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JULY, 1920) HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAH KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
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and proceeding on his course, the light wind giving him a superiority over the heavy junks. Considering the immense force of the pirates and the time the engagement lasted (half an hour), the escape of Captain Hely and his small crew was miraculous. Seven were however severely wounded whilst alongside the junk by spears and pikes; he himself was struck on the head by a stone, carrying away his cap but without injuring him, and one man only escaped unhurt. Captain Hely had no doubt that the pirates had received timely notice of his intention to visit Foochow, for the shore was crowded with spectators, watching the contest and cheering on the pirates. His fire proved effective, for the Chinese authorities, who were taking measures to secure the pirates, informed him that five were killed and forty wounded, many of them severely.”
[ Times, 24 July 1851. ] (To be continued.)
THE HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHI KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR. BY LIEUT.-COLONEL T. W. HAIG, C.8 I., C.M.G., C.B.E.
(Continued from p. 108.)
XIV-AN AOOOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF THE FORTRESS or DAULATABÁD. It has already been mentioned that Ahmad Nizam Shah had determined to send an army every year into the Daulatâbâd district to plunder and ravage the country, to collect all the grain and all agricultural produce and to carry off what was moveable, and burn the rest, in order that the garrison might be prevented from carrying into the fort a single grain which would help to enable to sustain life. These orders were carried out, and overy year, at the reaping time and harvest, an army used to invade that country and carry off all that they could, burning the houses and the dwellings of the cultivators and inhabitante.
When some years had passed in this manner, most of the cultivators and labourers of that country were reduced to sore straits by want of food and by the attacks of the royal army, and every day bands of men from the fort, guided by divino gruoe into the path of wisdom, truth, and righteousness, used to desert the fort and come to the royal court, where their affairs were bettered and they lived free from the anxieties of the times under the king's protection. Those misguided fools who tamed their becks on the good fortugo and sought.. not refuge in the royal court had their recompense from the world-consuming wind of the king's wrath, and those who were shut up in the fortress were poduoed to the greatest straits. At length those turbulent men were compelled to go in body to the originator of all the strife, Malik Sharaf-ud-dîn, and to represent to him that it was perfectly evident and clear to all that the heir of the kingdom and of the race of Bahman was none other than Ahmad Ni Am Shah, who was too powerful to be resisted. They urged Sharaf-ud-din to submit. in order that their lives and the lives of their wires and children might be safe. Malik Sharafud-din was obstinate and blind to his own interests and would not listen to their advioe. Just now, however, Malik Sharaf-ud-din was overtaken by fato, and died, and immediately after his death all the inhabitants of the fortress, rich and poor, great and small, young and old, came forth and submitted to the king, surrendering to him the keys, and beseeching him to spare their lives. The king pardoned their offences, and the fortrons of Daulatábad, like
