came, accompanied by some of the principal men of the city, to make his submission. The King, according to his promise, spared his life, but ordered the chief magistrate of Hansy to take him under his charge. Mullik Khutab, Khwaja Jehan's principal partisan, was banished to Bituhnda, and Sheikhzada Boostamy was expelled the court. Suffur 5. On the 2d of Rujub, in the year 752, Rujub 22. A. H. 752. Feroze entered Dehly, and having asSept. 14. cended the throne, began to administer A. D. 1351. justice to his people, who flocked from all quarters with their petitions. On the 5th of Suffur, in the following year, on the plea of hunting, he removed his court to the Surmore hills, and reduced several zemindars to obedience. On Monday the 3d of Jumad-ool-Awul, the King had a second son born to him at Dehly, whom he named Mahomed, on which occasion great rejoicings were made, and presents distributed. A. H. 754. Jumad-ool- June 5. A. H. 754. Shuwal. In the year, 754, the King, having hunted at Kallanore, caused a palace to be built on the banks of the Soorsutty. In the month of Shuwal, of the same December. year, he appointed Khan Jehan to the charge of Dehly, and himself marched towards Luknowty, to subdue Hajy Elias. This chief had assumed royal honours, and the title of Shums-ood-Deen, and had also occupied with his troops the whole of Bengal and Behar, as far as Benares. On the King's arrival in the neighbourhood of Gorukpoor, the zemindars of that place made the usual presents, and were admitted to pay their respects. The King then penetrated as far as Bundwa, one of the stations of Hajy Elias; and the latter retreated to Yekdulla, whither the King pursued him, and arrived there on the 7th of Rubbee-ool-Awul. An action ensued on the same day; but Hajy Elias having entrenched his position very strongly reduced the King to the necessity of surrounding him. The blockade continued for twenty days, when, on the 5th of Rubbee-ool-Akhir, Feroze, in. tending to change his ground, and to Rubbee-ool- Rubbee-ool- encamp on the banks of the Ganges, went out to reconnoitre. The enemy, imagining that he meditated a retreat, left their works, and drew up in order of battle. On perceiving it was the King's intention to attack them, however, they again retreated, but with such precipitation and confusion, that 44 elephants and many standards fell into the King's hands. The rainy season soon after came on with great violence; peace was concluded; and the King returned to Dehly, without effecting his object. A. H. 755. A.D. 1354. In the year 755, Feroze built the city of Ferozabad adjoining that of Dehly; and on the 12th of Shaban he marched to Depalpoor, and constructed a canal 48 coss in length, from the Sutloog to the Kugur. In the year 757 he conA. D. 1356. structed another canal, between the hills of Mundvy and Surmore, from the Jumna, into which A. D. 1355. Jan. 1356. he led seven other minor streams, which all uniting, ran in one channel through Hansy, and from thence to Raiseen*, where he built a strong fort which he called Hissar Feroza. He also conveyed an aqueduct from the Kugur, over the river Soorsutty, to the village of Pery Kehra, where he founded a city, named after him Ferozabad. At the same time he introduced another canal from the Jumna, which filled a large lake he caused to be constructed at Hissar Feroza. In the month of Zeehuj 757. Zeehuj an honorary dress, and a letter of congratulation on his accession, were presented from Abool Futteh Aboo-Bukr Aby-Rubeea Sooliman, Caliph of Egypt. In the same month, also, he received an embassy with fresh proposals of peace from Bengal, which Feroze accepted, and soon after ratified. From that period, both Bengal and the Deccan became in a great measure independent of Dehly, paying only a small tribute. In the year 758, Zuffur Khan Farsy, coming from Soonargam, was appointed deputy to the Vizier. A. H. 758. A. H. 759. In the year 759, the King of Bengal sent a number of elephants and other rich presents to Dehly, in return for which a number of Arabian and Persian horses, some jewels, and other rich curiosities, were sent back. When the Dehly embassy arrived at Behar, news was received of the death of Shums-ood-Deen, King of Bengal, and also of his son Sikundur *This place must not be confounded with a town of the same name in Malwa. having succeeded to the throne. The envoy, therefore, thought proper not to proceed, but returned to Dehly. The King, being in the same year encamped at Sumana, received advices that the Moguls had made an incursion as far as Depalpoor; he forthwith ordered Kubool Khan (Lord of the Bed-chamber) with an army against them; but the enemy, before his arrival, having laden themselves with spoil, retreated towards their own country. A. H. 760. A. D. 1359. In the year 760, the King marched an army in the direction of Luknowty, but being overtaken by heavy rains at Zuffurabad, he remained there during the monsoon. While at this place, Sheikzada Boostamy, who had been banished on the accession of Feroze, arrived as ambassador on the part of the Caliph of Egypt, with a dress, on which account he was graciously received, and honoured with the title of Azim-ool-Moolk. An embassy was now despatched to Sikundur Shah Poorbeea, the new King of Bengal, and in return, an envoy came, bringing with him five elephants and other valuable presents. Notwithstanding these overtures, Feroze marched, after the rains, towards Luknowty, and, on his way, conferred the ensigns of royalty on his son the Prince Futteh Khan, at the same time appointing tutors for his instruction. Feroze arrived at Bundwa, when Sikundur Shah, following the example of his father, retreated to Yekdulla, and shut himself up in that place. Being, however, closely invested, and reduced to great distress, he sent 48 elephants and other presents to the King of Dehly, with overtures for peace. In a few days, terms were agreed on; and Feroze returned as far as Joonpoor, where he quartered his army for another season, and then moved towards Jajnuggur. On reaching the town of Songhur, he plundered that country, and its ruler (Ray Sidhun) fled. His daughter, who bore the title of Shukr Khatoon*, fell into the King's hands, and was brought up as his own child. The King thence proceeded to a town called Benarest, the capital of the Prince of Jajnuggur. The Raja fled, on the approach of Feroze, towards Tulingana. Having plundered this country also, Feroze returned, and on his way was met by the Raja of Beerbhoom, who presented him with 37 elephants and other valuable presents, in consideration of his not ravaging his territory. The King, having received these presents, changed his route, and, as he passed through the woods of Pudmawutty, which abound with elephants, he caught 30 of those animals, and killed two others, that could not A. H. 762. be taken continuing his march, he reached Dehly in the year 762. A. D. 1360. On his return, in the month of Rujub, to Dehly, the King heard, that in the vicinity of Perwar was a hill, out of which ran a stream that emptied *This title, signifying "the Sweet Lady," must have been given to her by the King after her captivity. † Not Benares on the Ganges. It is not improbable that the Raja, during his reign, chose to give to his capital the name of the Holy City, which it lost after his death. Several instances of these ephemeral titles occur in Indian history, and serve to confound the reader, who may not be aware of the practice. |