As to this little book, I have had neither time nor opportunity to fill in the gap between the reigns of H. H. Nizam Afzul-ud-Daula and H. H. Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur. I have drawn on recent administration reports for information concerning the State as it is to-day; but I have not attempted to supply one of the greatest wants of the State, namely, a history of the reign of H. H. Mir Mahabub Ali Khan.
Asaf Jah, the first Nizam, was born in 1671 a.d., at Delhi, where he, at an early age, attracted the favourable notice of the emperor Aurangzeb. His original name was Kamar-ud-din, and the title of Asaf Jah was conferred upon him by the emperor Muhammud Shah when he obtained the keys of the fortress of Golconda. He was at that time engaged in re-conquering the possessions of the Delhi emperor in southern India, and about the year 1730 a.d. he was confirmed in his appointment as Viceroy of the Deccan by the emperor Muhammud Shah, who not only sent him the title of Asaf Jah, but also some jewels and an elephant, and told him "to settle the country, repress the turbulent, punish the rebels, and cherish the people." He went several times to the
