Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/184

 148 ALA- AD -DIN'S CONQUESTS IN THE DECCAN The fire-worshipping raja, when he learnt that his idol temple was likely to be converted into a mosque, despatched Kisu Mai to ascertain the strength and condition of the Mussulmans, but the latter returned with such alarming accounts that the raja despatched Balak Deo Naik the next day to the royal canopy, to say to the Sultan: " Your slave Billal Deo is ready to swear allegiance to the mighty emperor, like Laddar Deo and Ram Deo, and whatever the Solomon of the age may order, I am ready to obey. If you desire horses like demons, and elephants like fiends, and valuables like those of Deogir, they are all present. If you wish to destroy tfye four walls of this fort, they are no obstacle to your advance. The fort is the fort of the king; take it." The commander replied that he was sent with the object either of converting him to Islam or of slaying him, if the terms were not as- sented to. When the raja received this reply, he said he was ready to give up all he possessed, except his sacred thread. On Friday, the sixth of Shawwal, the raja sent Balak Deo Naik, Narain Deo, and Jit Mai, with some others, to bow before the royal tent, and these envoys were accompanied by six elephants. Next day some horses followed and on Sunday, the sun-worshipper, Billal Deo, seeing the splendour of the sword of Islam above his head, bowed beneath it, descended from his fortress, and came before the shadow of the shadow of God, in whose presence, trembling and abject, he prostrated himself upon the earth and rubbed the fore-