Page:The Nizam.djvu/31

 INVASION OF THE DECCAN. was raised to the throne." Jelal-ood-Deen opened his government by successful warfare upon Malwa, leaving the further attack upon that country to his nephew Alla- ood-Deen, who, after proved valour in some engagements, was allowed by his uncle to assemble an army, with which, in the year 1294, in the expressive language of ELPHIN- STONE, he "opened a new era in the history of India. He resolved to attempt the hitherto untried adventure of an invasion of the Deccan; and setting out, with 8000 chosen horse, from Karrah " (of which he was the governor), "made his way through the extensive forests that still fill the space between that place and Berar; threw the princes, whose country he was approaching, off their guard, by pretending to have left his uncle in disgust; and having thus reached Ellichpoor, he turned to the west, and pro- ceeded by rapid marches to Deogiree, the main object of his expedition. Deogiree (now Dowlutabad) was the capital of Ramdeo, a prince of so great power that the Mahommedans look on him as King of the Deccan." Alla- ood-Deen attacked and took Deogiree as well as obtained an immense payment in money and jewels, besides the cession of Ellichpoor and its dependencies; the raja was further to pay tribute annually. Alla-ood-Deen, on his return to Hindoosthan, had his uncle Jelal-ood-Deen assassinated, and mounted the throne of Delhi. In 1305 he sent an ex- pedition, under Maleek Cafur, a eunuch who had been the slave of a merchant at Cambay in Goozerat, to attack Wurungal, the capital of Telingana, and to reduce the Raja of Deogiree, who had of late withheld his tribute. The force failed in its object, from various causes; but a second, sent in 1312, again under Cafur, accomplished all the objects of the expedition, together with the death of the Raja of Deogiree, the son of the previous prince. B 3