A. D.) he caused the khutbah to be read, and the coin to be minted in his own name and assumed the title of Shamsu'ddín and levied a tax of one-sixth on all imports into Kashmír. It had been revealed to him in a dream that he would obtain the sovereignty of the kingdom.*

Sulṭán Aláu'ddín issued an ordinance that an unchaste woman should not inherit of her husband.

Sulṭán Shahábu'ddín encouraged learning and proclaimed an equal administration of the laws. Nagarkót, Tibet and other places were over­run by him.

During the reign of Sulṭán Ḳutbu'ddín Mír Sayyid Ali Hamadáni arrived in Kashmír and was received with great favour.

Sulṭán Sikandar was a rigid follower of religious tradition and a bigot. He overthrew idolatrous shrines and persecuted people not of his faith. During his reign, Timúr invaded Hindustán and sent him two elephants. Sikandar desired to pay his homage to that conqueror, but on his road to the interview he learnt that it was reported in Tímúr's camp that the sovereign of Kashmír was bringing with him a present of a thou­sand horses. Concerned at the untruthfulness of this rumour he returned and sent his excuses.* Ali Sháh appointed (his brother) Zainu'l Aábidín regent in his stead and set out for Ḥijáz. By the persuasion of foolish and evil advisers* and through inconstancy of purpose, he returned with the view of recovering his authority in Kashmír and aided by the Rájá of Jammu he took possession of the kingdom. Zainu'l Aábidín set out for the Punjáb and joined Jasrat of the Khokhar* tribe. Ali Sháh collecting a large army advanced into the Punjáb and a great battle took place in which Ali Sháh was defeated and fell into obscurity while Zainu'l Aábidín recovered the sovereignty of Kashmír. Jasrat leaving Kashmír advanced against Delhi but defeated by Sulṭán Bahlol Lodi retreated to Kashmír and with the assistance of an army from its monarch, conquered the Panjáb.

Zainu'l Aábidín overran Tibet and Sind. He was a wise prince, devoted to philosophical studies and it was his fortune to enjoy universal peace. He was regarded by high and low as a special servant of God and venerated as a saint. He was credited with the power of divesting himself of his corporeal form, and he foretold that under the dynasty of the Chaks, the sovereignty of Kashmír would be transferred from that family to the monarchs of Hindustán, which prediction after a period of years was ac-complished. His benevolence and love of his people induced him to abolish the capitation tax (levied on other than Muslims) and to prohibit the slaughtering of cows, as well as penalties and presents of all kinds. He added somewhat to the measure of the Jaríb. His private revenues were drawn from copper mines. He often personally administered medicinal remedies* and resolved all difficult undertakings with ease. Robbers were employed in chained gangs on public works. His gentleness of disposition dissuaded men from the pursuit of game, and he himself eat no flesh meat. He caused many works to be translated from the Arabic, Persian, Kashmíri and Sanskrit languages. During his reign musicians from Persia and Turkestán flocked to his court; among them Mulla Ụúdi the imme­diate pupil of the famous Khwájah Abdu'l Ḳádir arrived from Khurásán, and Mulla Jamíl who in singing and painting was preeminent among his contemporaries. Sulṭán Abu Sạíd Mirzá sent him presents of Arab horses and dromedaries from Khurásán and Bahlol Lodi king of Delhi and Sulṭán Maḥmúd of Gujarát were in friendly alliance with him.

Sulṭán Ḥasan, collecting an army invaded the Punjáb and encounter­ing Tátár* Khán (Lodi) in several actions devastated the country.

In the reign of Fatḥ Sháh, Mír Shamsu'ddín one of the disciples of Sháh Ḳásim Anwár,* came from Iráḳ and promulgated the Núr Bakshi doctrines, from which period date the dissensions between Sunnis and Shíạs in this country.

During the third reign of Muḥammad Sháh when he recovered the kingdom by the help of Sulṭán Sikandar (Lodi of Delhi), Báber invaded Hindustán.

During Sulṭán Ibrahím's domination, Abdúl Mákri* represented to Sulṭán Báber that Kashmír might be conquered with little difficulty. Shaikh Ali Beg, Muḥammad Khán and Maḥmúd Khán were therefore despatched to that country and obtained some success but the intrigues of the people prevented a settlement and they returned with gifts and presents and Názuk Sháh succeeded to the government. Under the reign of Muḥammad Sháh for the fourth time, the emperor Humáyún ascended the throne of Delhi, and when Mirzá Kámrán* was at Lahor, the officers formerly despatched to Kashmír (Ali Beg and Muḥammad Khán) per­suaded him that Kashmír could be taken with little trouble. The Mírzá therefore, despatched Maḥram (Beg) Kokah with a body of troops to that country which they occupied. Massacres were frequent and their intolerable tyranny drove the people to rise till the Mughal chiefs sued for terms and withdrew. In the year A. H. 930, (1523-4) by command of Sulṭán Sạíd Khán of Káshghar, his son Sikandar Khán and Mirzá Haidar* advanced into Kashmír at the head of 10,000 troops by way of Tibet and Lár, and taking an enormous booty retired after a short time under terms of peace. In the year A. H. 948 (1541-2) Mirzá Haidar, by command of Humáyún a second time entered Kashmír, guided by some of the natives of that country, as has been related in former accounts, and took possession of a part of Great Tibet. Káji Chak came to Hindustán and bringing with him the aid of an army from Sher Khán, engaged Mirzá Haidar but was defeated. The Mirzá won over the Kashmíris by peaceful and conciliatory measures, so that he succeeded in having the Khutbah read and the coin minted in the name of Humáyún, the Kashmíris having previously read the Khutbah in the name of Názuk Sháh.

At the present time under the sway of His Imperial Majesty it is the secure and happy abode of many nationalities, including natives of Persia and Turkestán as well as of Kashmír.