History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c13.3

c13.3

On return from Warangal Malik Kāfūr had many a thing to tell about the Deccan. He had been well acquainted with the peninsular India and apprised the Sultan of the rich kingdoms lying farther south—the kingdoms of Dwarsamudra and M'abar. He told 'Alāūddīn that while he was in Warangal he had heard that the king of M'abar possessed 500 large elephants, and expressed a keen desire to lead an expedition into that far off kingdom. Alāūddīn was more eager than his Vazir to see his banner unfurled in the remotest corners of India, and had already determined to send Malik Naib at the head of another expedition. The motive of the despatch of the expedition appears to be the same as that of the two previous ones, namely, the possession of treasures and elephants; but Amīr Khusrau says that "now with a sincere motive" the emperor thought of sending an expedition to the south "so that the light of the *shari'at* may reach there."¹