ull of danger and disorder。〃＇305＇ True to the traditions of his predecessors； the new Sultan of Bijapur 〃called Assud Khan from Balgoan to his presence and demanded his advice on the alarming state of affairs；〃 with the result that he patched up a peace with Burhan； making over to him the rich districts surrounding Sholapur； and sent ambassadors to arrange terms with Vijayanagar。 This done； and the allies having retired； Asada Khan marched against the Qutb Shah of Golkonda； defeated him under the walls of his capital； and in a personal encounter grievously wounded him in the face with his sabre。＇306＇
The Portuguese at this period had been very active； and amongst other more or less successful enterprises the Governor； Affonso de Sousa； attacked the territory of the Rani of Bhatkal on the pretext that she had withheld tribute due to the king of Portugal； and wasted her country with fire and sword。 Her city was burnt； the Hindus were slain in large numbers； and the Rani reduced to submission。
About the year 1544 the date is somewhat uncertain Sultan Burhan again attacked Ibrahim Adil at the instigation of Rama Rajah； but was completely defeated。
〃The sultan （Ibrahim） after this victory growing haughty and imperious； treated the ambassadors of Nizam Shah in a contemptuous manner； and behaved tyrannically to his own subjects； putting to death many and severely punishing others of his principal nobility for slight offences； which occasioned disaffection to his government。〃
On Burhan again invading Bijapur territories； a party was formed to depose Ibrahim and raise to the throne his brother Abdullah。 This prince； finding that the conspiracy had been discovered； fled for safety to Goa； where he was well received。 But when Ibrahim promised certain provinces to the Portuguese if they would send Abdullah away to a place where he could no longer disturb the peace of the Bijapur territories； De Sousa accepted the conditions； receiving the gift of Salsette and Bardes for the crown of Portugal； and the whole of the vast treasures accumulated by Asada Khan at Belgaum as a personal present for himself。 Having pocketed as much as he could of the bribe； however； he only took Abdullah as far as Cannanore and then brought him back to Goa； and when； at the end of the next year； De Castro succeeded De Sousa as Governor； the former refused to surrender the rebel prince。 This duplicity placed the Sultan in great difficulty； and in February 1546 he executed a treaty of peace； one of the terms of which was that no person belonging either to the Dakhan； or to the territories of the Nizam Shah； or to those of the king of Vijayanagar； with certain others specially mentioned； should be permitted to have any communication with Abdullah or his family until the reply of the king of Portugal was received to an embassy which the Adil Shah proposed to send to him。 There were other terms also； and these not being acted up to by the Portuguese； the Sultan in 1547 sent some troops into the provinces of Salsette and Bardes； which were driven out by the Viceroy after a stubborn fight。
De Castro then concluded treaties with Vijayanagar on the 19th September 1547； and with Ahmadnagar on the 6th October of the same year； by the former of which the Hindu king was secured in the monopoly of the Goa horse trade；＇307＇ and by the latter a defensive alliance was cemented between the Portuguese and the Nizam Shah。 This constituted a tripartite league against Bijapur。
Shortly afterwards a still more determined attack was made by the Bijapur troops against the mainlands of Goa； and in the battle which ensued one of the Adil Shah's principal generals was slain。
In 1548 the Viceroy concluded a more favourable arrangement with Bijapur and also with the Rani of Bhatkal。
The Portuguese historians say that De Sousa and Asada Khan both joined the ranks of the supporters of Abdullah； and that Asada Khan promised to give the king of Portugal all the territories of the Konkan on the downfall of Ibrahim； but the Viceroy changed his mind and withdrew； while Asada Khans death put a stop to all intrigues in that quarter。
Firishtah's account； however； of the conduct of Asada at this period totally differs； as do his dates。 He states that； although the Khan was much distressed at his master's neglect； his coldness towards him； and his attitude of suspicion； yet he himself was consistently loyal in his actions； and did his utmost to crush the conspiracy。 As to the Portuguese； this historian avers that； so far from abjuring the cause of Abdullah； they actually marched with that prince from Goa towards Bijapur； supported by the Nizam Shah； and even reached the neighbourhood of Belgaum； but when it became evident that Asada could not be corrupted； the nobles of Bijapur returned to their allegiance to their sovereign； and the alliance broke up。 Sultan Ibrahim advanced to Belgaum in February 1549；＇308＇ but on the road heard that Asada had died。
Firishtah's account of the Bijapur Sultan's conduct when he arrived at Belgaum is too suggestive to be omitted。 The king； he says； 〃COMFORTED HIS （ASADA KHAN'S） MOURNING FAMILY WITH KHELAUTS AND ASSURANCES OF ROYAL FAVOUR； BUT ALL HIS ESTATES AND TREASURES HE TOOK FOR HIS OWN USE〃 though these treasures were the accumulated property of a man whom the historian declares to have been； during the whole of his long life； the most faithful； courageous； and devoted adherent of his royal master； whom on many occasions he had personally rescued from difficulties which appeared almost insurmountable！ The Portuguese account as to the fate of the treasures accumulated by Asada Khan is given by Mr。 Danvers； who； treating the Khan as an unprincipled rebel； writes：
〃In addition to making over Salsette and Bardes to the Crown of Portugal； the Adil Khan had also given Martim Affonso （De Sousa； the viceroy） the vast treasure which Acede Khan had collected for the purpose of carrying out his rebellion； and which is said to have amounted to ten millions of ducats； OF WHICH； HOWEVER； ONLY ONE MILLION CAME INTO THE HANDS OF MARTIM AFFONSO。 Some accounts state that he sent about half of this amount to Portugal for his own use； but others aver that he employed a great part of it in the public service in India； besides sending some home for the king's use in Portugal。〃 ＇309＇
It will be seen that the two accounts differ widely in details。
At this time Ibrahim Qutb Shah； younger brother of Jamshid and heir presumptive to the throne of Golkonda； was at Vijayanagar； whither he had fled in fear of Jamshid's despotic and violent temper。 Firishtah＇310＇ relates a story of him which is worth repeating here； partly because the event occurred in the Hindu capital； partly because it illustrates the practice of duelling which； as Nuniz tells us； largely obtained at that time。＇311＇ and partly because it confirms the assertions of Nuniz that the king of Vijayanagar was in the habit of disposing at will with the revenues of his provinces。
Rama Raya had despotically turned out of his estate an Abyssinian officer in his employ named Ambur Khan； and conferred the same on Prince Ibrahim for his support。
〃Ambur Khan； enraged at the alienation of his estate； and meeting Ibrahim Kootb Shah in the streets of Beejanuggur； accused him of depriving him of it。 The latter replied that monarchs were at liberty to dispose of their own property； and that the king of Beejanuggur had chosen to give him the estate。 Ibrahim Kootb Shah proceeded on his way； but the Abyssinian called him coward in refusing to dispute his title with the sword。 Ibrahim warned him of his imprudence； but the Prince's mildness only added fury to the Abyssinian's anger； who proceeded to abuse him in grosser language。 On this the Prince dismounted and drew。 The Abyssinian rushed upon him； but the Prince's temper giving him the advantage； he killed his antagonist； whose brother； standing by； insisted on taking up the cause； and he also fell a victim to his temerity。〃
Prince Ibrahim succeeded to the throne of Golkonda In A。D。 1550。 In the previous year； says Firishtah； an alliance was cemented between Sultan Ibrahim of Bijapur and the new sovereign of Bidar； Ali Barid； son of Amir Barid。
Rama Rajah having at this period accepted the presents and professions of regard sent to him by the Nizam Shah with an embassy； Sultan Ibrahim； roused to indignation； treated the Vijayanagar ambassadors at Bijapur with such indignity that they fled in fear of their lives； and Rama Rajah； offended in his turn； induced Burhan Nizam to attack Ibrahim。 He did so successfully； and captured the fortress of Kallian； and on Ibrahim's retaliating by seizing one of the Ahmadnagar forts； an open alliance was entered into between Burhan and Rama。 The two kings met near Raichur in 1551； laid siege to the place and took it。 Mudkul also capitulated； and the Doab was thus once more restored to the Hindu sovereign。
About this time；＇312＇ so we are told by a Muhammadan historian； Rama Raya's two brothers rebelled against his authority during his absence from the capital； and seized the fortress of Adoni； upon which Rama begged aid from the Qutb Shah Ibrahim； and this being granted； Rama besieged Adoni for six months。 The place eventually capitulated； and the brothers were then pardoned。
In 1553 Burhan died； and once more the two leading Muhammadan states became friendly for a short time； but the air was too full of intrigue and jealousy for this to last long。 Sultan Ibrahim negotiated an understanding with Vijayanagar； and this led to a renewal of the war； in the course of which a battle took place at Sholapur； where Ibrahim was worsted。
But the most serious reverse which he suffered was at the hands of a chief named Ain…ul…Mulkh； whom by ingratitude and ill…treatment he had driven into open rebellion。 At the end of a short campaign against this person the royal troops were completely beaten； and the Sultan was driven to take refuge at Bijapur。 In a state of desperation he called on the Raya of Vijayanagar for aid； and Rama； as usual representing the puppet sovereign； sent his brother； Venkatadri； with a large force to expel the enemy from the Sultan's dominions。＇313＇ The story of the rebel 〃Ein…al…Moolk's〃 discomfiture at the hands o