Page:Historic Landmarks of the Deccan.djvu/21

 Nizam-ul-Mulk allayed local irritation by explaining that it was impolitic to postpone the public recognition of Mahmud's accession, and that the amirs in the provinces could have another darbar assembled and arrange among themselves how they would divide the grants of titles and jagirs customary on the occasion of a coronation. Similarly all the Deccanis and African officials present in Bidar at the time endeavoured, by every means in their power, to conciliate the foreigners and to remove their apprehension.

Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur and Fakhr-ul-Mulk of Junnar were the first of the tarafdars to arrive at court. They encamped with their troops before Bidar more after the fashion of a hostile army intent on besieging the place than as vassals come to pay homage, for Hasan Nizam-ul-Mulk, who loved them not, was supreme in the city, and cau- tion was necessary. When Yusuf Adil Khan entered Bidar to pay his respects to his sovereign he took with him his most trusted officers and a thousand picked troops, fully armed, two hundred of whom he took with him, in defiance of the etiquette of the court, inside the palace. He found that Hasan had five hundred of his men within the palace walls, but went on without fear. After making his obeisance Yusuf, as his custom was, took his place on the right of the throne, above all the other amirs, and carefully watched Hasan Nizam-ul-Mulk, at the same time setting Darya Khan, one of his officers, to watch Hasan's son, and to be in readiness to cut him down in case Hasan's Deccanis should make a movement. When the darbar was dismissed Yusuf took Hasan's hand and thus walked with him to the gate of the palace, as though in friendly converse, but in fact prepared to slay him at the first sign of any disturbance. On the following day Hasan Nizam-ul-Mulk waited on Yusuf Adil Khan and suggested that he and the other foreign amirs should lodge within the city walls. Yusuf, with expressions of friendship and a veiled threat, declined the invitation, but at the same time declared that he had no desire to interfere in the civil administration of the kingdom. It was agreed that Hasan Nizam-ul-Mulk should be regent, that Qivam-ul-Mulk the elder should be prime minister, as well as tarafdar of Warangal, that Qivam-ul-Mulk the younger, the tarafdar of Rajamahendri, should be associated with him, and that Dilawar Khan, the African, should command the royal forces. After