KINGS OF GUZERAT (a.d. 1396 TO 1572).

Memorable Events.- On the separation of Guzerat from Delhi, the extent of the kingdom consisted of but a narrow territory on the plain between the hills and the sea, the hilly and forest tracts were mostly held by mountain tribes of Bhils and Kūlis; the Rājā of Edur (a Rajput) being in possession of the western part of the hills. This dynasty was founded by Mozuffur, son of a Rajpūt convert. The kings had frequent wars with Malwa, Khāndesh and the Bahmani kings of the Dekhun, and they obtained in 1429 the islands of Bombay and Salsette from the latter. Ahmed Shah I. built the towns of Ahmednuggur and Ahmedabad. Mahmud Shah, the sixth king, was noted for his vigorous government and maritime expeditions. He co-operated with the Mamlūks of Egypt in a naval war against the Portuguese, but was defeated in 1508, near Diu in Guzerat. Bahādur Shah, the tenth king had his supremacy acknowledged by the kings of Khandesh, Berar, and Ahmednuggur; in 1531 he conquered Malwa and annexed it to Guzerat. He was killed in an affray which took place

Kings of Khandesh.

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between him and the Portuguese off Diu. Nothing further of any note occurred till 1572, when Guzerat was conquered by Akbar and annexed to his dominions.

KINGS OF KHANDESH (A.D. 1399 TO 1596).

Memorable Events. The kingdom of Khāndēsh comprised the lower part of the valley of the Tapti; to the south it was bounded by the Dekhun tableland, and to the north by the Injadri range. The country was rich and well-watered, and seems to have enjoyed a high state of prosperity under its kings, as the numerous remains of irrigational works evidently show. The capital was Burhanpur, near the strong hill fort of Asirgarh. There is nothing worthy of note in the domestic history of these kings. The founder of the dynasty was Malik Ambur, a person of Arab descent. Khandesh was re-annexed to Delhi by Akbar in 1599.

Memorable Events.-This dynasty was founded by Futteh Ullah, who was descended from a converted Hindu. This small kingdom extended from the Injadri hills to the Godaveri, and it bordered on Ahmednuggur and Khandesh on the west. On the east its limits were uncertain, but it is supposed not to have included Nagpur. This state merged in that of Ahmednuggur in 1572.

(III.) JEHANGIR (A.D. 1605 TO 1627).

Birth and Reign.-Was the eldest son of Akbar; born in 1568, and on his accession assumed the title of Jehangir (Conqueror of the World). He reigned till 1627.

Marriage. With Nur Jehan (Light of the World), widow of Shir Afghan Khan, a woman of remarkable grace and beauty, and of great capacity in state affairs. She survived Jehangir, and died in 1646. She was buried in a tomb she had herself erected close to that of Jehangir at Lahore.

Issue.-1. Khusru, who died in 1621. 2. Parviz. 3. Khurram, afterwards Shah Jehan.

Death.-Died of asthma on his way from Kashmir to Lahore, October 28th, 1627, in the 60th year of his age. Was buried at Lahore, where his tomb still exists.

Character. This prince was wanting in neither good feelings nor good sense, but he was the slave of favourites and wine. His intelligence was of a low order, and he fully believed in magical performances, regarding them as the results of supernatural power.

Wars.-With the Rana of Udipur in 1607, and against Malik Ambur in the Dekhun. In 1614 the Rana submitted on honourable terms. In the Dekhun the imperial armies were repeatedly defeated by Malik Ambur, but in 1617, he was forced to submit; the fort of Ahmednuggur was restored as well as all the territory he had re-conquered from the Moguls. In 1621 Malik Ambur renewed the war, but peace was again concluded on a further cession of territory and the payment of a sum of money by the Dekhun prince. Jehangir's reign was also disturbed by the rebellions of his sons and subjects. The first was fomented by his eldest son Khusru in 1606, but was quelled in about a month. The second by his third son, Khurram, in 1623, owing to a mutual distrust between him and his father. He obtained possession of Bengal and Behar, but was defeated by his brother Parviz and Mohabet Khan; he then united his fortunes with Malik Ambur in the Dekhun, but being deserted by his army, submitted to the emperor in 1625. The third rebellion was that of Mohabet Khan, one of Jehangir's generals, and the most eminent of all the emperor's subjects. Driven to rebellion by the persecutions of the empress (Nūr Jehān) in 1626, he seized Jehāngir as the latter was preparing to cross the Jhilum, but the emperor was soon after rescued, and terms were granted to Mohābet Khān provided he used his services against Shah Jehān, then once more in rebellion. Instead, however, of following up Shah Jehan he joined him, but all further hostilities were avoided by the death of Jehangir, which occurred in 1627.

Memorable Events.—It was in 1611 that Jehangir married Nur Jehan. She was of Persian extraction, and her grandfather held an office of high trust under the government of that country. Her name was put on the coin together with the emperor's. Her conduct in rescuing her husband from the hands of Mohābet Khan was most spirited. After the death of Jehāngir, she was allowed a stipend of £250,000 a year; she wore no colour but white after his decease, and appeared to devote her life to the memory of her husband.

East India
Company.

It was in 1599 that the first East India Company was formed, with a capital of £30,133, to open a trade with Hindusthān. In 1600 a charter was obtained from Queen Elizabeth, and in 1601 the first venture, consisting of five ships with goods valued at 68,000 rupees (£6,800) and a quantity of bullion, under the command of Captain Lancaster, sailed for the East. No part of India was touched at, but the fleet proceeded to Sumatra, and afterwards to Bantam, where a factory was erected; it returned to England in 1603 with a satisfactory profit. In 1608 their fleets touched for the first time on the coast of India. In 1611 the Company sent two ships to Surat (Sūrut), where they defeated four Portuguese ships of war. In 1612 Captain Best settled the English factory at Surat, and in 1613 a "firman" was obtained from Jehangir, allowing the establishment of factories at Surat, Ahmedabād, Kambay, and Gogo. In 1616 the title of President was first given to Thomas Kerridge, superintendent of the Surat factory, and this town became the chief seat of English commerce on the western coast of India. On the Koromandel Coast the Company's first factory was opened at Masulipatam, and removed thence in 1625 to Armegan. In 1615 Sir Thomas Roe arrived at the Court of Jehāngir as Ambassador from King James I. He describes the