HYDERABAD, an extensive province of Hindustan, in the Deccan, which is situated principally between the 16th and 22d degrees of N. Lat. The name is now applied generally to all the territories of the Nizam. This territory composed a considerable portion of the ancient Telengana. The country is hilly, but not mountainous, being for the most part an elevated table-land, in consequence of which the climate is colder than might be expected from the latitude. In the vicinity of the city of Hyderabad, the mean temperature in the house, according to observations made at sunrise, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and at sunset, for one year, was—in January 74°, February 76°, March 84°, April 91°, May 93°, June 88°, July 81°, August 80°, September 79°, October 80°, November 76°, December 74°; giving as an annual mean, 81½°. The S.W. monsoon commences about the beginning of June, and terminates about the beginning of October. After it has ceased, variable weather continues for a few weeks, and this is followed by the N.E. monsoon. At midwinter the variation of temperature in the northern part of the territory is very great and sudden. The mornings are very cold, and ice is formed,
but the days are hot. Numerous rivers intersect the territory, the principal of which are the Godavery, the Wurda, and the Kistna, with their numerous tributaries. The country is consequently fertile, and, under proper management, would yield abundantly. But the whole territory is principally rented to powerful zemindars, or is granted in jaghires to the officers of government. This distribution of the landed property, which, with the exception of some portions set aside for charitable purposes, and the estates of the Nizam and the different branches of his family, is in the hands of a few individuals, is supposed to be injurious to agriculture, and of course to the interests of the revenue. The cultivators are wretchedly poor, and are much oppressed by their superiors the holders, who are subject to little or no restraint from their nominal sovereign. Where they are properly cultivated, the fields yield excellent crops of wheat, which is transported by the inland carriers to the sea-coast, whence salt is brought in return. At present, the principal trade carried on between the Nizam's dominions and those under the British government, consists in the exportation of cotton to Berar and to the Northern Circars, and also to the markets at Vellore, Arnee, and the vicinity. They bring back salt and salted fish, cloths manufactured in the Northern Circars, Arnee muslins, and European manufactures; the latter principally for the supply of the British forces subsidized by the Nizam, and for clothing his army. The chief towns of this kingdom are Hyderabad, Golconda, Warangole, Secunderabad, Beder, and Ellichpore. The majority of the people are Hindus: but having been long the seat of a Mohammedan government, a considerable portion of the inhabitants are of that religion. The revenue of the Nizam is returned at L.1,150,000. In addition to the subsidiary force maintained by the British government in Hyderabad, in accordance with the treaty of 1800, the Nizam has a large military force, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, besides a body of irregular troops, composed of Arabs, Scindees, Moguls, and Seiks.
This country was formerly subject to the rajahs of Telingana and Bijanagur; but being afterwards conquered by the Mohammedans, was formed into a separate kingdom in the year 1512, under the name of Golconda, by Mohammed Kooly, originally a Turkish adventurer. In 1687, it was brought under the dominion of Aurungzeb, and was converted into one of the provinces of the Mogul empire, and, with the other five southern provinces, was formed into a viceroyalty, under an officer appointed by the court of Delhi, called the soobadar of the Deccan. In 1719, a Mogul officer, Cheen Khilij Khan, being appointed to this government, with the title of Nizam al Moolk, or superintendent of the kingdom, collected a large army, and got possession of all the strongholds of the Deccan; and setting up for independence, he overawed the emperor Mohammed Shah and his ministers. After the invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739, he left to the Mogul nothing but the name of sovereign; and he, having made Aurungabad his capital, died at Boorhanpore in the year 1748, aged 104 years. He was succeeded by his second son, who was assassinated in 1750, and succeeded by his nephew Muzaffer Jung, who was assassinated the following year, and succeeded by his cousin Salabat Jung. This weak prince was dethroned by his youngest brother Nizam Ali, who for nearly twenty years was engaged in wars with Hyder Ali, the British, and the Mahrattas, during which his territories were greatly contracted. In 1766, Nizam Ali concluded a treaty with the East India Company, under which they engaged to have a body of troops ready to settle the affairs of his highness's government in everything that was right and proper. Subsequently Nizam Ali united his forces with those of Hyder Ali, but the alliance proving unprosperous, he concluded a new treaty with the East India Company in 1768. In the following year, on the breaking out of the war with Tippoo,
a treaty was concluded between the Nizam, the Peishwa, and the British government. Tippoo purchased peace at the sacrifice of half his dominions, and the Nizam had no reason to be dissatisfied with his share of the spoil. At a later period the Nizam claimed the assistance of the British government against the Mahrattas, which being refused, he sought safety in the entertainment of a body of French troops, who, however, were dismissed in accordance with the provisions of a treaty concluded in 1798. On the fall of Tippoo, and the annihilation of the state of Seringapatam, the Nizam participated largely in the division of the territory; and in 1800 he concluded a treaty offensive and defensive, by which he became a dependant and ally of the British. He agreed to receive into his territories a British force of 8000 infantry and 1000 cavalry; to relinquish to the British the management of all his foreign relations; and, for the regular payment of the troops stationed in his country, to cede certain portions of territory to the British. By a commercial treaty concluded in 1802 with the British, it was agreed, in lieu of all local duties, that a duty of five per cent. should be levied on all articles respectively imported into the territories of each. In 1804, after the conclusion of the war with Scindia and the rajah of Nagpoor, the Nizam acquired a large accession of territory. Nizam Ali died in 1803. He was succeeded by Secander Jah, who died in 1829. Under the successor of this prince the misgovernment of the country greatly increased, and the debt of the state was allowed to accumulate to an enormous extent, the British government being creditors for arrears amounting to half a million sterling. The claim was pressed on the notice of the Nizam's government, and its settlement was at length effected by a territorial cession, the revenues of which were made applicable to the reduction of the debt and the maintenance of the Nizam's military contingent. The territory of the Nizam may be estimated at 420 miles in length by 220 miles in breadth, and contains 10,000,000 of inhabitants.