and Zeea Burny, a contemporary of Feroze Toghluk, between whom and Aluf Khan, afterwards Mahomed Toghluk, the greatest intimacy subsisted, has neglected to mention the story in his history. But it will occur to all unprejudiced persons, that these accusations are far from probable. For it must be recollected that the Prince himself had been for some time with his father in the building, during the entertainment: how, then, was he to effect, as if by a miracle, that the house should fall on the very moment he left it? But the most entertaining surmise is that recorded by Sudr Jehan Guzeratty, who asserts, that the Prince Aluf Khan raised the palace by magic, and the instant the magical art which upheld it was withdrawn, it fell. Hajy Mahomed Kandahary says, that it was struck by lightning, and this does not seem at all improbable. But God only knows the real truth. The death of Gheias-ood-Deen Toghluk happened in the month of Rubbee-ool-Awul, of the Rubbee-ool-Awul, year 725, after a reign of four years and some months. The poet, Ameer Khoosrow of Dehly, A. H. 725. who lived to the end of this King's reign, and received a pension of 1000 tunkas monthly, wrote the history of this Prince, under the title of the Toghluk Nama; but the work is very scarce. MAHOMED TOGHLUK. The Prince, Aluf Khan, ascends the throne, and assumes the title of Mahomed. Invasion of the Choghtay Tartars, under Toormooshreen Khan. Expeditions from Dehly into the Deccan. Disaffection throughout the kingdom. - The army mutinies. Expedients to recruit the King's finances - they fail. The King sends an army to invade China destruction. its total Insurrection in the Deccan by the King's nephew he is delivered up by the Raja, Bilal Dew, and suffers a cruel death. - The King makes Dewgur his capital, and causes it to be called Dowlutabad. bitants of Dehly to occupy Dowlutabad. Compels the inha- Mooltan. Dehly repeopled.— Invasion of Punjab by the Afghans. -Famine in Dehly. jab. Revolt in Sumbhul. the Deccan. The Gukkurs overrun PunConfederacy of the Hindoos in Revolt of the King's troops in the Deccan. Revolt in Malwa. Revolt in Guzerat. - Death of the King from a surfeit of fish. On the third day after the King's funeral, his eldest son Aluf Khan ascended the throne, by the title of Mahomed Toghluk, and proceeded from Toghlukabad to Dehly. On this occasion, the streets of the city were strewed with flowers; the houses adorned; drums beaten; and every demonstration of joy was exhibited. The new monarch ordered some elephants laden with gold and silver to precede and follow the procession, from which money was scattered among the populace. Tartar Khan, whom the late Gheias-ood-deen A.D. 1325. Toghluk had adopted as his son, and appointed to the government of Soonargam, was honoured with the title of Beiram Khan, and received a hundred elephants, a crore of golden tunkas (166,6667. 3s. 6d.), two thousand horses, and was appointed to the government of Bengal. To Mullik Sunjur Budukhshy were also given seventy lacks (116,6667. 4s. 4d.); to Mullik-ool-Moolk Imadood-Deen, eighty lacks (133,3331. 6s. 8d.; and to Mowlana Azd-ood-deen, the King's preceptor, forty lacks (66,666l. 3s. 4d.); all on one A.H.725. day. Mowlana Nasir-ood-Deen Koomy had an annual pension of one lack; and Mullik Ghazy, the poet, had also a pension to the same amount. Nizam-ood-deen Ahmud Bukhshy, surprised at the vast sums stated by historians as having been lavished by this Prince, took the trouble to ascertain, from authentic records, that these tunkas were of the silver currency of the day, in which was amalgamated a great deal of alloy, so that each tunka only exchanged for 16 copper pice. * In the early part of his reign, the King's liberality attracted to Dehly some of the most learned men of Asia, who returned to their countries laden with honours and with gifts. He established hospitals for the sick, and almshouses for widows and orphans, on the most liberal scale. He was the most eloquent and accomplished prince of his time; and his letters, both in Arabic and Persian, display so much elegance, good taste, and * Making a tunka worth only about 4d., instead of 2s., and the whole amount equal to 533,3311. good sense, that the most able secretaries of later times study them with admiration. He was fond of history, and had so retentive a memory, that he recollected almost every event he read of, and the time it occurred. He was skilled, also, in the sciences of physic, logic, astronomy, and mathematics; and he had the talent of discovering the character of persons from a very slight acquaintance. He even went so far as to attend himself on patients afflicted with any remarkable disease. He studied the philosophy of the Greek schools, and after his accession to the throne he maintained disputes with Assud Muntuky, the metaphysician; Oobeid the poet; Nujm-ood-deen Intishar; and Mowlana Ein-ood-deen Shirazy, besides other learned men. He, however, took no delight in works of fiction written for amusement, such as tales or romances, nor did he encourage buffoons or actors. He wrote some good Persian poetry himself, and was the patron of literary men in general. He was not less famous for his gallantry in the field than for those accomplishments which render a man the ornament of private society. His constant desire of extending his territory accounts for his having passed the greater part of his life in the camp. He is represented by contemporaries as one of the wonders of the age in which he lived, from his possessing, in so eminent a degree, qualities and accomplishments so opposite. He even wished to unite in his own person the duties of a monarch with those of a high priest. He was always regular at his own daily prayers, and punished those persons who neglected theirs. He abstained from fornication, drunkenness, and other vices forbidden in the holy book. But with all these admirable qualities, he was wholly devoid of mercy or of consideration for his people. The punishments he inflicted were not only rigid, and cruel, but frequently unjust. So little did he hesitate to spill the blood of God's creatures, that when any thing occurred which excited him to proceed to that horrid extremity, one might have supposed his object was to exterminate the human species altogether. No single week passed without his having put to death one or more of the learned and holy men who surrounded him, or some of the secretaries who attended him. On his nobles and relatives, however, he conferred great honours and distinctions, and the following were among those who were most favoured: Mullik Feroze, his cousin, was appointed Naib of the Barbik, or deputy grand usher; Mullik Bedar Khiljy was graced with the title of Kuddur Khan, and was made governor of Luknowty on the death of Nasir-oodDeen Khiljy. Kootloogh Khan was made Vakeeli-Dur; Mullik Mukbool was created Imam-oolMoolk, and was nominated Vizier-ool-Momalik. Ahmud Ayaz received the title of Khwaja Jehan, and the government of Guzerat; Mullik Mokbil was created Khan Jehan, and appointed vizier of Guzerat. Mahomed, the son of Kootloogh Khan, also received an estate for his support in Guzerat; and Mullik Shahab-ood-Deen was created Mullikoot-Toojar (chief of the merchants), and received the estate of Nowsary for his maintenance. In |