Násiru-d dín returned to his territories, and some years after died there, leaving several children, among whom was Ghiyásu-d dín Bahádur, whom Sultán Tughlik made prisoner, and whom his son, Muhammad, released after his death. So the kingdom remained in the peaceable possession of Mu'izzu-d dín for four years, which were like festival days. I have heard a person who lived at this period describe the happiness, the cheapness of provisions at this time, and the liberality and munificence of Mu'izzu-d dín. It was this prince who built the minaret of the northern court of the great mosque at Dehli, which has no equal in the universe. An inhabitant of India informed me that Mu'izzu-d dín was much given to the society of women and to drinking; that he was attacked by a malady which defied all the efforts of his physicians to cure, and that one side of him was dried up (paralysis). Then his lieutenant, Jalálu-d dín Fíróz Sháh Khiljí, rose up against him.

Sultán Jalálu-d dín.

When, as we have just described, Sultán Mu'izzu-d dín was at­tacked with hemiplegia, his lieutenant, Jalálu-d dín, revolted against him, and, going out of the city, he encamped upon a hill in the neighbourhood, beside a mortuary chapel called Jaishání. Mu'izzu-d dín sent out amírs to attack him, but all whom he sent with this object swore fidelity to Jalálu-d dín, and enrolled themselves in his army. The chief rebel afterwards entered the city and besieged the Sultán in his palace for three days. An eye-witness of the fact in­formed me that Sultán Mu'izzu-d dín suffered from hunger, and could get nothing to eat. One of his neighbours sent him some food to appease his hunger, but the rebellious amír forced his way into the palace and Mu'izzu-d dín was killed.

Jalálu-d dín succeeded. He was an amiable and good man, and his gentleness made him the victim of an assassin, as we shall presently relate. He continued in peaceable possession of the throne for several years, and built the palace which bears his name. It was this building which Sultán Muhammad gave to his brother-in­law, the amír Ghadá, son of Muhanna, when he married him to his sister, an event which will be spoken of hereafter.

Sultán Jalálu-d dín had a son named Ruknu-d dín, and a nephew called 'Aláu-d dín, whom he married to his daughter, and to whom he gave the government of the towns of Karra and Mánikpúr, with the dependent territories. The wife of 'Aláu-d dín tormented him, and he was continually complaining of her to his uncle (and father-in-law), Sultán Jalálu-d dín, until dissension arose between them on the subject. 'Aláu-d dín was a sharp and brave man, who had often been victorious, and the ambition of sovereignty took possession of his mind, but he had no wealth but what he won by the point of his sword by despoiling the infidels. He set out to carry the holy war into the country of Deogír (or Daulatábád), which is also called the country of Kataka, of which mention will be made hereafter. Deogír is the capital of Málwa and of Marhata (the country of the Mahrattas), and its ruler was the most powerful of all the infidel kings. In the course of this expedition, the horse of 'Aláu-d dín stumbled against a stone and threw his rider. 'Aláu-d dín heard a sort of jingling noise made by the stone. He ordered the place to be dug up, and a considerable treasure was found under the stone, which he divided among his companions. When he arrived at Deogír, the ruler submitted and surrendered the city without fight­ing, making valuable presents to his conqueror. 'Aláu-d dín re­turned to Karra, but did not send any portion of the spoil to his uncle. Certain persons stirred up the feelings of his uncle against him, and the Sultán summoned him. He refused to go to Court, and the Sultán then said, “I will go and bring him, for he is to me as a son.” Accordingly he set out with his army, and marched until he reached the bank of the river opposite to Karra, at the same place where Sultán Mu'izzu-d dín had encamped when he went to meet his father, Násiru-d dín. He embarked on the river to go and meet his nephew. The latter also took boat with the intention of making an end of the Sultán, and he said to his companions, “When I embrace him, kill him.” When the two princes met in the middle of the river, the nephew embraced his uncle, and his companions despatched the Sultán as he had instructed them. The murderer seized upon the kingdom, and took command of the troops of his victim.

Sultán 'Aláu-d dín Muhammad Sháh Khiljí.

When he had killed his uncle he became master of the kingdom, and the greater part of the troops of Jalálu-d dín passed over to his side. The rest returned to Dehli and gathered round Ruknu-d dín. The latter marched out to attack the murderer, but all his soldiers deserted to 'Aláu-d dín, and he fled to Sind. 'Aláu-d dín took pos­session of the palace and reigned peaceably for twenty years. He was one of the best of Sultáns, and the people of India eulogize him highly. He personally examined the affairs of his people, and inquired into the price of provisions. Every day the muhtasib, or inspector of the markets, whom the Indians called ráís or chief, had to attend before him. It is said that one day he questioned the inspector about the dearness of meat, and he was told that it arose from the high tax upon bullocks. He ordered the tax to be abolished and the dealers to be brought before him. He gave them money, and said, “With this buy bullocks and sheep, and sell them; the price that they fetch must be paid to the treasury, and you shall receive an allowance for selling them.” This (order) was carried into execution. And the Sultán acted in a similar way in respect of the fabrics brought from Daulatábád. When corn reached a high price he opened the granaries of the State, and sold their stores, until the price came down. It is said that on one occasion the price of corn rose, and he ordered the dealers to sell it at a price which he fixed. They refused to sell it at the price named. He then ordered that nobody should purchase grain except at the govern­ment stores, and he sold it to the people for six months. The monopolists were afraid that their stocks would be devoured by weevils, and they begged permission to sell. The Sultán gave them leave, but upon condition that they sold at a price lower than they had before refused.

'Aláu-d dín never rode on horseback, either to go to public prayer on Fridays, or on festivals, or on any occasion whatever. The reason of this was that he had a nephew, named Sulaimán Sháh, whom he loved and favoured. One day he mounted his horse to go a-hunting with this nephew, and this one conceived the idea of dealing with his uncle as he, 'Aláu-d dín, had dealt with his uncle Jalálu-d dín, that is, of assassinating him. So when the Sultán alighted to take breakfast, he discharged an arrow at him and brought him down, but a slave covered him with a shield. The nephew came up to finish him, but the slaves told him that he was dead. He, be­lieving them, rode off and entered the women's apartments in the palace. The Sultán recovered from his fainting fit, mounted his his horse, and gathered together his troops. His nephew fled, but he was captured and brought before the Sultán. He slew him, and after that ceased to ride on horseback.

'Aláu-d dín had several sons, whose names were—1. Khizr Khán, 2. Shádí Khán, 3. Abú Bakr Khán, 4. Mubárak Khán, also called Kutbu-d dín, who became king, 5. Shahábu-d dín. Kutbu-d dín was treated unkindly by his father, and received very little notice. The Sultán bestowed honours on all his brothers—that is, he granted them banners and drums; but on him he conferred nothing. But one day the Sultán said to him, “I really must give you what I have given your brothers.” Kutbu-d dín replied, “It is God who will give it me.” This answer alarmed his father, who became afraid of him, The Sultán was then attacked by the malady of which he died. The wife by whom he had his son Khizr Khán, and who was called Máh-hakk, had a brother named Sanjar, with whom she conspired to raise Khizr Khán to the throne. Malik Náíb, the chief of the Sultán's amírs, who was called Al Alfi,* be­cause his master had bought him for 1,000 (alf) tankas, that is, 2,500 African dínárs. This Malik Náíb got knowledge of the plot and informed the Sultán. Thereupon he gave his attendants this order: “When Sanjar enters the room where I am, I will give him a robe. As he is putting it on, seize him by the sleeves, throw him down, and despatch him.” This order was exactly executed.