INTRODUCTION

On my arrival at Ahmednagar I was much impressed by its noble fort, and was curious to learn its                                             history. I asked questions. Replies   were vague and fanciful. I have now made some sought research, and have found very interesting the life of the Deccan Queen, Chand Bibi, contemporary of Queen Elizabeth, and also the other simple tales narrated here. As no work of this nature has hitherto been published, and the facts are undoubtedly of local interest, I have been induced to place them in book form.

For my facts, I have relied largely on the ''Bombay Gazetteer," which refers freely to the history by Ferishta, written at Bijapur (a.d. 590-600).
I have also referred to Meadows Taylor's books, kindly lent to me by the Regimental Munshi. For the photographs, I amindebted to Mr. A. C. Wild, i.c.s., Bijapur. Ahmednagar, cecil cowley, I4th December, 1918,