A debtor who failed to pay his debt within the period named by the judge was whipped and his wife and children were sold by the creditor as slaves. Persons taking oaths were placed in a round circle made on the ground and repeated. some words, with one hand on ashes and the other laid on their breast (Bombay Gazetteer Vol, XXIII., p. 434.)

It is clear from Bernier's résumé of the history of the Deccan that most erroneous impressions existed in Delhi regarding the history and the condition of the Deccan. Bernier of course tells us what he heard, and there seems to be little doubt that these false stories were purposely propagated in order to make Aurungzebe's invasion of Mahomedan states popular. Bernier's story regarding the origin of the Deccan Kingdom is utterly opposed to the real facts. He says: "Two centuries have scarcely elapsed since the great peninsula of India, stretching from the Gulf of Cambay on the West, and extending southerly to the Cape of Comorin and to the Gulf of Bengal near Juggernath on the east, was with the exception perhaps of a few mountainous tracts under the domination of one arbitrary despot. The indiscretion of Rajah, or King, Ram Ras the last Prince under whom it was united, caused the dismemberment of this vast monarchy, and this is the reason why it is now divided among many sovereigns professing different religions. Ram Ras had three Georgian slaves in his service whom he distinguished by every mark of favour and at length nominated to the Government of three considerable districts. One was appointed governor of nearly the whole of the territory in the Deccan which is now in the possession of the Mogul; Daulatabad was the capital of that Government which extended from Bieder, Paranda and Surat as far as the Nerbudda. The territory now forming the Kingdom of Visiapour was the portion of the second favourite, and the third obtained the country comprehended in the present Kingdom of Golconda. Those three slaves became exceedingly

rich and powerful and as they professed the Mahomedan faith and declared themselves of the Chyas (Shea) sect, which is that of the Persians they received the countenance and support of a great number of Mogols in the service of Ram Ras. They could not even if so disposed, have embraced the religion of the Gentiles, because the gentiles of India admit no stranger to the participation of their mysteries. A rebellion in which the three Georgian slaves united, terminated in the murder of Ram Ras, after which they returned to their respective Government, and usurped the title of Chah or King." *-A more incorrect or garbled account of Deccan history than this cannot be imagined. Bernier, however, was a most accurate and conscientious observer, and his record of contemporary events is more reliable than those of the Mahomedan historians. He was moreover for many years at the Imperial Court and had access to the highest and best informed of the nobility. It is therefore clear that he can only have recorded the version which he heard and as it is impossible, (from the fact of the histories being still extant) that the true history of the Deccan could not have been known, there seems to be good ground for the belief that this garbled version was purposely published in order to give a colour to Aurungzebe's invasion and conquest, for which, once interrupted, he was at that time only wanting another opportunity.

* Berniers Travel's.-Constables Oriental Miscellany.-Constable & Co 1891. Vol. I,

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE FALL OF GOLCONDA.-A. D. 1686.

T the same time as Aurungzebe sent an army from Sholapur to attack Bijapur he also sent an army under Prince Muhammed Muazzam and Khan Jehan against Hyderabad. Abu'l Hassan was the reigning Sultan, having succeeded his uncle Abdulla in 1672. His two principal Ministers were Hindoos, named Madanna and Akanna,

and this fact of employing infidels

formed one of the protests which

Aurungzebe put forward for his destruction.

Abu'l Hassan appears to have contemplated relieving Bijapur, but his forces were met by the Imperial army between the two kingdoms, and though greatly superior in numbers, the Hyderabad General was beaten with considerable loss. The Imperial troops, however, were not

strong enough to follow up this advantage, and remained encamped on the field of battle for some months. This delay excited the Emperor's anger, and he despatched a strong letter of censure to the Prince and to Khan Jehan, who thereupon sent a message to Muhammed Ibrahim, the Hyderabad General, that they would conclude a peace if certain districts which had been seized from the province of Ahmednagar were restored. Ibrahim taking this offer as a sign of weakness, refused peremptorily, and thus left the Imperial forces no other resource than to recommence hostilities. There seems to have been good reasons for the Emperor's displeasure at the Prince's inaction, for in the battle that followed the Imperialists won an easy victory, and the Sultan's troops fled in confusion to Hyderabad, whither they were ollowed by the Mogul army. There is some reason to suspect. that Ibrahim, the Hyderabad General, had been bought over. At all events, his master, the Sultan, was so enraged at his discomfiture that he sent an order for his arrest, and Ibrahim, afraid of the result, then actually went over the Prince's camp and made his submission. On hearing of this defection, Abu'l Hassan at once left the city of Hyderabad and took refuge with his servants and family in the fort of Golconda, situated about four miles distant. This step appears to have been taken against the advice of his Hindoo Ministers, who would rather that he should have retreated to Warangal, in the Telingana country, where he could easily have collected a fresh army with which to raise the siege of the capital. The flight was so hurried that it was only next day that the nobles of the city heard that their Sultan had gone. As might be expected, a panic ensued, and knowing that the Imperial army was close at hand, they followed him pellmell, leaving their palaces and their effects behind. A scene then occurred which was somewhat similar to that which took place in Paris after the Franco-Prussian war, in the days of the Com

mune. The city was for some hours in the hands of the rabble, which rose and looted every thing that it could lay hands upon. The palaces of the two Hindoo Ministers were first of all pillaged, then followed the palace of the Sultan and those of the nobility. More than four millions sterling are said to have been carried off in this manner, and everything was in a state of anarchy. "The women of the soldiers and of the inhabitants of the city were subjected to dishonour, and great disorder and destruction prevailed. Many thousand gentlemen, being unable to take horse, and carry off their property, in the greatest distress took the hands of their children and wives, many of whom could not even seize a veil or sheet to cover them, and fled to the fortress."*

As soon as the Prince heard of what was going on he marched upon the city, but before he could arrive, it had been for some time in the hands of the rioters. They do not seem to have made any opposition. "Nobles, merchants, and poorer men, vied with each other as to who by strength of arms and by expenditure of money, should get their families and property into the fortress. Before break of day, the Imperial forces attacked the city, and a frightful scene of plunder and destruction followed, for in every part and road and market there were lakhs and lakhs of money, stuffs, carpets, horses and elephants belonging to Abu'l Hassan and his nobles. Words cannot express how many women and children of Musulmans and Hindoos were made prisoners, or how many women of high and low degree were dishonoured, carpets of great value, which were too heavy to carry, were cut to pieces with swords and daggers, and every bit was struggled for."

The Prince appointed officers to prevent the plunder, but a considerable time elapsed before order could be restored, and there seems little doubt that when the rioters were *Khafi Khan-Elliot and Dowson, Vol. VII.