In accordance with the testamentary disposition of his father succeeded to the throne, and Malik Buhlūl with the other Amīrs gave in their allegiance to him, and seeing that the indolence of Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn was even greater than that of his father, a still more violent ambition to secure the throne began to work upon the excited fancy of Buhlūl.

In the year 850 H. (1445 A.D.) Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn made an excursion towards Baiāna; while on the road he heard a false rumour that the King of Jaunpūr was on his way to attack Dihlī, and without attempting to ascertain its truth returned in hot haste to Dihlī. In the year 851 H. (1447 A.D.) he went to Badāon and elected to take up his abode there, and after making preparations for remaining there* returned to his capital Dihlī.

And in the year 852 H. (1448 A.D.) having made his two brothers-in-law Shahna-i-Shahr (City Constable) and Mīr-i-Kūe (Superintendent of Roads) he returned to Badāon. A disturbance arose between those two brothers, and at last both were put to death by the people of Dihlī. Husāin Khān who was Umdatu-l-Mulk (a Privy Councillor), and loyal to the Sulān, but from time to time spoke the direct truth to the Sulān in connection with the administration of State affairs, had for this very reason, fallen out of favour with the Sulān, and had been deposed from his office. Ḥamīd Khān, Vazīr-i-mamlukat, (vazīr of the State) who had fled to Dihlī fearing punishment at the hands of the Sulān, and dreading an attempt upon his life,* joined with Ḥusain Khān in inviting Malik Buhlūl and in raising him to the throne. He accordingly took advantage of the absence of the Sulān to pro- ^306. ceed to Sirhind* and having assumed to himself the title of Sulān read the Khubah, and coming a second time with* his whole army seized upon Dihlī. Leaving his viceroy there he proceeded towards Dībālpūr, where he set about raising an army, and wrote a letter couched in hypocritical terms to Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn say­ing, “I am your obedient servant, and am undertaking all this mar­ching backwards and forwards solely out of loyalty to your person.” The Sulān in reply, wrote as follows: “The deceased King, Sulān Muḥammad Shāh, called you by the name of Son. There is neither fruit nor profit for me in sovereignty; living in solitary contentment at Badāon I resign the empire of Dihlī* to you. Sulān Buhlūl leaving Dībālpūr ascended the throne of Dihlī*

without fighting or opposition; and Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn by the orders of Sulān Buhlūl was invested with the sovereignty of Badāon and the districts appertaining to it, towards the river Ganges as far as Khairābād and the foot of the hills, and used to read the Khubah in his own name in those districts, till at last after some time, in the year 855 H. (1451 A.D.) he bade farewell to this world.* The duration of his reign was seven years and some months.

Verse.

This is the sum and total of the world's conduct.
It has never proved faithful to any man.