第22章

"The enemy were at last driven off by the valour and activity of Ahmed Khan and Khankhanan,and the Sultan moved farther from the city to a convenient plain,where he halted till his wounded men were recovered."He halted here for four months,holding the Raya a prisoner in his own capital,while bodies of troops harassed and wasted the country south of Vijayanagar,and attacked the fortress of Bankapur.The "convenient plain"was probably in the open and rich valley near the town of Hospett,south of the city;for the Sultan could not have ravaged the country to the south unless he had been master of the whole of this valley for many miles.Bankapur was taken,and the detached forces returned bringing with them 60,000Hindu prisoners;on which the Sultan left Khankhanan to hold Vijayanagar,while he himself attempted to reduce the fortress of Adoni,"the strongest in possession of the enemy."Deva Raya then began to treat for peace,and was compelled to submit to conditions to the last degree humiliating.He agreed to give the Sultan his daughter in marriage,to indemnify him with an immense treasure,and to cede for ever the fort of Bankapur.[96]

"Though the roies of Carnatic had never yet married their daughters but to persons of their own cast,and giving them to strangers was highly disgraceful,yet Dewul Roy,out of necessity,complied,and preparations for celebrating the nuptials were made by both parties.For forty days communication was open between the city and the sultan's camp.Both sides of the road were lined with shops and booths,in which the jugglers,drolls,dancers,and mimics of Carnatic displayed their feats and skill to amuse passengers.Khankhanan and Meer Fuzzul Oollah,with the customary presents of a bridegroom,went to Beejanuggur,from whence at the expiration of seven days they brought the bride,with a rich portion and offerings from the roy,to the sultan's camp.Dewul Roy having expressed a strong desire to see the sultan,Feroze Shaw with great gallantry agreed to visit him with his bride,as his father-in-law.

"A day being fixed,he with his bride proceeded to Beejanuggur,leaving the camp in charge of Khankhanan.On the way he was met by Dewul Roy in great pomp.From the gate of the city to the palace,being a distance of six miles,[97]the road was spread with cloth of gold,velvet,satin,and other rich stuffs.The two princes rode on horseback together,between ranks of beautiful boys and girls,who waved plates of gold and silver flowers[98]over their heads as they advanced,and then threw them to be gathered by the populace.After this the inhabitants of the city made offerings,both men and women,according to their rank.After passing through a square directly in the centre of the city,[99]the relations of Dewul Roy,who had lined the streets in crowds,made their obeisance and offerings,and joined the cavalcade on foot,marching before the princes.Upon their arrival at the palace gate,the sultan and roy dismounted from their horses,and ascended a splendid palanquin,set with valuable jewels,in which they were carried together to the apartments prepared for the reception of the bride and bridegroom,when Dewul Roy took his leave,and retired to his own palace.The sultan,after being treated with royal magnificence for three days,took his leave of the roy,who pressed upon him richer presents than before given,and attended him four miles on his way,when he returned to the city.