A. H. 903.
A. D. 1497. In the year 903, Mahmood Shah soli­cited the hand of Beeby Musseety, the infant daughter of Yoosoof Adil Khan, for his son Ahmud Shah, and fixing on Koolburga as a fit place to celebrate the nuptials, both princes repaired to that city, an event which greatly offended Dustoor Deenar. Yoosoof Adil Khan at this time intimated privately to Mahmood Shah, that if he wished to displace Kasim Bereed, he must cede to Beejapoor the districts now belonging to Dustoor Deenar, which intervened between his own territory and the estates of the minister: an ac­quisition which would afford Yoosoof Adil Khan a plausible pretext for advancing troops into them, and give him an opportunity of expelling Kasim Bereed, before Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, or any other person disposed to assist him, could hear of his de­sign. Mahmood Shah accordingly made out the requisite transfers, and dispossessed the officers of Dustoor Deenar, who, unable to resist, was obliged to consent to hold the rest of his districts subor­dinate to Sooltan Koolly Kootb Khan of Golconda. Kasim Bereed, alarmed and offended at this pro­ceeding, quitted Mahmood Shah, and putting him­self at the head of his dependents, retired to Alund.

Yoosoof Adil Khan, upon this, moved with Mahmood Shah, who was accompanied by Sooltan Koolly Kootb Khan, and Mullik Elias, to reduce Kasim Bereed, whom they defeated near the town of Gunjowty, and the fugitives took shelter in various forts. After the victory, a rich carpet of cloth of gold was spread on the field, and Mahmood Shah taking Yoosoof Adil Khan by the hand, com­manded him to sit, an honour he declined to accept, till after being repeatedly pressed. Here it was determined, that, on the following year, the allies should march and effectually subvert the power of Kasim Bereed. Mullik Elias fell in the action; and Yoosoof Adil Khan conferred his estates upon his eldest son, Mahomed, with the title of Ein-ool-Moolk, and quitting Mahmood Shah returned to Beejapoor.

On the following year, Yoosoof Adil Khan marched against Dustoor Deenar; but Mullik Ah-mud Bheiry coming to his asistance, Yoosoof retired towards Bidur, where he received assurances of sup­port from Sooltan Koolly Kootb Khan and Imad-ool-Moolk of Berar; on which Dustoor Deenar and Mullik Ahmud retired without hazarding an action to their respective capitals. On his return to Beejapoor, Yoosoof Adil Khan sent embassies to Mullik Ahmud Bheiry and to Imad-ool-Moolk; ob­serving, that the Deccan was too small a country to maintain so many independent chiefs, that there­fore they three should, out of regard to their own security, unite and endeavour to occupy the whole country. After much discussion it was resolved, that Imad-ool-Moolk should have Mahoor, Ram-gur, and all the territory then in possession of Khodawund Khan the Abyssinian; that Mullik Ahmud should have Dowlutabad, Antore, Galna, and the country beyond those forts as far as the borders of Guzerat; that Yoosoof Adil Khan, for his share, might seize the territories of Dustoor Deenar and Ein-ool-Moolk; that Kasim Bereed should be allowed to take the country of Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk, as an appanage to the capital of Ahmudabad Bidur, and its dependencies. By this treaty it was understood that the contract­ing powers were not to interfere with the plan now proposed, but, on the contrary, if necessary, unite to enforce it.

Yoosoof Adil Khan, in pursuance of this treaty, in order to ascertain if Ein-ool-Moolk were con­tent to be dependent on his authority, despatched an order commanding him to his presence, whereas he had always before addressed him on terms of equality. Ein-ool-Moolk received the order with joyful submission, declaring that now he was con­vinced Yoosoof Adil Khan regarded him as loyal, by putting his submission to the test. He made a festival of a week in the fort of Goa on the occa­sion, and repaired with six thousand horse to Bee-japoor, where Yoosoof Adil Khan received him as one of his subjects, exacting those salutations from him made only to crowned heads, and then con­ferred on him an honorary dress.

Dustoor Deenar, informed of the partition treaty which included his destruction, applied to Ameer Bereed for aid, who had just then succeeded his father in the office of minister to Mahmood Shah II. Ameer Bereed, accordingly, sent three thousand horse to his assistance; and Dustoor Deenar en­camped on the banks of the Bheema, where he was joined by Khwaja Jehan of Purenda, and his brother Zein Khan, who had also been excluded by Mullik Ahmud from the partition treaty. They brought with them five thousand horse. Mullik Ahmud Bheiry was at this time engaged in taking Dowlutabad, and defending himself against inva­sions from Guzerat.

Yoosoof Adil Khan, unmoved by the superiority of the enemy's numbers, collected his troops, and liberally distributing among them the booty he had taken from the Beejanuggur army, marched from Beejapoor, and encamped within ten miles of the enemy. The day following he prepared his army for battle, sending on an advanced corps of two thousand select cavalry, under Mahomed Koolly Beg, brother of Ghuzunfur Beg, with directions to encamp within two miles of the enemy, and divert their attention by skirmishing parties. At the same time he sent a message to Dustoor Deenar, assuring him, that should he consent to submit and acknowledge his supremacy, both he and his de­pendents should receive the highest favour under his government; but if impelled by folly to reject his offer, he must abide the fate of war.

Dustoor Deenar, refusing the proffered terms, detached a large body of Abyssinian cavalry to attack the advanced corps of Yoosoof Adil Khan; but they were defeated with great slaughter, and many elephants and horses fell into the hands of the victors. Yoosoof Adil Khan, the next morning, advancing on the enemy, drew up his army near their camp in the following order: Ghuzunfur Beg commanded the right wing, Heidur Beg Tu-breezy the left, and Mirza Jehangeer Koomy had charge of the pickets, while the King with a select guard took post in the centre. Dustoor Deenar, also, confident in his numbers, drew out his troops, mostly covered with iron armour, according to the practice in use in the Indian mode of warfare, disposing his elephants in different parts, and all his battering engines in front. Mirza Jehangeer advanced first, with the velocity of lightning, on the enemy, while Ghuzunfur Beg and Heidur Beg charged, at the same time from the right and left, with such fury that nothing could withstand their impetuosity. By the will of the Eternal One, Dustoor Deenar fell in this attack, and his troops fled, overwhelmed with terror. Ghuzunfur Beg, who had received a severe wound, approaching Yoosoof Adil Khan, knelt down with the rest of the nobles, and performed the ceremonies of con­gratulation, and waved money and jewels over his head, as is customary after victory. Yoosoof Adil Khan, kissing his eyes and forehead, clasped his brave foster-brother in his embrace, and super­intended the dressing of his wounds, but all was vain; for, according to the declaration of holy writ,

“When death comes, we cannot arrest him for one instant,”

the hero, after three days and nights, having sipped of the cup of martyrdom, departed to the world eternal.

Yoosoof Adil Khan was deeply afflicted at this loss; but having performed the funeral rites, roused himself and took Koolburga, Sagur, and all the forts and territories of the late Dustoor Deenar, which he delivered to officers in whom he could confide, and then returned in triumph to Beeja-poor. On his arrival in that city, he raised Mirza Jehangeer and Heidur Beg to the highest rank of nobility, for their gallantry in the late action, and conferred honours and gifts on all the officers and soldiers who had distinguished themselves during the war.

Having now attained the summit of his wishes, Yoosoof Adil Khan resolved to perform a religious vow, which he had determined on in his mind

A. H. 908.
A. D. 1502.

for many years. For this purpose, in the year 908, he held a council of his prin­cipal subjects, and calling Mirza Jehan-geer and Heidur Beg, who were of the Sheea sect, as also Syud Ahmud Hirvy and other learned men of that persuasion, to him, addressed them, saying, that when the Prophet, appeared to him in a vision, and had hailed him with the presage of his present dignity, he then made a vow, that if his dream should ever be fulfilled, to promulgate the faith of the Imams, * and grace the pulpit with pro­clamation of their titles; that also, when Timraj and Bahadur Geelany invaded his territories, and nearly seized the reins of government from his hands, he had renewed this vow; he therefore wished to have their opinions, whether the present was not a fit time for its performance.

The assembly unanimously broke out into prayers for the prosperity of his house. Some of those present approved of his devout intention, while others, more prudent, observed, that his power was yet but in infancy; that Mahmood Shah, though weak, was still the acknowledged lawful monarch of the Deccan; that most even among his own nobles were Toorks, Deccanies, and Abyssinians of the Soony persuasion, as were also the sur­rounding kings of the Deccan, such as Mullik Ahmud Nizam-ool-Moolk Bheiry, Ameer Bereed, and others, who were all zealous for their faith; therefore that it was more than probable an oppo­sition too great to be overcome by his single power would attend any innovation of the estab­lished religion. Yoosoof Adil Shah, after a short pause, replied, that he had made a vow to God who had raised him by his goodness to royal power, and he did not doubt but on its fulfilment the same gracious arm would uphold him. At this instant news arrived that Shah Ismael Sufvy * of Persia had established the Sheea doctrines through­out his dominions, which confirmed Yoosoof Adil Khan, who was a disciple of that house, in his determination, and he took measures without delay to carry his project into execution.