When Mahmood Shah of Guzerat heard of the fate of his vessels, he addressed letters to Bahadur Geelany, requiring him to restore the property. Bahadur not only refused to yield up his prizes, but wrote insolent replies to the King of Guzerat's letters.

Mahmood Shah of Guzerat, in consequence, sent an ambassador to Mahmood Shah Bahmuny, re­questing his interference, as Bahadur Geelany was one of his subjects. The Bahmuny monarch wrote peremptory orders, directing the Guzerat ships to be sent to Cambay, and the property to be forwarded to the capital of Bidur, in order that it might be made over to the Guzerat ambassador then at court. Bahadur Geelany, having intimation of the ap­proach of the messengers conveying these orders, caused them to be detained on the road, and de­clared his independence from the court of Bidur.

Mahmood Shah Bahmuny immediately marched to reduce the rebel chief, and arrived without opposition at the fort of Mirch, where he was met by Pota Naig, the zemindar of that district, at the head of five thousand cavalry, and an army of one hundred thousand infantry; but the Hindoo chief was compelled to take shelter within the walls of Mirch, wherein he was besieged by the royal army. During the operations, Dew Naig, the son of Pota Naig, with a large force, attacked a di­vision of the King's army commanded by Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk. The Hindoos fought bravely hand to hand with the Mahomedans, from daylight till sunset, and Dew Naig was every where successful. At this moment he came in contact with Sooltan Koolly in person, and was slain. The Hindoos withdrew on the following day; and Pota Naig, despairing of maintaining the place after the death of his son, sent a number of fine elephants and horses as presents to the King, besides consenting to pay an annual tribute. It was, moreover, agreed that the fort of Mirch, with all the public property it contained, should be delivered to the King, on condition that the lives of the inhabitants and their property might be spared. Pota Naig, on the day after the treaty, had an audience, and received the fort back at his Majesty's hands. The public property was delivered over in charge to Sooltan Koolly. After reducing the power of Bahadur Geelany, the King returned to his capital, and Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk repaired to his government of Tulingana. Shortly after which, Mullik Kasim Bereed, an ambitious noble of the Bahmuny court, seeing the King without his best advisers about him, took this opportunity of insinuating himself into his favour, and not long after, he was honoured with the situation of prime minister a second time. The first effects of his influence were the removal of the old officers from the King's person; and he at length assumed such power as to take upon himself the entire government of the kingdom. Kasim Bereed, well aware that his conduct would not be supported by Yoosoof Adil Khan, Kootb-ool-Moolk, and the other governors of provinces, endeavoured to remove the King altogether; but his plans were discovered and frustrated by the union of most of the respectable officers of the state, who resolved not to permit Mullik Kasim Bereed to continue to treat the King as a mere pa­geant. It was resolved, therefore, by several of the officers commanding provinces, to march to the ca­pital, and to compel Mullik Kasim Bereed to re­store to the King his authority. Yoosoof Adil Khan of Beejapoor and Mullik Deenar the Abyssinian of Koolburga, were the two who first moved with their respective forces to the capital of Bidur, where they were joined by Kootb-ool-Moolk.

Mullik Kasim Bereed, on the near approach of the confederates, clothed himself in a shroud, slung a sword round his neck, and threw him­self at the King's feet, imploring his forgiveness, and craving protection against the nobles. Mah-mood Shah Bahmuny, whose greatest fault was his indolent disposition, deputed all the holy men of Bidur to go out and entreat the chiefs to desist from any measures against Kasim Bereed. It was required, however, that he should with­draw to his jageers of Owsa and Kand'har, leaving the King in full possession of the capi­tal of Bidur; and the different chiefs demanded that they might be allowed to come to court once annually to pay their respects, and proceed to the attack of the Hindoos of Beejanuggur. After these arrangements, the chiefs returned to their respective governments.

A. H. 908.
A. D. 1502. In the middle of the year 908, Mahmood Shah Bahmuny marched from the capital, with the nobles who were in his train, to attack the infidel Hindoos. On his arrival at the town of Ootgy, Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk, receiving intimation of his ap­proach, joined the royal army with three thousand cavalry, ten thousand infantry, and thirty elephants. At this time the King of Bidur was also joined by Yoosoof Adil Khan of Beejapoor, Futteh Oolla Imad-ool-Moolk of Berar, Mullik Ahmud Nizam-ool-Moolk of Joonere, and Mullik Deenar, the Abyssinian of Koolburga, agreeably to the compact of the former year. The first movement from Ootgy was made by the detachment of Mullik Ein-ool-Moolk, who proceeded by the route of Koolburga towards Bee-januggur; while the King with the grand army marched by easy stages to Rachore, one of the strongest forts in that part of India, which was now besieged on all sides by the Mahomedan forces; and the Hindoos were at last reduced to purchase forbearance, by stipulating for the payment of tri­bute. On this occasion the forts of Rachore and Moodkul were delivered over to the charge of Yoosoof Adil Khan of Beejapoor. After which, without prosecuting the war farther, Mahmood Shah Bahmuny returned to the capital, and the great chiefs received permission to proceed to their respective estates. The King being left with only a small force, Mullik Kasim Bereed marched against him, and besieged the capital, where he arrived

Zeehuj 9.
A. H. 909.
May 23.
A. D. 1504.

on the 9th of Zeehuj, A. H. 909; and having bribed the officers of the foot-guards, he was admitted through the gates, and proceeded direct to the palace of the minister, Khan Jehan, whom he put to death, and re-assumed the functions of minister to the unwilling monarch, whom he deprived of all authority. On the imprisonment of the King becoming known to the governors, they collected their troops as before, and marched for his relief to the capital. On their arrival they found Mullik Kasim Bereed and the King, whom he had brought out by force, encamped outside the city. The King's presence sanctioned the elevation of the royal standard, and made it appear as if Mah-mood Shah Bahmuny enjoyed his full power. An action took place, which was maintained with much spirit on both sides. Mullik Kasim Bereed, in the first instance, compelled the allies to give way; but a vigorous charge made by Mullik Kootb-ool-Moolk, on the centre of his line, turned the fate of the day, and obliged Kasim Bereed to fly, and seek protection in the fort of Owsa.

The victorious confederates now proceeded to the royal pavilion, where they paid their re­spects to the King, and replacing him on the throne of Bidur, returned to their different

A. H. 910.
A. D. 1504.

provinces. In the year 910, the King, having reason to be displeased with the conduct of Yoosoof Adil Khan of Bee-japoor, marched, accompanied by Mullik Kootb-ool-Moolk, against that chief; but he was again taken into favour, and the King returned to his capital. Shortly after this, Mullik Futteh Oolla Imad-ool-Moolk, governor of Berar, died in Elich-poor, and his son Mullik Alla-ood-Deen was no­minated by the King his successor. Yoosoof Adil Khan also died at Kovilconda, and was suc­ceeded by his son Ismael, while Khwaja Jehan, * governor of Sholapoor, was succeeded by Noor Khan, his youngest son, who was honoured with the title of Khwaja Jehan, and assumed the go­vernment of Purenda and its dependencies.

A. H. 911.
A. D. 1506. On the following year, A. H. 911, according to the compact of Bidur, the King ordered his nobles with their troops to repair to the capital, all of whom having joined him, he again proceeded towards Beeja-nuggur. On his arrival at Dewly, the King's army was opposed by the Hindoo forces, when a sanguinary action took place. Mullik Kootb-ool-Moolk broke the left wing of the enemy, but Mahmood Shah, in the centre, gave way, and being thrown from his horse, was nearly trodden to death. He was, however, fortunately discovered by some of his troops, and being placed in a pa­lankeen was conveyed to the tent of Meer Lootf Oolla, the son of Shah Mohib Oolla. Thence the army retreated to the capital, when the nobles retired to their respective governments. After this period, the King was weak enough to re­admit Mullik Kasim Bereed into his councils, and again became the dupe of that insinuating minister. Not long after, being taken dangerously ill, Mah-

Zeehuj 24.
A. H. 912.
May 12.
A. D. 1507.

mood Shah Bahmuny died on the 24th of Zeehuj, A. H. 912, in the forty-seventh year of his age, and in the thirty-seventh of his reign. On the death of Mahmood Shah Bahmuny, the governors in their respective provinces threw off the small portion of allegiance which they latterly paid to the late king, and proclaimed their independence.