fortified place which he called Fírozábád. He brought another canal from the river Jumna, and threw it into the tank of that city, from whence he carried it on farther.

In the month of Zí-l hijja, on the day of the 'I'd-i azha, in the year before named, a robe of honour and a diploma arrived from the Khalifa al Hákim bi amr-illáh Abú al Fath Abú Bakr Abú al Rabi' Sulaimán, the Khalifa of Egypt, confirming on (the Sultán) the territories of Hindustán.

In the year 759 H. (1358 A.D.) an army of Mughals came into the neighbourhood of Díbálpúr, and Malik Kabúl, Lord of the Bedchamber (sar-burdah-dár), was sent against them. Before his forces the Mughals retreated to their own country. ** At the end of this year, Táju-d dín Betah, with several other amirs, came from Lakhnautí to Court as envoys, bringing with them presents and tribute, and they received a gracious reception.

In the year 760 H. (1359 A.D.), the Sultán marched with a large army against Lakhnautí, leaving Khán-i Jahan in Dehlí and Tátár Khán as Shikkdár at Multán, (to guard) the Ghazní frontier. When the Sultán reached Zafarábád, the rains came on, so he halted there. Here he was waited upon by Malik Shaikhzáda Bustámí, who had left the country by royal command. He brought a robe of honour from the Khalifa,' and the Sultán being graciously disposed towards him, granted him the title of 'Azam Khán. Saiyid Rasúldár, who had come with the envoys from Lakhnautí, was now sent back thither, and Sultán Sikandar again sent him to Court with five elephants and rich presents. But before he arrived, 'Alam Khán came to Court from Lakhnautí, and he was told (by the Sultán) that Sultán Sikandar was foolish and inexperienced, and had strayed from the path of

Sarsutí, he brought it to the river Sar-khatrah (3), where he founded the city of Fírozábád. He also brought another canal from the Jumna, and threw it into the tank of that city." The words "river of Sar-khatrah" are clearly wrong. In the translation, which was made from MSS., the name is given as "Pery Kehra," which is more like the Harbí-khir of our text. The real name is possibly Hari-khíra.

1 Firishta says "of Egypt.”

rectitude. The Sultán at first had no desire to draw the sword against him; but as he had not discharged the duties of obedience, he must now understand that the Sultán was marching against him.

After the rainy season, the Sultán proceeded towards Lakhnautí, and on the way Prince Fath Khán received the insignia of royalty, such as elephants. A coin was struck in his name,1 and tutors were appointed for him. When the Sultán reached Pandwah, Sultán Sikandar shut himself up in Ikdála, where Sultán Shamsu-d dín, his father, had before taken refuge. On the 16th Jumáda-l awwal, 761 (5th May, 1360), the Sultán sat down against Ikdála, and passed some days in besieging it. The garrison perceived that they could not withstand the assailants, so they were compelled to capitulate, and seek for peace by sending elephants, treasure, and goods as tribute. On the 20th Jumáda-l awwal, the Sultán marched from Ikdála on his return, and when he reached Pandwah, Sultán Sikandar sent him thirtyseven elephants and valuable offerings as tribute. By successive marches he reached Jaunpúr, and the rains coming on he rested there. After the rains were over, in the month Zí-l hijja of the same year, he marched with his victorious army by way of Bihár to Jájnagar. Orders were issued that the baggage animals (lashkar-sutúr), women, horses out of condition, and weak men should not proceed. Malik Kutbu-d dín, brother of Zafar Khán the wazir, was left behind with the elephants and baggage at Karra. The Sultán then marched. When he reached Sikra,3 he attacked it, and the Rái took to flight. There Shakr Khátún, daughter of Ráí Sádhan, with Adáyah, was taken prisoner. The Sultán placed her in the palace of his daughters. When he

3 The Tabakát-i Akbari and Firishta have "Sankra," Badáúní has "Satghara."

4 The Tabakat-i Akbarí gives the name of the Rái as "Saras," but Firishta makes it "Sadhan." Shams-i Siráj (see vol. iii., p. 312) calls the Ráí of Jájnagar, 'Adayah."

advanced farther, he left Malik 'Imádu-l Mulk one stage behind with the prisoners and baggage. At this place Ahmad Khán, who had come up from Lakhnautí, joined the Sultán in the hills of Ranthor, and was received with honour. The Sultan then proceeded to the city of Bánárasí, which was the residence of the Rái. Having left the Máhánadi, the Rái had fled to Tilang. The Sultán pursued him for one day's march, but when he found that the Rai was far in advance, he returned. In this neighbourhood he hunted. Ráí Bír Bhándeo sent some persons to sue for peace, that his people might not be killed. The Sultán, according to his wont, turned aside, and (the Rái) sent in thirtythree elephants and rich offerings as tribute. From thence the Sultán fell back and hunted in Padmávatí and the elephant fields, where he killed two elephants. Afterwards he marched on to Karra, and from Karra he proceeded to Dehlí, which he reached in Rajab, 762 H. (1361 A.D.), and entered as a conqueror.

Some time afterwards he heard that there was in the vicinity of Bardár3 a hill of earth, through the midst of which a large river flowed and fell into the Satladar (Sutlej). This river was called Sarsutí. On the hither side of the mountain there was a stream called Salímah. If the mountain of earth were cut through, the waters of the Sarsutí would fall into that stream; which would flow through Síhrind1 (Sirhind) and Mansúrpúr, and from thence to Sannám, keeping up a perpetual supply. The water was brought, but some time was occupied in cutting through the hill. Sirhind, to as far as within ten kos of Sámána, was separated from the shikk of Sámána, and given into the charge of Malik Zíáu-l Mulk Shamsu-d dín Abúrjá, to

1 This reading of the Tabakat-i Akbari seems preferable to that of the MS., "Zinthor."

2 Firishta writes the name in the same way, but the translation has "Rajah of Beerbhoom."

3 "Parwar," Firishta.

♦ “Síhrind” and “Tabarhindh” are used indifferently throughout as the names of the modern Sirhind. The use of the latter has already been noted (vol. ii., p. 302). Varáha Mitra mentions the Sairindhas, or people of Sirindha, as being in this neighbourhood. See Cunningham's Ancient Geography, p. 145.

1

bring it into cultivation. A fortress was built there, which received the name of Fírozpúr.

When the Sultán saw that the excavation of the mountain was possible, he left the spot and went to Nagarkot, and after conquering it, he proceeded against Thatta. The Jám and Bábiniya were in possession of Thatta. By dint of great exertion the place was invested, and fighting went on for some time, but such a scarcity of provender and grain arose in the Sultán's army, that many men died, so that of necessity, and after a great struggle, he was obliged to retreat into Gujarát.

After the rainy season, he resolved again to march against Thatta. The fief (ikta') of Gujarat was placed under Zafar Khán, instead of Nizámu-1 Mulk, who was dismissed and proceeded with his followers to the capital, where he afterwards became wazir of the State. On the Sultán's reappearing before Thatta, Jám and Bábiniya made their submission and waited upon him. They were graciously received, but were carried off with all the chiefs of the country to Dehlí. After having for a while shown obedience, the Sultán reinstated the Jám in the fief (ikta') of Thatta, and sent him there in state.

In the year 772 H. (1370-1 A.D.), Khán-i Jahán died, and his eldest son Jaunán Sháh attained the dignity of Khán-i Jahán. In 773 Zafar Khán died in Gujarát, and his eldest son succeeded him in the fief. In 776, on the 12th of the month of Safar, Prince Fath Khán died at Kanthúr. The Sultán was greatly affected by his death, and his constitution received a manifest shock.

In 778 H. (1376-7 A.D.), Shams Dámaghání offered forty lacs of tankas in excess of the revenue paid for Gujarát, 100 elephants, two hundred Arab horses, and four hundred slaves, children of Hindu chiefs (mukaddam bachagán), and Abyssinians annually. Malik Zíáu-l Mulk Malik Shamsu-d dín Abúrjá was

1 This passage is imperfect in the MS., and has been translated with the help of Firishta.

2 Here the MS. has a negative, which it is necessary to suppress.

deputy (of the governor) of Gujarát, and an offer was made to confirm it to him on his consenting to these enhanced terms. But he knew he could not pay them, and that Shams Dámaghání had made an extravagant offer, so he refused to accept. Shams Dámaghání then received a golden girdle and a silver palankin, and was appointed to Gujarát as deputy of Zafar Khán. When he arrived in Gujarát, wild dreams and fancies entered his brain, and he raised the standard of rebellion, for he found that he could not raise the increased revenue and tribute

which he had undertaken to pay. At length the new amirs (amir-i sadah) of Gujarát, such as Malik Shaikhu-l Mulk Fakhru-d dín, rebelled against Shams Dámaghání in the year 778 H., and having slain him they cut off his head, and sent it to Court. His revolt was thus put down. During the prosperous reign of this good and gracious sovereign, his justice and equity had such an effect over every quarter of his territories, that no rebellion had ever broken out, and no one had been able to turn his feet from the path of obedience until the revolt of this Shams Dámaghání, and he quickly received the punishment of his perfidy.

The frontiers (sarhadd) of the empire were secured by placing them under the charge of great and trusty amirs. Thus on the side of Hindustán, on the Bengal frontier, the fief (ikta') of Karra and Mahoba, and the shikk of Dalamau, were placed under the charge of Maliku-s Shark (Prince of the East) Mardán Daulat, who received the title of Nasíru-l Mulk. The fief (ikta') of Oudh and Sandíla,1 and the shikk of Kol were placed under Malik Hisámu-l Mulk and Hisámu-d dín Nawá. The fief of Jaunpúr and Zafarábád was given to Malik Bahrúz Sultání. The fief of Bihár to Malik Bír Afghán. These nobles showed no laxity in putting down the plots of the infidels, and in making their territories secure. Thus the Sultán had no anxiety about the safety of these parts of his dominions; but on the side of Khurásán there was no amir capable of withstanding The MS. has "Sadid," but Firishta gives the right reading, see post p. 29.