Men complained of the clemency and humanity of the Sultán * * * and a party of wicked, ungrateful nobles used to talk over their cups of killing him and setting him aside. This was all reported to the Sultán, but he sometimes dismissed it lightly, and at others used to say, “Men often drink too much, and then say foolish things; do not report drunken stories to me.” One day a party was held in the house of Malik Táju-d dín Kúchí, a nobleman of some distinction. When the wine had got into the heads of the guests and they were intoxicated, they said to Táju-d dín: “You are fit to be a king, but the Sultán is not. If there is any Khiljí fit to be a king, it is Ahmad Chap, not Jalálu-d din.” This and similar absurdities they uttered. All who were present promised to aid Táju-d dín in acquiring the crown. One of them said he would finish the Sultán with a hunting knife,* and another drew his sword and said he would make mince-meat of him. Many other foolish vaunts were uttered, all of which were duly reported to the Sultán. He had heard a good deal of these proceedings before, and had made light of them; but on the present occasion, when he learned the extravagant boasts which had been uttered at Táju-d dín's party, he could endure no longer, and had all the topers brought before him. He upbraided them severely, and while men were wondering where it would end, he grew hot, and, drawing a sword, threw it down before them, and exclaimed, “Ah drunken negroes, who brag together, and talk, one of killing me with an arrow, and another of slaying me with a sword! Is there one among you who is man enough to take this sword and fight it out fairly with me? See! here I sit ready for him, let him come on!” Malik Nusrat Sabáh, principal inkstand bearer, a witty nobleman, was among them, who had uttered many absurd things. He now replied, and said, “Your Majesty knows that topers in their cups utter ridiculous sayings. We can never kill a Sultán who cherishes us like sons, as you do, nor shall we ever find so kind and gracious a master; neither will you kill us for our absurd drunken ravings, because you will never find other nobles and gentlemen like us.” The Sultán himself had been drinking wine. His eyes filled with tears at these words of Nusrat Sabáh, and he pardoned them all. He gave Nusrat Sabáh a cup of wine and made him his guest. The other evil-minded and evil-speaking nobles he dismissed to their estates, commanding them to stay there for a year and not to enter the city. * * * Jalálu-d dín always treated his nobles, officers, and subjects, with the greatest kindness and tenderness. He never visited their offences with blows, confinement, or other severity, but treated them as a parent does his children. If he got angry with any of them, he threatened them with his second son, Arkalí Khán, who was a hot-tempered man. * * * In the reign of Balban, while Jalálu-d dín was Sar-jándár, he held the territory of Kaithal* and the deputyship of Sámána. His officers in Sámána demanded revenue from a village belong­ing to Mauláná Siráju-d dín Sáwí. * * * The Mauláná was very angry, and wrote a work which he called Khiljí-náma, in which he lampooned Jalálu-d dín. * * * On the latter becoming sovereign, the Mauláná * * * came to court with a rope round his neck, despairing of his life, * * * but the Sultán called him forward, embraced him, gave him a robe, enrolled him among his personal attendants, restored his vil­lage, and added another, confirming them both to him and his descendants. * * *

After he became Sultán, he reflected that he had warred many years against the Mughals, and so he might be appropriately called in the khutba “al Mujáhid fí sabíl-alláh.” He accord­ingly instructed Malika-i Jahán, the mother of his children, to suggest to the Kázís and heads of religion, when they came to pay their respects to her, that they should ask the Sultán to allow this title to be used. * * * Soon after they came to offer congratulations * * * and Malika-i Jahán sent a message to the heads of religion. * * * Shortly afterwards they made the proposition to the Sultán. His eyes filled with tears, and he acknowledged that he had directed Malika-i Jahán to make the suggestion, but he had since reflected that he was not worthy of the title * * * as he had fought for his own gratification and vanity; * * * and so he refused to accept it.

Jalálu-d dín was a great appreciator and patron of talent. * * * On the day that he was made 'Áriz-i mamálik, he presented Amír Khusrú with twelve hundred tankas * * * and when he became Sultán, he made the amír one of his chosen attendants, and appointed him keeper of the Kurán. He invested him with such robes as are given to great nobles, and girded him with a white sash.

But for all the gentleness and kindness and mercy of Sultán Jalálu-d dín, in his reign Sídí Maula was cast under the feet of an elephant: after which event the Jalálí throne and family began to decline. Sídí Maula was a darwesh from the Upper country (wiláyat-i mulk-i bálá), who came to Dehlí in the reign of Balban. He had peculiar notions about religion, and was remarkable for his expenditure and for his food. He did not go to public prayers in the mosque, though he offered prayers. * * * He kept no servant or handmaid, and indulged no passion. He took nothing from any one, but yet he expended so much that people were amazed, and used to say that he dealt in magic. On the open ground in front of his door he built a magnificent khánkáh, and expended thousands upon it. There great quantities of food were distributed, and travellers resorted thither. Twice a day, such bounteous and various meals were provided as no khán or malik could furnish. * * * He went to pay a visit to Shaikh Faríd at Ajodhan * * * and when he was about to leave, the Shaikh said, “I give thee a bit of advice, which it will be well for thee to observe. Have nothing to do with maliks and amîrs, and beware of their intimacy as dangerous; no darwesh ever kept up such an intimacy, but in the end found it disastrous.” * * * In the reign of Jalálu-d dín, his expenditure and his society grew larger. The Sultán's eldest son, Khán-i Khánán, was his friend and follower, and called himself the Sídí's son. * * * Kází Jalál Káshání, a Kází of some repute, but a mischievous man, used to stay for two or three nights together at the khánkáh, and converse in private with the Sídí. * * * It at length became known that this Kází and several (discontented and needy) nobles used to go to the khánkáh and sit with the Sídí in the evening and talk sedition. They resolved that when the Sultán went in state to the mosque on the Sabbath he should be killed, and that Sídí Maula should then be proclaimed khalífa, and should marry the daughter of Sultán Násiru-d dín. Kází Jalál Káshání was to have the territory of Multán [and the other conspirators were to be provided for]. One of the persons present carried information to the Sultán. The Sídí and all the other conspirators were arrested and brought before the Sultán. They strenuously denied the charge, and it was not the custom in those days to extort confession by beating. The Sultán and the people were satisfied of their guilt, but they denied it, and so nothing could be done. Orders were given for the preparation of a large fire in the plain of Bahár-púr. * * * The Sultán (with a large following) went there, and orders were given for placing the accused upon the pile, so that fire might elicit the truth. Before carrying out the order the opinion of the learned lawyers was asked, and they replied that the ordeal by fire was against the law * * * and that the evidence of one man was not sufficient to convict any one of treason. The Sultán accordingly set aside the ordeal. Kází Káshání, the chief of the conspiracy, was sent as Kází to Badáún. The nobles were banished to different countries, and their properties were confiscated. Hatya Páík, the destined assassin, was sentenced to suitable punishment, and Sídí Maula was carried bound to the front of the palace, where the Sultán expostulated with him. Shaikh Abú Bakr Túsí was present with a number of his followers, and the king turned to them and said, “Oh darweshes avenge me of the Maula.” One of them fell upon the Sídí and cut him several times with a razor. Arkalí Khán was on the top of the palace, and he made a sign to an elephant driver, who drove his elephant over the Sídí and killed him. This most humane King could not endure the plotting of a darwesh, and gave an order which broke through their prestige and sanctity. I, the author, well remember that on the day of the Sídí's death, a black storm arose which made the world dark. Troubles afterwards arose in the State. * * * In the same year there was a scarcity of rain, there was dearth in Dehlí, and grain rose to a jítal per sír. In the Siwálik also the dearth was greatly felt. The Hindus of that country came into Dehlí with their families, twenty or thirty of them together, and in the extremity of hunger drowned themselves in the Jumna. The Sultán and nobles did all they could to help them. In the following year such rain fell as but few people could remember.