Lieut. -Colonel Briggs 07i the Life and Writings ofFerishta. 345 



the unreasonable conduct of Dilawer Khan ; and received in reply so- 

 lemn assurances of support and assistance. After much negociation, 

 conducted through the two Hindus, it was agreed that the king should, 

 on a certain night when Dilawer Khan was aleep, repair suddenly to the 

 camp of Ein-ul-Midk, which was only a mile distant, where he was to 

 be joined by him, by Alum Khan, and by Akus Khan, who all swore 

 faithfully to obey his commands. Ibrahim Adil Shah, relying on these 

 promises, on the night of the 14.th Rujeb 998 (8th May 1590), came out of 

 his private apartments, and commanded Kufshdar Khan to bring him a 

 horse. The keeper of the stables refused obedience, saying, that he dared 

 not comply without the orders of Dilawer Khan. Kufshdar Khan, pro- 

 voked at his insolence, gave him several blows ; upon which the grooms of 

 the stable became terrified, and brought horses immediately. The kin"- 

 mounted, and issued forth from his tents attended by his servants. On 

 the way Elias Khan, his nurse's son, who was upon guard, ran up to him, 

 asked the cause of this movement, and received for answer, ' that the 

 present was not a time for explanation ; but he should know if he chose to 

 follow him :' which he immediately did, and brought with him something less 

 than a hundred horse. When he arrived within a short distance of the 

 camp of Ein-ul-Mulk, he halted, till that nobleman with Alum Khan and 

 Akus Khan joined him. As soon as the king's march became known, 

 several officers, among whom was myself, with about three thousand 

 soldiers, hastened to join him during the night. Dilawer Khan gained no 

 intelligence of the King's flight till morning ; for his attendants had 

 received the strictest orders not to disturb him : a circumstance which 

 gave full time for Ibrahim Adil Shah to complete his design. Towards 

 sunrise, the minister being aroused, proceeded with his sons and six thou- 

 sand Iiorse, besides a number of elephants, and followed his sovereign, in 

 hopes that on his arrival the king would be deserted by his friends, and be 

 again obliged to throw himself into his iiands. Wiien Dilawer Khan came 

 in sight of the royal army, tlie king ordered Ein-ul-Mulk to prepare to 

 oppose him ; but that nobleman sent word privately to the minister, offering 

 to stand neuter while the other should attempt to carry off the king. Dila- 

 wer Khan, encouraged by this assurance, stopped his followers at a little 

 distance, and coming on witli a hundred horse and four elephants close to 

 the king, addressed him, saying, ' that marching at night was extremely 

 improper ; and that he hoped the king would now return to his encampment.* 



