As he was thus marching with his countless army, and was thirty kos from Thatta, the 'áshúra or fast of the 10th of Muharram happened. He kept the fast, and when it was over he ate some fish. The fish did not agree with him, his illness returned and fever increased. He was placed in a boat and con­tinued his journey on the second and third days, until he came to within fourteen kos of Thatta. He then rested, and his army was fully prepared, only awaiting the royal command to take Thatta, and to crush the Súmras of Thatta and the rebel Taghí in a single day, and to utterly annihilate them. But fate ruled it otherwise. During the last two or three days that he was encamped near Thatta, the Sultán's malady had grown worse, and his army was in great trouble, for they were a thousand kos distant from Dehlí and their wives and children, they were near the enemy and in a wilderness and desert, so they were sorely distressed, and looking upon the Sultán's expected death as preliminary to their own, they quite despaired of returning home. On the 21st Muharram, 752 H. (1350 A.D.), Sultán Muhammad bin Tughlik departed this life on the banks of the Indus, at fourteen kos from Thatta. * * *

Sultán Fíroz Sháh.

I, the author of this Táríkh-i Fíroz Sháhí, have written all that I have witnessed during six years of the personal character of the reigning sovereign, and of the events which have occurred during that time. I have included these in eleven chapters, and if I live some years longer I intend to write ninety more chapters, so that the complete history of the reign may consist of one hundred and one chapters (mukaddamas). * * *

Chapter 1.	Account of the Accession of Fíroz Sháh.
2.	March of the Sultán from Siwistán to Dehlí.
3.	Eulogy of the personal character of the Sultán.
4.	His bounty in the grant of pensions and in'áms.
5.	His buildings.
6.	Formation of Canals.
7.	Rules of Government.
8.	Conquest of Lakhnautí.
9.	Arrival of letters and robes from the Khalífa.
10.	Hunting matters.
11.	Defeat of the attacks of the Mughals.

1.—Accession of Fíroz Sháh.

* * * On the third day after the death of Muhammad Tughlik, the army marched from (its position) fourteen kos from Thatta towards Siwistán, on its return homewards. Every division of the army marched without leader, rule, or route, in the greatest disorder. No one heeded or listened to what any one said, but continued the march like careless caravans. So when they had proceeded a kos or two, the Mughals, eager for booty, assailed them in front, and the rebels of Thatta attacked them in the rear. Cries of dismay arose upon every side. The Mughals fell to plundering, and carried off women, maids, horses, camels, troopers, baggage, and whatever else had been sent on in advance. They had very nearly captured the royal harem and the treasure with the camels which carried it. The villagers (who had been pressed into the service) of the army, and expected the attack, took to flight. They pillaged various lots of baggage on the right and left of the army, and then joined the rebels of Thatta in attacking the baggage train. The people of the army, horse and foot, women and men, stood their ground; for when they marched, if any advanced in front, they were assailed by the Mughals; if they lagged behind, they were plundered by the rebels of Thatta. Those who resisted and put their trust in God reached the next stage, but those who had gone forward with the women, maids, and baggage, were cut to pieces. The army continued its march along the river without any order or regularity, and every man was in despair for his life and goods, his wife and children. Anxiety and distress would allow no one to sleep that night, and, in their dismay, men remained with their eyes fixed upon heaven. On the second day, by stratagem and foresight, they reached their halting ground, as­sailed, as on the first day, by the Mughals in front and the men of Thatta in the rear. They rested on the banks of the river in the greatest possible distress, and in fear for their lives and goods. The women and children had perished. Makhdúm Záda 'Abbásí, the Shaikhu-s Shaiyúkh of Egypt, Shaikh Nasíru-d dín Mahmúd Oudhí, and the chief men, assembled and went to Fíroz Sháh, and with one voice said, “Thou art the heir apparent and legatee of the late Sultán; he had no son, and thou art his brother's son; there is no one in the city or in the army enjoy­ing the confidence of the people, or possessing the ability to reign. For God's sake save these wretched people, ascend the throne, and deliver us and many thousand other miserable men. Redeem the women and children of the soldiers from the hands of the Mughals, and purchase the prayers of two lacs of people.” Fíroz Sháh made objections, which the leaders would not listen to. All ranks, young and old, Musulmáns and Hindus, horse and foot, women and children, assembled, and with one acclaim declared that Fíroz Sháh alone was worthy of the crown. “It he does not assume it to-day and let the Mughals hear of his doing so, not one of us will escape from the hands of the Mughals and the Thatta men.” So on the 24th Muharram, 752 H. (1351 A.D.), the Sultán ascended the throne.

On the day of his accession the Sultán got some horse in order and sent them out to protect the army, for whenever the Mughal horse came down they killed and wounded many, and carried off prisoners. On the same day he named some amírs to guard the rear of the army, and these attacked the men of Thatta when they fell upon the baggage. Several of the assailants were put to the sword, and they, terrified with this lesson, gave up the pursuit and returned home. On the third day he ordered certain amírs to attack the Mughals, and they accordingly made several of the Mughal commanders of thousands and of hundreds pri­soners, and brought them before the Sultán. The Mughals from that very day ceased their annoyance; they moved thirty or forty kos away, and then departed for their own country.

All men of intelligence in Hind and Sind have seen and re­marked the stop which has been put to the inroads of the Mughals of Changíz Khán in this auspicious reign. They have not been able to attack and ravage the frontier territories, nor have they been permitted to come in with professions of friendship and employ their arts to carry off the wealth of the country. They had the presumption to make two attacks. Once they crossed the Sodra and came into the neighbouring country. There they were met by the forces of Islám and were defeated. Many were killed and many were taken prisoners. These latter were placed upon camels, and were paraded in derision round Dehlí, with wooden collars on their necks. Those who escaped from the battle fled in the greatest precipitation and confusion, and many were drowned in the passage of the Sodra. On the other occa­sion they made a rapid dash into Gujarát. Some perished from thirst, some died by the hands of the soldiers, and some fell in a night attack which the natives of the country made upon them. Not one-tenth of these accursed followers of Changíz Khán reached their own country.