Cause of his nomination to the office of viceroy of Guzerat — the insignia of royalty are conferred on him at court — is opposed by the governor of the province at Sidpoor. — The governor is killed. — Moozuffur marches against Idur, and compels the Ray to pay tribute — forms a treaty with Adil Khan Farooky, ruler of Kandeish — levies tribute from the rajas of western Guzerat and Mundulgur — assumes the title of King — proceeds to Idur a second time, and levies tribute. — The King of Dehly expelled from his throne by Teimoor (Tamerlane) — seeks shelter in Guzerat, but is compelled to quit it. — Moozuffur Shah proceeds to Idur a third time — finds it evacuated, and occupies it with a force — marches to Somnat, which is evacuated — continues his route to Diù — the town opens its gates, but the inhabitants are put to the sword, and the Hindoo raja trod to death by an elephant. — Death of Tartar Khan at Suntpoor — contradictory accounts of the cause of that event. — Sudden death of Dilawur Khan, ruler of Malwa. — War between Moozuffur Shah and his son and successor Hooshung. — Hooshung taken prisoner. — Moozuffur Shah leaves his brother, Noosrut Khan, in charge of the government of Malwa. — Noosrut Khan expelled from Malwa. — Hooshung reinstated, and the title of Sooltan and regalia conferred on him by Moozuffur Shah. — Death of Moozuffur Shah.

IN the reign of Feroze Toghluk of Dehly, Furhut-ool-Moolk was nominated to the government of Guzerat, in which office he was confirmed by that monarch's successor, Gheias-ood-Deen Mahomed Toghluk II. Removed at a great distance from the capital, Furhut-ool-Moolk became desirous of establishing his independence; and in order to gain popularity for the furtherance of that object, he encouraged the Hindoo religion, and thus rather promoted than suppressed the worship of idols.

A. H. 793.
A. D. 1391. In the year 793, the learned and or­thodox Mahomedans of Guzerat, fearing lest this conduct should be the means of eventually superseding the true faith in those parts, addressed petitions to the throne, pointing out the probable political views of Furhut-ool-Moolk, as well as the danger to the true faith, if he were per­mitted to retain his government. On receipt of these addresses Mahomed Toghluk II. convened a meeting of the holy men at Dehly, and in con­junction with them appointed Zuffur, * the son of Wujee-ool-Moolk, one of the most respectable noblemen of the court, to the office of viceroy of

Rubbee-oos-
Sany 1.
A. H. 793.
March 6.
A. D. 1391.

Guzerat; and on the 1st day of Rub­bee-oos-Sany of the same year he received the title of Moozuffur Khan, and was honoured with a dress of in­stalment. To add to his dignity, also, he was presented with a white canopy, and scarlet pavilion, such as are exclusively used by kings.

Moozuffur Khan was born at Dehly on the 25th of the month of Mohurrum, in the year 743 (30th of June, A.D. 1342). His family had been elevated from menial stations in the household of the kings of Dehly; * but the subject of the present history ranked among the most accomplished noblemen of the empire. It was on this account he received the honour of being appointed viceroy of Guzerat; and after making the necessary preparations for his journey, he left Dehly in the beginning of the year

A. H. 794.
A. D. 1391.

794; about which period, the wife of his son, Tartar Khan, was delivered of a son named Ahmud, of whom particular mention will be made hereafter.

On the arrival of Moozuffur Khan at Nagoor, many complaints against Furhut-ool-Moolk reached him from the inhabitants of Cambay, and other places, representing his oppression in the shape of accumulated taxes and imposts. Upon this he wrote to that officer, informing him of his approach as governor, and recommending him to repair to court, with the balances of revenue so long withheld from the crown. Furhut-ool-Moolk returned an answer sufficiently indicative of his determination not to yield his authority quietly; and instantly collecting a force, composed chiefly of Hindoos, marched to oppose Moozuffur Khan. The new governor advanced to Yessavul, and having as­certained that his rival's army consisted of from ten to twelve thousand men, which he had col­lected with the intention of disputing his advance, he deputed an officer to him at Nehrwala (since called Puttun), warning him against opposing the legal authority, as in that case he must be con­sidered, and would be treated, as a rebel.

Furhut-ool-Moolk not only insulted this officer, but returned an insolent answer to Moozuffur Khan, who at length being compelled to raise an army, in order to support his commission, he en­listed a body of four thousand cavalry, with which he made rapid marches to Nehrwala. Furhut-ool-Moolk with ten thousand of his troops, to whom he made liberal donations, marched as far as Sid-poor , * situated within twenty-four miles of Puttun, where the armies met. An engagement ensued, in which the rebels were routed, and Furhut-ool-Moolk lost his life; after which Moozuffur Khan continued his march to Nehrwala.

A. H. 796.
A. D. 1393. In the year 796, the Ray of Idur having refused to pay the customary tribute, Moozuffur Khan marched to enforce it. Several skirmishes ensued, in which the new governor was generally victorious, until he arrived before the town of Idur, which he closely invested. The siege being protracted, the garrison became so distressed for provisions, that it is said they consumed cats and dogs, not before these animals had begun to feed on each other. The Ray at length sent out his son to prostrate himself before Moozuffur Khan, and to beg the lives of the inhabitants; a boon which was granted on condition of the payment of a quantity of jewels, and a large sum in specie.

Moozuffur Khan intended to have marched thence immediately to the city of Somnat, situated near the island of Diù; but he received in­formation that Mullik Raja, entitled Adil Khan, not content with occupying that portion of the territory of Kandeish which lies contiguous to Talnere and Kuronde, had now extended his rapa­city towards certain districts belonging to Guzerat, such as Sooltanpoor and Nundoorbar.

Moozuffur Khan accordingly deemed it proper, in the first instance, to turn his arms towards Kan-deish; but Adil Khan retreated to Talnere, and sent a person to negotiate with Moozuffur Khan, and so completely succeeded in appeasing him, that a treaty of alliance was formed in consequence. On the return of Moozuffur Khan to Guzerat, he learnt that in the western Puttun district the Ray of Jehrend, an idolater, refused allegiance to the Mahomedan authority. To this place Moozuffur Khan accordingly marched, and exacted tribute. He then proceeded to Somnat, where having destroyed all the Hindoo temples which he found standing, he built mosques in their stead; and leaving learned men for the propagation of the

A. H. 798.
A.D. 1395.

faith, and his own officers to govern the country, returned to Puttun in the year 798.

During the government of Furhut-ool-Moolk, the Rajpoots of Mundulgur acquired such strength as to expel the Mahomedans from their territories, refusing, also, to pay the usual tribute to the state. Moozuffur Khan accordingly moved in that direc­tion. He besieged Mundulgur with battering rams and catapultas, and caused subterraneous passages to be dug, in order to enter the fort by that means; but all his endeavours would have proved futile had it not been for a pestilence which broke out in the town, and which induced the besieged ray, whose name was Doorga, * to send out deputies to treat for a surrender. These persons came with shrouds on their shoulders and swords suspended from their necks; at the same time, several women and children exposed themselves almost naked on the works, begging for mercy. The Khan agreed, at length, to raise the siege, on the payment of a large sum in gold and jewels. From Mundulgur Moozuffur Khan marched to Ajmeer, to pay his devotions at the shrine of Khwaja Moyin-ood-Deen Hussun Sunjurry, from whence he went towards Guzerat. On reaching Julwara, he de­stroyed the temples; and after exacting heavy contributions, and establishing his authority, he re­turned to Puttun. It is related in the Tareekh-i-Alfy, that after his return from Julwara, in the

A. H. 799.
A. D. 1396.

year 799, Moozuffur Khan caused him­self to be proclaimed King, under the title of Moozuffur Shah, and directed coin to be struck in his name.

In the Dehly histories we are informed, that Tartar Khan, the son of Moozuffur Shah, became prime minister to Gheias-ood-Deen Mahomed Toghluk II. of Dehly, and that he afterwards raised a force and rebelled. Mulloo Yekbal Khan, an officer of that government, was sent to oppose him, and proceeded to Paniput, where Tartar Khan was encamped. The latter, by a forced march, avoided a battle and reached Dehly; but being unsuccessful in his attempt on that city he was obliged to relinquish his plans, and to fly precipitately to his father in Guzerat. Moozuffur Shah was induced, in consequence, in the year