As to the Fortress of Bidjapoor, it has been built by Y8s8f-adel-shah, Some accounts of Bidjapoor. founder of a family of Kings who always bore the same name. It was at first raised with mud; but in the year 900, he surrounded it with a wall of stone and mortar, and left it to his descendants, in whose hands it continued until it was taken from Sekander-adel-shah, the last of that family, by the victorious arms of Aoreng-zib, in the year 1097. It fell in the hands of the Marhattas about two hundred and sixty-seven years after its building. The Governor surrendered it without saying a word; but Sëyd Nedjef-aaly-qhan, Governor of the Fortress of Assir, who received a like order from Selabet-djung, refused to surrender his fortress, and he supported a siege of a whole year, when being reduced to extremity for want of victuals, he surrendered it to the Marhattas upon terms. It was on the 12th of the second Reby, in the year 1174.

This Fortress of Assir is one of those built by Assa-ahir, who gave it his own name, which word in process of time, has been curtailed by the suppression of three letters, into that of Assir. His name was really Assa, to which, in compliance with the custom of India, they added that of his clan, which was that of Ahir, a tribe that employ themselves solely on dairy business and in attending black cattle. This Assa was a Zemindar of an illustrious family of Qhandess, which had dwelt on that mountain as well as commanded in that District, for seven hundred years together, and they had raised a fort of rough stone and mud to secure their herds and their riches. It came to Assa in that condition. But as he was much richer and much more powerful than his predecessors, he threw down the old walls, and raised a regular fortification of stone and lime, which became very strong, was conspicuous from afar, and came at last to be called by the name of Assa-ahir’s Fortress. It was snatched from his hands by Nassur-qhan-farooky, who in the year eight hundred and one assumed the crown, and set up a new Monarchy in the Province of Qhandess, where he commanded as Governor. But this fortress being nearly impregnable by open force, he made use of the following stratagem: He sent word to Assa to request his giving an asylum to his children, consorts, and family, as the Radja of Buglana, and the Radja of Antoor had joined together, and were coming upon him (Nassyr-qhan) at the head of a great army; two Princes whom he would readily encounter, as soon as his mind should be easy with respect to his family. The Gentoo consented, and gave orders at the gate accordingly. The day appointed, a number of covered chairs entered the fort. They were full of Nassyr-qhan’s women, who had orders to treat Assa’s women with the utmost civility, and with many presents, whenever they should come to pay them a visit. They came in fact, and returned to their homes, perfectly satisfied with their guests. The next day, an equal number of covered chairs came in, and were admitted; but they contained two hundred of the bravest men of Nassyr-qhan’s army. The Radja hearing that these only were the Governor’s consorts and daughters, whereas the former were but his concubines, got up from his palace, with his children, and went forward to welcome the new comers, and to introduce them to their new lodgings; and he was returning home, after having fulfilled that office, when the men in the mahafas, having assembled together, fell upon him, and put him to the sword, with his children and retinue. The rest of the garrison, frightened by this execution, asked for quarter, and were permitted to retire out of the fortress. Nassyr-qhan, informed of this, hastened thither with a body of troops with which he put a garrison into it; and it has remained since that day in the possession of his descendants, until the reign of Sultan-Acbar-shah, Emperor of Hindostan; when in the year 1009, it was taken from the last of them, Bahadyr, son to Radja-aaly-qhan, and entrusted successively to a number of Governors, independent of the Province. It was computed that about four hundred and sixty years had elapsed betwixt Nassyr-qhan, and War between the French and English, which last take P8lcherry. the surrendering of this fortress to the Marhattas. It was in this same year, 1174, that the English having taken from the French the Fortress and Port of P8lcherry, after a long siege, ruined from the foundation both its fortifications and buildings. By a consequence of the same event the Provinces of Sicacol, Radj-bendery, and some others, that had been given in Djaghir to the French, and which it was thought would never be recovered from their hands, fell down of themselves at this time, and returned to their former owners.

But this event, considerable as it was, proved of small con­sequence, when compared to those that had at the same time taken place in the Capital. We have already said something of Nedjib-qhan, the Rohillah, who was a man of genius and valour, and we have mentioned that having been, on account of the high character he bore, invited over by the Vezir Umad-el-mulk, whilst he was waging war with Ab8l-mans8r-qhan, he came soon to be greatly esteemed, so as to rise to the highest influence and dignities; and it was out of regard to that high character of his, still more than for his being an Afghan and a countryman, that the Abdaly Monarch had thought proper to recommend him to the high dignity of “Prince of Princes.” Whilst this high dignity was betowing at Delhi, the Vezir Umad-el-mulk was waiting at Feroh-abad the issue of the Abdali-king’s expedition; but he no sooner heard that he was returned to Can­dahar, than thinking his honour concerned in not falling short of that Monarch, he bestowed that high office on Ahmed-qhan-bangash, just as the Monarch had bestowed it on Nedjib-qhan. After that he returned to Shah-djehan-abad. In his way thither, he effected a junction with Ragonat-räo, a relation of Baladji-räo’s, as well as with the Marhatta General, Malhar-holcar, and marched to that Capital, which he took; and having besieged the citadel, nothing was seen for forty-five days together but cannon-balls and rockets; and both the Emperor Alemghir and Nedjib-ed-döwlah, alias Nedjib-qhan, his Minister, were going to fall in his hands, when the latter sent a mighty bribe to Malhar, who from that moment assumed the character of mediator, and proposed an accommodation. Meanwhile, having brought Nedjib-ed-döwlah from the citadel, with both his family, furniture, and effects, he lodged him close to his own quarters. After which he conveyed him to his own country, which is on the other side of the Djumna, and consists of the Districts of Soharenpoor, Chand­poor, the whole territory of Barr, and some other lands, like Boodya, and Nedina. After this departure, Umad-el-mulk, who styled himself the Vezir, took possession of the administration of what was still called the Empire, placed his own creatures in it, and remained the sole disposer of affairs. But long before Umad-el-mulk seizes on Delhi, and on the Emperor’s person. the Vezir’s arrival at the Capital, his intentions were so far mis­trusted by the Emperor Alemghir and his Minister, Nedjib-ed-döwlah, that they had thought proper to send the Imperial Prince out of town. This was Aaly-goher, who bore the same title with his father. They gave him in appanage the Districts of Hansi, Djudjar, Cher-radery, and some others that yet depended on the Qhalissa, and they recommended to his care, to seem busy only in settling the revenue of those Districts, and in bring­ing them into order; but meanwhile to take possession of as many more Districts as he could, in his right of presumptive heir of the Empire, and virtual owner of that whole country. They added, that he ought to employ those revenues in acquiring friends, raising a good army, and keeping himself in readiness to come to his father’s assistance, whenever the Vezir Umad-el-mulk should return to the Capital, and avail himself of the two Imperial Princes in his power to excite troubles, and to give vent to his own mischievous disposition. Whilst Aaly-goher was preparing himself to go abroad, the Empress Zinet-mahal, second consort to the reigning Emperor, who on the decease of Aaly-goher’s mother had conceived for him a motherly affec­tion, willing to render him a farewell service, sent for my father, at the gate of the seraglio, with the Emperor’s consent, and there she appeared veiled in his presence; and after having strongly recommended Aaly-goher’s education as well as his person to his paternal care, she took the young Prince’s hands Some account of Prince Aaly-goher,
present reign­ing Emperor, under the title of Shah-allem. and put them in my father’s right hand. The young Prince, after this tender scene, went out, and took up his residence at the seat and garden of Tal-cat8rah, where he commenced assembling forces, most of the braves residing in the city making it a point to enlist under him. One of these was Mir-djaafer, the Hindostani, who had with him a number of men that bore a character both for bravery and fidelity. Ozm-aaly-qhan was another nobleman of the same family, with the late Hussein-aaly-qhan, and like him devoted to the service of an Imperial Prince, as we shall some day mention, if it pleases God. But as by this time the Vezir Umad-el-mulk had with the assistance of his Marhattas, made himself master of the Emperor’s person, he forced the latter to send an order of recall to the Shah-zadah, or Imperial Prince, and not satisfied with that, he supported the letter by a General of his own, Seïf-eddin-aaly-qhan, the Cashmirian, at the head of ten thousand horse, and by a precise order to bring the Prince back by every means in his power— by persuasion, promises, intreaties, threats, and open force. The Prince, sensible of his helpless situation, turned towards the Capital, and he was setting out for it, when he was dis­suaded by one of the Commanders that had come over with Holcar-malhar to the Vezir’s assistance, and had enabled him to drive away Nedjib-ed-döwlah and to make himself master of the Emperor’s person. This was Atel-räo, who although intending to follow the others into Decan, was yet encamped in the ter­ritory of the Capital. This Commander, meeting the Shah-zadah in his return thither, dissuaded him from going to the city, where he represented the many dangers to which he would infallibly be exposed, from the Vezir’s omnipotence, fears, and cruelty; and he proposed his rather continuing abroad, and taking pos­session of the territories round the Capital, in which case he would serve the Prince with his person and troops. The latter who wanted no better, and who augured well of such a proffer, quitted the road he held, and joining Atel-räo, he crossed the Djumna, and took possession of some Districts in the neighbour­hood. The Vezir hearing of such a change, sent a secret message to Atel-räo, and under promise of a great present, he wrought so great an alteration in his mind, that the Marhatta commenced advising the Prince to return to the Capital, and at the same time parted company with him. The Prince obliged to submit to circumstances, returned to the city, and took up his abode in Aaly-merdan-qhan’s Palace, whatever instances the Vezir made for his residing within the Citadel. He had but a small number of friends with him, and but a small number of troops, as all those of the latter description, who had dwellings in the city, had retired to their homes. The Vezir sensible of this, sent him a message, requesting his being pleased to dismiss all his troops, as the treasury could not afford to pay for them; else, he advised that they should be sent to the Districts of the Prince’s appanage, as the only means to keep those Districts under order, and as the only method to pay those people the arrears which they claimed. The Prince who saw the drift of the message, but had no choice left, picked up a small number, whom he desired to reside with him, and he sent the rest to the territories pointed out.