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49 Daulatabad. The Khan-i-Khanan added that he was expecting reinforce* ments which would enable him to bring the siege of Daulatabad to an early conclusion, and that unless the alliance between Bijapur and Fath Khan terminated immediately, the imperial troops would invade Bijapur* territory as soon as the cessation of the rains rendered the movement of troops possible.

After the despatch of these deserters to Bijapur, the siege was resumed with vigour. Rindula Khan and Shahji were now with the army of Bijapur on the hills above EUora, and the Khan-i-Khanan found it necessary to post a large force at Kaghazipura to prevent any attempt to victual the fortress. The Khan-i-Zaman was in Zafarnagar ready to move in any direction to the assistance of convoys for the imperial army. He received information that a quantity of treasure and supplies had beeil despatched from Burhanpur by way of Rohankhed, and that the Bijapuris were preparing to make a descent on the convoy. He therefore marched towards Rohankhed to escort the convoy to its destination, leaving in Zafarnagar only a small force under Ahmad Khan Niyazi. Ahmad Khan Was at once attacked by the Bijapuris but held his ground until reinforcements arrived and finally defeated his assailants with great slaughter. The Khan-i-Zaman now brought the convoy safely into Zafarnagar, and the Bijapuris, notwithstanding their defeat, resolved to make a final effort to prevent it from reaching the besieging army. The Khan-i- Khanan sent large reinforcements under Nasiri Khan and Jagraj to the Khan-i-Zaman, and when the latter, advancing from Zafarnagar, reached Khirki and was attacked by Rindula Khan, Yaqut Khan, and Shahji, he routed the Bijapuris and escorted the supplies and treasure, consisting of 20,000 ox-loads of corn, six lakhs of rupees, and 100 maunds of powder, to the army besieging Daulatabad.

On May 25, 1633, Morari Pant arrived with a fresh force from Bijapur and joined Rindula Khan and Shahji at Ellora, inspiring their army with fresh confidence. The Khan-i-Zaman, who was sent to Kag- hazipura to prevent a descent on the besieging force, was attacl<ed by night and was unable to repulse his assailants until the morning, when, having received reinforcements, he fell upon the Bijapuris and pursued them for many miles. On the same da}? Khudawand Khan and Sidi Salim/ two of Husain Nizam Shah's principal officers, deserted from: