The intimate friends of the Sultán, such as 'Ádil Khán, Tabar Khán, and others of the old Shamsí Slaves, who, through the protection of the Sultán, still occupied exalted positions, often said to him—Sovereigns, like Kutbu-d dín Aibak and Shamsu-d dín, our former patrons, conquered Jháín,* Malwá, Ujjain, Gujarát, and other distant countries, and carried off treasure and valuables, and elephants and horses from the Ráís and Ránas. “How is it that with your well equipped and disciplined army you do not undertake any distant campaign, and never move out of your territory to conquer other regions?” The Sultán replied, “The thoughts which you have expressed have also been very active in my mind, but you have not considered the hordes of Changíz Khán, and the evil they have brought upon the women and children, the flocks and herds of my frontiers. These Mughals have established themselves in Ghazní, in Turmuz, and in Máwaráu-n Nahr. Hulákú, the grandson of Changíz Khán, with a vast horde, has subdued 'Irák and occupied Baghdád. These accursed wretches have heard of the wealth and prosperity of Hindustán, and have set their hearts upon conquering and plundering it. They have taken and plundered Láhor, within my territories, and no year passes that they do not come here and plunder the villages.* They watch the opportunity of my departure on a distant campaign to enter my cities and ravage the whole Doáb. They even talk about the conquest and sack of Dehli. I have devoted all the revenues of my kingdom to the equipment of my army, and I hold all my forces ready and pre­pared to receive them. I never leave my kingdom, nor will I go to any distance from it. In the reigns of my patrons and pre­decessors there was none of this difficulty of the Mughals; they could lead their armies where they pleased, subdue the dominions of the Hindus, and carry off gold and treasures, staying away from their capitals a year or two. If this anxiety, which ad­monishes me that I am the guardian and protector of Musulmans, were removed, then I would not stay one day in my capital, but would lead forth my army to capture treasures and valuables, elephants and horses, and would never allow the Ráís and Ránas to repose in quiet at a distance. With the army that I possess I would take all the spirit out of the opponents and enemies of the Faith.” * * *

The Sultán frequently observed to his associates that elephants and horses were the strength of Hindustan, and that one elephant was worth five hundred horsemen. * * * In the first year of the reign, sixty-three elephants were sent by Tátár Khán, son of Arslán Khán, from Lakhnauti to Dehli, which greatly pleased the people, and was the occasion of great public rejoicing. * * * He took great pleasure in hunting, and followed it with much zest during the winter. By his orders the country for twenty kos round Dehli was preserved, and no one was allowed to take game. * * * He used to go out in the morning, and always returned at night, even if it were midnight. A thousand horse­men belonging to the palace guard, each man of whom was ac­quainted with his person, accompanied him; besides a thousand old and trusty footmen and archers. Reports of the hunting expeditions of the Sultán were carried to Hulákú, at Baghdád, and he said, “Balban is a shrewd ruler and has had much ex­perience in government. He goes out apparently to hunt * * * but really to exercise his men and horses, so that they may not be wanting when times of danger and war arrive. * * *

Towards the end of the first year of his reign he employed himself in harrying the jungles, and in routing out the Mí- wáttís,* whom no one had interfered with since the days of Shamsu-d dín. * * * The turbulence of the Míwáttís had in­creased, and their strength had grown in the neighbourhood of Dehli, through the dissolute habits and negligence of the elder sons of Shamsu-d dín, and the incapacity of the youngest, Násiru-d dín. At night they used to come prowling into the city, giving all kinds of trouble, depriving the people of their rest; and they plundered the country houses in the neighbourhood of the city. * * * In the neighbourhood of Dehli there were large and dense jungles, through which many roads passed. The disaffected in the Doáb, and the outlaws towards Hindustan grew bold and took to robbery on the highway, and they so beset the roads that caravans and merchants were unable to pass. The daring of the Míwattís in the neighbourhood of Dehli was carried to such an extent that the western gates* of the city were shut at afternoon prayer, and no one dared to go out of the city in that direction after that hour, whether he travelled as a pilgrim or with the display of a sovereign. At afternoon prayer the Míwáttís would often come to the Sar-hauz, and assaulting the water-carriers and the girls who were fetching water, they would strip them and carry off their clothes. These daring acts of the Míwáttís had caused a great ferment in Dehli.

In the year of his accession, the Sultán felt the repression of the Míwáttís to be the first of his duties, and for a whole year he was occupied in overthrowing them and in scouring the jungles, which he effectually accomplished. Great numbers of Míwáttís were put to the sword. The Sultán built a fort at Gopál-gír, and established several posts in the vicinity of the city, which he placed in the charge of Afgháns, with assignments of land (for their maintenance). In this campaign one hundred thousand of the royal army* were slain by the Míwáttís, and the Sultán with his sword delivered many servants of God from the assaults and violence of the enemy. From this time the city was delivered from the attacks of the Míwáttís.

After the Sultán had thus routed out the Míwáttís, and cleared away the jungle in the neighbourhood of the city, he gave the towns and country within the Doáb to some distinguished chiefs, with directions to lay waste and destroy the villages of the marauders, to slay the men, to make prisoners of the women and children, to clear away the jungle, and to suppress all lawless proceedings. The noblemen set about the work with strong forces, and they soon put down the daring of the rebels. They scoured the jungles and drove out the rebels, and the ryots were brought into submission and obedience.

The Sultán afterwards marched out twice to open the roads to Hindustán, and proceeded to the neighbourhood of Kampil and Pattiálí. There he remained five or six months, putting the rebels to the sword. The roads to Hindustán were thus cleared, so that caravans and merchants could pass, and great spoil in slaves, horses, and cattle was secured. Kampil, Pattiálí, and Bhojpúr, had been the strongholds of the robbers who had in­fested the roads to Hindustán, so the Sultán erected in these places three strong forts, in which he placed Afghán garrisons. He set apart cultivable lands for the garrisons, and under the protection of these forces robbery was suppressed, and the roads to Hindustán were made safe. Sixty years have passed since these events, but the roads have ever since been free from robbers. In this campaign he also repaired the fort of Jalálí, which he garrisoned with Afgháns, and appropriated the land of the place to its support. The den of the robbers was thus converted into a guard-house, and Musulmans and guardians of the way took the place of highway robbers. It remains standing to this day.