The great First Cause, who created the universe by his single word, in order to display the fulness of his power, at frequent periods effects revolutions surprising to human imagination, of which there could not be a greater proof than this victory, which was unexpected by all; as most of the nobility favoured Ismael, and the zemindars throughout the kingdom of Beejapoor were ripe for revolt.

Not long after these events, Boorhan Nizam Shah, entering into alliance with the Ray of Pen-konda, resolved again to invade the territories of Ibrahim Adil Shah, and accordingly despatched Moortuza Khan Anjoo, at the head of ten thousand horse, with orders to reduce Shahdoorg and Shola-poor, while his ally laid siege to some of the forts on the frontiers of the Carnatic. Moortuza Khan Anjoo advanced as far as Purenda, when finding that the Ray of Penkonda had not yet begun his march, he thought proper to halt; but sent out detachments to lay waste and plunder the adjacent country. These troops received a severe check from those of Ibrahim Adil Shah; and their commander, Oozbuk Khan, was killed in the action, which struck the rest of the army with terror, and stopped

Rujub,
A. H. 1003.
March,
A. D. 1595.

their operations. In the month of Ru-jub, Boorhan Nizam Shah was taken dangerously ill of dysentery. The news of this event occasioned great commo­tions in the army at Purenda, where dissensions arose among the chiefs; and Moortuza Khan, with many of his friends, fearing assassination from the mutinous officers, left his command and retired to Ahmudnuggur. At the same time Khuleefa Arab and Kuzilbash Khan fled for refuge to Ibrahim Adil Shah. Boorhan Nizam Shah, wasted in body by illness, and in mind by the dissensions of his officers, died. He was succeeded by his son Ibra-him, and Meean Munjoo Deccany became regent of the kingdom. The young king's mother, how­ever, who was an Abyssinian, gave so much en­couragement to the chiefs of her own nation, that the power of the minister's office was withheld from him; and the upstart Abyssinians behaved so dis­respectfully to the Beejapoor ambassadors, as to make them quit Ahmudnuggur in disgust.

Ibrahim Adil Shah was so much offended at this affront, that he resolved to be revenged on Ibrahim

Shaban 20.
A. H. 1003.
May 18.
A. D. 1595.

Nizam Shah; for which purpose, on the 20th of Shaban, having marched from his capital, he encamped at Bahmunhully, and moved from thence towards Shah-doorg. Being, however, not fond of unnecessary war, he had determined in his own mind, if ambas­sadors should be sent from Ahmudnuggur with apologies for the conduct of the ministers, and pro­fessing a wish for peace, to lay aside his expedition, and in this hope he made, designedly, but very slow marches to Shahdoorg, where he fixed his head-quarters.

Yekhlas Khan, and the Abyssinian chiefs of Ahmudnuggur, instead of endeavouring to make peace, marched with Ibrahim Nizam Shah at the head of thirty thousand men and a great train of artillery, to their borders, upon which Ibrahim Adil Shah, thinking delay no longer advisable, despatched Humeed Khan with other officers of distinction against them; at the same time giving instructions that if Ibrahim Nizam Shah did not attempt marching into his country, they should refrain from hostilities. The Nizam Shahy army passed the boundaries of Beejapoor, upon which Humeed Khan without delay attacked them: a severe action ensued, in which the Beejapoor troops were near being defeated. The left wing having given way fled from the field, closely pursued by the right wing of the enemy. Humeed Khan, however, resolutely continued the battle with his centre and right wing. Ibrahim Nizam Shah, who had at first remained in the rear, to be out of danger, seeing the flight of part of the enemy's line, advanced with his household troops, which being perceived by Soheil Khan, a eunuch who commanded the right wing of the Adil Shahy army, he charged. At this instant the King of Ahmudnuggur's guards begged him to retire, but he would not consent, exclaiming, that as his brother Ismael had disdained to fly from Dilawur Khan, it would be dishonourable in him to give way before a eunuch. Having said this he drew his sabre, and pushed on his elephant towards Soheil Khan; but after a short struggle he received a mortal wound from an arrow, and died imme­diately: his attendants took up the body, and fled towards Ahmudnuggur. The other part of the army, engaged with Humeed Khan, learning the fate of their king, was seized with a panic, and hastened from the field, although they had nearly gained the victory. The fugitives left all their baggage and artillery, with most of the royal elephants, to be plundered by the Beejapoor troops, who found themselves victors when they least expected it. While Humeed Khan was enjoying the fruits of his success, Ibrahim Adil Shah re­ceived intelligence at Shahdoorg that his army was defeated, as many of the fugitives of the left wing, which had broken and dispersed in the be­ginning of the action, had fled as far as the royal camp, which was thrown into great consternation by their alarming accounts. Some said most of the nobles had been slain, and that all the ele­phants except one had fallen into the hands of the enemy. For three days uncertain intelligence and alarming reports were received; but on the fourth, full accounts were brought of the un­expected victory, and the death of Ibrahim Nizam Shah, which changed the terrors of the multitude to the extravagance of joy. The King, notwith­standing this signal advantage, and the confused state of the enemy's government, would not con­sent to invade his territories, but recalled Humeed Khan from the borders; and in the latter part of the month marched back towards Beejapoor, but

A. H. 1004.
A. D. 1595-6.

did not enter that capital till 1004. He halted on the banks of the Beema, from whence he despatched a force against one of the zemindars of the Carnatic, who, taking advantage of the war, had besieged the fortress of Adony, now in danger of falling from

Mohurrum 13.
A. H. 1004.
September 9.
A. D. 1596.

want of provisions. On the 13th of Mohurrum the King made a tri­umphant entry into Beejapoor, amid the acclamations of his people, who on this occasion had adorned the streets with gold and silver tissue, velvets, brocades, other rich cloths, and costly ornaments. Soon after this, in­telligence arrived that the infidels of the Carnatic had on the approach of the royal troops raised the siege of Adony, and fled to their own country, but that many of them were cut to pieces in the pursuit. Meer Mahomed Saleh Humdany, a venerable syud, arriving near Beejapoor, and bringing with him some hairs of the Prophet, the King, eager to pay his respects to such valuable relics, * went out to meet him; and having con­ducted him into the city, entertained him with royal munificence for many days. The King endeavoured to prevail upon this holy man to fix his residence at his court, but he was too earnest to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca; and at his de­parture the King conferred on him many rich presents, and received from him two of the sacred hairs, which he placed with care in a golden shrine set with jewels, and constantly visited it every Friday night, and upon all holidays.

Disputes growing to a great height in the go­vernment of Ahmudnuggur, Moorad Mirza, son of the Emperor Akbur, was invited into the Deccan by one of the parties; and eager to take advantage of these dissensions in order to spread the authority of the Moguls in that country, he marched from Guzerat to Ahmudnuggur with an army of thirty thousand men, and laid siege to that city, which he was after many months obliged to raise, Ibrahim Adil Shah having despatched Soheil Khan with a great army to the relief of the besieged Nizam Shahies,— and before his arrival the Moguls re­tired. *