where he gave orders to the gardener to root up all the old plants, and set young shoots in their places. Without saying more or writing any answer, he told the messenger to return in haste to his master. When the messenger arrived, he fell upon his face before the King, and told him he could obtain no reply. Alexander being somewhat surprised, enquired into the particulars of the interview; and on hearing the above relation, he smiled, and told the messenger he had brought him an excellent answer. He accordingly removed some of the old mutinous officers, and disgraced others, supplying their places with young men, who became more obedient, and thus reestablished his authority in the army. Shaban, A. H. 645. Dec. In the month of Shaban, 645, Nasirood-Deen Mahmood proceeded with his troops through the country which lies A. D. 1247. between the rivers Ganges and Jumna, and, after an obstinate siege, the fort of Bitunda yielded to his arms. He then continued his march towards Kurra, Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun commanding the vanguard. He was met at Kurra by the Rajas Dulky and Mulky †, whom he defeated and plundered, taking many of their families prisoners. These two Rajas had seized all the country to the south of the Jumna, and had destroyed the King's garrisons from Malwa to Kurra. They resided at Kalunjur. After these exploits Nasir-ood-Deen returned to Dehly. This place is now called Bulundshehr. †The Mahomedan author from whom Ferishta copies, has, probably, made some mistake in the names. Shaban 6. A. H. 646. A. D. 1247. On the 6th of Shaban, A. H. 646, the Vizier marched with an army towards Runtunbhore and the mountains of Mewat, and, after chastising the refractory inhabitants of those countries, returned to Dehly. The Vizier's brother, Eibuk Kishly Khan, was now promoted to the office of Ameer Hajib, and Ayaz Ryhany was nominated Vakeel-oos Sultanut. In the same year, the King's brother, Julal-ood-Deen, was recalled from his government of Kunowj to Dehly, but, apprehensive of a design against his life, he fled to the hills of Chittoor with all his adherents. The King pursued him; but finding, after eight months, that he could not secure him, returned to Dehly. Nasir-ood-Deen, in the year 647, married the daughter of his Vizier, Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun. On A. H. 648. the year following he marched an army towards Mooltan. On the banks of the Beea he was joined by the minister's nephew, Sheer Khan, governor of the northern provinces, with twenty thousand chosen horse, and continued his march to Mooltan, where he remained for some days, when, having placed Mullik Eizood-deen Bulbun, senior, in the government of Nagore and Oocha, and settled some other affairs, he returned to his capital. 1 A. H. 647. A. D. 1248. A. D. 1249. A. H. 649. Eiz-ood-Deen Bulbun, in the year 649, A. D. 1250. throwing off his allegiance, raised a rebellion. This obliged Nasir-ood-Deen to march an army towards Nagore, where the rebel was put to flight; but, on his throwing himself on the King's mercy, he not only obtained his Shaban 5. pardon, but was reinstated in his government. After returning from this expedition the King remained only a few days at Dehly, before he proceeded to the siege of Nurwur. The A. H. 649. Raja, Jahir Dew, having lately constructed A. D. 1250. the fort on the summit of a rock, prepared to defend it to the last. He accordingly marched out to oppose the Mahomedans with five thousand horse, and two hundred thousand foot. This immense host being defeated with great slaughter, the place was invested, and reduced to surrender, after a few months' siege. Thence the King marched to Chundery and Malwa, having subdued which countries, and having appointed an officer to govern them, he returned to Dehly. The Vizier gained, in this expedition, great reputation for his conduct and personal valour. In the mean time, Sheer Khan, viceroy of Lahore and Mooltan, the most celebrated man of his age, for his wisdom, valour, and every princely quality, had raised and disciplined a body of horse, with which he drove the Moguls out of Ghizny, and annexed it once more to the kingdom of Dehly. He also caused coin to be struck in the name of Nasir-ood-Deen, and proclaimed him King through all the provinces in that quarter. In consideration of these services, the province of Oocha was added to his government, which, contrary to expectation, was quietly delivered up by Eiz-ood-Deen Bulbun, senior, who returned to Dehly, and received the Jageer of Budaoon. In the year 650, Nasir-ood-Deen marched by the route of Lahore to Mooltan, when he was A. H. 650. A.D. 1252. joined by the governor of Budaoon, and by Kootloogh Khan, with an army from Sehwan. A. H. 651. In the beginning of the year 651, ImadA. D. 1253. ood-Deen Zunjany, who owed his situation entirely to the interest of the Vizier, envying the fame and influence of that great man, took every private opportunity to traduce his benefactor to the King. The monarch's esteem for the Vizier began visibly to decline; and he was even prevailed on, at last, to dismiss him from office, conferring on him, in lieu of it, the small estate of Hansy, for his subsistence, where his enemy sought an opportunity to take his life. Imad-ood-Deen, the minister's successful rival, now became absolute in the King's favour, and exercised his authority in ejecting from their offices and government all those who owed their situations to the former Vizier. Eibuk Kishly Khan was sent to Kurra Maunukpoor, and Ein-ool-Moolk Mahomed, the son of the late Nizam-ool-Moolk Jooneidy, was appointed Vizier-kool, or Regent, at Dehly, till the King's arrival. When Imad-ood-Deen returned he disturbed the public peace, and overthrew the ancient laws of the state. Meanwhile the King was compelled to take the field, in the direction of the Beea, for Sheer Khan had, unfortunately, been lately defeated by a body of insurgents from Sind, and had lost several forts in Mooltan. This furnished the favourite with an opportunity of disgracing him in the eyes of the King, who removed him from his government, which he conferred on Arslan Khan. The governor of Keituhl and Kohram having been assassinated by the zemin dars, the King was induced to march his army to that quarter. The administration of Imad-ood-Deen Zunjany now became so unpopular, that the governors of the following provinces, viz. Kurra, Manukpoor, Oude, Budaoon, Surhind, Sumana, Kohram, Lahore, Sewalik, and Nagore, entered into a confederacy, and deputed persons to wait on Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun, the former vizier, declaring that the welfare of the country was at stake, and that the oppression and arrogance of Imad-ood-Deen Zunjany was intolerable. They entreated him, therefore, to proceed to Dehly, and assume the reins of government, as formerly. Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun having consented, the nobles united their forces, and met on the same day, at Kohram. Nasir-ood-Deen and his minister Imad-ood-Deen, on gaining this intelligence, marched to disperse the insurgents; but as the royal army advanced to Hansy, Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun, and the nobles, sent an address to the King, to the following purpose: That they were loyal subjects, and were "satisfied to kiss the foot of his throne, provided "he consented to banish Imad ood-Deen Zunjany "from his presence." The King found himself under the necessity of either acceding to this request, or of losing his kingdom, so that having dismissed the obnoxious favourite, and sent him to Budaoon, the chiefs presented their offerings, and were gratified by honorary dresses. Mullik Julalood-Deen Khany, of the Toorky tribe of KhwajaTash, was appointed to command at Lahore, and Sheer Khan was reinstated in his former govern |