To accomplish this purpose, he told the King, that as his fidelity had been so generously rewarded, and as the King might still have occasion for his services in the conduct of his military affairs, he begged that he might be permitted to send for some of his relations from Guzerat, on whom he could more certainly depend than officers now in the King's service, who were jealous of his elevation. The King acceded to his request; and Mullik Khoosrow remitted a large sum of money, by some of his agents, to Guzerat, who collected about 20,000 of his own cast, the dregs of the people, and brought them to Dehly. Every office of profit and trust was conferred upon those ver­min, which bound them fast to Mullik Khoosrow's interest.

On one occasion, as the King was going to hunt towards Sursawa, a plot was formed to assassinate

A. H. 721.
A. D. 1321.

him. But this was laid aside on account of a difference of opinion among the conspirators. They therefore resolved to perform their tragedy in the palace. Moobarik returned to Dehly, and, according to custom, gave himself up to his debauched habits. Mullik Khoos-row, full of his project, took the opportunity of a favourable hour, to beg the King's permission to entertain his friends in the outer court of the pa­lace. The King not only consented, but even issued orders to give them free access at all times; by which means the courts of the palace became crowded with the followers of the favourite. The plot for the King's assassination was not even kept secret, many people in the city heard of it from the incautious and profligate band which was employed by Mullik Khoosrow; but such was his influence over the King's mind, that none dared to mention it. At length Kazy Zeea-ood-Deen, one of the most learned men in the city, and who had been the King's tutor in his youth, gained access, and told him plainly that such a plot was notorious throughout the town. He recommended immediate measures to be taken for seizing Khoosrow, and for instituting an enquiry into the truth; observing, if it should be clearly proved to be unfounded, it would only be the cause of an increase of the King's favour towards his minister. At this iden­tical moment Mullik Khoosrow, who had been listening, entered in a female dress, with all the affectation of a girl. The King, on seeing him, got up, embraced him, and forgot all that Kazy Zeea-ood-Deen had said.

On the following night, the Kazy, still suspicious of treason, could not go to rest, but walked out about midnight, to see whether the guards were watchful. In his rounds, he met Mundul, Khoos-row's uncle, who engaged him in conversation. In the mean time, one Jahirba came behind him, and with one stroke of a sabre laid him low on the ground, leaving him only strength to cry out, “Treason! treason! murder and treason are on foot.” Two or three servants who attended him ran off, screaming aloud that the Kazy was assas­sinated. The guards started up in confusion, but were instantly attacked by the conspirators, and massacred before they could prepare for defence.

The King, alarmed at the noise, asked Mullik Khoosrow, who lay in his apartment, the cause. The villain arose as if to enquire, and going out on the terrace, stood for some time, and returning, told the King, that some of the horses belonging to the guard had broken loose and were fighting, while the people were endeavouring to secure them. This satisfied Moobarik for the present, but soon after, the conspirators ascended the stairs and got upon the terraces which led to the royal sleeping apartment. Here they were stopped by Ibrahim and Isaac, two servants, as well as by the sentries over the private chambers, all of whom were im­mediately put to the sword. The King hearing the clash of arms, and the groans of dying men so

A. H. 721.
A. D. 1321.

near, arose up in great alarm, and ran to­wards the haram, by a private passage. At this moment Mullik Khoosrow, fear­ing he might escape, rushed after him, and seiz­ing him by the hair in the gallery, struggled with him for some time. Moobarik, being the stronger man, threw Khoosrow on the ground: but as Khoos-row had twisted his hand in the King's hair, the latter could by no means disengage himself, till some of the other conspirators came, and with a stroke of a scimitar cut off the King's head, and threw it into the court-yard.

The conspirators below began to be hard pressed by the guards and the servants, who now crowded from all quarters; but on hearing of the King's fate, the latter hastened out of the palace. The conspirators then shut the gates, and mas­sacred such as had not the good fortune to escape. The ruffians now entered the female apartments, and put to death the mother of the Prince Fureed Khan, as well as the younger children of the late Alla-ood-Deen, and the Princes Fureed Ally and Omur. Besides which, they gave a loose to their inclinations in every possible manner among the ladies of the seraglio. Thus the vengeance of God overtook and exterminated the race of Alla-ood-Deen for his ingratitude to his uncle Feroze, and for the streams of innocent blood which flowed from his hands. Heaven also punished his son Moobarik, whose name and reign would be too in­famous to have a place in the records of literature, did not our duty, as an historian, oblige us to this disagreeable task. Notwithstanding which, we have in some places been obliged to draw a veil over circumstances too horrid and indecent to relate.

Rubbee-ool-
Awul 25.
A. H. 721.
March 24.
A. D. 1321.
This event occurred on the 25th of Rubbee-ool-Awul, in the year 721. In the morning Khoosrow, surrounded by his creatures, ascended the throne, and assumed the title of Nasir-ood-Deen. He then ordered all the slaves and servants of Moobarik, whom he thought had the least spark of honesty, to be put to death, and their wives and children to be sold as slaves. His brother was dignified with the title of Khan Kha-nan, or chief of the nobles, and married to one of the daughters of the late Alla-ood-Deen. Khoos-row took Dewul Devy, the widow of his murdered master and sovereign to himself, and disposed of the other ladies of the seraglio among his beggarly relations. The household troops * still remained to be bribed, and they loved nothing better than a revolution; for it had always been customary, on such occasions, for them to receive a donation of six months' pay from the treasury. A trifle pur­chased the service of those dissolute slaves, who were lost to all sense of gratitude or honour.

The son of Kimar, the chief of a gang of thieves, received the title of Shaista Khan, and was made chief secretary; while Ein-ool-Moolk Mooltany was appointed captain-general of the forces. Mul-lik Fukhr-ood-Deen Joona Khan, obtained the title of Khoosrow Khan, with the appointment of master of the horse, and many other distinguished honours. This the King did in order to gain over to his cause that chief's father (Ghazy Beg Toghluk), governor of Lahore and Depalpoor, of whom the usurper was in great fear. Notwith-

A. H. 721.
A. D. 1321.

standing his promotion, Joona Khan was touched to the soul to see the condition of affairs. His father, also, who was rec­koned a man of great courage and honour, indig­nant at the infamous proceedings at court, was roused to revenge. He acquainted his son with his purpose; and Joona Khan, taking the first oppor­tunity to fly from Dehly, joined his father. The usurper was in great perplexity after the flight of Joona Khan, and began already to despair of main­taining himself. Ghazy Beg Toghluk immediately prepared for hostilities, and, by circular letters, invited all the nobles to join his standard. A great many of the governors of the provinces put their troops in motion; but Mogultugeen, the governor of Mooltan, unwilling to act a secondary part, refused to join, and he was accordingly cut off by Beiram Abia, a Mogul chief of some note in that quarter. Mullik Beg Luky, governor of Samana, though the usurper had been the occasion of his losing his ears, transmitted the circular letter of Ghazy Beg Toghluk to Khoosrow, informing him of the rebellion. Mullik Beg took the field against the confederates, sustained a signal defeat, and in his flight to Dehly was attacked by the zemindars, who put him to death. The usurper now sent his brother, Khan Khanan, and Yoosoof Suffy, with all on whom he could depend, against the con­federates.

Ghazy Beg Toghluk, being joined by Beiram Abia with the army from Mooltan, and other go­vernors of provinces, advanced to oppose the usurper's army on the banks of the Soorsutty. The troops of Ghazy Beg were experienced in frequent wars with the Moguls, and those of Khoosrow were enervated by indolence and de­baucheries, besides being lost to all sense of mili­tary honour. The latter were broken at the first onset, and the public treasure, elephants, and baggage were taken. The booty was divided on the field among the conquerors, who then con­tinued their march in triumph towards Dehly. The usurper, in great embarrassment, marched out of the city, and took possession of a strong post near the Houz Alla-ood-Deeny, with the citadel in his rear, and many gardens with high walls in his front. He then opened the treasury, and gave three years' pay to his troops, leaving for himself nothing but the jewels, of some of which he also disposed. The confederates advancing, an action was expected next morning, but, on that night, Ein-ool-Moolk Mooltany withdrew his forces from the usurper, and took the route of Mando. Although this event affected Khoosrow's army, yet his troops drew up in order of battle, and Mullik Tubligha and Shaista Khan opposed the confederates with great bravery, as they advanced through the lanes. These chiefs were at length overpowered and slain. Their position gave such advantages to the usurper's army, that they main­tained it till the evening, when at length Khoos-