Golconda and the Qutb Shahs

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This little book is an imperfect sketch of a very inpresting subject. It merely brings together in a com endious way the essential portions of the information which is cattered about in a number of books and papers, and does not aim at serving purposes of reference. My object has been to do in writing what one might do in conversation-much more briefly, of course if any one casually put the question" who were the kings of Golconda, and what did Golconda stand for in the past.

In attempting to present a connected account of the welter of human effort from the time of the stout-hearted Sultan Quli who raised his throne at Golconda, to the luckless Abul Hasan who lost it, I have endeavoured to follow the true Macaulay method of dwelling on what is interesting and passing over all that is dull or irrelevant. At the same time I have tried, to the best of my ability, to distinguish essentials from chaff in the somewhat conflicting records that have come down to us.

Remembering that it is intended to be a "popular" book I have not burdened it with references. Indeed, I cannot myself tell all the sources of my material. They are many, but readers of the works of Briggs and Haig will know how much I am indebted to them. I would like to add that I claim no originality, save that of form and presentation. I plundered wherever I found anything worth plundering. To the dead no acknowledgment is required, for "we are all heirs of the past ages"; and to the living I would remark that if anyone feels himself aggrieved and will securely identify his "original" property, I will gladly make what reparation I can.

I acknowledge, with great pleasure, my indebtedness to Mr. G. Yazdani, M. A., M. R. A. S., Superintendent of Arche- ology, Haidarabad, from whom I have always received unstinted assistance. His balanced judgment in several instances has been particularly valuable.