foreign archers and a number of Deccanies and Abyssinians, with whom they carried on skirmishes for nearly a whole year, without being at all weakened. Moostufa Khan then represented to the King that it was useless sending troops against them, and he had better prevail upon them by stratagem to come to Beejapoor, when he might punish them in a manner worthy of their treachery. Ally Adil Shah, approving this advice, despatched Yeesoo Pundit, and others of their friends, to invite them to return. Hundiatum Naik in vain represented to them that it was not possible the King could forgive a treachery which had disappointed him of the conquest of Penkonda; but said they were only invited to court that their destruction might be effected. Most of the chiefs and their followers, however, returned; but Hundiatum Naik retired to Penkonda, where he engaged in the service of Venkatadry. For some time the King treated the Bergies with kindness, but at length put most of them to death. A. H. 987. In the year 987, as the King had no A. D. 1579. son, he appointed his nephew Ibrahim, son of his brother Shah Tahmasp, his successor; and the following year he was assassinated by a eunuch, whom he had forced against his inclination to come to his court from Ahmudabad Bidur.* * A more detailed account of this transaction is given by Ferishta in the history of the kings of Bidur. He evidently avoids the subject in this place, in order not to give offence to Ibrahim Adil Shah II., the nephew of Ally Adil Shah, under whose patronage he wrote. The cause of the King's death is He was buried in the city of Beejapoor, where his tomb, which is called Roza Ally, is still to be seen. During his reign he received two ambassadors from Akbur Padshah of Dehly; the last of whom was in the city when he was assassinated. The jooma musjid, the howz-i-shapoor, the city wall, and the aqueducts which convey water throughout all the streets, were constructed by his orders. * most disgusting and offensive, and it is by no means attempted to be palliated by Ferishta when he mentions it. A modern author of the history of Beejapoor, however, has set forth reasons in defence of Ally Adil Shah's conduct, and endeavours to prove that Ferishta has traduced his memory. * These works are still in existence, and remain the splendid monuments of his reign. 144 IBRAHIM ADIL SHAH II. Chand Beeby, the Dowager-queen of Ally Adil Shah, assumes charge of the government she procures the minister to be seized and put to death, and raises another officer to his station, who, apprehensive of the Dowager's conduct, causes her to be seized, and confined in Satara.· - The minister is expelled by the people, and the Dowager is released. Dissensions at the court.-The kings of Ahmudnuggur and Golconda unite to attack Beejapoor- they besiege it, but are compelled to withdraw. Dilawur Khan protector. Chand Beeby retires to Ahmudnuggur. - Civil war in Ahmudnuggur. - War between Ahmudnuggur and Beejapoor. The protector Dilawur Khan is compelled to fly from the capital. The young King assumes charge of his government. - War against the Hindoos of the Carnatic and Mysore.- The Prince Ismael aspires to the throne, and suffers death. War with Ahmudnuggur. The King of Ahmudnuggur is killed in battle. IBRAHIM ADIL SHAH, upon his accession to the throne, being only in his ninth year, the management of public affairs devolved on Kamil Khan Deccany, and to the dowager Chand Beeby, the late king's widow, was intrusted the care of the young king's education. Every day, excepting on Wednesdays and Fridays, Ibrahim was seated on his throne in the hall of audience, when the current business was transacted in his presence. For some time Kamil Khan behaved with due moderation in his high office; but at length, intoxicated with power, he became guilty of some disrespect towards Chand Beeby, who turned her thoughts to effect his destruction. She therefore secretly sent a message to Hajy Kishwur Khan, an officer of high rank, observing, that as the Regent was unfit for his office, she wished to remove him, and to bestow it upon himself. Hajy Kishwur Khan, allured by these hopes of advancement, formed a plot, with several chiefs, to seize Kamil Khan; and one evening, while he was holding a durbar in the green palace, Kishwur Khan suddenly entered the citadel with four hundred armed men, shut the gates, confined the commanding officer of the garrison, and proceeded to secure the Regent. Kamil Khan, alarmed, attempted to fly towards the haram, in hopes of finding protection with Chand Beeby, when he was informed, by some of the eunuchs well disposed towards him, that the plot was formed by her. Confounded at this intelligence, he ran out of the palace, and, as his only chance of escape, flung himself over the wall of the citadel into the ditch, then full of water. He swam over, and passed undiscovered to the Imam gate of the city. This was, however, shut; but by the help of his turban, sash, and other cloths tied together, and fixed to one of the battlements of the city-wall, he descended, and hastened to his own house at no great distance, where he prepared for flight with his friends. Hajy Kishwur Khan, not finding his intended victim, supposed he was in the fort, and was employed near an hour in searching all the buildings and places of concealment; after which he despatched a force to seek him without. Kamil Khan, having provided himself with as many jewels and as much money as time would allow, fled with seven or eight attendants towards Ahmudnuggur; but he had not gone above four miles before he was overtaken, and seized by the people of Kishwur Khan, who cut off his head, and carried it to their patron; but they appropriated all the jewels and treasure found on his person to their own use. Hajy Kishwur Khan, following the example of Kamil Khan, and supported by the patronage of Chand Beeby, grasped at the whole authority of the state, and ruled with uncontrolled sway. At this period, Behzad-ool-Moolk Toork, Meer Nobut to Moortuza Nizam Shah, advanced from Ahmudnuggur, with fifteen thousand horse, to reduce some districts belonging to Beejapoor; upon which the Regent detached Ein-ool-Moolk Geelany with an army to repel the enemy on the frontiers. Behzad-ool-Moolk suffered a total defeat near Shahdoorg, when all his tents, baggage, elephants, and artillery, fell into the hands of the victors, who returned in triumph to Beejapoor. The minister, by the advice of Chand Beeby, ordered rejoicing for three days, and conferred rich gifts and honorary distinctions on all the officers who had signalised themselves in this expedition; but some time after, he thought proper to issue an order requiring the elephants taken on the occasion to be given up to the King. This act gave much offence to many of the nobles, who not only refused to comply, but secretly combined to remove him from the regency. Some advised that they should address Chand Beeby, and recommend her to send |