Kumal Khan Deccany appointed by the late King, on his death­bed, protector to his only son Ismael. — The Soony doctrines avowedly made the established religion of the state. — Goa retaken by the Portuguese. — Treaty with the Portuguese. — The Protector gradually takes possession of several estates lapsing to the crown, till he at length threatens to ascend the throne.— He enters into a scheme with Ameer Bereed of Bidur to cede to him the districts south of Sholapoor and east of the Beema, to be himself acknowledged king of all the territory west of that river from Punderpoor — resolves on dethroning the King. — The plot of the Queen-mother to oppose the Protector. — He is assassinated. — Deliberate conduct of the Protector's mother, and activity of his son. — The Queen-mother is alarmed. — Great intrepidity of Dilshad Agha, the sister of Ghuzunfur Beg, the late King's foster-brother — collects the foreign troops about the palace — opposes every effort of the late minister's son, who attempts to carry the palace by storm, and is killed by a stone pushed over the battlements. — The King's party successful. — The Deccany troops are all dismissed, and great encouragement given to foreign soldiers. — Mirza Jehangeer authorised to attack the eastern districts ceded by the Protector to Ameer Be-reed, which are all recovered. — Ameer Bereed, in the name of Mahmood Shah Bahmuny, requires the aid of the several Deccany states, and marches to Beejapoor — is defeated — and the Bahmuny King and his son are taken prisoners. — A small force is sent with the Bahmuny King and his son to Bidur. — Ameer Bereed retreats from the capital. — Ismael Adil Shah resolves to recover Rachore and Moodkul, taken by the Hindoos — advances with an army to the banks of the Krishna. — The enemy in possession of the ferries. — The King passes on an elephant, and is followed by many of his troops — attacks the Hindoos, but is repulsed, and narrowly escapes with his life — is recommended by his general Assud Khan of Belgam to retire to Beejapoor. — The King meets Boorhan Nizam Shah at Sholapoor, and gives him his sister Muryum in marriage. — Sholapoor and certain dis­tricts promised in dower — they are subsequently withheld by Ismael Adil Shah. — War ensues. — Boorhan Nizam Shah is defeated — returns again in the ensuing year, and is again repulsed. — The King's sister Khoodeija is married to Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah of Berar. — The King sends 400,000l. sterling to assist Boorhan Nizam Shah in repelling the attack of Bahadur Shah of Guzerat. — The King attacks Ameer Bereed, and besieges Bidur — kills two of the sons of Ameer Bereed with his own hand. — Ameer Bereed is taken prisoner, but is re­stored to his territory. — Death of Ismael Adil Shah — his character.

ISMAEL ADIL SHAH, on his accession, being too young to direct the affairs of the kingdom, the sole administration was intrusted to Kumal Khan Deccany. This chief had been one of the nobles of the court of Sooltan Mahmood Shah Bah-muny II.; but on Yoosoof Adil Shah assuming independence, he came over to his interests, and was appointed Meer Nobut. After this period, showing distinguished gallantry in the battle against Timraj, he rose in favour and influence till he became prime minister. Yoosoof Adil Shah, on his death-bed, enjoined him to become regent during the minority of his son, and earnestly entreated Duria Khan, Fukhr-ool-Moolk, Mirza Jehangeer, Heidur Beg, and the rest of his officers, to maintain a strict friendship with him, as also among them­selves. On this account they respected Kumal Khan as their superior, and leaving all affairs to direction obeyed him as regent.

Kumal Khan, on assuming his new dignity, evinced great good sense by restoring the ex­ercise of the Soony religion, a measure by which he gained the affections of the people, and se­cured by his affability the support and attachment of the nobility. He cultivated the friendship of the neighbouring princes, such as Ahmud Nizam Shah, Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, and Ameer Bereed Shah. He also made peace with the Europeans, who, after the retreat of Yoosoof Adil Shah, had besieged Goa, and regained pos­session by giving large bribes to the governor. This event occurred on the accession of the infant King, and it was finally agreed that the Europeans should retain Goa, on condition of their not mo­lesting the other towns and districts on the sea­coast. Accordingly since that time the Portuguese have kept possession of Goa, and observing the treaty, have not made any farther encroachments on the Adil Shahy territory.

Kumal Khan, after thus settling the affairs of the kingdom, continued regent for some time. Meanwhile, Duria Khan and Fukhr-ool-Moolk dying, he divided their jageers among his own relatives and dependents, besides procuring for them honours and public employment. At the same time he deprived Mirza Jehangeer and Heidur Beg of some pergunas from their estates, to bestow upon his followers. The lands of all officers who died, or of persons convicted of treason, were con­fiscated, and he gave them to his own creatures. By these means Kumal Khan increased his power so greatly, that at last he became giddy with his elevated station, and his evil genius prompted him to form schemes for seizing the crown.

The ambition of treacherous ministers had already proved fatal to the lawful kings of the Deccan. Timraj was the first usurper: he had poisoned the young Raja of Beejanuggur, son of Shew Ray, had rendered his infant brother the tool of his designs, and, by degrees, overthrowing the ancient nobles, he at length established his authority over the kingdom. Kasim Bereed and others had re­duced Mahmood Shah II. to a mere pageant, and at length caused their own names to be read in the Khootba: Kumal Khan, also, tempted by these successful examples, having obtained the re­quisite means for assuming independence, addressed himself artfully to Ameer Bereed. He observed, that if he wished to extend his possessions, a favour­able opportunity now offered itself. Ahmudnuggur was at present held by a weak infant, and Imad-ool-Moolk, the sovereign of Berar, immersed in the pleasures of youth, had no inclination for military glory. Under these circumstances, Kumal Khan promised Ameer Bereed, that if he would support his views on the crown of Beejapoor, he would in return forward Ameer Bereed's views on Ahmud-nuggur. The latter heartily embraced the proposal, as he had been long secretly seeking an opportunity to extend his power; a secret treaty of offensive and defensive alliance was accordingly formed. It was stipulated that all the country formerly taken from Dustoor Deenar, such as Koolburga, Alund, Gun-jowty, and Nuldroog, as far as the banks of the Beema, should be ceded to Ameer Bereed; and that Beejapoor, Concan, Moodkul, and Rachore, with other places, should remain in the hands of Kumal Khan, who might depose, or even put to death, Ismael Adil Shah, and proceed, if he chose, to reduce Sholapoor, and the country belonging to Zein Khan.

Ameer Bereed, having first confined his sove­reign Mahmood Shah II. to his palace, moved to Koolburga; and Kumal Khan, imprisoning Ismael Adil Shah, with his mother Booboojee Khanum, in the citadel of Beejapoor, marched with a force to Sholapoor, which he besieged for three months; and no relief coming from Ahmudnuggur, Zein Khan, on receiving security for the safety of his family and wealth, delivered it into his hands, together with five and a half districts, of which he had charge. The cause of this distribution was as follows:— When the nobles of the Bahmuny dynasty threw off their allegiance, they each seized on the districts they then held in trust. Khwaja Jehan Deccany, at that time governor of Purenda, had eleven districts under him. His brother Zein Khan, governor of Sholapoor, laid claim to half of the eleven districts, and he even endeavoured to obtain royal grants from Bidur to that effect; but Khwaja Jehan, supported by Boorhan Nizam Shah of Ahmudnuggur, was enabled to retain the whole, and to oppose successfully the pretensions of Zein Khan at the court of Bidur. At length, on the death of Ahmud Shah Bahmuny, Yoosoof Adil Shah marched against Khwaja Jehan, and compelled him to cede five and a half of the eleven districts to his brother Zein Khan. Ameer Bereed, who was now besieging Koolburga, after receiving from the Adil Shahy officers the places ceded to him by Kumal Khan, sent him a congratulatory letter on his success at Sholapoor; upon which the Regent, more haughty than before, returned to Beejapoor to complete his usurpation, by dethroning his so­vereign, and usurping the kingdom.

On his arrival at Beejapoor, he brought the young King once into durbar for form's sake, to receive the compliments of the court. To strengthen his own party, he reduced the number of the Khaskheil, or royal guards, from three thousand foreign troops to three hundred, com­manding the rest to quit Beejapoor in a week, under penalty of death, and forfeiture of their property to the state. The unfortunate exiles hastened with all speed to various parts to avoid such tyranny. The Regent having thus removed the chief obstacle to his accession, next adopted the practice of the court of Nizam Shah, and caused the officers of a thousand horse to be styled commanders of three thousand. He also raised a vast number of G'hora Rawoot, * till at length, hav­ing an army of twenty thousand horse devoted to his