On the return of Ibrahim Kootb Shah to his capital, he resolved to be revenged on Moor-tuza Nizam Shah for his late treachery; and as the latter always obtained assistance from the Berar court, he determined to anticipate that step by sending an envoy to Toofal Khan, the Regent of Berar, inviting him to an alliance against Moortuza Nizam Shah, to whom he could owe no friendship, since the invasion of his country, and the siege of Gavul. Toofal Khan, glad of an opportunity of revenging himself on Moortuza Nizam Shah, readily acceded to the proposed alliance, and des­patched his son, Shumsheer-ool-Moolk, with three thousand cavalry to join Ibrahim Kootb Shah; who having collected his own army, proceeded, under the pretence of hunting, towards Bidur, when he was joined, between that city and the town of Kowlas, by the Berar auxiliaries, as well as by Ally Bereed Shah. Thence they deputed ambassadors to Ally Adil Shah, inviting him, also, to join the confederacy. Moortuza Nizam Shah, far from being idle, also collected his army, and deter­mined to prevent the junction of Ally Adil Shah, either by force or stratagem. He accordingly moved towards Beejapoor with his whole force, deputing his minister, Chungiz Khan, with large presents, to the Adil Shahy camp, in order to pre­vent its union with the confederates; but, at any rate, to make such good use of his money among the courtiers as to detain the King of Beejapoor for some time, till he should hear of the approach of the Nizam Shahies. Chungiz Khan overtook Ally Adil Shah at the fort of Nuldoorg, where he dis­played so much diplomatic skill as to induce the King to give up the idea of joining the allies at all, and to consent to meet Moortuza Nizam Shah on friendly terms. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, alarmed at this sudden alteration in the measures of the Adil Shahy court, broke up the confederacy, dismissing the Berar auxiliaries with handsome rewards, and recommending Ally Bereed Shah to repair to the fort of Bidur; at the same time promising his aid in case of invasion and attack. Upon his arrival at Golconda, he pitched the royal pavilion on the plain, and directed all the Naigwary in­fantry of the realm to repair to his standard. These preparations were not unnecessary; for Moortuza Nizam Shah having made a convert of Ally Adil Shah to his cause, they both marched with the determination of reducing the kingdoms of Tulingana and Bidur; to which latter city they proceeded, the Adil Shahies encamping in the neighbourhood of the Houz-i-Kumt'hana, while the Nizam Shahies invested the fort of Bidur. Ibrahim Kootb Shah no sooner heard of the attack on Bidur than he made preparations for the defence of Golconda. On this occasion he ordered pa­vilions to be pitched on the bastions, and adorned them with rich brocades and silks from China and with velvets of European manufacture, giving himself up to the gratification of listening “to the “enchanting vocal and instrumental music of heart-“alluring damsels and fairy-faced virgins.” At the same time he detached a force of four thousand cavalry and ten thousand light infantry, under Sula-but Khan, to hover round the enemy, and to make night-attacks on the besiegers at Bidur. The Munewar infantry were eminently successful in all directions, and at all hours, bringing nightly between three and four hundred noses and ears from the enemy's lines; and they received for each nose a hoon, and for each ear a purtab. * During the day, the cavalry made their attacks at favour­able moments on the besiegers, who were distressed for want of supplies, and weary for want of sleep, owing to the constant assaults both of the cavalry and infantry. Determined to raise the siege, but ap­prehensive least Ibrahim Kootb Shah should attack them if they separated, Ally Adil Shah deputed Kamil Khan with fifteen thousand horse, and Moor-tuza Nizam Shah sent Mirza Yadgar with an equal number, to remain in the neighbourhood of Kowlas. Moortuza Nizam Shah then proceeded to punish Toofal Khan for the assistance he had given in the preceding year to Ibrahim Kootb Shah; and Ally Adil Shah marched to the south against Bun-kapoor and the Hindoo territories dependent on Beejanuggur.

It appears that in the retreat of the Beejapoo-ries, Ally Adil Shah had intrusted his family to the care of Yeswunt Row, Bhoj Mul Naig, and Dew Naig, three Marratta officers who commanded six thousand Bergy cavalry, with orders to escort them direct to Beejapoor; instead of which, they, in the first instance, made an incursion, as is usual with those freebooters, into the Kootb Shahy dominions. Sulabut Khan Afshar, a Golconda general, came up with and completely defeated them, taking the two famous elephants called Futteh Lushkur and Futteh Jung, and the fish-standard * from the enemy, while Yeswunt Row had much difficulty in carrying off the ladies in safety.

It has been before observed, that the allies left thirty thousand horse in the neighbourhood of Kowlas to cover the retreat of the two armies, the one proceeding to Berar and the other towards Bunkapoor. This division accordingly laid waste and plundered the country on the borders of Tu-lingana. Ibrahim Kootb Shah despatched Meer Shah Mahomed Anjoo with eight thousand ca­valry to oppose them, and also permitted his re­lation, Mirza Hoossein Beg Toorkman, with four hundred Toorkmans, to accompany the Golconda division. Between Kowlas and Daigloor, the troops were opposed by Syud Heidur, the governor of the latter place, who very imprudently attacked the King's forces with less than three thousand cavalry and some infantry; but he was easily defeated, and pursued into the fort of Daigloor, which thus fell without resistance. On the following day, Shah Mahomed Anjoo marched and encamped on the plain between Daigloor and Kand'har, in the neighbourhood of the enemy's camp. He was opposed, in the first instance, by the Marratta cavalry under Buswunt Row, Viswas Row, and Koly Row, who commanded the advance com­posed of six thousand mares, * which was re­pulsed by the valour of Mirza Hoossein Beg and the Toorkmans, and many Kolies† * lost their lives. Thus ended the action of the first day. On the fol­lowing day, Mirza Hoossein Beg, with his Toork-mans, was directed to attack a party of the enemy who made their appearance; and Sulabut Khan Afshar, with three thousand cavalry, was sent to support him, while Shah Mahomed Anjoo, with the rest of the army, followed. Soon after, a bloody battle ensued, in which neither gained any decided advantage. On the following day, the Golconda troops, finding the enemy had de­camped in the night, pursued them, and encamped in their neighbourhood. Mirza Yadgar, with ten thousand chosen cavalry from the allied troops, consisting chiefly of foreigners, advanced to the attack; while Mirza Hoossein Beg with his Toork-mans, without orders, mounted, and engaged the enemy. The commander-in-chief, Sulabut Khan, with two thousand cavalry, subsequently went to his support, and after another severe engagement, the allied troops were defeated; notwithstanding which, they returned to the attack, and several skirmishes occurred during a whole month. At length a general action ensued, when the confe­derates were entirely routed; and the Kootb Shahy troops, after having taken possession of the camp-equipage, baggage, &c. of the enemy, returned in triumph to Golconda.

It has been already mentioned, that the allied monarchs, having raised the siege of Bidur, separ­ated. Moortuza Nizam Shah marched north against Toofal Khan of Berar, and Ally Adil Shah proceeded south to attack the country of Beejanuggur, and wrest it out of the hands of Sree Runga Ray. This prince, unable to cope with the Beejapoor forces, deputed an envoy with mag­nificent presents to Ibrahim Kootb Shah at Gol­conda, soliciting his aid against their common enemy. It had been always an understood prin­ciple with the Mahomedan kings of the Deccan not to invade the Beejanuggur territories without the general consent of the whole. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, therefore, readily agreed to the overtures of Sree Runga Ray, promising to oppose Ally Adil Shah, and prevent him from making further ag­gressions. Accordingly, he detached his general, Shah Mahomed Anjoo, with a light force, to skir­mish and plunder the borders of the Adil Shahy dominions, while he prepared to move to the southward to the support of Sree Runga Ray. On the Beejanuggur frontier he was joined by Shah Mahomed Anjoo, after he had sacked the towns and laid waste the enemy's country, agree­ably to his instructions. He was shortly after­wards met by Sree Runga Ray, and their junction induced Ally Adil Shah to raise the siege of Bee-januggur, and return to Beejapoor; in consequence of which, the allied armies separated, and each repaired to his respective capital.

It appears, from the best authorities, that from the reign of the late Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, the rajas Venkatadry, Kustoory Timraj, and Nur­sing Row, used to pay an annual tribute of two lacks of hoons into the Golconda treasury, agree­ably to an ancient compact made upon the first reduction of the fort of Condbeer. For the last few years, however, since the King had been engaged in war with the other kings of the Deccan, the usual tribute had not only been withheld, but the rajas had had the confidence to cross the Krishna, and attack the fort of Condapilly, and lay waste the district. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, having been long engaged in the defence of his northern fron­tier, was unable, for some years, to spare a suffi­cient force to repel the invaders. However, having given his soldiers some respite from their toils, he now determined to punish the rajas of whom we have been speaking, and accordingly detached a large army under the command of his general, Imad-ood-Deen Mahmood Shirazy, entitled Heidur-ool-Moolk, to march and recover the fort of Cond-beer. Having crossed the Krishna, he first re­duced the fort of Inaconda, and then marched against the strong fort of Cacherlacota, defended by Kustoory Rungia and Moodna Chinia with twenty thousand infantry; but on the approach of the Mahomedans they evacuated it without firing a shot, and it was occupied by the King's forces. Thence Heidur-ool-Moolk marched against the fort of Cummum, which also fell without opposition. Having left a garrison therein, the Mahomedans re­turned to Condbeer. Here Heidur-ool-Moolk was informed, that Kundy Timuna, Moodna Chinia, and Kustoory Rungia, had collected a force of thirty thousand men, and were on the point of marching to attack him: he therefore deferred the siege of Condbeer, and moved to meet them. The Hindoo infantry poured in on the King's troops on all sides from the woods; but they only rushed on to their own destruction. The Mahomedans gained a complete victory, and pursued the enemy to the fort of Goorum, which surrendered. The general now marched to the attack of Belumconda, which fell; and having occupied all the minor forts in that neighbourhood, Heidur-ool-Moolk proceeded to Condbeer, the capital of the province. A long time was expended in attempting to reduce this strong fortress without effect; and Heidur-ool-Moolk found it necessary to apply for reinforce­ments to Golconda, on which Ibrahim Kootb Shah appointed Syud Shah Tucky, known by the ap­pellation of Ameer Shah Meer, with a considerable detachment of Moguls and Persians, to proceed and to take the command from Heidur-ool-Moolk of all the forces south of the Krishna. On his arrival at Condbeer, Shah Meer made many attempts to carry the place by escalade, but invariably failed, till at length he resolved, whatever might be the loss sustained, to drag his guns up the hill to within a moderate distance of the walls. By this means part of one face was battered down, and an attack made one morning both at the breach and on the south gateway. The Hindoos were prepared to receive the storming parties, and fought des­perately; but they were driven back, though not without heavy loss on the part of the assailants. The fort was eventually taken, through the ex-