the most notable men that Hyderabad has pro-
duced. He began life as a private soldier in the
Hyderabad Contingent, but he belonged to a
respectable Syed family and soon proved himself
to be a man above the common standard. He
first distinguished himself as a soldier during the
Indian Mutiny when he saved the life of his
superior officer, an English Major, and in doing
so received a sabre cut on his own back down to
the waist. This brought him into notice and he
was recognised as being not only a brave soldier
but possessed of such intellect as might make him
a useful officer in the Intelligence Department.
Some time afterwards, when the Commander-in-
Chief of India, Sir Robert Napier, proceeded on
the Abyssinian campaign, he took Mir Akbar Ali
Khan with him and employed him in collecting
such secret intelligence as might be useful; Mir
Akbar Ali Khan was worthy of the trust reposed
in him, and it was not long before he was able to
get a plan of the fort of Magdala which he sub-
mitted to his chief. This valuable service made
the taking of the fort easy and was duly acknowl-
edged by his name being mentioned in the special
despatches sent to London by Sir Robert and,
later, by his being made C.S.I. Probably he
was the first Indian Muslim who received such
an honour.
The Government of India informed the Nizam's
Government of Mir Akbar Ali Khan's valuable
services and thought that the Nizam, whose subject
he was, might be pleased to show his appreciation