The Sultán was so blinded by his destiny, that although his own eyes saw the treachery, he would not return; but he said to Almás Beg, “I have come so far in a little boat to meet your brother, cannot he, and does not his heart induce him to advance to meet me with due respect.” The traitor replied, “My brother's intention is to await your majesty at the landing place, with the elephants and treasure and jewels, and there to present his officers.” * * * The Sultán trusting implicitly in them who were his nephews, sons-in-law, and foster-children, did not awake and detect the obvious intention. He took the Kurán and read it, and proceeded fearless and confiding as a father to his sons. All the people who were in the boat with him saw death plainly before them, and began to repeat the chapter appropriate to men in sight of death. The Sultán reached the shore before afternoon prayer, and disembarked with a few followers. 'Aláu-d dín advanced to receive him, he and all his officers showing due respect. When he reached the Sultán he fell at his feet, and the Sultán treating him as a son, kissed his eyes and cheeks, stroked his beard, gave him two loving taps upon the cheek, and said “I have brought thee up from infancy,* why art thou afraid of me?” * * * * The Sultán took 'Aláu-d din's hand, and at that moment the stony-hearted traitor gave the fatal signal. Mu­hammad Sálim, of Sámána, a bad fellow of a bad family, struck at the Sultán with a sword, but the blow fell short and cut his own hand. He again struck and wounded the Sultán, who ran towards the river, crying, “Ah thou villian, 'Aláu-d din! what hast thou done?” Ikhtiyáru-d dín Húd ran after the betrayed monarch, threw him down, and cut off his head, and bore it dripping with blood to 'Aláu-d dín. * * * * Some of those persons who accompanied the Sultán had landed, and others remained in the boats, but all were slain. Villainy and treachery, and murderous feelings, covetousness and desire of riches, thus did their work.* * * * *

The murder was perpetrated on the 17th Ramazán, and the venerable head of the Sultán was placed on a spear and paraded about. When the rebels returned to Karra-Mánikpúr it was also paraded there, and was afterwards sent to be exhibited in Oudh. * * * * While the head of the murdered sovereign was yet dripping with blood, the ferocious conspirators brought the royal canopy and elevated it over the head of 'Aláu-d dín. Casting aside all shame, the perfidious and graceless wretches caused him to be proclaimed king by men who rode about on elephants. Although these villains were spared for a short time, and 'Aláu-d dín for some years, still they were not forgotten, and their punishments were only suspended. At the end of three or four years Ulugh Khán (Almás Beg), the deceiver, was gone, so was Nusrat Khán, the giver of the signal, so also was Zafar Khán, the breeder of the mischief, my uncle, 'Aláu-l Mulk, kotwál, and * * * and * * * The hell-hound Sálim, who struck the first blow, was a year or two afterwards eaten up with leprosy. Ikhtiyáru-d dín, who cut off the head, very soon went mad, and in his dying ravings cried that Sultán Jalálu-d dín stood over him with a naked sword, ready to cut off his head. Although 'Aláu-d dín reigned suc­cessfully for some years, and all things prospered to his wish, and though he had wives and children, family and adherents, wealth and grandeur, still he did not escape retribution for the blood of his patron. He shed more innocent blood than ever Pharaoh was guilty of. Fate at length placed a betrayer in his path, by whom his family was destroyed, * * * and the retribution which fell upon it never had a parallel even in any infidel land. * * *

When intelligence of the murder of Sultán Jalálu-d dín reached Ahmad Chap, the commander of the army, he returned to Dehlí. The march through the rain and dirt had greatly depressed and shaken the spirits of the men, and they went to their homes. The Malika-i Jahan, wife of the late Sultán, was a woman of determination, but she was foolish and acted very imprudently. She would not await the arrival from Multán of Arkalí Khán, who was a soldier of repute, nor did she send for him. Hastily and rashly, and without consultation with any one, she placed the late Sultán's youngest son, Ruknu-d dín Ibráhím, on the throne. He was a mere lad, and had no knowledge of the world. With the nobles, great men, and officers she proceeded from Kílú-gharí to Dehlí, and, taking possession of the green palace, she distributed offices and fiefs among the maliks and amírs who were at Dehlí, and began to carry on the government, receiving petitions and issuing orders. When Arkalí Khán heard of his mother's unkind and improper proceedings, he was so much hurt that he remained at Multán, and did not go to Dehlí. During the life of the late Sultán there had been dis­sensions between mother and son, and when 'Aláu-d dín, who remained at Karra, was informed of Arkalí Khán's not coming to Dehlí, and of the opposition of the Malika-i Jahán, he saw the opportunity which this family quarrel presented. He re­joiced over the absence of Arkalí Khán, and set off for Dehlí at once, in the midst of the rains, although they were more heavy than any one could remember. Scattering gold and col­lecting followers, he reached the Jumna. He then won over the maliks and amírs by a large outlay of money, and those unworthy men, greedy for the gold of the deceased, and caring nothing for loyalty or treachery, deserted the Malika-i Jahán and Ruknu-d dín and joined 'Aláu-d dín. Five months after start­ing, 'Aláu-d dín arrived with an enormous following within two or three kos of Dehlí. The Malika-i Jahán and Ruknu-d dín Ibráhím then left Dehlí and took the road to Multán. A few nobles, faithful to their allegiance, left their wives and families and followed them to Multán. Five months after the death of Jalálu-d dín at Karra, 'Aláu-d dín arrived at Dehlí and ascended the throne. He scattered so much gold about that the faithless people easily forgot the murder of the late Sultán, and rejoiced over his accession. His gold also induced the nobles to desert the sons of their late benefactor, and to support him. * * *

Sultán 'Aláu-d dín ascended the throne in the year 695 H. (1296 A.D.). He gave to his brother the title Ulugh Khán, to Malik Nusrat Jalesarí that of Nusrat Khán, to Malik Huzab-baru-d dín that of Zafar Khán, and to Sanjar, his wife's brother, who was amír-i majlis, that of Alp Khán. He made his friends and principal supporters amírs, and the amírs he promoted to be maliks. Every one of his old adherents he elevated to a suitable position, and to the Kháns, maliks, and amírs he gave money, so that they might procure new horses and fresh servants. Enormous treasure had fallen into his hands, and he had com­mitted a deed unworthy of his religion and position, so he deemed it politic to deceive the people, and to cover his crime by scatter­ing honours and gifts upon all classes of people.

He set out on his journey to Dehlí, but the heavy rains and the mire and dirt delayed his march. His desire was to reach the capital after the rising of Canopus, as he felt very appre­hensive of the late Sultán's second son, Arkalí Khán, who was a brave and able soldier. News came from Dehlí that Arkalí Khán had not come, and 'Aláu-d dín considered this absence as a great obstacle to his (rival's) success. He knew that Ruknu-d dín Ibráhím could not keep his place upon the throne, for the royal treasury was empty and he had not the means of raising new forces. 'Aláu-d dín accordingly lost no time, and pressed on to Dehlí, though the rains were at their height. In this year, through the excessive rain, the Ganges and the Jumna became seas, and every stream swelled into a Ganges or a Jumna; the roads also were obstructed with mud and mire. At such a season 'Aláu-d dín started from Karra with his elephants, his treasures, and his army. His kháns, maliks, and amírs were commanded to exert themselves strenuously in enlisting new horsemen, and in providing of all things necessary without delay. They were also ordered to shower money freely around them, so that plenty of followers might be secured. As he was marching to Dehlí a light and moveable manjaník was made. Every stage that they marched five mans of gold stars* were placed in this manjaník, which were discharged among the spectators from the front of the royal tent. People from all parts gathered to pick up “the stars,” and in the course of two or three weeks the news spread throughout all the towns and villages of Hindustán that 'Aláu-d dín was marching to take Dehlí, and that he was scattering gold upon his path and enlisting horsemen and followers without limit. People, military and unmilitary, flocked to him from every side, so that when he reached Badáún, notwithstanding the rains, his force amounted to fifty-six thousand horse and sixty thousand foot. * * * *