The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c26.43

v1.c26.43

5. Nevertheless this subjection of the North Kanara petty rulers to the sway of Bijapur was due only to the force of the latter’s arms; for from the time of Balil Khan’s retreat in 1588 up to the year 1593 all of them ‘had neglected to pay their tribute’. Ibrahim Adil Shah resolved this year to humble these chiefs. “For this purpose”, says Ferishta, “he despatched Manjun Khan with a considerable army. This general on arriving at Bakapur halted, and summoned all the Rays to meet him with their tributes; promising protection to those who obeyed, but threatening the refractory with vengeance. Most of them prepared to comply with his demands and intended coming in a body to visit him; but as Ganga Naik, who was one of the principal Rays of Malabar (Kanara), and had eight or ten thousand horse and foot in his pay, went first to pay his respects, the rest jealous of his power, and suspecting that he had gone to form some plan against them with Manjun Khan, broke off their engagements and withdrew to the mountains. Manjun Khan, not thinking it prudent to follow them into an unknown country, marched with Ganga Naik against Jerreh which belonged to Arsappa Naik; who with his allies, to the number of twenty thousand men, endeavoured to interrupt the siege. For three days bloody skirmishes were maintained by the Bijapur troops, who could not make use of their cavalry owing to the nature of the ground, so that their success was frequently doubtful. But at length the good fortune of the king prevailed”, says the Muhammadan writer; “and Arsappa, seeing further resistance vain, consented to pay tribute, and made a present of two fine elephants to Manjun Khan, with many curious and valuable effects for the King”.