When the besieged were thus reduced to extremities, and were suing for peace, very nearly a month had passed since any couriers had arrived from the Sultán, although the Khán had previously received two or three letters every week. This want of intelligence from the court caused some uneasiness in the minds of the Khán and his officers; they imagined that some of the posts on the road had been destroyed, and that conse­quently the couriers had been unable to prosecute their journeys with the news. It also caused apprehension and misgivings to spread among the troops, and stories were carried from one to another. 'Ubaid the poet, and Shaikh Záda-i Dimashkí, two evil-disposed, turbulent fellows, who by some means had been introduced to the Khán, fanned the strife, and spread false re­ports among the soldiers, to the effect that the Sultán was dead, that the government had been overthrown, that a new prince now sat upon the throne of Dehlí, and that the way was quite closed against all couriers and messengers. So every man took his own course. These two malicious men trumped up another false story. They went to Malik Tamar, Malik Tigín, Malik Mall Afghán, and Malik Káfúr, keeper of the seal, and told these nobles that Ulugh Khán looked upon them with envy and suspicion, as generals and nobles of the reign of Áláu-d dín, and as obstacles to his attaining the throne; that their names were written down in a list as men to be disposed of, and that they would be all seized at once and beheaded. These nobles were aware that these two treacherous men were con­stantly about Ulugh Khán, and so they credited their statements. They therefore agreed to take flight, and, joining together their followers, they left the camp. Through this defection a panic fell upon the army, trouble and tumult arose, and no man thought of another. This event was very opportune for the besieged Hindus, and saved them. They sallied forth and plundered the baggage of the army, and Ulugh Khán with his immediate followers re­treated to Deogír. The soldiers were worn out, and fell in all directions. As they retreated, couriers arrived from the court, bringing news of the health and safety of the Sultán.

Differences arose among those 'Aláí nobles who had fled from the army, each of them pursued his own course. Their soldiers and servants perished, and their horses and arms fell into the hands of the Hindus. Ulugh Khán reached Deogír in safety. Malik Tamar, with a few horsemen, plunged into the Hindu territories, and there perished. Malik Tigín of Oudh was killed by the Hindus, and his skin was sent to Ulugh Khán at Deogír. Malik Mall Afghán, 'Ubaid the poet, and other revolters, were made prisoners, and were also sent to Deogír. The prince sent them on alive to his father. The wives and children of the revolters had been already seized. The Sultán held a public darbár in the plain of Sírí, when 'Ubaid, the poet, and Káfúr, the seal-keeper, and other rebels, were impaled alive;* some of the others, with their wives and children, were thrown under the feet of elephants. Such a terrible punishment was inflicted as long inspired terror in the breasts of the beholders. All the city trembled at the vengeance taken by the Sultán.

Four months afterwards the Sultán sent strong reinforcements to the prince, and directed him to march against Arangal once more. He accordingly entered the country of Tilang, took the fort of Bidr, and made its chief prisoner. From thence he pro­ceeded to Arangal for the second time. He invested the mud fort, and after plying it for a few days with arrows from the náwaks, and stones from the maghribís, he captured the whole place. Ráí Laddar Deo, with all his ráís and mukaddims, their wives and children, elephants and horses, fell into the hands of the victors. A despatch of victory was sent to Dehlí, and at Tughlikábád and Sírí there were great rejoicings. The prince sent Laddar Deo Ráí, of Arangal, with his elephants and treasures, relations and dependents, to the Sultán, under the charge of Malik Bedár, who had been created Kadar Khán, and Khwája Hájí, náíb of the 'ariz-i mamálik. The name of Arangal was changed to Sultánpúr, and all the country of Tilang was conquered. Officers were appointed to manage the country, and one year's tribute was taken. The prince then marched towards Jájnagar,* and there took forty elephants, with which he returned to Tilang. These he sent on to his father.

At the time when Arangal was taken, and the elephants arrived from Jájnagar, several Mughal armies attacked the frontiers, but the armies of Islám defeated them and sent their two generals as prisoners to the court. The Sultán had made Tughlikábád his capital, and the nobles and officials, with their wives and families, had taken up their abode there, and had built houses.

About this time certain noblemen came from Lakhnautí, com­plaining of the oppressive laws under which they were suffering, and informing the Sultán of the distress and tyranny under which they and other Musulmáns laboured. So the Sultán resolved to march against Lakhnautí, and he sent couriers to summon Ulugh Khán from Arangal. He made him his vice­gerent, and placed all the affairs of the kingdom under his management during his own absence. He then marched to Lakhnautí, and so conducted his forces through the deep waters and mire and dirt, on this distant march, that not a hair of any man's head was hurt. Fear and respect for the Sultán had spread through Khurásán and Hindustán, and all the countries of Hind and Sindh, and the chiefs and generals of east and west, had trembled in fear of him for many a year (karn). When the Sultán reached Tirhut, the ruler of Lakhnautí, Sultán Násiru-d dín, came forth with great respect to pay homage to the Sultán; and without the sword being called into requisi­tion, all the ráís and ránas of the country made their submission. Tátár Khán, foster-son (pisar i khwánda) of the Sultán, held the territory of Zafarábád; and a force having been assigned to him, he brought the whole country under the imperial rule. Bahádur Sháh, the ruler of Sunár-gánw made some resistance; but a cord was thrown upon his neck, and he was conducted to the Sultán. All the elephants of the country were sent to the royal stables, and the army acquired great spoil in the campaign. Sultán Násiru-d dín had shown great respect and submission, so the Sultán gave him a canopy and a baton, sent him back, and placed Lakhnautí under his rule. Bahádur Sháh, the ruler of Sunár-gánw, was sent to Dehlí with a rope round his neck, and the Sultán returned towards his capital triumphant. * * *

When Ulugh Khán received information of the Sultán's hastening homewards to Tughlikábád, he ordered a temporary erection to be raised at Afghánpúr, about three or four kos from the city, where the Sultán might stay for the night and take rest, before marching on the following day into the city with pomp and triumph. * * * Sultán Tughlik Sháh arrived in the afternoon and stopped. Ulugh Khán, and all the great nobles and officers, had gone forth to meet him, and had con­ducted him thither with great ceremony. The Sultán's table had been spread, and he took food; the nobles came out to wash their hands. A thunderbolt from the sky descended upon the earth, and the roof under which the Sultán was seated fell down, crushing him and five or six other persons, so that they died.*

Sultán Muhammad bin Tughlik Sháh, the heir apparent, suc­ceeded his father, and ascended the throne at Tughlikábád in the year 725 H. (1325 A.D.). On the fortieth day after, he proceeded from Tughlikábád to Dehlí, and there in the ancient palace took his seat upon the throne of the old Sultáns. * * **