History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c5.31

c5.31

It was on the 17th of Ramzān 695 (Friday July 20th 1296) that the boats were sighted at Kara. 'Alāuddīn with his treasures and elephants had left Kara, crossed the Ganga for the other side, and had established his headquarters at Manikpur. Thus he had avoided that part of the Imperial army which was marching by land, and which could not easily cross the river from Kara to Manikpur. As the canopy of the Sultan came in sight 'Alāūddīn sent his brother Almās Bég to persuade Jalāluddīn to leave behind even the small retinue accompanying him.¹⁵ Almās Beg took a boat to meet the Sultan and as they met, he used a thousand delusive arts to disarm him completely. He induced Jalāluddīn to order the party to stay behind while he himself was rowed across to the other bank. There were only two boats now, carrying the sultan and some of his selected nobles such as Khurram the Vakil-i-dar, Malik Fakhruddīn Kūchī, Malik Amajī Akhūrbeg, Malik Jamāluddīn (Baranī has Kamāluddīn) Abul Ma'ālī, Malik Nasīruddīn Kuhrāmī, Malik Ikhtiyāruddīn, the deputy Vakil-i-dar and Turmati the tashtdar.¹⁶ The traitor Almās made yet another request: "(Your Majesty) may please order that the few nobles and select followers who are sitting in the boats should take off their arms, lest it should happen that when they reach the bank my brother's eyes may fall upon them and he may get scared." Even this senseless request did not arouse the suspicions of the foolish Sultan, as his love for his nephew as well as the greed for gold had completely blinded him.¹⁷ He ordered the nobles to lay down their arms and they obeyed. When, however, the boats came near the bank Sultan Jalāluddīn and his companions could hardly believe their eyes. They saw the forces of ‘Alāuddīn arrayed, armed to the teeth. The elephants and horses were in full harness and formations of soldiers were stationed at various places. Jalaluddīn’s party clearly saw that Almās Bēg had entrapped the Sultan by his winning and plausible tongue. Malik Khurram, the Vakīl-i-dar, however, refused to take things passively and asked Almās Bēg how it was that he had made all of them throw down their arms while the forces of ‘Alāuddīn were ‘encased’ in armour and seemed to be ready for battle. To this the traitor replied that his brother wanted to accord a royal reception to the Sultan, and that the gorgeous wealth brought from Devagiri would be laid at his feet in all ceremony. To the various questions that were asked by the frightened and nervous nobles and the over-credulous Sultan, Almās Bēg gave evasive replies.