The author of the Mirát Sikandarí, who has mentioned the Sultán's contemporaries and friends, says that he was a great friend to Fakírs, and that, having a great regard for the unfortunate among this class, he built many places for their reception, where servants were appointed to supply them with whatever they required. He was also wont to give the devout, frequenting mosques and colleges, good clothing during the winter season, and make them presents of coverlets. As many of the dissipated among them were, however, in the habit of selling the latter, he ordered that such should be made large enough for covering several persons, as they would not be then unanimous in their resolution to sell them.

The Sultán, having rid himself of the domi­neering

A. Hij. 953,
A.D. 1546.

nobles, set out, in A. Hij. 953, A.D. 1546, on a trip of pleasure to Mahmúd­ábád ;* where he resolved on erecting some magnificent works, called the deer park. The latter, which was two farsangs long, and in breadth nearly as far as a horse could run, con­tained at each corner a palace, the walls and roof of which were gilded. On the right hand side of the doors, leading to each of these palaces, he caused a fine bazár to be made; where in every shop a Peri-faced damsel was stationed, to dispense to customers every thing which contributed to pleasure. The Sultán often, when engaged on a hunting party, was wont to entertain and amuse himself there with these fair damsels; and, once every year, from the 1st to the 12th of Rabí-ul-awal, the nativity of the Prophet Mohammed was celebrated, when all the Ulamás, Shaikhs, and learned men, attended the Court, and rehearsed the traditions. On the 12th day, the Sultán personated the Sharíf of Mekka in that assembly, after having ordered the whole to be fed at a banquet. This practice had been continued downwards from the time of Muzaffir II.

When Sultán Mahmúd II. had exerted him­self at the celebration of this festival, held in the year of the Hijra 961, A.D. 1533-4, he retired to rest, after having taken farewell of the people then assembled. Having slept a little, he awoke, and called for some sherbet and water; when Burhán, whose office was to pre­pare these things, mixing poison with the draught, gave it to the Sultán. The latter soon after felt unwell, and, having vomited, asked Burhán what kind of sherbet he had given him. The latter replied that, as the Sultán's illness had been solely brought on by his exer­tions, it was necessary for him to take rest, that he might drive it away. Another hour of the night passed, and the Sultán, again going to sleep, was murdered by Burhán with a dagger. This event happened on Friday, during the nativity of the Prophet, A. Hij. 962, A.D. 1554. As nearly eighteen years had passed from the time he was first enthroned, and as he was in his eleventh year, he must have attained his twenty-eighth year at the period of his death.

The wretch Burhán, with his wicked accom­plices in this infamous transaction, resolved to finish the business, by concealing, in the ante­chamber of the royal apartments, a party of armed men, to whom instructions were given to kill every one who should approach. After this arrangement was made, a person was sent to Asaf Khán, the prime-minister, with a mes­sage to say “that the Sultán was calling him, and that he was on no account to make the least delay.” The minister accordingly went; when Burhán, rising up, received him with much respect, telling him that it was the Sultán's order that he should wait in the ante-chamber, where the armed men had been concealed. The wretch soon after made the minister advance before him; and, whilst he himself drew back, the latter was slain on entering the ante-chamber: as was also Khudáwand Khán, who was sent for in the same manner. Itimád Khán had been also sent for; but he, wisely supposing that there was some pretence for doing so, went not. About the same time, another of the ministers, Afzal Khán, was sent for; on whom Burhán, seeing him approaching, began to smile, and flattered him, saying, “That if the Khán gave him his assistance, he would grant him whatsoever he might desire.” To this, Afzal Khán replied, “Wretch! what are your thoughts? and what is this you talk of?” Burhán at length, despairing of gaining over Afzal Khán, caused him also to be put to death.

The wretch, having thus glutted his vile heart with these and many other murders, laid his hands on the royal treasure and effects; and, having dressed himself in fine attire, binding on his neck a collar of great value, studded with jewels, which had been worn by the Sultán, seated himself like a dog on the royal jewelled chair, making manifest the saying, “that the dog sits in the cook's place.”

Having thus commenced to govern, he gave away the king's best horses as presents to his accomplices, along with their saddles, their gold and silver head-ornaments; and ordered that all the prisoners in jail should be set free. Those who joined him took the money and the horses, but, soon after seceding from his party, left him with only a few.

In the mean time, these events became generally known. The confidants of the late Sul­tán, such as Imádu-l-Mulk* , the leader of the Turks, and Alagh Khán, chief of the Abyssinians, now went with all possible expedition to the palace, and, having locked up the treasure, gave it in charge to trustworthy persons. They next proceeded to expel Burhán; who, with those he had collected, came out; and as one of the nobles, named Shírwán Khán, had advanced in front, Burhán said to him, “Come on, Shír­wán Khán; you have arrived in time!” To this the Khán replied, “I have indeed!” and, spurring on his horse, so cut him across the shoulder with his sword that he fell at his feet. All who were with him were also put to death.

Sayyid Mubárak now called together all the great nobles, such as Itimád Khán and others, that they might deliberate how government should be carried on. The late Sultán having left no heir behind, Rizá-ul-Mulk was despatched to Ahmadábád, to bring one of his relations, named Ahmad Khán. The messenger, who found him at a merchant's shop, purchasing grain, brought him accordingly to Mahmúdá­bád.