His early life and character — his conduct on his accession to
the throne — his repugnance to the employment of men of low
origin — his court the resort of many of the princes and nobles
expelled by Chungiz Khan and the Moguls from their own dominions
— his encouragement of learned men. — Description of
his court and equipage. — Singular instance of stern justice. —
Makes war on the Mewatties. — 100,000 Mewatties put to death.
— The army employed to fell the forests of Mewat, which become
good arable lands. — The King marches an army to Lahore,
and repairs the city walls. — Settles pensions on the old officers
of the army.—The King's nephew, Sheer Khan, dies—is buried
in a magnificent tomb at Bhutnere. — Moguls invade the
Punjab. — The King's eldest son Mahomed opposes and defeats
them — is made governor of Mooltan. — Toghrul Khan,
ruler of Bengal, revolts. — An army is sent against him, which
is defeated, and the general slain. — The King proceeds in
person to quell the revolt. — Toghrul flies to Orissa — is
pursued by the King's army, and slain. — The King returns
to Dehly, after an absence of three years. — The Prince
Mahomed comes to the capital — his father's advice to him. —
Moguls invade Punjab. — The Prince marches against them
— defeats them, but is himself killed in the action — his romantic
gallantry — his character. — The King's grief for the
loss of his son. — Appoints the Prince's son, Kei Khoosrow,
to succeed him in Mooltan. — The King's health gradually
declines. — Sends for his son Kurra Khan, governor of Bengal,
who comes, but again quits the capital. — The King makes
his will in favour of his grandson Kei Khoosrow, governor of
Mooltan. — Death of Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun. — Mullik
Fukhr-ood-Deen Kotwal opposes the succession of Kei Khoos-
GHEIAS-OOD-DEEN BULBUN was a prince of just principles, and endowed with many great and amiable qualities. He was a Toork of Kurra Khutta, and of the tribe of Albery. In his youth he was taken by the Moguls, that conquered his country, and sold him to a merchant, who conveyed him to Bagdad. His father was a chief of great power, and commanded 10,000 horse in the war in which our young hero was carried off. He was bought at Bagdad, in the year 630, by Khwaja Jumal-ood-Deen, of Bussora, a person famed for his piety and learning. His patron, having ascertained that he was of the same tribe as Shums-ood-Deen Altmish, conveyed him to Dehly, and, presenting him to that monarch, was rewarded so handsomely, that he returned with an independent fortune to Bagdad.
Shums-ood-Deen Altmish employed him first in
the superintendence of his falconry, in which he
was very skilful. He rose by degrees from that
station, by the influence of his brother Eibuk
Kishly Khan, (who happened to be then in
great favour at the court of Dehly,) till he
became a noble. In the reign of Rookn-ood-
During the reign of Alla-ood-Deen Musaood,
in the year 642, he was promoted to the office of
Ameer Hajib, and in the late reign of Nasir-ood-
In the reign of Shums-ood-Deen Altmish, forty of his Toorky slaves, who were in great favour, entered into a solemn covenant to support each other, and on the King's death to divide the empire among themselves. Jealousies and dissensions afterwards arose among them, and prevented this project from being carried into execution. Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun was of this number, and as several of them had succeeded to great power in the kingdom, the first act of his reign was to rid himself of all who remained. Among these was his own nephew, the celebrated Sheer Khan.
The death of these chiefs removed all apprehension from his mind, and he afterwards became so renowned for his justice and the wisdom of his administration, that his alliance was courted by the kings of Persia and Tartary. He took particular care that none but men of merit and family should be admitted to any public office, and for this purpose he endeavoured to make himself acquainted with the talents and connections of every person about his court. While, on the one hand, he was liberal in rewarding merit, on the other, he was no less rigid in punishing vice; for whoever misbehaved in his station was certain of being immediately disgraced. He made it a rule never to place any Hindoo in a situation of trust or power, lest that race should employ its delegated authority to the destruction of the Mahomedans.
During a reign of 22 years he scrupulously excluded men of low origin from his court; and being one day told that one Fukhroo, an old servant of the state, who had acquired a vast fortune by usury and by monopolies in the bazaar, would present him with some laks of rupees if he would honour him with one word from the throne, he rejected the proposal with disdain, and said, — “What must his subjects think of a king who “should condescend to hold discourse with such a “creature?”
In the history of these times, compiled from the
Tubkat Nasiry and other works, besides that of
Ein-ood-Deen Beejapoory, it is stated, that Gheias-
The Mohulla Abassy. | The Mohulla Roomy. |
— Sunjurry. | — Sunkury. |
— Khwaruzm Shahy. | — Yemny. |
— Deylimy. | — Moosury. |
— Alny. | — Samar-Kundy. |
— Atabuky. | — Kashghury. |
— Ghoory. | — Khuttay. |
— Chungizy. |
In the retinue of those princes were some of the most illustrious men of learning whom Asia at that time produced. The court of India, therefore, in the days of Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun, was
esteemed the most polite and magnificent in the world. A society of learned men assembled frequently at the house of the prince, commonly known by the name of Khan Shaheed, at which the Ameer Khoosrow of Dehly, the poet, presided. Another society of musicians, dancers, actors, and story-tellers, * frequently met at the house of the King's second son, Kurra Khan Bagera, who delighted in such amusements. The omras followed the example of their superiors, so that various societies were formed in every quarter of the city, and the King's taste for splendour in his palaces, equipages, and liveries, was imitated by the courtiers.
So imposing were the ceremonies of introduction
to the royal presence, that none could approach
the throne without a mixture of awe and admiration.
Nor was Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun less splendid
in his processions. His state elephants were
covered with purple and gold trappings. His horse-