The King ascends the throne in his seventh year. — Mookumil Khan Deccany minister and regent. — His son, entitled Azeez-ool-Moolk, commander of the household troops. — The nobles are offended with Azeez-ool-Moolk, and resolve to remove his party — they endeavour to obtain possession of the King's younger brother Raja-Joo, but their plan is defeated — they quit Ahmudnuggur with eight thousand men, and join the King of Berar, who is induced to lead an army to attack the Nizam Shahy dominions. — The enemy is defeated in the battle of Ranoory by the troops of the young King of Ah-mudnuggur — is pursued, and compelled to quit Berar. — Applies to the King of Kandeish to mediate a peace. — Moo-kumil Khan demands the cession of the town of Patry in ex­change for some other place. — The King of Berar not only declines compliance, but fortifies the town. — Mookumil Khan some time afterwards makes a night-attack on Patry, and occupies it. — The King espouses Ameena, a dancing girl, and takes to drinking wine. — Mookumil Khan resigns his office of minister, which is conferred on Sheikh Jafur Deccany. — The King marries the Princess Muryum, sister of Ismael Adil Shah. — The fort of Sholapoor promised to be obtained for the King of Ahmudnuggur by Assud Khan of Belgam, the ambassador — but the cession is not acceded to by the King of Beejapoor. — The King's first wife assumes superiority over the Princess Muryum. — The latter complains to her bro­ther, who remonstrates, and threatens the King of Ahmud-nuggur. — Formidable confederacy against the King of Bee-japoor. — The allies march to take Sholapoor — are defeated. — The King of Berar is encouraged by the King of Beejapoor to attack Patry — it is taken and retaken, and subsequently rased to the ground. — Boorhan Nizam Shah is attacked by the kings of Berar and Kandeish — they are both defeated, with the loss of three hundred elephants — they apply for aid to Bahadur Shah of Guzerat. — Boorhan Nizam Shah obtains the aid of Ameer Bereed, King of Bidur, and a body of troops from Beejapoor. — Ameer Bereed attacks and discomfits two divisions of the Guzerat army near Beer — but Boorhan Nizam Shah is eventually compelled to retreat, first to Pu-renda, and then to Joonere. — Bahadur Shah of Guzerat, after being proclaimed King at Ahmudnuggur, retires to Dowlu-tabad. — Boorhan Nizam Shah removes Sheikh Jafur from the office of Peshwa, and confers it on a Hindoo named Kawur Sein. — Obtains peace. — The confederates retire to their own capitals, Boorhan Nizam Shah is constrained to read the Khootba in the name of Bahadur Shah of Guzerat. — Ba­hadur Shah, after subduing Malwa, arrives at Boorhanpoor in Kandeish. — Boorhan Nizam Shah is invited to meet him. — Difficulties occur, which are removed through the address of the ambassador Shah Tahir. — Description of the meeting. — Disputes concerning territorial limits occur between the kings of Ahmudnuggur and Beejapoor — mediated by ambassadors. — Boorhan Nizam Shah supports the Sheea persuasion — avails himself of the jealousy of the King of Beejapoor against his minister Assud Khan of Belgam to wage war with him — is eventually compelled to retreat — renews the war in concert with the King of Golconda and Ramraj. — The King of Ah-mudnuggur makes three campaigns, but with little success. — His death — his body sent to Kurbula.

BOORHAN NIZAM SHAH ascended the throne of his father at Ahmudnuggur, in the seventh year of his age. Mookumil Khan Deccany, an able states­man and general, who held both the offices of Peshwa * and Ameer Joomla† * in the lifetime of the late king, was appointed Vakeel or Protector; while his son, Meean Jumal-ood-Deen, received the title of Azeez-ool-Moolk, and had the office of Sur-Nobut * assigned to him. The father and son having thus placed the royal household under their control obtained the fullest power over all the affairs of government. Nearly three years elapsed, during which the pride and inso­lence of Azeez-ool-Moolk had grown so intolerable to the other nobles, such as Roomy Khan, Kur-reem Khan, and Meer Khan, that becoming en­vious of his authority, they strove to subvert his influence; and having gained over to their interests Beeby Eisha, (nurse to the young King's mother, who enjoyed much of her confidence,) it was agreed that she should deliver over to them Raja-Joo† * the infant brother of the King, whom they determined to raise to the throne; so that by de­posing Boorhan Nizam Shah they might free them­selves from the despotic sway of the minister and his son. Beeby Eisha, accordingly, having one day dressed the young prince in girl's clothes, and put him in her own palky, took him with her towards the city. She was scarcely gone when the Queen-mother sending for the child found he was missing. Great consternation spread among the attendants both within and without the palace. Some, con­jecturing that he might have fallen into a fountain or well, went to search for him, while others, having followed Beeby Eisha, and overtaking her before she reached the city, brought both her and the child back. This old lady having been always regarded as a grandmother to the princes, was fre­quently in the habit of taking them with her to town, where they sometimes remained for two or three days, so that on this occasion she pretended that she was carrying the young prince only on a visit: in a few days, however, the secret being dis­closed, that she had done so in concert with the nobles, the minister took measures to watch the princes more narrowly. So much attention was paid to the education of Boorhan Nizam Shah, that in his tenth year he read poetry with facility and proper emphasis, and wrote exceedingly well. The author has seen a treatise on the duties of kings, in the royal library at Ahmudnuggur copied by that monarch at that tender age. The enemies of the Peshwa (Mookumil Khan) were soon after induced to quit Ahmudnuggur with their follow­ers, to the number of eight thousand men. They entered the service of Alla-ood-Deen Imad-ool-Moolk, ruler of Berar, whom they excited to attack the dominions of Boorhan Nizam Shah. Imad-ool-Moolk, deeming the conquest an object of easy attainment, marched with a large army from Elich-poor towards the Nizam Shahy frontier; while Mookumil Khan, aided by the forces of Khwaja Jehan Deccany * of Purenda, and attended by the young King, opposed the enemy near the town of

A. H. 916.
A. D. 1510.

Ranoory, in the year 916, when Imad-ool-Moolk sustained a total defeat; fly­ing from the field without halting till he reached Elichpoor, and leaving in the hands of the Nizam Shahies all his baggage, horses, and elephants.

In this battle Boorhan Nizam Shah, on account of his tender years, rode on horseback with his tutor Ajdur Khan, and was seated before him on the same saddle. Imad-ool-Moolk, finding him­self pursued, left Elichpoor and fled to Boorhan-poor, where he solicited the aid of the ruler of Kandeish to mediate a peace. Some learned men were accordingly sent to Mookumil Khan, who represented that it was contrary to the law of the prophet for the faithful to wage war against each other, a peace was concluded, and both parties returned to their respective dominions.

It is said that the ancestors of the Nizam Shahy kings were natives of the town of Patry; but for some cause, one of them, a Coolcurny†, * quitting his birth-place, removed to Beejanuggur and settled. When the family attained regal power, its relations came to Ahmudnuggur, and express­ed a desire to recover their ancient rights in the village of Patry, situated within the territory of Berar, but close on the Nizam Shahy frontier. On which Mookumil Khan wrote to Imad-ool-Moolk, as from Boorhan Nizam Shah, requesting that he would, out of private regard, give up the Patry district, in which the Nizam Shahy family had so much interest, and receive in lieu of it another, yielding even a greater revenue. Imad-ool-Moolk refused to consent to the exchange; and fearing that a war might ensue in consequence of his refusal, began to build a fort at Patry. Moo-kumil Khan requested him to desist, but in vain; till at length the work being completed, Mookumil Khan, being some time after at Dowlutabad, went on a party of pleasure to see the caves of Elloora in its vicinity, from whence he made a sudden march against Patry, and carried it by assault. After which he left it in charge of Meean Maho-med Ghoory, who had distinguished himself on the occasion, and conferred on him the title of Kamil Khan.

The young king, in the mean time, having at­tained the age of manhood, became enamoured of a dancing girl called Ameena, whom he married, and placed at the head of the ladies of his seraglio. From her he learned to drink wine, which Moo-kumil Khan having understood, he approached the throne, and laid the seals of his office at the feet of the King, saying, “While your Majesty was a “child, I (the humblest servant of your throne) “carried on the affairs committed to my charge to “the best of my ability; but now that you are “able personally to conduct the affairs of the state, “you must excuse me from interfering in public “business.” Boorhan Nizam Shah complied with the minister's request, but raised his sons to high rank, and conferred the office of Peshwa on Sheikh Jafur Deccany. Mookumil Khan ever after lived retired, going to court occasionally only at the earnest request of his friends; but resisted every attempt to induce him again to engage in public business, till at length he died a natural death.