Accession of Jumsheed Kootb Shah. — Revolt of his brother Ibrahim, whose cause is espoused by Kasim Bereed, King of Bidur. — Account of the origin of Ramraj, who afterwards ascended the throne of Beejanuggur. — War with the King of Bidur. — Death of Jumsheed Kootb Shah.

IMMEDIATELY upon the death of Sooltan Koolly, his murderer, Meer Mahmood, returned to Gol­conda; and having released the Prince Jumsheed, proceeded with a party direct to the palace of the Prince Kootb-ood-Deen, the declared heir-appa­rent, and caused him to be blinded. Thence going to the King's palace, Jumsheed was formally crowned under the title of Jumsheed Kootb Shah: his name was read in the public prayers throughout the kingdom of Tulingana, and he received con­gratulatory letters on his accession, from all the other monarchs of the Deccan.

When Jumsheed had put out the eyes of his elder brother, he immediately sent orders to De-vurconda, in order that his younger brother Ibra-him, who commanded the fortress, might be seized and sent to court. The Prince, informed of this order, proceeded to Bidur, and claimed the pro­tection and assistance of Kasim Bereed Shah, by whom he was graciously received. Kasim Bereed, having collected his army, marched, ac­companied by the Prince, to attack Golconda, where he arrived without opposition. The sudden march of Kasim Bereed against Tulingana at once alarmed the other kings of the Deccan, especially Boorhan Nizam Shah, who, aware of his ambitious views, was fearful of his aggrandisement, and im­mediately marched an army to the relief of Jum-sheed Kootb Shah. On his arrival at Koheer, then in possession of Kasim Bereed, he attacked and carried it by storm; and from thence advanced to Golconda. Kasim Bereed Shah, unable to cope with the united efforts of the Nizam Shahy and Kootb Shahy forces, retreated in the direction of Beejapoor; but on the road, taking advantage of the situation of the Prince Ibrahim, he so far forgot the rights of hospitality as to attempt to seize the elephants and private property belonging to him. The Prince discovering his intention immediately left him, and retreating to Beejanuggur claimed the friendship of Ramraj, formerly a dependent of Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, and who had now ascended the throne of Beejanuggur.

The origin of Ramraj's elevation in life is thus related: — When the late king marched towards the Beejanuggur territories, and reduced some dis­tricts on the confines, he was unwilling to leave a Mahomedan detachment there, he therefore deputed Ramraj, a Hindoo of noble family, to the charge of the districts, and himself returned to Golconda. Three years afterwards Ramraj was expelled by some Adil Shahy troops who had been sent out on a plundering expedition, and who invaded and laid waste the estates in question, from whence Ramraj fled to the late Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, who considering his flight a proof of his cowardice ordered him instantly to quit the court. Ramraj, thus disgraced, took the route of Beeja-nuggur, and entered the service of Krishn Raj, who, shortly afterwards, forming a high opinion of him, gave him his daughter in marriage. At length his father-in-law died. The heir to the throne was a child in arms; and being, therefore, unfit to manage his own affairs, Ramraj first assumed the office of protector, and subsequently usurped the throne, taking pains to strengthen his power by the reduction of many troublesome neighbours, and the elevation of his own adherents and rela­tives. Such was the condition of the Beejanuggur state when the Prince Ibrahim, accompanied by Syud Hye, Reihan an Abyssinian, entitled Humeed Khan, and Kanajee a bramin, besides a few personal attendants, left Kasim Bereed Shah's camp and proceeded to Beejanuggur. On the Prince's arrival he was received according to his rank, and treated with the utmost respect and attention. Some time after, during his residence in that city, a circum­stance occurred which is worthy of notice. It happened that at some former period Mullik Ein-ool-Moolk Geelany having offended Ibrahim Adil Shah left his service and entered that of Ramraj, with a force consisting of four thousand cavalry. Ein-ool-Moolk had on many occasions so distinguished himself by his bravery that the Raja used to call him brother. One day, re­turning from visiting the Raja with his troops, he met the Prince Ibrahim, accompanied by his attendants, among whom were Syud Hye and Humeed Khan. As the road was narrow, each insisted upon the other's making room, till at length the Prince's party, being on horseback, charged that of Ein-ool-Moolk with drawn swords, and made good their way; after which, the Prince prosecuted his visit to Ramraj.

After the departure of Kasim Bereed Shah from Golconda, and on the near approach of Boorhan Nizam Shah of Ahmudnuggur, Jumsheed Kootb Shah, relieved from all apprehensions for his capital, marched to meet his ally. Boorhan Nizam Shah offered to confer the royal insignia on Jumsheed, and to crown him in due form; but the latter declined the ceremony, by saying, that if he could not maintain his right to the crown in the field he was unworthy of wearing it. After this, Boorhan Nizam Shah having induced Jum-sheed Kootb Shah to unite with him and Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah against the King of Beejapoor, the allied armies marched to reduce the fortress of Sholapoor. When Ibrahim Adil Shah heard of this attack, he moved, accompanied by Ka-sim Bereed Shah, towards Purenda, on the Nizam Shahy frontier, in order to create a diversion, as he was unable to cope with the three confederate armies. On his arrival, he laid siege to that fortress. This measure had the desired effect of withdrawing the allies from Sholapoor, and causing them to march to Purenda. Ibrahim Adil Shah, hearing of this movement, attacked them unexpectedly at the village of Khaspoor, where a bloody action ensued, in which Jumsheed Kootb Shah distinguished himself greatly. The King of Beejapoor was defeated, and abandoned to the confederates all his heavy baggage and camp equipage. Jumsheed Kootb Shah availed himself of this opportunity to take revenge on Kasim Be-reed, whom he pursued to the very gates of Bidur, and enriched himself and his troops by the plunder of his enemy, after which he returned direct to Golconda.*

Kasim Bereed Shah, on finding that Jumsheed Kootb Shah had abandoned the confederacy, and gone to his capital, marched with a force of eight thousand cavalry, besides a large body of infantry, to attack him. It was not before Kasim Bereed arrived at Chilkoor, a village situated at four coss† * distant from Golconda, that Jumsheed re­ceived any intimation of his approach. Panic-struck with this news, he evacuated his capital, leaving a garrison for its defence, while he en­deavoured to collect his nobles, who were re­siding on their different estates. In order to distract the attention of the enemy also, he made a movement towards Bidur, and having reached Kumtana, plundered the surrounding district. The moment Bereed Shah heard of this circum­stance he abandoned the siege of Golconda, and re­treated to protect his own capital. Jumsheed Kootb Shah met him on his return towards Bidur, with three hundred cavalry, and attacked his camp in the neighbourhood of Puttuncheroo, which ended in the two kings mutually agreeing to retire to their respective capitals. On Jumsheed Kootb Shah's arrival at Golconda, he spent some time in raising money, and in collecting troops from all quarters, when he again marched towards Bidur. On reaching Kowlas, he dispersed his army to plunder and to lay waste the country. Kasim Bereed Shah moved out from Bidur with eight thousand cavalry, besides infantry, to oppose him. Jumsheed Kootb Shah consulted his officers as to his future operations. Jugdew Row Naig-wary * proposed to take possession of the heights above Kowlas, and fortify them as a depôt, from whence it might be easy to prosecute the predatory warfare. Jumsheed Kootb Shah, adopting this ad­vice, left a strong party with Jugdew Row to build the depôt, and marched to oppose Kasim Bereed Shah at Narainkehra, where an action took place, which terminated in a drawn battle; and the two armies encamped for some time within sight of each other, till a messenger from Jugdew Row arrived, announcing the completion of the fort, to which place the King proceeded with a small escort. In the mean time, Kasim Bereed Shah falling on the Gol­conda camp, completely sacked it, and the fugitives joined the King at Kowlas. Kasim Bereed Shah, neglecting to follow up his success, retreated to Bidur, while Jumsheed Kootb Shah took quiet possession of the districts of Kowlas, Narainkehra, and Ahsunabad, which were made over in charge to Jugdew Row.

During the late war, Jumsheed Kootb Shah had always kept his ally Boorhan Nizam Shah ac­quainted with the events as they occurred; and after the defeat of his troops, during his absence at Kowlas, he wrote to that monarch informing him of the circumstance, and inviting him to join in the war. Boorhan Nizam Shah, ever ready to avail himself of such an opportunity, im­mediately marched towards Owsa and Oodgeer, informing Jumsheed Kootb Shah that his own troops and those of Berar were on the road to join, and recommended him, in the mean time, to attack such places belonging to the enemy as lay contiguous to his kingdom. Jumsheed Kootb Shah, accordingly, marching by the route of Kowlas, joined the allies while in the act of be­sieging Owsa. It was now agreed that the siege of Owsa should be continued by the allies, while Jumsheed Kootb Shah should recover the fort of Meduk, of which Kasim Bereed Shah had lately obtained possession. Upon his arrival at Meduk, Jumsheed Kootb Shah closely invested the lower fort, which, after a long siege, he carried by storm, and the governor of the hill-fort surrendered at discretion. Meanwhile the allies were suc­cessful in reducing both Owsa and Oodgeer. These events induced Kasim Bereed Shah to apply for assistance to the court of Beejapoor; and Ibrahim Adil Shah despatched Yekhlas Khan with five thousand cavalry to his support. With this reinforcement, Kasim Bereed Shah moved from Bidur to Kowlas. Jumsheed Kootb Shah intercepted him at Narainkehra, and thus disposed his troops. He himself took post in the centre, and gave command of the right wing to Seif Khan Ein-ool-Moolk, and the left to Jugdew Row. Ka-sim Bereed also remained in the centre of his army, placing the Adil Shahy auxiliaries on the right wing, and confiding the left wing to his own brother Khan Jehan. After a long and sanguinary contest, the victory was gained by the gallantry of Seif Khan Ein-ool-Moolk, who turned the enemy's left. On this occasion Kasim Bereed Shah lost many of his bravest officers and soldiers, who were either made prisoners or killed. After the action Jumsheed Kootb Shah returned in triumph to Golconda.*