sented with an elephant's load of silver. Aboo Mahomed Nasahy was a man of eminent learning in this age. He wrote a book entitled also Musaoody, in support of the doctrine of Aboo Huneef, which he presented to the King. The author of the Rozut-oos-suffa tells us, that so extensive was the King's charity, that on one occasion he bestowed a lak of dirms in alms during the month of Rumzam. In the beginning of his reign he built many handsome mosques, and endowed several colleges and schools, which he caused to be erected in the different cities of his dominions.

An elephant would not carry more than 35,000 rupees (3500/.); and such a sum does not seem too large a remuner. ation for the author of a set of astronomical tables.

If we estimate the dirm at 10d. the sum would exceed 41447.

SOOLTAN MODOOD-GHIZNEVY.

Accession of Modood - takes revenge on the assassins of his father. The Prince Madood in India refuses to acknowledge his brother king. - Modood marches to Lahore — his brother dies suddenly. Suljooks invade Transoxania and take Bulkh.- The Hindoo Rajas retake Tahnesur, Hansy, and Nagrakote, and advance to Lahore. Siege of Lahore by the Hindoos continues for seven months—is at length abandoned. The Suljooks defeated in Transoxania by Aluptugeen Hajib. Toghrul Beg Suljooky also defeated at Boost. Insurrections in the Ghizny empire. — Dissensions among the chiefs of Modood - his death.

WHEN the news of the murder of Musaood reached the ears of Mahomed the Blind, he wept bitterly, and severely reproached the assassins. At the same time he wrote to the Prince Modood, then at Bulkh, that such and such people had killed his father, calling God to witness that his hands were clear of the wicked deed. To this Modood replied, sarcastically, "May God lengthen the days "of so good and merciful a king, and grant that "his mad son, Ahmud, may gain glory in the "practice of regicide, till his reward be obtained "from our hands!" Modood proposed marching immediately to revenge the death of his father, but was persuaded by his council to go first to Ghizny, where the citizens, upon his approach, thronged out to meet him, and expressed their joy in acclamations and congratulations.

A. D. 1042.

In the year 433, he marched from A. H. 433. Ghizny; while Mahomed the Blind, appointing his younger son, the Prince Namy, governor of Pishawur and Moultan, marched in person to the banks of the Indus, to oppose Modood. The two armies met at Duntoor *; an action ensued between the uncle and nephew: victory declared in favour of Modood, while Mahomed with his sons, and the son of Ameer Ally Cheshawundy, Noshtugeen Bulkhy, and Sooliman, the son of Ameer Yoosoof, were taken prisoners. They were all put to death, except the Prince Abdool Ruheem, the son of the late King Mahomed. Modood pardoned him, because on one occasion, during the time his father Musaood was prisoner, when Abdool Ruheem went with his brother Abdool Ruhman to visit him, the latter insultingly threw off Musaood's royal cap Ruheem instantly took it up, and replaced it on the King's head with much respect, reproving his brother for his ungenerous conduct.

Modood having revenged his father's death, built a town on the spot on which he had obtained the victory, and called it Futtehabad. He carried the remains of the late Musaood and his family to be interred at Ghizny; whither he returned, and appointed Ahmud, the son of Hussun Mymundy, his vizier. But soon after, removing him from the office, he conferred the dignity on Khwaja Tahir, and deputed the late Vizier Ahmud, with a force to Moultan, against the Prince Namy, the son of his uncle Mahomed, who was attacked and slain. The King

* The position is not determined.

had now no rival of whom he was apprehensive but his own brother Madood, who was then in possession of Lahore and its dependencies. This brother, on the murder of his father, marched from Moultan, and, at the instance of his minister Ayaz Khass, occupied all the country east of the Indus, as far as Hansy and Tahnesur.

Zilhuj 6. A. H. 433. August 4.

A. D. 1041.

Modood, finding that his brother refused to pay him allegiance, ordered an army against him, and Madood, apprised of this circumstance, marched from Hansy, where he then resided, with his whole force, to oppose the troops of Modood, whom he met, before they reached Lahore, on the 6th Zilhuj, A. H. 433. The army of Modood was So numerous, that Madood's forces were on the point of flying, when several of the chiefs deserting their colours, enrolled themselves under the banners of the latter. But fortune or treachery here befriended Modood. On the morning of the festival of Koorban*, Mādood was found dead in his bed, without any previous complaint or apparent cause; and as, on the following day his vizier, Khwaja Ayaz, was also found dead, it is supposed they were poisoned. Mādood's army now marched under the banners of Modood, so that the southern countries also submitted quietly. Nor was Modood less fortunate in the north. The province of Mawur-ool-Nehr, which had for some time asserted its independence, submitted to his authority. But the Suljooks (notwithstanding the King had espoused a daughter

* This festival is kept in commemoration of the intended sacrifice by Abraham of his son Isaac.

of Jakur Beg) began to make fresh incursions into his terrritories.

A. D. 1043.

In the year 435, the Raja of Dehly, A. H. 435. in conjunction with other rajas, retook Hansy, Tahnesur, and their dependencies, from the governors to whom Modood had entrusted them. The Hindoos from thence marched towards the fort of Nagrakote, which they besieged for four months; and the garrison being distressed for provisions, and no succours coming from Lahore, was under the necessity of capitulating. The Hindoos, according to their practice, erected new idols, and recommenced the rites of idolatry. We are told, that on this occasion the Raja of Dehly, (aware, no doubt, of the embarrassed circumstances of the empire of Ghizny,) pretended to have seen a vision, in which the great idol of Nagrakote had appeared, and told him that, having now revenged himself upon Ghizny, he would meet him at Nagrakote in his former temple. This story being propagated by the Bramins, who, probably, were in the secret, it gained credence among the superstitious, by which means the Raja was joined by zealots from all parts, and soon saw himself at the head of a numerous host. With this army, as we have already mentioned, he besieged Nagrakote, and when the place surrendered, he took care to have an idol of the same shape and size with the former (which he had caused to be made at Dehly) introduced in the night, into a garden in the centre of the place. This image being dis

vered in the morning, great rejoicing occurred