After these events the King marched towards Chunar, then in possession of Hoossein Shah Shurky. On his approach, the garrison made a sally, but were repulsed. On reconnoitring the place, however, and being unwilling to incur the risk of failure, he proceeded to Kootumba, * a place de­pendent on Patna. Bulbhudur Ray, Raja of Koo-tumba, came forth to meet the King, and submitted to his authority. From thence the King marched to Arele, accompanied by Bulbhudur Ray. But the Raja suspecting treachery, left his retinue, and fled one night from the camp to Patna. Sikundur Lody permitted the Raja's followers to quit the camp, next day, with his private property, but he al­lowed his own troops to plunder the country on their route to Arele. On crossing the Ganges at Kurra, the King went to Dulmow, where he married the widow of Sheer Khan, the late go­vernor of that place. From Dulmow, Sikundur marched to Shumsabad, where, having halted for six months, he proceeded to Sumbhul; but return­ing from thence in a few days to Shumsabad, he plundered the town of Dewnary, where a banditti had taken post. The King spent the rainy season

A. H. 900.
A. D. 1494.

at Shumsabad, and in the year 900, he again marched in the direction of Patna. He was there opposed by Nursing Ray, the son of Bulbhudur Ray, at the Hundia Ghat, who being defeated, retired within the walls of Patna. On the King's approach, Bulbhudur Ray fled, taking the route of Surgooja, and died on the journey. After this event the King proceeded to Sahsdewar; but provisions becoming scarce in his camp, he was obliged to return to Joonpoor, having in this march lost most of his cavalry, owing to the bad roads and want of forage. Nurs­ing Ray, the son of Bulbhudur Ray, and other ze­mindars, taking advantage of this circumstance, wrote to Hoossein Shah Shurky, then in possession of the province of Behar, that the cavalry of Sikundur Lody was now in so wretched a condi­tion, that a favourable opportunity presented itself for him to take revenge. Hoossein Shah Shurky accordingly put his army in motion, and marched against the King. Sikundur, on hearing of his intentions, crossed the Ganges to meet him; and the two armies came in sight of each other at a spot distant 18 coss (27 miles) from Benares. An obstinate battle ensued, in which Hoossein Shah Shurky was defeated, and fled to Patna. Si-kundur Lody, according to the most authentic accounts, pursued the fugitives for several days, with 100,000 horse; but hearing that his enemy had fled to Behar, he halted on the ninth day, till the whole of his army joined, with which he marched towards Behar. Hoossein Shah left Mullik Kundoo to protect Behar, and fled him­self to Koolgam, in the district of Luknowty. Alla-ood-deen Shah Poorby, King of Bengal, received the fugitive at his court with the utmost courtesy. Here he passed the remainder of his days in obscurity; and the royal race of Joonpoor be­came extinct in his person.

Sikundur Lody, having returned to Dewnary, detached a division of his army against Mullik Kundoo, who fled, leaving the country open to the King of Dehly, who appointed Heibut Khan to remain with a force in Behar. The King now proceeded towards Tirhoot, the raja of which country consented to pay an annual tribute. Moobarik Khan Lohany was directed to receive it, while the King went to Dervishpoor, and visited the tomb of Sheikh Shurf Munery; on which occasion he distributed presents to the holy persons who resided at that shrine. It was at this time, also, that Khan Jehan, the son of Khan Khanan Firmully, died, and his son, Ah-mud Khan, received the title of Azim Hoomayoon. The King now marched his army towards Ben­gal, and reaching Kootlooghpoor, Alla-ood-Deen Shah Poorby sent his son Daniel to oppose him. On the part of the King of Dehly, Mahmood Khan Lody and Moobarik Khan Mowjy were de­tached to meet Daniel. The opposing armies en­camped close to each other at the village of Barra, but instead of fighting, a peace was concluded; when it was agreed that both parties should cease to molest each other, or to afford protection to their mutual enemies. On the return of the army towards Dehly, Moobarik Khan Mowjy died at Patna, and at Dervishpoor, Moobarik Khan Lohany also died suddenly. The duty of col­lecting the tribute of Tirhoot was now intrusted to Azim Hoomayoon, the son of Khan Jehan, while the government of Behar was conferred upon Duria Khan, the son of the late Moo-barik Khan Lohany. There happened, at this time, a great dearth in the country; but the transit customs on grain being relinquished, that calamity was in some measure averted, nor were the duties again imposed during that reign. Si-kundur, meanwhile, reducing the districts of Saharun, then in the hands of the zemindars, gave the lands in jageers to several of his offi­cers. He then returned to Joonpoor, where he resided six months.

Sometime previously to this event, the King having asked the daughter of Salivahn, Raja of Punna, in marriage, the Raja refused to comply with his request; in consequence of which, the

A. H. 904.
A. D. 1498.

King put his army in motion, and in the year 904, marched to Punna, and sacked the country as far as Banda, after which he returned to Joonpoor, where he spent some time. At this period the accounts of Moobarik Khan Lody being inspected, for the period of his administration in Joonpoor, and great defalcation being discovered, the King ordered the balances to be realised from him. This circumstance gave umbrage to many Afghan officers, which evinced itself in the factions that arose in favour of the de­faulter. One day, while the King and his court were playing at chowgan, * the bat of Heibut Khan Sheerwany, by accident, came in contact with the head of Sooliman, the son of Duria Khan Lody, who received a severe blow. This was resented on the spot by Khizr Khan, the brother of Sooli-man, who galloping up to Hybut Khan, struck him violently over the skull. In a few minutes both sides joined in the quarrel, and the field was in uproar and confusion. Mahmood Khan Lody and Khan Khanan Lody interposing, endeavoured to pacify Heibut Khan, and succeeded in persuad­ing him to go quietly home with them. The King, apprehensive of conspiracy, retired immediately to the palace, but nothing more transpiring, he made another party at the same game a few days after. On the road to the play-ground, Shums Khan, a relation of Heibut Khan Sheerwany, perceiving Khizr Khan, the brother of Sooliman Khan Lody, instantly attacked him with his bat, and knocked him off his horse. The King abused Shums Khan grossly, and returned to his palace; and could not be persuaded but that there was some plot in agita­tion. He accordingly ordered his guards to be selected, and to be more than usually vigilant. The King's jealousies were not groundless; for at that time Heibut Khan Sheerwany and two other chiefs had proposed to the Prince Futteh Khan, the King's brother, to cut him off, declaring that he was now universally disliked, and they offered to place Futteh Khan on the throne. The Prince, desiring some time to consider of the project, consulted Sheikh Tahir Kabully and his mother, who both strongly dissuaded him from lending himself to the conspiracy; and lest the affair should by any other means transpire, they recommended him to acquaint the King instantly of what had been proposed to him. On this, the conspirators being detached on different services, to a distance, were cut off in detail.

A. H. 905.
A. D. 1499. In the year 905, the King marched to Sumbhul, where he spent four years, partly in pleasure, and partly in trans­acting civil affairs. While thus employed, he heard heavy complaints from the Afghans against Asghur Khan, the governor of Dehly. On this he ordered Khuvas Khan, governor of Machiwara, to proceed to Dehly, and to send Asghur Khan prisoner to court. Asghur Khan, receiving advice of this inten­tion, quitted the capital, and threw himself at the King's feet; but not being able to frame sufficient excuse for his conduct, he was ordered into confine­ment. It is mentioned that about this period a brah­min, whose name was Boodhun, an inhabitant of Kataen, near Luknow, being upbraided by some Mahomedans on account of his faith, maintained “that the religions both of the Moslems and “Hindoos, if acted on with sincerity, were equally “acceptable to God.”

As this opinion had been supported with some ingenuity, and much argument, by the brahmin, the subject came to be discussed publicly before the kazies of Luknow, and the brahmin was ordered to appear. On this occasion, Kazy Peeala and Sheikh Budr, both residing at Luknow, had different opinions; and the arguments of the brah­min having made some stir in the city, Azim Hoomayoon, the governor, thought fit to send all the parties to the court at Sumbhul, where the King, who was fond of hearing disputations on religious subjects, directed the most learned men in his empire to assemble and argue the point of faith with the brahmin. The following persons were accordingly brought together:—

Meean Kadir Bin Sheikh Rajoo.
Meean Abdool Elias, and
Meean Allahdad of Toolumba.
Syud Mahomed, Bin Syud Khan of Dehly.
Moolla Kootb-ood-Deen, and
Moolla Allahdad Saleh from Surhind.
Syud Aman.
Syud Boorhan, and
Syud Ahsun from Kunowj.