The Afghan chiefs raise Nizam Khan to the throne, under the title of Sikundur. — Eesa Khan refuses at first to acknowledge Sikundur, but does so in the end — he revolts, and is killed in battle. — Barbik Khan refuses obedience — he is defeated — is reinstated in his government of Joonpoor — his bad administration — is eventually removed. — Efforts made by Hoossein Shah Shurky to recover Joonpoor defeated. — Sikun-dur pursues Hoossein Shah to Bengal — invades Punna and Banda — proceeds to Dholpoor and Gualiar — receives sub­mission from the rajas of both places — subsequently takes Dhol-poor. — An earthquake in Agra. — Gives encouragement to the son of the King of Malwa to make over Chundery to him — obtains possession of Chundery. — Endeavours to lay hold on Runtunbhore, but fails. — Summons an army to collect at Agra for the siege of Gualiar. — The King is taken ill, and dies — his character — his zeal for the Mahomedan religion.

IMMEDIATELY on the death of Bheilole, the nobles met together, and consulted whom they should elevate to the throne. Some were disposed towards Azim Hoomayoon, the grandson, and others, towards Barbik Khan, the eldest surviving son of the late king. While they were debating on this point, the mother of Sikundur Khan (whose name was Zeina, the daughter of a goldsmith, but raised to the King's bed owing to her beauty) addressed the assembly from behind a curtain in favour of her son. Upon which, Eesa Khan, the nephew of Bheilole, tauntingly observed, “What “business have goldsmiths' sons with the reins of “government, since it is proverbial that ‘monkeys “make but bad carpenters.’” Khan Khany Lohany, one of the officers present, took him up sharply, saying, “The King is yet scarcely cold “in his grave, and it ill becomes us at such a “time to cast reflections on any of his progeny.” Eesa Khan desired him to hold his tongue; ob­serving, he was nothing but a servant, and had no right to interfere in family affairs. Khan Kha-nan now rising, instantly declared himself a ser­vant of Sikundur Lody, and said that he would maintain his right against all who durst oppose it; when, having left the council, and being fol­lowed by all his party, he carried the body of the deceased King to the town of Jellaly, where, being met by Sikundur, the latter ascended his father's throne at that place. Sikundur now sent the corpse of his father to Dehly, and instantly marched against Eesa Khan. Having defeated this chief, he afterwards forgave him, and, return­ing to the capital, followed the example of his father, by conferring favours on all his kindred.

At the time of his accession, Sikundur Lody had six sons; viz. Ibrahim, Julal, Ismael, Hoos-sein, Mahmood, and Azim Hoomayoon, besides whom were 44 officers of distinction; such as

Khan Jehan Lody.

Ahmud Khan, grandson of Khan Khanan Fir-mully.

Sheikzada Firmully.

Khan Khanan Lohany.

Azim Hoomayoon Sheerwany.

Duria Khan Lody.

Julal Khan Lody, Naib * of Kalpy.

Sheer Khan Lody.

Moobarik Khan Mowjy.

Khuleel Khan Lody.

Ahmud Khan Lody, Naib of Etawa.

Ibrahim Khan Sheerwany.

Mahomed Shah Lody.

Baboo Khan Sheerwany.

Hoossein Khan Firmully, Naib of Saharun.

Sooliman Khan Firmully.

Syeed Khan Lody.

Ismael Khan Lohany.

Tartar Khan Firmully.

Sheikh Khan Lody.

Sheikzada Mahomed Firmully (called also Kala P'har).

Sheik Jumal Firmully.

Sheikh Othman Firmully.

Sheikh Ahmud Firmully.

Adam Khan Lody.

Hoossein Khan Lody.

Kubeer Khan Lody.

Nuseer Khan Lohany.

Ghazy Khan Lody.

Tartar Khan, governor of Tijara.

Khwaja Nusr-oolla.

Mobarik Khan.

Yekbal Khan, Naib of Bary.

Asghur, the son of Kowam-ool-Moolk.

Sheer Khan Lohany.

Imad-ool-Moolk Kumboh.

Alum Khan Lody.

Kubeer Khan Lody.

Bhikun Khan Lody.

Zaheer Khan Lody.

Oomr Khan Sheerwany.

Jubbar Khan Sheerwany.

Alum Khan Julwany.

Sufdur Khan Julwany.	}	Lords of the bed-chamber.
Meean Joomun Kumboh,
Mujd-ood-Deen,
Sheikh Ibrahim,
Sheikh Othman,
Sheikh Oomr,
Sheikh Siddeek,
Kazy Abdool, Wahab of Kabul,
Meean Bhoory,

Sometime after his accession, Sikundur Lody marched towards Rabery and thence to the fort of Chundwar, in which place his brother, the Prince Alum Khan, had declared his independence. On the King's approach, Alum Khan, abandoning the town, fled to Eesa Khan Lody at Pattialy. Sikundur having conferred the district of Rabery on Khan Khanan Firmully, proceeded to Etawa, where he received the submission of his brother Alum Khan, and pardoned him; he also conferred Etawa upon him as his estate. Thence the King proceeded to Pattialy, where Eesa Khan being attacked was wounded, and threw himself on the King's mercy. He was pardoned, but soon after died of his wounds.

Sikundur Lody now deputed a mission to wait on the Prince Barbik, his brother, who assumed the title of King of Joonpoor, requiring him to do homage, and to cause the name of Sikundur to be read first in the Khootba. Barbik, * however, re­jecting this proposal, Sikundur Lody marched against him. Barbik, and his general Kala P'har, drew out in order of battle to meet his brother, and an action ensued, in which Kala P'har was taken prisoner. Sikundur Lody, on seeing him, alighted from his horse, and embracing him, said he esteemed him as his father, and begged he would look on him as his son. Kala P'har, over­come by this unexpected honour, replied, that except his life, he had nothing to offer in return, and trusted that he might be employed, and have an opportunity of evincing his gratitude: he was accordingly mounted on one of the King's own horses, and instantly led a charge of cavalry against

A. H. 894.
A. D. 1488.

the party whose cause he had before espoused, which in a great measure led to the King's success. The troops of Barbik seeing Kala P'har charging them, and imagining that all his division had also gone over to the enemy, took to flight. The Prince Barbik behaved with great bravery, but being deserted by his troops, fled to Budaoon. His son, Moobarik Khan, however, was made prisoner in the action. Sikundur Lody pursued his brother to Budaoon, and laid siege to it; but Barbik soon after capitu­lating, he was received with great kindness, and treated with respect. The King now returned to Joonpoor, and finding that Hoossein Shah Shurky, the exiled king of the Shurky provinces, was still in force in Behar, he thought it advisable to permit his brother Barbik to retain the govern­ment of Joonpoor in order to check Hoossein Shah Shurky in any attempt he might make on Dehly. At the same time, also, he left some trusty friends of his own with the Prince, on whom he bestowed estates, in order to retain them steady to his in­terest.

Sikundur Lody, now proceeding to Kalpy, re­sumed the government from Azim Hoomayoon, and conferred it on Mahomed Khan Lody. From thence he marched to Bhurayee, * where Tartar Khan the governor, after doing homage, was con­firmed in his estate. The King thence marched in the direction of Gualiar, whither he sent one of his officers, Khwaja Mahomed Firmully, with an honorary dress to Raja Man Sing, who despatched his nephew with presents to meet the King at Byana. Sooltan Shurf, the governor of Byana, also paid his respects to the King, who removed him from that district, but nominated him go­vernor of Jalesur, Chundwara, Marhera, and Sukeet. Sooltan Shurf was accompanied by Oomr Khan Sheerwany, to whom he was directed to make over the fort of Byana; but when he had got within the walls, Sooltan Shurf shut the gates, and prepared to defend himself. The King, however, choosing to overlook the circumstance, went to Agra, where Heibut Khan Julwany, who held that fort under Sooltan Shurf, also shut the gates. This insult so enraged Sikundur Lody, that leaving part of his army to besiege Agra, he returned in person towards Byana, to which he laid siege. Sooltan Shurf, in the end, was obliged

A. H. 897.
A. D. 1491.

to capitulate, and in the year 897 his government was given to Khan Khanan Firmully, and he was banished for the present to Gualiar. The fort of Agra fall­ing about the same time, Sikundur returned to Dehly, where in a few days after he received advices of an insurrection at Joonpoor among the zemindars, who had raised an army, consist­ing of 100,000 horse and foot, and had slain Sheer Khan, the brother of Moobarik Khan Lohany, governor of Kurra. Moobarik Khan himself was driven from Kurra, and taken pri­soner, while in the act of crossing the Ganges, by Saha Dew Raja of Kutra. The Prince Bar-bik had also been obliged to fly to Byraich to solicit the assistance of Kala P'har, so that the King, after only 24 days' rest at Dehly was under the necessity of returning towards Joon-poor. When he arrived at Dulmow he was joined by the Prince Barbik; and Raja Saha Dew, hearing of his approach, released Moo-barik Khan Lohany. The King proceeded to Katgur, where the zemindars had assembled in force; but they were defeated, and much property fell into the hands of the Moslems. The King, having marched to Joonpoor and reinstated the Prince Barbik, himself remained a month in that vicinity. Here he received intelligence that the zemindars, having been again driven to excesses, had besieged Barbik in Joonpoor; on which Sikun-dur ordered Kala P'har, Hoomayoon Khan Sheer-wany, and Khan Khanan Lohany, from Oude, and Moobarik Khan from Kurra, to unite and march against them. He also directed them to send the Prince Barbik to the presence, where he was made over, as a state-prisoner, to the charge of Heibut Khan and Oomur Khan Sheerwany.