Succeeds his elder brother on the throne — refuses to deliver up the Prince Mahmood of Guzerat, then confined in Aseer, to the nobles of that kingdom — is compelled to do so — puts forth pretensions to the throne of Guzerat, and marches an army to Ahmudabad — is defeated — procures the cession of Sooltanpoor and Nundoorbar by the King of Guzerat. — Baz Bahadur, King of Malwa, is expelled from his throne by Peer Mahomed Khan, an officer of Akbur Padshah. — The Moguls pursue Baz Bahadur to Boorhanpoor, and sack the town — they retreat, and are closely pursued by Meeran Moo-barik Khan and Baz Bahadur. — The Moguls routed near the Nurbudda, and Peer Mahomed Khan loses his life. — Death of Meeran Moobarik Khan.

AT the period of the death of Meeran Mahomed Shah, none of his children were of an age to take the reins of government; and his brother Moobarik, hearing of his decease at Boorhanpoor, immediately assumed the title of Shah. Shortly after his acces­sion the nobles of Guzerat deputed Yekhtiar Khan, an officer of that kingdom, to demand the Prince Mahmood, son of Luteef Khan†, * nephew of the late Bahadur Shah, whom that monarch had, during his lifetime, sent to Meeran Mahomed Khan of Kandeish, to be confined in a hill-fort during his life. Meeran Moobarik, who himself aspired to the throne of Guzerat, and to which his brother had been so lately elevated, threw obstacles in the way of the enlargement of the Prince Mahmood; but the Guzerat officers resented his detention so warmly, that Meeran Moobarik Khan was compelled, from motives of policy, to permit

A. H. 943.
A. D. 1536.

Yekhtiar Khan to take charge of him, and he was accordingly crowned at Ahmudabad in the year 943.

At this period, also, Imad-ool-Moolk of Guzerat fled, and sought protection at Boorhanpoor. He was hospitably received by Meeran Moobarik Khan, who encouraged him to collect a body of twelve thousand Guzerat horse. With this force they both marched for the purpose of placing Meeran Moobarik Khan on the throne. On the other hand, Duria Khan, accompanied by Mahmood Shah III., opposed them. The armies met, and a sanguinary contest ensued, in which the Kandeish troops were defeated. Moobarik Khan fled to Aseer, and Imad-ool-Moolk to Mando, where he sought protection with Sooltan Kadur of Malwa. The Gu-zeratties under Duria Khan, following up their suc­cess, plundered and laid waste the country of Kan-deish, through which they passed, and compelled Meeran Moobarik Khan to pay a very heavy fine. Mahmood Shah, when in confinement in the fort of Aseer, promised, if ever he succeeded to the govern­ment of Guzerat, to give to Meeran Moobarik Khan the district of Nundoorbar; and upon this occasion he formally yielded it up to him.

A. H. 969.
A. D. 1572. In the year 969, Sooltan Baz Baha­dur, King of Malwa, was compelled to fly before the Mogul forces, and sought protection with Meeran Moobarik Khan. Peer Ma-homed Khan, the Mogul chief, who had driven him from his seat of government, pursued him into the very centre of Kandeish, penetrating as far as Boor-hanpoor, when he devastated the country, sacked the city, dishonoured the females, and committed enormities unfit to relate. Meeran Moobarik Khan wrote to Toofal Khan, governor of Berar, begging his assistance in this momentous crisis, who with the alacrity proportionate to the emergency marched the whole of his force to Kandeish, and joined Meeran Moobarik Khan and Sooltan Baz Ba­hadur. The ferocious bands of Peer Mahomed Khan had been so glutted by debauch, and so en­riched by spoil, that they had little inclination to risk their booty in action; and their leader, con­trary to his own will, was compelled to retreat to Malwa. Many of the soldiery were so desirous to reach their quarters, that they went off even before Peer Mahomed Khan, and left him to follow with a small force and all the heavy baggage and mili­tary stores. The allied forces under Toofal Khan pursued the Moguls; and having intimation of their dispersed state, made rapid marches, and overtook Peer Mahomed Khan on the banks of the Nurbudda. The allies immediately charged the enemy, who, overpowered by numbers, sought safety in flight. Many were drowned in the river; and Peer Ma-homed Khan himself, who ordered his elephant to be urged into the stream, was among the num­ber. The confederates, following up their success, marched on to Mando, where Sooltan Baz Bahadur again assumed the reins of government; after which the allies returned to their respective

Jumad-ool-
Akhur 6.
A. H. 974.
Dec. 24.
A. D. 1566.

countries. Meeran Moobarik Khan died, some years afterwards, on the night of Wednesday the 6th of Jumad-ool-Ak-hur, A. H. 974, after a reign of thirty-two years.