"Mahummud Shaw,on hearing it,was seized with a transport of grief and rage,in which he commanded the unfortunate messenger to be instantly put to death;exclaiming that he could never bear in his presence a wretch who could survive the sight of the slaughter of so many brave companions."The same day --I.E.on a day in A.H.767,in the month of Jamad-ul-awwal,which lasted from January to February 13,A.D.1366--the Sultan marched southwards taking a solemn oath --"that till he should have put to death one hundred thousand infidels,as an expiation for the massacre of the faithful,he would never sheathe the sword of holy war nor refrain from slaughter.When he reached the banks of the Kistna,he swore by the power who had created and exalted him to dominion,that eating or sleep should be unlawful for him till he had crossed that river in face of the enemy,by the blessing of heaven routed their army,and gladdened the souls of the martyrs of Mudkul with the blood of their murderers.He then appointed his son Mujahid Shaw to succeed him,and Mallek Syef ad Dien regent of his kingdom.He resigned all his elephants,except twenty,to the prince,gave him his advice,and sent him back to Kulbarga.He then crossed the river with nine thousand chosen horse without delay.The roy of Beejanuggur,notwithstanding his vast army,was so alarmed[46]that he sent off all his treasure,valuable baggage,and elephants towards his capital,intending to engage the next morning,or retreat,as he should find it adviseable.The night being stormy and heavy rain falling,the elephants and other beasts of burden stuck frequently in the mud,[47]and were not able to advance above four miles from the camp.Mahummud Shaw heard of the enemy's movement during the night,and immediately marched towards them,leaving his encampment standing.Towards the dawn he arrived at the roy's camp,and the alarm being given,so great was the confusion,that the infidels fled with the utmost precipitation towards the fortress of Oodnee,leaving everything behind them.Mahummud Shaw entered the camp of their market and baggage,putting all to death without any distinction;and it is said that the slaughter amounted to seventy thousand men,women,and children."Muhammad passed the hot weather and the season of the early rains that year near Mudkal,and after being reinforced marched against Adoni --"in the plains of which,on the banks of the Tummedra (Tungabhadra),the roy of Beejanuggur had taken up his station in his own territories,having given the command of Oodnee to his sister's son.Here he had collected a great army,and brought elephants and all the splendid insignia of empire from Beejanuggur."[48]
The Sultan had with him a train of artillery[49]and in a short time crossed the Tungabhadra,"and entered the domains of Beejanuggur,which were now for the first time invaded by a Muhammadan sovereign in person."This remark of Firishtah's is historically correct,for the Delhi Sultan's attack on Anegundi took place on the north bank of that river.
Before continuing the story I must note that Firishtah calls the king of Vijayanagar "Kishen Roy,"otherwise Krishna Raya;but there can be no doubt that his real name was Bukka.The historian collected his information more than two hundred years after these events,and often misnamed the Hindu kings of whom he writes.
Muhammad,then,crossed the Tungabhadra,and only about twenty-five miles intervened between him and the great fortress of Adoni,which is situated on a precipitous range of hills about that distance from the river.The Tungabhadra at this portion of its course may be considered as forming the arc,west to north,of a quarter circle having Adoni for its centre,the radius roughly measuring about twenty-five miles.The river is fordable at most seasons of the year,lying as it does in a shallow rocky bed with low banks.It is difficult to locate with any certainty the scenes of this campaign,but I gather generally that,finding the Muhammadans aiming at the reduction of Adoni,Bukka marched out with a very large force to intercept this move,and placed himself on the south bank of the Tungabhadra,In the neighbourhood of the threatened fortress.The Sultan crossed somewhere near the present town of Siruguppa,and the great battle that ensued took place in the open cotton-plains,perhaps near Kavutal ("Kowtall"on the Ordnance Map).
Here is Firishtah's account:[50]--
"Roy Kishen Roy (I.E.Bukka),on receiving the intelligence (that Muhammad had crossed),called together all the first nobles of his court,and consulted on the best mode of opposing the mussulmauns.It was agreed that Hoje Mul,[51]a maternal relation to the roy and commander of his armies,should have the conduct of the war.Hoje Mul,vain to excess,on receiving his command,asked the roy if he should bring the prince of the mussulmauns alive a prisoner into his presence,or present him only his head upon a spear.Kishen Roy replied,that a living enemy,in any situation,was not agreeable,therefore he had better put him to death as soon as he should take him.Hoje Mul,having received his dismission marched to oppose Mahummud Shaw with forty thousand horse and five hundred thousand foot.He commanded the Bramins to deliver every day to the troops discourses on the meritoriousness of slaughtering the mahummedans,in order to excite zeal for expelling them.He ordered them to describe the butchery of cows,[52]the insults to sacred images,and destroying of temples,practised by the true believers.
"Mahummud Shaw,when the enemy arrived within fifteen coss[53]of his camp,commanded his general,Khan Mahummud,to muster the troops,who were found to be fifteen thousand horse and fifty thousand foot.Ten thousand horse and thirty thousand foot,with all the artillery,he advanced under Khan Mahummud Khan.
