At the end of this same year twenty elephants arrived in Dehlí from Laddar Deo Ráí of Tilang, with a letter stating that he was ready to pay at Deogír, to any one whom the Sultán would commission to receive it, the treasure which he had en­gaged to pay, thus fulfilling the terms of the treaty made with Malik Káfúr.

In the latter part of the reign of 'Aláu-d dín several important victories were gained, and the affairs of the State went on accord­ing to his heart's desire, but his fortune now became clouded and his prosperity waned. Cares assailed him on many sides. His sons left their places of instruction and fell into bad habits. He drove away his wise and experienced ministers from his presence, and sent his councillors into retirement. He was desirous that all the business of the State should be concentrated in one office, and under the officers of that office;* and that the control of all matters, general or special, should be in the charge of men of his own race (zát). Mistakes were now made in political matters; the Sultán had no Aristotle or Buzurjmihr to point out the pros and cons of any question, and to make the true course clear to him.

At the time when the Sultán so resolutely opposed himself to the inroads of the Mughals, several of the amírs of the “New Musulmáns” who had no employ, and whose bread and grants of revenue had been resumed or curtailed by the revenue officers, grumbled, and conceived certain crude ideas. The Sultán heard that some of the chiefs of the New Musulmáns were complaining of their poverty and wretchedness, and were talking about him with ill feeling, saying that he dealt harshly with his people, oppressing them with fines and exactions to fill his own treasury, that he had forbidden the use of wine, beer, and strong drinks, and that he had levied heavy tribute from the country, and reduced the people to distress. They thought, therefore, that if they raised a revolt all the New Musulmáns, their countrymen, would join them, and that the prospect of escaping from the severity and oppression of 'Aláu-d dín would be pleasing to others as well. There had been no revolt for some time, and so none would be expected. Their plan was to seek an opportunity when the Sultán went out hawking in a light dress, and when he and his followers were eager in pursuit of the game, with their arms thrown aside. Two or three hundred New Musulmáns in one compact band were then to rush upon the Sultán, and carry off him and his personal attendants. This conspiracy became known to the Sultán. He was by nature cruel and implacable, and his only care was the welfare of his kingdom. No consideration for religion, no regard for the ties of brotherhood or the filial rela­tion, no care for the rights of others, ever troubled him. He disregarded the provisions of the law, even in the punishments which he awarded, and was unmoved by paternity or sonship. He now gave his commands that the race of “New Musulmáns,” who had settled in his territories, should be destroyed, and they were to be so slain that they all perished on the same day, and that not one of the stock should be left alive upon the face of the earth. Upon this command, worthy of a Pharaoh or a Nimrod, twenty or thirty thousand “New Musulmáns” were killed, of whom probably only a few had any knowledge (of the intended revolt). Their houses were plundered, and their wives and chil­dren turned out. In most of the years which have been noticed disturbances (íbáhatiyán) broke out in the city; but by the Sultán's command every rioter was most perseveringly pursued, and put to death with the most severe punishment. Their heads were sawn in two and their bodies divided. After these punish­ments breaches of the peace were never heard of in the city.

The generals and ministers of 'Aláu-d dín, by their courage, devotion, and ability, had secured the stability of the State during his reign, and had made themselves remarkable and bril­liant in the political and administrative measures of that time, such as * * *.

* * * During the reign of 'Aláu-d dín, either through his agency or the beneficent ruling of Providence, there were several remarkable events and matters which had never been witnessed or heard of in any age or time, and probably never will again. 1. The cheapness of grain, clothes, and necessaries of life. * * * 2. The constant succession of victories. * * * 3. The destruc­tion and rolling back of the Mughals. * * * 4. The maintenance of a large army at a small cost. * * * 5. The severe punish­ment and repression of rebels, and the general prevalence of loyalty. * * * 6. The safety of the roads in all directions. * * * 7. The honest dealings of the bázár people. * * * 8. The erec­tion and repair of mosques, minarets, and forts, and the excava­tion of tanks. * * * 9. That during the last ten years of the reign the hearts of Musulmáns in general were inclined to recti­tude, truth, honesty, justice, and temperance. * * * 10. That without the patronage of the Sultán many learned and great men flourished. * * * [Notices of some of the most distinguished men; 26 pages.]

The prosperity of 'Aláu-d dín at length declined. Success no longer attended him. Fortune proved, as usual, fickle, and destiny drew her poniard to destroy him. The overthrow of his throne and family arose from certain acts of his own. First, He was jealous and violent in temper. He removed from his service the administrators of his kingdom, and filled the places of those wise and experienced men with young slaves who were ignorant and thoughtless, and with eunuchs without intelligence. He never reflected that eunuchs and worthless people cannot conduct the business of government. Having set aside his wise and able administrators, he turned his own attention to dis­charging the duties of minister, a business distinct from that of royalty. His dignity and his ordinances hence fell into dis­respect. Secondly, He brought his sons prematurely, before their intelligence was formed, out of their nursery.* To Khizr Khán he gave a canopy and a separate residence, and he caused a document to be drawn up, appointing Khizr Khán his heir apparent, and he obtained the signatures of the nobles thereto. He did not appoint any wise and experienced governors over him, so the young man gave himself up to pleasure and de­bauchery, and buffoons and strumpets obtained the mastery over him. In the case of this son, and of his other sons, the Sultán was precipitate, and they gave entertainments and had uproari­ous parties in his private apartments. Many improper proceed­ings thus became the practice under his rule. Thirdly, He was infatuated with Malik Náíb Káfúr, and made him commander of his army and wazír. He distinguished him above all his other helpers and friends, and this eunuch and minion held the chief place in his regards. A deadly enmity arose between this Malik Náíb Káfúr and Alp Khán,* the father-in-law and ma­ternal uncle of Khizr Khán. Their feud involved the whole State, and day by day increased. Fourthly, The Regulations of the government were not enforced. His sons gave themselves up to dissipation and licentious habits. Malik Náíb Káfúr and Alp Khán struggled against each other; and the Sultán was seized with dropsy, that worst of diseases. Day by day his malady grew worse, and his sons plunged still deeper into dissipa­tion. Under his mortal disorder the violence of his temper was increased tenfold. He summoned Malik Náíb Káfúr from Deogír, and Alp Khán from Gujarát. The traitor, Malik Náíb Káfúr, perceived that the feelings of the Sultán were turned against his wife and Khizr Khán. He acted craftily, and induced the Sultán to have Alp Khán killed, although he had committed no offence and had been guilty of no dishonesty. He caused Khizr Khán to be made prisoner and sent to the fort of Gwalior, and he had the mother of the prince turned out of the Red Palace. On the day that Alp Khán was slain and Khizr Khán was thrown into bonds, the house of 'Aláu-d dín fell. A serious revolt broke out in Gujarát, and Kamálu-d dín Garg, who was sent to quell it, was slain by the rebels. Other risings occurred and were spread­ing, and the rule of the Sultán was tottering when death seized him. Some say that the infamous* Malik Náíb Káfúr helped his disease to a fatal termination. The reins of government fell into the hands of slaves and worthless people; no wise man re­mained to guide, and each one did as he listed. On the sixth Shawwál, towards morning, the corpse of 'Aláu-d dín was brought out of the Red Palace of Sírí, and was buried in a tomb in front of the Jámi' Masjid.