y； he advanced under Khan Mahummud Khan。
〃On the 14th of Zeekaud （A。H。 767； or Thursday； July 23； A。D。 1366）； the armies of light and darkness met。 From the dawn till four in the afternoon； like the waves of the ocean； they continued in warm conflict with each other； and great numbers were slain on both sides。 Mooseh Khan and Eeseh Khan； who commanded the right and left wings of Khan Mahummud's line； drank the sherbet of martyrdom； and their troops broke； which misfortune had nearly given a blow to the army of Islaam。 At this instant Mahummud Shaw appeared with three thousand fresh horse。 This restored the spirits of Khan Mahummud as also of the disordered troops； who rallied and joined him。 Mukkrib Khan； advancing with the artillery； was not wanting in execution； greatly disordering the enemy's horse and foot。 He asked leave to charge and complete the rout。 Khan Mahummud upon this； detached a number of the nobility to support him； and permitted him to advance； which he did with such rapidity that the infidels had not time to use fireworks （I。E。 cannon）； but cane to short weapons such as swords and daggers。 At this time an elephant； named Sheer Shikar；＇54＇ belonging to Khan Mahummud； refused the guidance of his driver； and rushed into the center of the enemy's line； where he was stopped by the elephants of Hoje Mul Roy； and his driver was killed。 Khan Mahummud with five hundred horse followed； and the elephant becoming unruly； turned upon the enemy； throwing their ranks into confusion。 Hoje Mul Roy； after receiving a mortal wound； fled； and his followers no longer made resistance。 The infidels； seeing their center broke； fled on all sides。 The scymetars of the faithful were not yet sheathed from slaughter when the royal umbrella appeared。 The sultan gave orders to renew the massacre of the unbelievers。 They were executed with such strictness that pregnant women； and even children at the breast； did not escape the sword。
〃Mahummud Shaw halted a week on the field； and dispatched accounts of his victory to his own dominions。 In performance of his vow of massacre he next marched towards the camp of Kishen Roy； who； thinking himself unable to oppose notwithstanding his numerous force； fled to the woods and mountains for shelter。 The sultan followed him from place to place for three months； putting to death all who came in his way； without distinction。 At length Kishen Roy took the road of Beejanuggur； his capital。 The sultan； pursuing； soon arrived with his army near the city。〃
To make a long story short； the Sultan besieged Vijayanagar in vain for a month； and then retreated across the Tungabhadra； harassed at every step by masses of the Hindus from the city。 He halted at last in an open plain； and the king also pitched his camp at no great distance。 Muhammad's retreat had been deliberately carried out in order to draw on his enemy； and cause him by over…confidence to neglect proper precautions。 The ruse was successful。 The Muhammadans made a sudden and unexpected night…attack。 Bukka （called； as before； 〃Kishen〃） was off his guard； having indulged in wine and the amusements provided by a band of dancing…women。 The slaughter was terrible； and the Raya fled to Vijayanagar； ten thousand of his troops being slain； 〃But this did not satisfy the rage of the sultan； who commanded the inhabitants of every place round Beejanuggur to be massacred without mercy。〃
Then Bukka tried to make peace； but the Sultan refused。
〃At this time a favourite remarked to the sultan that he had only sworn to slaughter one hundred thousand Hindoos； and not totally to destroy their race The sultan replied that though twice the number of his vow might have been slain； yet till the roy should submit； and satisfy the musicians； he would not pardon him or spare the lives of his subjects。 To this the ambassadors； who had full powers； agreed； and the money was paid at the instant。 Mahummud Shaw then said； 'Praise be to God that what I ordered has been performed。 I would not let a light word be recorded of me in the pages of time！' 〃
The ambassadors then pleaded that no religion ordained that the innocent； and particularly helpless women and children； should suffer for the guilty：
〃If Kishen Roy had been faulty； the poor and wretched had not been partakers in his crimes。 Mahummud Shaw replied that the decrees of providence had so ordered； and that he had no power to alter them。〃
The ambassadors finally urged that as the two nations were neighbours； it were surely best to avoid unnecessary cruelty； which would only embitter their relations with one another； and this argument had effect。
〃Mahummud Shaw was struck by their remarks； and took an oath that he would not in future put to death a single enemy after victory； and would bind his successors to observe the same lenity。〃
For some years； no doubt； the promise was fulfilled； but we read of wholesale massacres perpetrated by sovereigns of later date。 As to Muhammad； Firishtah glories in the statement that he had slaughtered 500；000 Hindus； and so wasted the districts of the Carnatic that for several decades they did not recover their natural population。
Thus ended the war； and for some years there was peace between Vijayanagar and Kulbarga。
Muhammad Shah died on 21st April A。D。 1375；＇55＇ and was succeeded by his son Mujahid； then nineteen years old。 Shortly after his accession Mujahid wrote to Bukka Raya （still called 〃Kishen Roy〃 by Firishtah＇56＇）； 〃that as some forts and districts between the Kistnah and Tummedra （Tungabhadra） rivers were held by them in participation； which occasioned constant disagreements； he must for the future limit his confines to the Tummedra； and give up all on the eastern side to him； with the fort of Beekapore and some other places。〃 This 〃Beekapore〃 is the important fortress of Bankapur； south of Dharwar。 The Dakhani sovereigns always looked on it with covetous eyes； as it lay on the direct route from Vijayanagar to the sea； and its possession would paralyse Hindu trade。
The Raya replied by a counter…demand that the Sultan should evacuate the whole of the Doab； since Raichur and Mudkal had always belonged to the Anegundi family。 Bukka declared the Krishna river to be the true boundary； and asked that the elephants taken by Sultan Muhammad should be restored。
The Sultan's answer was a declaration of war。 He advanced in person； crossed both the rivers； and arrived before Adoni。 On hearing that the Raya was encamped on the bank of the Tungabhadra； he left one force to besiege the fortress； sent another to advance towards Vijayanagar； and himself marched； probably in a north…westerly direction； towards the river； 〃by slow marches and with great caution。〃 The Hindu prince at first prepared to receive his attack； but for some reason＇57＇ lost heart and retired to the forests on the hills of Sandur； south of his capital。
Firishtah here pays a tribute to the interest felt by the inhabitants of this part of India in the new city； then only forty years old； but evidently growing in grandeur year by year。
〃Mujahid Shaw； having heard great praises of the beauty of the city； advanced to Beejanuggur； but thinking it too strong to besiege at present； he moved in pursuit of the enemy in the field。〃
Now follows a passage on which it is difficult to place full reliance； but which only echoes common tradition。 It runs to the effect that； on the advance of the Sultan； the Raya
〃fled through the woods and hills towards Seet Bunder Ramessar followed by the sultan； who cut passages for his cavalry； through forests before inaccessible。 In this manner the roy fled from place to place for six months； but never dared to appear without the woods。 It was in vain that the favourites of the sultan represented the pursuit as fruitless and destructive to the troops。 He would not desist。 At last his good fortune prevailed。 The health of Kishen Roy and his family became affected by the noxious air of the woods； and they were warned to quit them by the physicians。。。。 Driven by necessity； he retired by secret paths to his capital of Beejanuggur。 The sultan despatched an army after him； while he himself； with the ameer al amra Bahadur Khan and five thousand men； went to amuse himself with the sight of Seet Bunda Ramessar。
〃The sultan at this place repaired a mosque which had been built by the officers of Sultan Alla ad Dien Khiljee。 He broke down many temples of the idolaters； and laid waste their country after which he hastened with all expedition to Beejanuggur。〃
It is a fact that a mosque is declared to have been erected by Malik Kafur on the sea…coast in 1310； but apparently not at Ramesvaram； which lies in the extreme south of India； on the eastern coast opposite the island of Ceylon。 Moreover； it is extremely improbable that a Muhammadan sovereign could； in the fourteenth century A。D。； have penetrated so far south with such a handful of men。 They would have been harassed at every step by myriads of Hindus； who； though doubtless trembling at the sight of a Muhammadan； would； we may be sure； never have permitted 5000 men to traverse in peace 1000 miles of forest and mountain； for Ramesvaram is fully 500 miles from Vijayanagar。 Malik Kafur's expedition is said to have taken place after the conquest by him of the Ballala Rajah of Dvarasamudra in Maisur； when he erected a mosque on the SEA…COAST OF MALABAR； and therefore nowhere near Ramesvaram。 Colonel Briggs has observed this difficulty；＇58＇ and thinks that the place alluded to must be Sadasivaghur； on the western coast；） south of Goa； adding； 〃The spot 。。。 is called Cape Ramas on our maps。〃＇59＇ He believes； however； that the remains of an old mosque do exist at Ramesvaram； and its date should be settled。 Leaving it to others better informed to throw light on this point； I return to Bukka Raya and his doings。
Firishtah says that there were two roads to Vijayanagar：
〃one fit for the passage of armies； the other narrow and difficult。 As the former was lined with ambushes； he chose the latter； through which he marched with a select…body of troops； and appeared suddenly in the suburbs of the city。〃
If Mujahid came up from the Malabar coast； the former of these two roads would perhaps be the usual route adopted by travellers