First, Mullik Ahmud Nizam-ool-Moolk, in the province of Joonere and Dowlutabad. It was at this time he began to construct the fort and town of Ahmudnuggur for his future capital.

Secondly, Ismael Adil Khan usurped the dis­tricts of Beejapoor, Mirch, and the Concan, making Beejapoor his capital.

Thirdly, Alla-ood-Deen Imad-ool-Moolk, the governor of Berar, proclaimed himself King, mak­ing Elichpoor his capital.

Fourthly, Mullik Kasim Bereed, having seized the whole of the late king's treasures, became ab­solute in Bidur.

Fifthly, Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk, who still continued his allegiance to the shadow of royalty which remained, retained possession of the province of Tulingana, making Golconda his seat of government.

From the best authorities it appears that Sool-tan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk during the first years of his rule was engaged in the reduction of the neighbouring zemindars of Tulingana. It was his usual practice, after advancing into a hostile country, and making his observations, to retreat, in order to draw his enemy into an ambuscade, from which he seldom escaped. Sudr-i-Jehan, the author of the Murghoob-ool-Koolloob, says, he himself heard Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk state, that although invited by Kasim Bereed and Futteh Oolla Imad-ool-Moolk to seize by violence the Bahmuny districts in the vicinity of his govern­ment, he always refused to do so, contenting him­self with the estates conferred on him, and aggran­dising his power by the reduction of the Hindoo zemindars alone, who were the enemies of the true faith. “It is now (said that King one day “to Sudr-i-Jehan) nearly sixty years since I “was first engaged in spreading the banners of “the faithful, and reducing the infidels of Tulin-“gana from the borders of Wurungole to Masuli-“patam and Rajmundry, having taken between “sixty and seventy forts by force of arms, such “as Rajconda, Kovilconda, Dewurconda, Pangul, “Gunpoora, Jirconda, Yelgundel, Mulungoor, “Etgeer, Meduk, Bhowungeer, Belumconda, Wu-“rungole, Cumamett, Indraconda, Ramgeer, Con-“dapilly, Ellore, and Chitcole. * I also swore “by the Prophet and his descendant Ally, that “if I ever succeeded in establishing my inde-“pendence, I would promote the faith of the fol-“lowers of the twelve Imams†, * in parts where the “banners of the faithful had never before waved; “but let it not be supposed that I took up the “idea from Shah Ismael of Persia; for be it known “I before professed the religion of the twelve (on “whom be the peace of God!) from the period of “the reign of Sooltan Yakoob, as being the faith “of my ancestors. Here am I nearly arrived at “the age of a hundred years, most of which time “has been spent in disseminating the principles of “the true faith; and I now wish to retire from “the world, and to spend the last few days which “remain in prayer.” Thus far is extracted from the work of Sudr Jehan, taken down from the mouth of Sooltan Koolly himself.

It appears from all the Deccan histories, that when Sooltan Koolly Kootb-ool-Moolk had laid the foundation of the city of Mahomednuggur‡,*

and that all the different chiefs, such as Adil Khan of Beejapoor, Nizam-ool-Moolk of Ahmud-nuggur, &c. had declared their titles as kings, the officers of his government recommended him to ascend the throne and proclaim himself King of Tulingana, saying they had no one else whom they acknowledged as such. As these repre­sentations came in support of several letters to the same purport, sent by Yoosoof Adil Shah and Ahmud Nizam Shah, Sooltan Koolly consented to ascend the throne in due form, and issued his mandate that the public worship should be read in the name of the twelve Imams throughout his territory. He was accordingly proclaimed king under the title of Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah.

Sooltan Koolly every year made a campaign against the infidels of Beejanuggur, and returned to his seat of government; but he now determined to select a more centrical position for his capital, and accordingly he built the city above alluded to at the village of Golconda, to which place he removed his court.

After having repaired the fort of Golconda, Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah turned his thoughts towards the reduction of the fortress of Rajconda, the ray of which place had lately made an attack on the Kootb Shahy dominions. He accordingly marched his army to that place, and on his arrival he closely invested it. In a few days his heavy artillery made practicable breaches in the fort-walls. The enemy during these operations made several desperate sallies which did not deter the besiegers, and the place was eventually carried by storm, though not without considerable loss. The Raja, Venkutty Naig, being made prisoner, was carried to Golconda.

After his return the King proceeded to reduce the fortress of Dewurconda, strongly situated on the top of a hill, which after a long siege was taken, and the Hindoo palaces and temples, by the King's orders, were consumed to ashes, and mosques built in their stead.

When Krishn Ray, the Raja of Beejanuggur, heard of the fall of Dewurconda, he marched with a force of thirty thousand horse and three hundred thousand foot to attack the Kootb Shahy dominions, which he invaded, overrun-ing and laying waste much of the country on the frontier. As soon as Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah heard of this outrage, he collected his army, consisting of five thousand horse and thirty thou­sand foot, and marched with this comparatively small force to the town of Pangul, where the enemy was encamped. The Mahomedan army came so suddenly on the advanced guard of the Hindoos that it fell back on the main body without making even a show of resistance. Krishn Ray, relying on his numbers, ordered the line out, and attacked the Moslems who had encamped near the town of Pangul, where a sanguinary engagement took place, which lasted from morning till sunset. The King appeared every where, cheering up the drooping spirits of his troops, who were at one time giving way before the superior numbers of the enemy. Sooltan Koolly, however, always kept a body of cavalry in reserve, which was directed only to move when it received orders. This party con­sisted of fifteen hundred of his best horse; and at the very time when his centre was falling back, he charged in person at the head of the reserve full on the enemy's flank. The Hindoos, unpre­pared to resist the shock of these fresh troops, broke, and fled in confusion. This manœuvre turned the fate of the day; and the enemy, seeing their line broken, gave way on all sides at once; and although the darkness of the night favoured their retrea, Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah was left in possession of all the heavy baggage and ele­phants. On the following day he laid siege to Pangul. This fort, situated on a hill, was sur­rounded by a thick wood: it was immediately invested by the Mahomedans, who had nearly reduced it, when Krishn Ray, hearing of the dis­tress of the garrison, sent three hundred cavalry and one thousand infantry as a reinforcement. This party was directed to penetrate the woods, and to come suddenly upon the besiegers during the night; while at the same time the besieged were recommended to make a simultaneous sally from the fort. The garrison continued thus to make several successful sallies, which prevented the place from falling so soon as was at first expected. At length, after a period of two months, the com­mandant, a relation of Krishn Ray, opened a nego­tiation to capitulate. On the following day the fort surrendered to the Mahomedan arms, and the garrison were permitted to proceed whithersoever they chose.

The army proceeded from Pangul to Gunpoora, situated between that fort and Kovilconda. On the King's arrival he summoned the commandant to surrender, but the latter answered this message by the discharge of his artillery, followed by a sally from the hill which descended into the plain, and penetrated into the Mahomedan lines. This attack was repulsed, and the assailants sought safety within the walls of the fort. The siege of Gunpoora continued for two months; during which time the Mahomedans lost many valuable officers and soldiers, and the King nearly despaired of taking it. Gunpoora is situated on a hill, and the only road to the gate leads along a narrow pathway with a deep precipice on each side. This passage was blocked up with stones and stockades, and at the entrance were two bastions which protected it. The King, in the first instance, ordered the bas­tions to be knocked down, which, after some time, was effected, and then leading the storming party himself, he attacked and carried the fort, but not without a heavy loss. From Gunpoora the King proceeded to Kovilconda, which was bravely defended for a considerable time, the garrison making several desperate sallies, in which many soldiers were killed on both sides. At length, the breaches being rendered practicable, the Maho-medans stormed at midnight; and although they did not then succeed in taking the place, the be­sieged, on the following morning, surrendered at discretion, and the commandant delivered the keys into the King's hands. The garrison was permitted to march out with all their private property; while the public treasury, which is represented to have been very rich, fell into the King's possession, who distributed it on the spot among his troops. After leaving a Mahomedan officer in the place, the King returned to his capital, when he was met by all the principal inhabitants of the city.