A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c19.154

c19.154

¹ Firishtah relates an interesting anecdote about this in his history of the Ahmadnagar Sultans. Hussain Nizâm Shâh desired to make peace with Vijayanagar, and Râma Râja offered to grant it on certain conditions, one of which was that Kalliân should be restored to Bîjapûr, and another that the Nizâm Shâh should submit to pay him a visit and receive betel from him. Hussain was in such straits that he accepted these severe terms and went to Râma Râja’s camp, “who rose on his entering his tent (he did not go out to meet him) and kissed his hand. The Sultan, from foolish pride, called for a basin and ewer, and washed his hands, as if they had been polluted by the touch of Ramraaje, who, enraged at the affront, said in his own language, ‘If he were not my guest he should repent this insult;’ then calling for water, he also washed.” Hussain then gave up the keys of Kalliân.