Sultán Fíroz proceeded from Hisár Fírozah to Hánsí, in order to have an interview with the author's preceptor, Núru-d dín, who had succeeded to the spiritual supremacy (sijjáda) lately vacated by the death of Kutbu-d dín. [The Sultán's object was to induce the Shaikh to remove to Hisár Firozah, but he declined, because Hánsí had been the home of his ancestors and the abode of his predecessors.] In these latter days the accursed (Mughals) have captured the city of Dehlí and have plundered and laid waste the possessions of Musulmáns; but through the protection of the Shaikh, the town of Hánsí remained in safety, and the people of Hisár Fírozah, who there took refuge, also found security.

* * * The Sultán having selected a site at the village of Gáwín, on the banks of the Jumna, founded the city of Fíroz-ábád, before he went to Lakhnautí the second time. Here he commenced a palace, * * * and the nobles of his court having also obtained (giriftand) houses there, a new town sprang up, five kos distant from Dehlí. Eighteen places were included in this town, the kasba of Indarpat, the saráí of Shaikh Malik Yár Parán, the saráí of Shaikh Abu Bakr Túsí, the village of Gáwín, the land of Khetwára, the land of Lahráwat, the land of Andháwalí, the land of the saráí of Malika, the land of the tomb of Sultán Raziya, the land of Bhárí, the land of Mahrola, and the land of Sultánpur. So many buildings were erected that from the kasba of Indarpat to the Kúshk-i shikár, five kos apart, all the land was occupied. There were eight public mosques, and one private mosque. * * * The public mosques were each large enough to accommodate 10,000 supplicants.

During the forty years of the reign of the excellent Sultán Fíroz, people used to go for pleasure from Dehlí to Fírozábád, and from Fírozábád to Dehlí, in such numbers, that every kos of the five kos between the two towns swarmed with people, as with ants or locusts. To accommodate this great traffic, there were public carriers who kept carriages, mules (sutúr), and horses, which were ready for hire at a settled rate every morning after prayers, so that the traveller could make the trip as seemed to him best, and arrive at a stated time. Palankín-bearers were also ready to convey passengers. The fare of a carriage was four silver jítals for each person; of a mule (sutúr), six; of a horse, twelve; and of a palankín, half a tanka. There was also plenty of porters ready for employment by any one, and they earned a good livelihood. Such was the prosperity of this district; * * but it was so ravaged by the Mughals, that the inhabitants were scattered in all directions. This was the will of God, and none can gainsay it.

Zafar Khán was son-in-law of the king of Sunár-gánw, who was called Sultán Fakhru-d dín. The capital, Sunár-gánw, is before Pandwah.* After Sultán Fíroz returned the first time from Bengal, Sultán Shamsu-d dín, in pursuit of revenge, em­barked in boats, and in the course of a few days reached Sunár­gánw. Fakhru-d dín, who was commonly called Fukhrá, was living without any thought of danger at Sunár-gánw, where he was taken alive and slain immediately by Shamsu-d dín, who established himself in his territory. All the friends and allies of Fakhru-d dín were scattered; but Zafar Khán was at that time engaged in the country collecting the revenues and examining the accounts of the collectors. When he was informed of what had happened, he was greatly alarmed, and fled from the territory of Sunár-gánw. He embarked in a boat and departed by the river, and afterwards, pursuing the most difficult roads, he at length, after many hardships, arrived at Thatta, and from thence pro­ceeded to Dehlí. He was then conducted to Hisár Fírozah to pay his homage and tell his story to Sultán Fíroz. * * * The author's father was then in attendance on the Sultán, and, ac­cording to his account, Zafar Khán was greatly amazed at the splendour of the court, because he had never seen the like at Lakhnautí. He made an offering of an elephant, and paid his compliments.

The Sultán having very graciously made many inquiries of him, consoled him and told him that, after all his troubles and sufferings, he should at length gain his object, and should receive the double of what he had lost at Sunár-gánw. * * * Robes were presented to Zafar Khán and his followers. On the first day he received 30,000 tankas to get his clothes washed,* his title, Zafar Khán, was confirmed to him, and the sum of four lacs of tankas was granted to him and his friends. One thousand horse and large numbers of footmen were assigned to him. He was first appointed deputy-wazír, and subsequently became wazír. * * *

On another day, when the Sultán held a court, he perceived Zafar Khán to be downcast and pensive, * * * and he inquired the reason why he was so oppressed. * * * He replied that * * he was sore distressed, but that if the Sultán would consider his case, his mind would be set at ease. The Sultán directed him to proceed at once to Khán-i Jahán in Dehlí, whither he him­self would follow. The Khán accordingly took leave of the Sultán and proceeded to Dehlí, where he was received with great kindness and respect by the Khán-i Jahán, and was lodged in the Green Palace belonging to his majesty. The Sultán soon followed him to Dehlí, and, after consulting with the Khán-i Jahán, directed him to make every suitable preparation for avenging the claims of Zafar Khán.

When Sultán Shamsu-d dín heard of the preparations that were making against him, he was dismayed, and felt that he could not remain in the islands of Ikdála. He deemed it expedient to re­move to Sunár-gánw, which was in the very centre of Bengal, and there secure himself against the enemy. He accordingly pro­ceeded thither, but the inhabitants of that place were instant in their supplications to Sultán Fíroz Sháh for relief from the tyrant.

Tenth Mukaddama.—Sultán Fíroz's second expedition to Lakhnautí.

* * * As on the first occasion when the Sultán marched to Lakhnautí, his army (was large and) consisted of 70,000 cavalry, innumerable infantry, 470 warlike elephants, and many barrier-breaking boats (kishtíhá-i band-kushá). The warlike fervour was so great at the time that many volunteers assembled in Dehlí, and were sent on by the Sultán to the army. There were two outer tents (dihlíz), and two reception tents (bárgáh); two sleeping tents, and two tents for cooking and domestic work. There were also one* hundred and eighty standards of various kinds, eighty-four ass-loads of drums and trumpets (tabal o damámah), and camels, asses, and horses in great numbers.

With this brave and well-appointed army the Sultán marched towards Bengal, and Khán-i Jahán was left behind as deputy in Dehlí. The Khán-i 'azam Tátár Khán accompanied the royal standards some marches, but was then sent back to Hisár Fírozah. The author learned the cause of this dismissal from his father, who was then one of the royal attendants (khawáss). The Sultán at the beginning of his reign, as is the practice of kings, used to indulge in wine from time to time. After starting on his campaign the Sultán encamped with his army and showed the utmost care and attention to its discipline. But it so hap­pened that one morning they placed some wine before him. It is a remarkable fact that the wines which Fíroz Sháh used to drink were of various colours and different flavours; some were yellow as saffron, some red as the rose, some were white; and the taste of all was like sweet milk. Thus the personal at­tendants of this great king used to serve him with wines of dif­ferent colours. One morning after prayers the Sultán called for a glass to moisten his throat, and it so happened that Tátár Khán came to wait upon him just at the same time. His arrival was announced to the Sultán, who was greatly annoyed at being thwarted in his enjoyment; so he desired his son Fath Khán to see Tátár Khán, and to put him off with some excuse. But Tátár Khán was not to be denied; in spite of all excuses he would not go away, but went in and sat down, saying that he had a statement to make. The Sultán was thus compelled to invite him in.