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During the whole of this time (1607-26) the King Murtaza II. had been kept in confinement, chiefly in the fort of Dowlatabad, where he spent his time in drink and sensual excess, Malick Amber left two sons-Futteh Khan and Chenghiz Khan of whom the former, the elder, succeeded to his father's authority. The King, however, managed to make his escape, in which he was aided by a favourite slave, named Hamid Khan. Futteh Khan was then seized and sent in confinement to the fort of Khiber. Here, however, he did not remain long, but making his escape, he raised the standard of rebellion. Hamid Khan appears to have been an able man, and succeeded in raising an army and again capturing Futteh Khan, who was now confined in the fort of Dowlatabad. Shah Jehan was then on the Delhi throne, having succeeded on 6th February, 1628. Soon after his accession, one of his principal Generals, Khan Jehan, who for some time had been Governor of the Deccan, revolted, and took refuge with Murtaza Shah in Kirki and Dowlatabad. This led to considerable fighting with the Imperial troops, who were sent to capture the rebel, and Khan Jehan at length had to escape to the Punjab. This was in 1630, and in the same year a terrible famine ravaged the Deccan and Guzerat. We are told by Abdul Hamid Lahori (ibid. Vol. VII., p. 24), “that the inhabitants of these two countries were reduced to the direst extremity. Life was offered for a loaf, but none would buy; rank was to be sold for a cake, but none cared for it; the ever bounteous hand was now stretched out to beg for food, and the feet which had always trodden the way of contentment, walked about only in search of sustenance. For a long time dog's flesh was sold for goat's flesh, and the pounded bones of the dead were mixed with flour and sold. When this was discovered, the sellers were brought to justice. Destitution at length arrived at such a pitch that men began to devour each other, and the flesh of a son was prefered to his love. The numbers of the

dying caused obstructions in the roads, and every man whose dire sufferings did not terminate in death, and who retained the power to move, wandered off to the towns and villages of other countries. Those lands which had been famous for their fertility and plenty now retained no trace of production.” During this time Futteh Khan had been in confinement, but through an intrigue by means of his sister, who was in the King's zenana, he not only was released, but was appointed Commander-in-Chief. Futteh Khan, however, felt that this change was only a temporary one. The King Murtaza was now very old, and was given up to all kinds of debauchery. He was surrounded by evil advisers, and so to save himself, Futteh Khan placed his master in the same prison from which he had just been liberated. He then at once entered into correspondence with the Imperial Court, and offered to hold the country as a vassal of Delhi. "In answer he was told that if he wished to prove his sincerity he should rid the world of such a worthless and wicked being (Murtaza II.) On receiving this direction, Futteh Khan secretly made away with Nizam Shah, but gave out that he had died a natural death" (ibid, Vol. VII., p. 27). Futteh Khan, however, soon repented of what he had done, and placed Hussein, the son of Murtaza, a boy ten years of age, on the throne, and when the ambassadors from Delhi arrived, he refused to hand over the fort. Shah Jehan thereupon sent an army under Mahabut Khan to reduce Dowlatabad. Futteh Khan's change of mind appears to have been caused by the attitude of the Bijapur forces, whom Adil Shah had sent against Dowlatabad, but who now made an arrangement to assist Futteh Khan in its defence, against the Imperialists. Shahjee, who was rapidly becoming a person of importance, appears in this matter on the side of Bijapur, and did good service in harassing the march of

the Imperial army. But in spite of all opposition, the post

was at last invested, and the siege commenced. The defence

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was a very obstinate one, and when at last the lower fort was taken, Futteh Khan retired with the young King to the upper fort which was held to be impregnable. Abdul Hamid (ibid, Vol. vi., p. 41) thus describes it: "The old name of the fortress of Dowlatabad was Deo-gir, or Dhárágar. It stands upon a rock which towers to the sky. In circumference it measures 5,000 legal gaz, and the rock all round is scarped so carefully, from the base of the fort to the level of the water, that a snake or an ant would ascend it with difficulty. Around it there is a moat forty legal yards (zara) in width and thirty depth, cut into the solid rock. In the heart of the rock there is a dark and tortuous passage like the ascent of a minaret, and a light is required there in broad daylight. The steps are cut in the rock itself, and the bottom is closed by an iron gate. It is by this road and way that the fortress is entered. By the passage a large iron brazier had been constructed, which, when necessary, could be placed in the middle of it, and a fire being kindled in the brazier, its heat would effectually prevent all progress. The ordinary means of besieging a fort by mines, &c., are of no avail against it." But in spite of the strength of the fort, Futteh Khan saw that further resistance was useless, and that sooner or later he would have to yield. In order, therefore, to get as good terms as possible, he offered to submit. The offer was accepted, the keys handed over, and the Khutba was read in the name of the Emperor. The young King Hussein was sent to Gwalior to join the young prince who had been sent to the same place from Ahmednagar, thirty-four years before. Futteh Khan was loaded with honours, and was offered a high command in the Imperial army, which he was about to undertake, when he developed symptoms of insanity from an old wound in the head. He was, therefore, allowed to retire to Lahore, where he lived for many years in receipt of a pension of two lakhs of rupees. His younger brother, Chengiz Khan, had

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