Etimad Khan raises a supposititious son of Mahmood II. to the throne. — The King remains a pageant in the minister's hands. — The kingdom divided among the nobles into seven provinces. — The rulers of each contend for supremacy. — Civil war in Guzerat. — Arrival of the Mirzas, the sons of Mahomed Sooltan Mirza — their extensive power — they are expelled by Chungiz Khan, governor of the southern provinces. — Chungiz Khan dies. — The Mirzas return from Malwa, and re-occupy their estates. — Etimad Khan invites Akbur into Guzerat. — The Mirzas expelled by Akbur. — Their territory occupied. — Moozuffur Shah abdicates the throne, and retires to Agra. — Moozuffur Shah, after nine years, quits Agra, and re-ascends the throne of Guzerat — is expelled, and eventually taken pri­soner, and dies.

A. H. 969.
A. D. 1561.

IMMEDIATELY after the death of Ahmud Shah II., in the year 969, Etimad Khan produced a lad named Hubboo, * whom he stated to be the son of Mahmood Shah II.; asserting that his mother had concealed the cir­cumstance of her pregnancy till the fifth month, when the medicines given to produce an abortion having no effect the child was born, but brought up privately; to which facts he procured witnesses to swear. This testimony being received as suffi­ciently satisfactory, the boy was duly crowned, un­der the name of Moozuffur Shah III.; and Etimad Khan was appointed sole protector, with the title of Vizier. The kingdom of Guzerat was now subdivided into separate provinces, and allotted to the several officers in the following manner: —

The Puttun district as far south as Kurry was allotted to Moosy Khan and Sheer Khan Folady.

The districts of Radunpoor, Neriad, and Tehr-wara, as far as Moonjpoor, were made over to Futteh Khan Buloch.

The districts between the Saburmutty and Mehindry rivers were reserved by Etimad Khan for himself.

The province of Surat, and the districts of Nandote and Champanere, to Chungiz Khan.

The province of Baroach to Roostoom Khan, the nephew of Chungiz Khan.

The districts of Dowluka and Dundooka to Syud Meeran, the son of Syud Moobarik Khan Bokhary.

The province of Sorut, including the fort of Joonagur, to Ameer Khan Goony, who afterwards withdrew from the confederacy. Matters being thus arranged, Etimad Khan retained Moozuffur Shah as a sort of state-prisoner; but he was daily exhibited at court sitting upon the throne; and though the minister went through the form of saluting him, many of the chiefs refused to do so. Things continued for some time in this state, till at length Chungiz Khan governor of Surat, and Sheer Khan Folady of Puttun, came to reside at the capital. Sometime after a dispute arising between the civil officers of the Puttun and Ra-dunpoor divisions, the governors in support of their servants made war on each other; and the latter chief being defeated, Futteh Khan Buloch joined Etimad Khan at the capital, who imme­diately marched to attack Sheer Khan Folady. Sheer Khan, unable to oppose him in the field, took shelter in the fort of Puttun, and made overtures for accommodation; but these not being attended to, the inhabitants of Puttun finding they had no remedy resolved to fight; and marching out with less than three thousand cavalry, attacked Etimad Khan's army, consisting of thirty thousand horse, with a desperation for which the latter were unpre­pared. Etimad Khan's army was defeated, and sought safety in flight. Hajy Khan, an officer who had joined Etimad Khan from Dehly, and who commanded his troops, abandoned his cause, and joined the Foladies. Notwithstanding the defection of Hajy Khan from his party, he de­manded to be allowed to enjoy the revenue of his estate, which was in the hands of Etimad Khan. To this the latter refused his assent, till compelled to do so by the Foladies, who marched to occupy it. The Foladies were opposed by Etimad Khan at Chowt'hana, where he was defeated a second time, and fled to Baroach. Etimad Khan now entreated the assistance of Chungiz Khan, through whose mediation a peace was concluded, and Hajy Khan's estate was restored. The reverses which Etimad Khan had sustained induced Chun-giz Khan to write to him on the subject of the person whom he styled Moozuffur Shah, say­ing, “You have placed upon the throne a boy “whom nobody knows, but whom you declare to “be the son of Mahmood Shah: if this be true, “how is it you prevent his communicating with “any one but yourself, and how do you venture to “sit in his presence, which I am informed you “are in the habit of doing? If, on the other hand, “he is not the son of Moozuffur Shah, by what “authority did you impose upon the nation, by “swearing that he was heir to the crown?” Eti-mad Khan replied, that it was sufficient that he himself knew the circumstances of his birth; ob­serving that Chungiz Khan's father, if alive, could also swear to the facts alleged by him, and to the identity of the King's person; that it therefore behoved him to treat him with the respect which his father had always paid to the late king. Sheer Khan Folady, becoming acquainted with this corre­spondence, made overtures to Chungiz Khan to seize Etimad Khan, recommending, in the mean time, that no measures of hostility should yet be undertaken. Chungiz Khan, who had now become acquainted with the timidity of Etimad Khan's character, des­pised him, and merely demanded an increased portion of territory to support the troops which had collected about him. Etimad Khan, un­willing to refuse, pointed out to him the district of Nundoorbar, on the banks of the Tapty, which had been usurped by the ruler of Kandeish during the late anarchy in Guzerat; observing that the King was entitled to recover it, either by negotiation or by force. The object of Eti-mad Khan was to get rid of the importunities of Chungiz Khan, and to direct his attention towards Kandeish instead of Guzerat; hoping that he would be induced, if successful, to attempt the conquest of Kandeish, or if unsuc­cessful, that he might be subdued: in either of which cases Etimad Khan would get rid of a formidable rival. Chungiz Khan caught at the

A. H. 974.
A. D. 1566.

idea; and having occupied Nundoorbar in the year 974, was tempted to march on to Talnere, where he learned that Mahomed Shah Farooky, the son of Meeran Moo-barik Shah, accompanied by Toofal Khan, go­vernor of Berar, was in full march to oppose him. Chungiz Khan occupied a strong position among the broken ground and heights near Talnere, and placed his artillery and his baggage carts in the roads which run along the ravines leading towards it. * Meeran Moobarik Shah Farooky arrived at daylight, but delayed attacking till he had reconnoitred Chungiz Khan's position, whom he could by no means induce to quit his advantageous post. At night, however, he com­menced his retreat towards Baroach, and was so closely pursued by the Kandeish troops, that all his baggage and artillery fell into their hands. Nundoorbar was immediately retaken, and a strong garrison placed therein. At this period the sons of Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, five in number, who had been confined in the fort of Sumbhul,

A. H. 975.
A. D. 1567.

by order of Akbur Padshah, when that monarch marched in the year 975 for the purpose of subduing Malwa, now made their escape, and sought an asylum with Chungiz Khan at Baroach. In this history they are styled The Mirzas: * their names are as follow: —

Mahomed Hoossein Mirza,
Ibrahim Hoossein Mirza,
Musaood Hoossein Mirza,
Alugh Mirza,
Shah Mirza.

Chungiz Khan conceived that by receiving among his dependents these fugitives he should add to the respectability of his government, and did not hesitate to enrol them among the number of his officers, assigning to them estates out of his own district; and sometime afterwards he marched, accompanied by the Mirzas, to subvert the power of Etimad Khan at the capital. In the first instance he took possession of Baroda with­out opposition; and having arrived at Mahmood-abad, within fifteen coss of Ahmudabad, he wrote to Etimad Khan, saying, —

“It is well known to all the world that my “attack on Talnere was in consequence of your “advice, and my defeat on that occasion arose “from your withholding reinforcements. I now “write to inform you, that I am thus far on my “road to pay my respects to the King; and “as it seems likely, if you are in the city “of Ahmudabad on my arrival, quarrels may “ensue between our soldiers even in the streets, “I recommend, in order to prevent the oc-“currence of such an event, that you imme-“diately quit the capital and retire to your own “estates, permitting the King to retain around his “person such people only as may be most ac-“ceptable to him.” Etimad Khan, previously to the receipt of this communication, had collected the army, and marched, with Moozuffur Shah at its head, to the town of Kunoory, twelve miles from Mahmoodabad, where his and Chungiz Khan's troops met; but Etimad Khan is said to have been so dismayed at the appearance of Chungiz Khan's force, that he fled to Dongurpoor before the ca­valry had even drawn their swords; and his officers, no doubt approving his conduct, followed his good example, and took different routes. A few only remained with the King, and escorted him back to Ahmudabad. Chungiz Khan marching on encamped at Butwa; and the King on the next day flying from his capital, Chungiz Khan entered and took possession. Sheer Khan Folady, who had formerly concerted with Chungiz Khan the downfall of Etimad Khan, apprehensive that the whole of the latter chief's estates would fall into the hands of the former, insisted on an equal partition, and marched to enforce his demand. Chungiz Khan, deeming it imprudent to dispute the point with Sheer Khan, ceded to him all the country westward of the Saburmutty. Meeran Mahomed Khan, who had defeated Chungiz Khan at Talnere, ventured now to penetrate into the centre of Guzerat, and arrived without oppo­sition within a few miles of the capital. Chungiz Khan, however, having attacked and completely defeated him, compelled him to retreat to Aseer. After this event, Chungiz Khan gave up the territory contiguous to Baroach for the support of the Dehly princes, who were shortly after joined by Shurf-ood-Deen Hoossein Mirza, the son-in-law of Hoomayoon Padshah, and who had lately escaped from the court of Akbur. It was not long before the Mirzas began to complain that the estates allotted to them were insufficient for their support, and seized on other places with­out consulting Chungiz Khan; and he was obliged to oppose them with ten thousand men. The Mirzas did not hesitate to meet this force; and having defeated it, followed up their success, and took many prisoners, both Abyssinians and Guze-ratties. Those who were young and beardless were retained as personal attendants, and the more aged were put to death under the most cruel and indecent tortures; some few only were permitted to depart alive. The Mirzas, however, perceiving that Chungiz Khan was making serious preparations to attack them, marched to Boorhanpoor, and having plundered it, proceeded thence into Malwa. The remaining part of the history of the Mirzas has been related in its proper place. * Shortly after this event, the officers who held the person of the King in subjection delivered him over to Etimad Khan at Dongurpoor, and remained some time with him; but his reduced circumstances having prevented his complying with the demands they made on him, they left Dongurpoor; and Hijaz Khan, Alugh Khan, and Seif-ool-Moolk, with some others, going to Ahmudabad, joined Chungiz Khan. Some time afterwards, a confidential servant informed these officers that Chungiz Khan intended to invite them to play at chowgan * on the next day, when he proposed to seize and put them to death. “If,” said they, “Chungiz Khan should go “to the palace, and send for you there, your cases “will be more desperate, since you will then have “no opportunity to make your escape.” The chiefs had scarcely obtained this information, when a servant of Chungiz Khan entering, said that his excellency proposed going out on the following day to play chowgan, and that he requested they would all be of the party. The officers who had lately abandoned Etimad Khan now concerted measures for their own safety; and on the next day, when they attended at the palace to ac­company Chungiz Khan to the chowgan plain, Hijaz Khan took the right hand, and Alugh Khan the left, as they entered the play-ground, when giving each other a nod, Hijaz Khan drew his sword, and galloping up to Chungiz Khan, with a single blow struck off his head. The persons engaged in this transaction were, for the most part, Abyssinians. They immediately left the play-ground, and retiring to their own houses, prepared to oppose Chungiz Khan's party; but his nephew, Roostoom Khan, hav­ing collected the troops, caused the corpse of his uncle to be raised on his own elephant, and retired to Baroach, while the successful Abys-synians, plundering the palace, wrote to Etimad Khan, inviting him to join them from Dongur-poor. Etimad Khan shortly after arrived with the King. The Mirzas, who had taken possession of part of the Malwa territory, on hearing of the death of Chungiz Khan, marched to re-occupy the countries of Surat and Baroach. Roostoom Khan defended the estates for two years, but was at last obliged to come to terms with them. On the first intimation of the advance of the Mirzas, Etimad Khan wrote to Sheer Khan Folady of Puttun, asking his advice; on which it was agreed that an army, consisting of three divisions, should be immediately assembled to expel them: that the first division should proceed in advance under Alugh Khan, an Abyssinian; the second under Etimad Khan, and the reserve under Sheer Khan Folady, to bring up the rear. The first division, under Alugh Khan, marched to Mahmoodabad, but Etimad Khan, with his accustomed cowardice, threw obstacles in the progress of the second corps, which he commanded, and refused to move; and Alugh Khan and the Abyssinians, disgusted at his pusillanimity, resolved to provide for them­selves, by seizing on the districts of Cambay and Pitlaud. This measure, however, was frus­trated by a quarrel which ensued between Alugh Khan and Hijaz Khan. The crafty Etimad Khan, taking advantage of this circumstance, induced Hijaz Khan to come to Ahmudabad, and to leave Alugh Khan to join Sheer Khan Folady. Amid these dissensions the King fled from Ahmudabad, and joined the Foladies at Gheiaspoor, near Sur-kech. Etimad Khan now proposed to Sheer Khan that they should invite the Mirzas, then at Baroach, to assume the reins of government; but Sheer Khan not assenting, Etimad Khan sent an agent to Akbur Padshah of Dehly, in­viting him to occupy Guzerat, and add it to the territory of Dehly, as in former times. Akbur