As to the deion given by Nuniz of the offensive armour of the elephants,which are stated to have gone into battle with long swords like scythes attached to their trunks,the story is confirmed by many other writers.
Firishtah's Narrative.
Firishtah's account of the battle of Raichur is interesting,as it gives a deion of the affair from the enemy's point of view.Ismail Adil Shah marched "to recover Mudkul and Roijore from the roy of Beejanugger,who,gaining early intelligence of his designs,moved with a great force,and stationed his camp on the bank of the Kistnah,where he was joined by many of his tributaries;so that the army amounted at least to 50,000horse,besides a vast host of foot.The sultan would now have delayed his expedition,as the enemy possessed all the ferries of the Kistnah,but that his tents were pitched,and it would have been disgraceful to retract from his declarations He therefore marched with 7000horse,all foreign,and encamped on the bank of the river opposite to the enemy,waiting to prepare floats to cross and attack them.
"Some days after his arrival,as he was reposing in his tent,he heard one of the courtiers without the skreens reciting this verse:
--'Rise and fill the golden goblet with the wine of mirth before the cup itself shall be laid in dust.'The sultan,inspired by the verse,called his favourites before him,and spreading the carpet of pleasure,amused himself with music and wine.When the banquet had lasted longer than was reasonable,and the fumes of the wine had exercised their power,a fancy seized the sultan to pass the river and attack the enemy....Warm with wine he resolved to cross immediately,and mounting his elephant,without making his intentions known,proceeded to the river,as if to reconnoitre,but suddenly gave orders for as many of his troops as could to go upon the rafts,and others to follow him on elephants through the river.The officers represented the folly and danger of precipitation;but the sultan,without reply,plunged his own elephant into the stream,and was followed involuntarily by the amras and their followers;on about 250elephants.