Rebellion of Júnah.—Some state that Júnah was son of a daughter of Fúr. After he ascended the throne, he performed many good deeds, and exhibited many excellent qualities. He endeavoured to promote the prosperity of the kingdom, and established many towns and villages on the banks of the Ganges and Jumna. He also made great efforts to administer justice. He was contemporary with Ardashír Bábagán. One year Ardashír marched against India, and reached as far as the neighbourhood of Sirhind. Júnah was very much alarmed, and hastened to do homage to him. He presented pearls and gold and jewels and elephants as tribute, and so induced Ardashír to return. Júnah then went back to Kanauj, and lived there for some time in tranquillity. After a reign of ninety years, he died, leaving two sons, the elder of whom, Kalyán Chand, suc­ceeded him.

Reign of Kalyán Chand.—Kalyán was a violent and tyrannical ruler, who for trifling faults put his people to death, and upon mere suspicion seized the wealth and property of innocent men. He also exacted contributions from the raiyats by force. So the people emigrated to other parts, and Hindústán became desolate. Kanauj, the capital, was reduced to such a state of wretchedness that only the Rájá and a few inhabitants were left. The splendour of his Court had departed, and the realm of Hindústán was full of misery. The Ráís on all sides grew strong in power and high in dignity, so that it is necessary to write something about them. But as it is not necessary to record all the matters relating to the Ráís of Hind and Kanauj, I will write about the affairs of Ráí Bikramájít, who reigned in the kingdom of Málwá.

History of Bikramájít the Just, King of Málwá.—Bikramájít belonged to the tribe of Powár. His excellent character is apparent in the many stories and tales about him that are current among the Hindús. In his youth he put on the garments of a religious mendi­cant, and wandered over many countries in the society of devotees, submitting to their discipline. When he reached his fiftieth year, under the guidance of heaven, he placed himself at the head of his army. It was ordained by the Almighty that he should attain a high position, and should rescue God's servants from the violence and oppression of the tyrannical Ráís. Day by day his power and prosperity increased, so that in a short time all the territory of Málwá and Nahrwála came into his possession. He spread the shadow of his justice and equity and kindness over the inhabitants of every city, so that violence was repressed, and protection secured. The Hindús believe that he had a fore-knowledge of what would happen to men, and that whatever he foretold came to pass without lack or fail. Whatever of good or evil, of benefit or injury, oc­curred in his dominions during the night, all, without the least exception, became known to him in the morning as clear as the light. Notwithstanding his royal station, he associated with his people in the most brotherly way. In his dwelling he had only earthenware vessels and ordinary mats. The city of Ujjain was built in his reign. He also founded the fort of Dhar, and chose it as his place of abode. The temple of Mahá-kál at Ujjain was built by him, and he made fixed endowments for the bráhmans and jogís whom he appointed to live in that temple, and perform the worship. He passed much of his time in the worship of the creation and in the worship of the Creator (parastish-i khalk wa parastish-i khálik). The faith of the people in him is unbounded, and they tell most wonderful and miraculous stories about him. An era of years and months dating from his death is used in documents, and at the time when I write this, in the year one thousand and fifteen of the Hijra, one thousand six hundred and sixty-three years of this era have elapsed. Rájá Bikramájít was a cotemporary of Ardashír, or, accord­ing to others, of Sháhpúr. Towards the end of his reign, a zamín­dár of the Dakhin named Sálibáhan rose in rebellion against him, and a battle was fought between them on the banks of the Nerbadda. Sálibáhan was victorious, and Bikramájít was killed. There are many statements as to the length of the reign of Bikramájít; but as none of them are acceptable to reason, nothing is here said about it. For a long time after the death of Bikramájít, the country of Málwá was in a wretched state, and had no just and liberal ruler. At length a Rájá named Bhoj seized the reins of government.

Reign of Rájá Bhoj.—This Rájá also belonged to the tribe of Powár. In justice and liberality he vied with Bikramájít. He did not do as people usually do at night, but wandered about the city, looking into the circumstances of the poor and needy. His constant anxiety was to better the condition of men. The cities of Ghargún (Gágrún?) and Bíjagar and the town of Hindiya were built in his reign. He was very fond of gathering women together. Twice every year he held a great festival, to which musicians and singers resorted in flocks from all parts of Hindústán. For forty days the amusements were kept up, and nothing went on but dancing, sing­ing, music, and story-telling. In those days, all classes received food and wine and betel from the Court, and at the time of de­parture each person received a robe and ten miskáls of gold. He died after a reign of fifty years. In those days, a ruler named Bás Deo sat upon the throne of Kanauj. He recovered the countries of of Bihár and Bengal, which had been lost to the Ráís of Kanauj, and he was a monarch of great power and dignity. In his reign, Bahrám Gúr disguised himself in the dress of a merchant, and went to Kanauj for the purpose of ascertaining the truth about the king­dom of Hindústán, and inquiring into the manners and customs of the Hindús. It is said that in those days a fierce and terrible elephant frequented the neighbourhood of Kanauj, and not a day passed without his trampling to death some of the wayfarers who were going to or coming away from that city. Bás Deo made repeated attempts to destroy him, but had returned unsuccessful. It so happened that on the very day on which Bahrám reached Kanauj, that elephant approached the outskirts of the city, and made a terrible trumpeting and bellowing. The Rájá ordered the gates of the city to be shut, but Bahrám went out of the city alone, attacked the animal, and despatched him with one wooden arrow (chobah tir). All the people of the city, small and great, who had gone out to see the sport, fell at the feet of Bahrám, and their shouts and acclamations reached the skies. When Bás Deo heard of this, he sent for him to his presence. On Bahrám's approaching the Rájá, one of the attendants of the Court, who had in a previous year con­veyed the tribute to Bahrám's country, recognized him, and informed the Rájá. Thereupon the Rájá descended from his throne, and paid homage to Bahrám. Afterwards he gave him his daughter in mar­riage, and sent him back with all honour. As long as he lived, he every year sent him rare and choice presents. He died after reign­ing seventy years. The fort and city of Kálpí were among the works of his reign. He left thirty-two sons, and for ten years after his death there was a continual struggle and war among the brothers for the throne. At length Rám Deo, the commander-in-chief of Bás Deo, with the aid of other leaders of the army, took possession of the throne, and became a powerful monarch.

Reign of Rám Deo Ráhtor.—Rám Deo belonged to the tribe of Ráhtor. He was a man of much courage, determination and vigour. By degrees he put down the rebellious chiefs who had shown signs of disaffection, and made himself quite secure against domestic revolts. Then he equipped an army, and marched against Márwár, which he wrested from the possession of the tribe of Kachhwáha, and established his own tribe, the Ráhtors, in their place. From that day to this they have held the country. He removed the tribe of Kachhwáhas, and settled them in the vicinity of the fort of Rohtás. He took in marriage the daughter of a chief of that tribe. Afterwards he marched against Lakhnautí, and having taken pos­session of it, he gave it to his nephew, and carried off enormous spoil. At the end of three years, he returned to Kanauj, and remained there two years. Then he led an army against Málwá. Having made the country amenable to his revenue officers, he founded many towns and villages. He repaired the fort of Narwar, and placed a Ráhtor in it as commandant. Then he demanded of the Ráí of Bíjánagar his daughter in marriage. Sheo Ráí, who then held in his hands the reins of authority over the Dakhin, was alarmed at Rám Deo's power, and sent him his daughter, with a handsome dowry. Rám Deo stayed for two years in Gondwára, and killed many of the powerful zamíndárs. He then returned to Kanauj, and dwelt there seven years in happiness. After that, he marched into the Siwálik hills, and made all the zamíndárs tributary. The Rájá of Kamáún, who was the most important person in those moun­tains, and whose ancestors had ruled the country for nearly two thousand years, came out against Rám Deo, and gave him battle. The conflict raged from morning till night, and there was dreadful slaughter on both sides; but victory at length inclined to Rám Deo, and the Rájá of Kamáún, leaving his equipage and elephants, took refuge in the mountains. Rám Deo took his daughter and tribute, and having confirmed the country to the Rájá, he next turned his attention to the country of Nagarkot. He ravaged all that country, and pursued his course until he came to a place called Sankot* Pindí. There he stopped, and went no further, in consequence of the sanctity of a temple of Durgá, near Nagarkot. He sent a messenger to summon the Rájá of that place; but the Rájá refused to come to him. Some Bráhmans then came to Rám Deo, and gave assurances to him, that if he would go and visit the temple, the Rájá would wait upon him. So the two Rájás saw each other. Rám Deo gave much gold to the attendants of the temple, and having asked the hand of the Rájá's daughter for his son, he went on towards the fort of Jammú. The Rájá of Jammú, confident in the valour of his army, the strength of his fortress, the difficulty of access, the density of the jungle, and the abundance of his supplies, refused to surrender, and came forth to battle. But he was unable to stand against Rám Deo, and his army fled. Rám Deo sent a force in pursuit, while he himself invested the fortress, which he shortly took. He made many prisoners, and obtained much spoil. Afterwards the Rájá of Jammú came humbly to wait upon him. He demanded a daughter of the Rájá for another son of his, and then departed. From the river Behut, which descends from Kash-mír, that land of Paradise, into the Panjáb, he proceeded to Bengal and the shores of the sea, which is far distant from the Siwálik hills, as much perhaps as five months' march. Nearly five hundred ráís and rájás who dwelt in the hills were reduced, and compelled to pay tribute. With gold and jewels, and stores and elephants, he returned to Kanauj, his capital; there he took his seat upon his throne, and held a great festival. Then he assembled his soldiers, and made them an increase of twenty (per cent.). Having rewarded his brave men, he distributed a third part of his booty among the people. After this, he stayed at home in ease and happiness, and never travelled abroad, until, like other mortal men, he died, after a reign of fifty-four years. The Hindús are agreed that they never had a greater king than Rám Deo. He was the cotemporary of Fíroz Sháh Sámání, son of Kai-Kubád, to whom he every year sent tribute, and never failed to show his obedience.