allay any anxiety or suspicion, set out in 1294 at the head of seven or eight thousand horse. After marching for two months by devious and unfrequented tracks he arrived at Ellichpur in Berar, where he explained his presence and secured himself from molestation by letting it be understood that he was a discontented noble of Delhi on his way to seek service at Rājamahendri (Rajahmundry) in southern Telingāna. After a halt of two days he continued his march towards Deogīr, where fortune favoured him. Rāmachandra was taken by surprise and the greater part of his army was absent with his wife and his eldest son, Shankar, who were performing a pilgrimage, but he collected two or three thousand troops and met the invader at Lāsūra, twelve miles from the city. He was defeated and compelled to seek the protection of his citadel, which he hastily provisioned with sacks taken from a large caravan passing through the city, only to discover, when it was too late, that the sacks contained salt instead of grain. Meanwhile ‘Alā-ud-dīn, who now gave out that his troops were but the advanced guard of an army of 20,000 horse, which was following him closely, plundered the city and the royal stables, from which he obtained thirty or forty elephants and some thousands of horse, and Rāmachandra sued for peace. ‘Alā-ud-dīn agreed to desist from hostilities on condition of retaining what plunder he had and of extorting what more he could from the citizens. He collected over 1400 pounds of gold and a great quantity of pearls and rich stuffs, and prepared to depart on the fifteenth day after his arrival, but Shankar, who had heard of the attack on Deogīr, had hastened back, and arrived within six miles of the city as ‘Alā-ud-dīn was starting on his homeward march. His father in vain implored him not to break faith with the invaders and he marched to attack them. ‘Alā-ud-dīn detached Malik Nusrat, with a thousand horse, to watch the city and himself turned to meet Shankar. He was on the point of being overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the Hindus when Malik Nusrat came to his relief. His force was taken for the army of which ‘Alā-ud-dīn had boasted and the Hindus broke and fled in confusion. ‘Alā-ud-dīn now again invested the citadel and treated his captives and the citizens with great severity, and the garrison, on discovering that the place had been provisioned with salt instead of grain, was obliged to sue humbly for peace. ‘Alā-ud-dīn’s terms were now naturally harder than at first, and he demanded the cession of the province of Ellichpur, which was to be administered at his convenience and for his benefit either by Rāmachandra’s officers or his own, and the payment of an extravagant indemnity, amounting to 17,250 pounds of gold, 200 pounds of pearls, 58 pounds of other gems, 28,250 pounds of silver, and 1000 pieces of silk.