Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 133

JUNE, 1929)
HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAH KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
125
ancient history. For one thing, we now heard the Hittite side of some of the political ques. tions of which the Tel-el-Amarna tablets had given us the Egyptian version; it is needless to say that the facts were placed in a new light. Most of the documents relating to contemporaneous history were fortunately in Assyrian, that being the language of diplomacy, as French is to-day.
It was not only in Cappadocia, however, that the German Oriental Society was at work. Excavations extending over several years, were being made at its expense at Babylon and Aggur, the primitive capital of Assyria. Those at Babylon did not add much to our previous knowledge ; it was different at Assur. There the history of the great temple of Assur was traced through its successive rebuildings and enlargements; the earlier history of the city was carried back to pre-historic times, the stately tombs of the later kings of Assyria were discovered, and above all, the royal library was disinterred, the existence of which was divined years ago by George Smith. Of all this we had meagre reports, which only indicated the riches of the promised land ; and then came the war.
(To be continued.) THE HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAH KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR. BY LIEUT.-COLONEL SIR WOLSELEY HAIG, K.C.I.E., C.B.I., C.M.G., C.B.E.
(Continued from p. 73.) It so happened, however, that the 'Adil Shâbi army had been informed by spies of the design, and on the night on which half of the besieging army marched the 'Adil Shâhî army aleo marched for Bijapur by another road, and before the army of Ahmadnagar could reach that place, had entered Bijapur and taken refuge behind its walls. Just at thie time 246 the force which had been sent by Kish var Khân to slay Mustafa Khân, having slain that great man, returned, and joined the rest of the 'Adil Shâhî army in Bijâpůr, so that the strength of the army of Bijâpûr was greatly increased. The amirs of Bijapur had, however recently expelled Kishvar Khân from the country246 and had not yet raised any other to the head of
346 From Firishta's narrative it would appear that the force sent to deal with Mustafa Khan had rotumed to Bij&pûr some time before the arrival of the allies before the city.-F. ii, 96.
** This is a very imperfect account of Haji Kishvar Khan's downfall. Chånd Bibf became estranged from him owing to his murder of the Sayyid, Mustafa Khan, and the quarrel between them reached such lengths that Kishvar Khan caused ChAnd Bibi to be arrested and sent as a prisoner to Satars. He then sent Miyên Buddhù the Dakani to threaten the amire at Naldrug with imprisonment unless they opposed the enemy more vigorously. The African amira, Ikhlas Khan, Dilâvar Khan, and Hemid Khan, put the envoy in irons and marched on Bijapur with the object of deposing Kishvar Khan, while 'Ain-ul-Mulk Kan &ni. Ankas Khân, and other amfra retired to their estates. The murder of Mustafa Khan and the im. prisonment of Chand Bibi had rendered Kishvar Khån extremely unpopular in Bijapur, and he was openly abused as he passed through the streets. When he heard that the African amirs were marching on the capital he took the young king out hunting but, realizing the futility of opposing the Africans, allowed him to return from the first stage and obtained leave of abeence. He fled with 400 hore to Ahmadnagar but, being ill received there, fled to Golconda, where he was slajn by an Ardistani in revenge for the murder of Muptaf& Khân. Ikhlas Khan was then inade vakit and plahod, and ChAnd Bibi was recalled from Setårn. Sho dismissed Ikhlas Khan, and appointed Afzal Khan Shirkal in his stead. Ikhlas Khan caused Afzal Khan to be put to death, and, resenting Chand Bibi's partiality for the foreign amirs, expelled Shah Fathullah Shirazi, Shah Abdul Qasim, Murtaza Khân Injů, and other Foreigners from the city. The African amere then summoned 'Ain-ul-Mulk Kanazî from his estate and, as he approached the city, went out to meet him. He seized them, put them in irons, and carried them towards the city on elephante, but on learning that the royal guards were prepared to oppose him fled to his estate, leaving his prisoners bahind They wore released and restored to power.-F. ii, 07, 98