Disaffection prevails among the military chiefs — some withdraw with their divisions to their governments. — Mullik Seif-ood-Deen endeavours to reconcile the people to receive Dawood Shah. — Seif-ood-Deen is permitted to withdraw from public life.— The late King's sister refuses to be reconciled to her uncle Dawood Shah, and eventually procures him to be assas­sinated in the mosque at prayers.

THE historians of the Deccan relate, that when the news of Mujahid Shah's assassination was spread abroad dissension arose in every quarter. Sufdur Khan and Azim Hoomayoon, who had reached Beejapoor, uniting, repaired to Koolburga; and having seen the murdered King's body, retired towards Elichpoor and Dowlutabad, carrying with them the royal elephants and horses which were in Beejapoor. At the same time, they wrote to Dawood Shah that they were only retiring to their districts to refresh their troops, and should wait his gracious orders with impatience; stating, that whenever he might require them to repair to his presence, they would hasten to court without delay. The army of the Ray of Beejanuggur, upon intelligence of this event, made great rejoicings; and overrunning the country as far as the Krishna, sat down before the fortress of Rachore. The inhabitants of Koolburga were divided into two parties; the one espousing the cause of Da-wood Shah, and the other that of Mahmood, the youngest son of Alla-ood-Deen Hussun Gungoo, who had been kept in confinement, in the citadel, since the accession of Mujahid Shah.

The minister, Mullik Seif-ood-Deen Ghoory, ob­served, that factions would only occasion the ruin of the state, and recommended that since Dawood Shah, the King's nearest relative, had already placed the crown on his head, it was prudent to acknowledge him and avoid a civil war. The influence of Mul-lik Seif-ood-Deen, the first minister, and the prop of the house of Bahmuny, had great weight with the officers and people of the capital, who agreed to follow his advice, as did also all the ladies of the haram, excepting only the sister of the late king, grand-daughter, by the mother's side, of the minister himself. This lady rebuked her father, and called on him to revenge his grandson's death.

Mullik Seif-ood-Deen, having read the Khootba in the name of Dawood Shah, went to meet him, attended by all the nobles, the divines, and respect­able persons, on his approach to Koolburga, by whom he was conducted in great state to the city, where he ascended the Tukht-i-Feroza. At the request of the minister, the King permitted that venerable chief to retire from office, and, assuming the direction of affairs, was obeyed by all the nc-bility, so that his authority seemed fully established. The sister of Mujahid Shah, Roohpurwur Agha, however, still refused to acknowledge him; and though Dawood Shah used every means to con­ciliate her, she remained obdurate to all his over­tures. As she had great influence in the haram, of which she was regarded as the head since the death of Mahomed Shah, the King did not venture to treat her otherwise than with deference and respect. At length, this Princess prevailed on a young man who had stood high in the esteem and favour of Mujahid Shah to revenge the blood of his patron at the risk of his own life.

Mohurrum 21.
A. H. 780.
May 19.
A.D. 1378. On the 21st of Mohurrum, 780, Dawood Shah, when going to offer his devotions at the great mosque of Koolburga, attended by Khan Ma-homed, was followed by the assassin; who, placing himself immediately behind him, took advantage of the moment of the King's being prostrate in prayer to draw his sabre; and before the at­tendants were aware of his design, he wounded him so severely that he died almost instantaneously. Khan Mahomed, seeing the transaction, did not permit the murderer to escape, but with one stroke of his sabre separated his head from his body.— Dawood Shah reigned only one month and five days.