History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c10.87

c10.87

Nusrat Khan had given, at the time of his appointment, an undertaking that he would do his utmost to realise the revenues of the state with regularity and honesty. During his three years of governorship he could not realise more than three-fourths of the stipulated amount. Not only did he fail to carry out his promise, but he was also dishonest enough to defraud his sovereign. Having collected a number of discontented men, whom he fed upon false hopes, he entrenched himself in the fort of Badrakot which he fortified against attack. Barani writes that he was a coward, and it was chiefly on account of the fear of the Sultan that he hoisted the flag of rebellion. The Sultan's tutor Qutlugh Khan marched against him from Devagiri at the head of a contingent, and was reinforced by some maliks from Dihli and Dhar. After a stubborn contest in which the imperialists overpowered Nusrat's mercenary rabble, Qutlugh Khan made his way to the fortress and besieged it. Nusrat's younger son opposed the imperial general at the head of a considerable force, but he was defeated. The siege was pushed on. Nusrat and his party baffled the attempts of the besiegers to capture it, until at last when mines were ordered to be constructed beneath the walls of the fortress, the enemy, fearing for life, surrendered to the imperial general. He was taken prisoner and was sent to the capital. His associates were punished, and his fief was confiscated. He was subsequently pardoned and appointed supervisor of the royal gardens and received robes of honour and allowances.⁶⁸