The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c22.25

v1.c22.25

As soon as the Sultan of Golkonda heard of this course of events, he despatched a force of five thousand horse under the command of Rustom Khan to reinfore Murtaza Khan. "Meanwhile", says the chronicler, "Murtaza Khan continued to defend himself for three whole months against the Hindus, whose numbers increased to such an extent that the Muhammadans found it impossible to give the battle, but confined their operations to plundering and cutting off supplies". Rustom Khan on arriving assumed command of all the troops, according to the Sultan's instructions. "On the day after his arrival", continues the Muhammadan writer, "he crossed a river in front of him, and imprudently encamped on a black clayey soil where the rain had fallen, but did not proceed to attack the Hindus. The enemy, having ascertained that a reinforcement had arrived, delayed also to engage the Muhammadans. At this time, whether to amuse their own soldiers, or for some other reason which is immaterial, the Hindus dressed up a red bullock² with gilded horns, and having painted it with many different colours, and fastened bells to its legs and neck, drove it towards the Muhammadans. Rustom Khan, who happened to be in front of the army and alone, became alarmed at the strange appearance of the animal. He galloped off to the rear in dismay, and caused a panic among his own troops³. The Hindus, observing confusion in the lines of the Muhammadans, took advantage of it to surround them with their musketeers, and galled them on all sides. The Muhammadan cavalry, which consituted the strength of their army, unable to charge through the heavy black soil, were shot one by one, and might have been annihilated, but for Murtaza Khan, who, collecting a small party, forced his way through the enemy's ranks, and thus covered the retreat of many of the Mahammadans; but all the camp-equipage was taken and a heavy loss sustained". The defeat of the Muhammadans on this occasion seems to have been very severe: the chronicler adds at the end of his narrative: "Rustom Khan was disgraced on his return to Haidarabad, by being dressed in female attire; after which he was banished from the kingdom" 1.