Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/221

 HER HIGHNESS NAWAB SEKUNDER, BEGUM, G.C.S.I. (389–90)

HE history of the Bhopal state is interesting from its illustration of the foundation of the principality by an Afghan adventurer at a comparatively late period. Sir John Malcolm in his Central India gives a particular account of the state of Bhopal, and of its family, to which the general reader may be referred, but a short sketch of the principal events of its history may not be out of place in regard to the representative of its present distinguished ruler, who is the only female sovereign in India.

Dost Mahomed Khan, a young Pathan of the Mirajee Kheil tribe, came to India near the close of the Emperor Aurungzeeb's reign, and entered the service of Jelal Khan, a nobleman of the same tribe, and an officer of the Emperors court; but he soon after joined the service of the Emperor himself; and was employed in Malwah, then much disturbed by plunderers. Here he obtained charge of the district of Bersiah, and,, partly by conquest, and partly by marrying the daughter of a Hindoo landholder of great wealth, established himself at Jugdespoor, after slaying in a foray the chief of that place, when the name was changed to Islamabad. He afterwards, however, built a citadel at Bhopal, which became his capital. He died in 1723, at the age of sixty-six; his life had been passed in almost perpetual warfare, especially the latter thirty years, and he had earned, by upwards of thirty wounds, the reputation of a gallant soldier.

Dost Mahomed had two sons, the eldest, Yar Mahomed Klian, had been made over to Nizam-ool-Moolk, Viceroy of the Deccan, as security for good conduct, and was absent, and the younger, Sultan Mahomed, was proclaimed successor to his father. Yar Mahomed had, however, made friends in the Nizam's court, and was sent to Bhopal with a strong escort, where the family council received him, and did not object to his conducting public affairs, though, as he was illegitimate, he could not be recognised as chief according to the customs of the tribe, which were in full effect in Bhopal. Yar Mahomed Khan left four sons, the eldest of whom at the age of eleven succeeded him, and reigned thirty-eight years, but