Ascends the throne — his title disputed by his uncle, Beiram Khan, who is taken prisoner, and suffers death. — Mullik Taj Bhut minister — gives great offence to the people. — Jehangeer Makry, an officer of rank, is induced to quit the court. — Death of the King.

HEIDUR was succeeded by his son Hussun, through the zealous assistance of one Ahmud Ahoo. Hav­ing imprisoned all his opponents, the King estab­lished his capital at Nowshehra, appointing Ahmud Ahoo his prime minister, with the title of Mullik Ahmud, and his son, Nowroze, to the office of Ameer-i-Dur. * The King's uncle, Beiram Khan, quitted Kashmeer in disgust, and went to India. Hussun renewed the laws and edicts of his grand­father, Zein-ool-Abid-Deen, which had fallen into disuse during the short reign of his father; but some malecontents, who disliked the new order of things, and expecting to derive advantage from a change in the government, invited Beiram Khan to return, persuading him that he would easily suc­ceed in establishing himself on the throne. Beiram Khan marched from India by the route of Kur-mar with this view, and penetrating through the hills, arrived without opposition in the province of Gujraj. The King, who had moved towards Depalpoor, now proceeded to Seevapoor, in order to attack his uncle. He was persuaded by some of his officers to invade India; but his minister, Mullik Ahmud, recommended him to suspend all other objects till the force of his uncle was dispersed. A large detachment under Mullik Taj Bhut opposed Beiram Khan, who on his part expected to be joined by many officers of the Kashmeer army. In this hope he was disap­pointed; and in an action which took place at Looloopoor, Beiram Khan was defeated, and fled to Zeinpoor; and both he and his son being taken prisoners were brought before the King. Hussun ordered his uncle's eyes to be put out, and he only survived the operation three days. This rebellion being subdued, the King deputed his commander-in-chief, Mullik Taj Bhut, at the instigation of the Raja of Jummoo, to march with the united forces of Kashmeer and Jummoo, by the route of Rajoory, against the King of Dehly. Ajeet Dew, the Raja of Jummoo, having joined and taken command of the allied army, was opposed by Tartar Khan, the Dehly governor of the con­tiguous district, when the Kashmeer troops were defeated, and Tartar Khan, penetrating into Jum-moo, sacked the town of Seealkote. At this period, the King had two sons born, the eldest (Mahmood Khan) he delivered over to Mullik Taj Bhut, and the youngest (Hoossein Khan) to Mullik Nowroze, the son of his minister Mullik Ahmud. Unfortunately, about this period, dis­putes arising between Mullik Ahmud and Mullik Taj Bhut, dissensions spread among the nobles, which eventually caused much bloodshed. These civil feuds went so far, that the combatants, on one occasion, absolutely entered the royal apartments with Mullik Ahmud at their head. Such a mark of disrespect induced the King to imprison the minister, who died in confinement of a broken heart. Syud Nasir, one of the King's favourites, who had been distinguished at the court of Zein-ool-Abid-Deen, was also banished, and he shortly afterwards died. The King, how­ever, made the family of the latter some repar­ation, by inviting his son, Syud Hussun, from Dehly, and appointing him prime minister. That nobleman entirely disappointed the hopes enter­tained of him; for as soon as he obtained sufficient influence he exercised it in effecting the destruction of many of the other nobles, and in confining the commander-in-chief, Mullik Taj Bhut. Among other officers who fled from his persecution was Jehangeer Makry, who took protection in the fort of Lohkote. Shortly after­wards, the King being taken dangerously ill, by a relapse of his old complaint, the flux, and seeing that he could not long survive, sent for his minister, and thus addressed him:—“All “my own children are too young to be placed “in charge of the government; it is, therefore, “my wish, that one of my nephews, either “Yoosoof Khan, the son of Beiram Khan, or “Futteh Khan, the son of Adhum Khan, should “succeed me.” The minister, pretending sub­mission, promised obedience, and the King shortly afterwards died. But we are not informed of the exact time when this event happened, and, conse­quently, are unable to fix the precise limit of

A. H. 891.
A. D. 1486.

his reign, which, I am led to be­lieve, must have been about nineteen years.