His origin — arrival in India from Persia — distinguishes him­self in repulsing an attack on the King's person at Bidur — is created governor of Tulingana. — Death of the King. — Sooltan Koolly declares his independence, and builds the town of Mahomednuggur, near the fort of Golconda — extends his dominions by foreign conquests — takes Rajconda, Dewur-conda, and Pangul, from the Raja of Beejanuggur, also Gunpoora and Kovilconda. — War with Seetaputty Raja of Tulingana. — Sooltan Koolly takes Wurungole and Cumamett. — War with Guja Ramchundur. — Takes Belumconda. — War with the Raja of Beejanuggur. — War with Ismael Adil Shah, King of Beejapoor. — Capture of Koheer and Nul-goonda from the Hindoos. — Siege of Etgeer. — Death of Sooltan Koolly.

THE Prince Sooltan Koolly is the son of Ooveis Koolly, the son of Peer Koolly, the son of Ameer Alwund, the son of Ameer Iskundur, the son of Ameer Kurra Yoosoof, the son of Ameer Kurra Mahomed, the son of Ameer Toorsin, the son of Kurra Munsoor, the son of Kurra Beirum, the son of Kurra Toormish, the son of Ameer Tora Beg, who carries his pedigree up to Oghz Khan, lineally descended from Japheth, the son of Noah.

During the reign of Ameer Hussun Beg, * the chief of the tribe of Ak Koovinloo, that monarch, satisfied of the peaceable disposition of Ameer Peer Koolly, the head of the rival tribe of Kurra Koovinloo, which had been lately expelled from the throne, refrained from molesting him or his family. After the death of Ameer Hussun Beg, his eldest son, Ameer Khuleel Sooltan, succeeded him, and adopted the same line of conduct towards Ooveis Koolly, the son of Ameer Peer Koolly Kurra Koovinloo; but upon the accession of Ameer Yakoob Ak Koovinloo, his courtiers pointed out to him the rising genius of Ooveis Koolly's son, Sooltan Koolly, the subject of our history. He was upheld as the darling of his father, and the hope of his tribe, which looked up to him for the re-establishment of its power. Historians have even gone so far as to state, that Ameer Yakoob Beg consulted the astrologers concerning the fate of Sooltan Koolly, who foretold that he would be a king, though not in Persia, but that he was destined to spread the banners of the true faith on the plains of Hindoostan. This report reached the ears of his father, Ooveis Koolly; and it was said, that on this account Ameer Yakoob Beg Ak Koovinloo sought the young prince's life, which was the cause of his being sent with his uncle, Ameer Alla Koolly, to India.

The following account from the Murghoob-ool-Koolloob, written by Sudr-i-Jehan, is stated to be taken down from the mouth of Sooltan Koolly him­self, who is lineally descended from Ameer Kurra Yoosoof Toorkman, and nearly related to Ameer Jehan Shah, King of Persia, as mentioned in several histories. The birth-place of Sooltan Koolly is Saadabad, a small village in the province of Huma-dan. His own words are as follow:—“After the “subjugation of my tribe of Kurra Koovinloo “by that of Ak Koovinloo, I was compelled to fly “my country when a child, and I came with my “uncle Ameer Alla Koolly to the Deccan in “India, where after remaining some time I re-“turned to my father at Humadan; but the splen-“dour of the Bahmuny court, and the attentions “which we received, so filled my youthful ima-“gination, that the Deccan and India were always “present to my thoughts. As my uncle would “not leave so young a boy as I then was, he “compelled me to return with him to Persia. On “the accession of the enemies * of our tribe, and “when it was ascertained beyond a doubt that “Ameer Yakoob Ak Koovinloo sought my life, I “consented to proceed again to the Deccan, with a “number of fine horses and other presents for the “Bahmuny king; but I previously went to take “leave of my grand-uncle, Shah Noor-ood-Deen, at “Yezd. Shah Noor-ood-Deen was my spiritual “pastor, as well as my near relation, having “married my grandfather Ameer Peer Koolly “Beg's own sister; and as he was skilled in “astrology, and by the divine favour had an insight “into futurity, he told me, on my departure, that “I should one day be a king over a portion of “Hindoostan. On which, taking from his pocket “a quantity of gold coin, he gave it to me, and “conferred on me his blessing, saying, ‘Consider “this as a symbol of your future success.’ It is “unnecessary to say that this circumstance made a “deep impression on my mind, and I already fan-“cied myself a king, when my uncle and I pro-“ceeded together towards India. Having got over “the voyage, we went direct to the city of Ahmud-“abad Bidur, then the capital of the Deccan. “After two or three days we had an audience of “Mahmood Shah Bahmuny, and presented the “horses and other rarities we had brought with “us, after which a place was allotted by the “King for our residence. Shortly afterwards, my “uncle requested his audience of leave to return to “his native country; and although the King did “all he could to induce him to remain, he could “not be prevailed on, particularly as he had just “heard of the death of the inveterate enemy of “the family, Ameer Yakoob Beg, * from whose “tyranny I was compelled to fly. Mahmood Shah “Bahmuny, unable to persuade my uncle to stay, “insisted on his leaving me at the court, declaring “he would treat me as his own child. I readily “embraced the opportunity, and my uncle left “India alone.”

Mahmood Shah Bahmuny, as he had promised, always treated Sooltan Koolly with the greatest affection; and as he was informed of the illustrious descent of his young friend, his attentions towards him increased daily. This degree of favour ex­cited envy in the minds of the King's sons and the nobles of the court, who omitted no opportunity of defaming his character to the King.

In the Towareekh-i-Hind we find it related, that Mahmood Shah Bahmuny one night having collected his courtiers about him was enjoying the pleasures of the festive board, amid the voices of damsels and the sound of music, when he was at­tacked by a body of Abyssinians and Deccanies. * Fortunately Sooltan Koolly, with ten foreigners, was on the spot on guard over the King's person. When they heard the noise they rushed out with the rest of his guard, and having repulsed the assailants, accompanied the King, who retired to the fort. Five of Sooltan Koolly's party were killed on this oc­casion, while he with the other five, and the King in person, defended the palace with their bows and arrows. In the mean time a message was despatched to Hussun Khwaja Jehan to occupy the bastions of the fort with all the Khorassanies he could collect. In the execution of this order many men were lost in forcing their way to the ramparts. The assailants were in the end defeated in all quarters; and the King's guards took possession of the gates of the city, to prevent the traitors from making their escape. In consequence of the extreme darkness torches were used by the King's troops, who with lights in one hand and swords in the other fought de­sperately during the early part of the night. The moon rose about midnight, when the King, who had been joined during the confusion by a few more adherents, made his way good to Hussun Khwaja Jehan. He was accompanied by Sooltan Koolly, who, proceeding in advance, cut his way through the opposing foes. In the morning, the royalists appeared every where victorious, while the rebels, being dispersed, fled through the streets, or sought safety from the sword by throwing them­selves over the battlements. Others, who had secreted themselves in houses, were dragged forth and put to death.

Mahmood Shah Bahmuny, who certainly owed his life to the personal exertions of Sooltan Koolly, honoured him with the title of Mullik Kootb-ool-Moolk, and conferred on him the appointment of second minister; he also granted titles and re­wards to the five remaining Persians who had so gallantly defended his person.

In the history of the Deccan it is related, that when the imbecility of the Bahmuny dynasty became apparent, several of the military nobles, separating themselves from the crown, declared their independence. Among these was Mullik Deenar the Abyssinian, and Mullik Khoosh Kud-dum Toork, who refused to acknowledge the au­thority of the King in their districts. Mahmood Shah Bahmuny marched against them, and took their leader, Mullik Deenar, prisoner; but at the instance of some of his advisers he was pardoned, and all the elephants taken in the action were restored to him. In consequence of the gal­lantry displayed by Sooltan Koolly on this occa­sion he was honoured with the government of the province of Tulingana, and received the title of Ameer-ool-Omra, besides having the towns of Kotgeer and Ootgy added to his personal estates.

In the history of Mahmood Shah Bahmuny it is related, that after the death of Kishwur Khan, Bahadur Geelany, an officer of the Bahmuny court, distinguished for his bravery in action, succeeded him in the government of the Concan, including Dabul and Goa, and other sea-ports, and declared his independence from the court of Bidur. Shortly after which, he laid violent hands on all the trading vessels proceeding along the coast, and captured several ships laden with mer­chandise, belonging to the subjects of Mahmood Shah of Guzerat, which had been driven on shore.