THE REIGN OF JALALU-D-DĪN,* SON OF RAJAH KĀNS.

After this, Jalālu-d-dīn mounted the throne with full inde­pendence. He converted, contrary to his father, many infidels to the Moslem faith, and compelled the Hindūs who had tasted of the gold-made figures of cows, to eat beef. And calling back the saint Shaikh Zāhid from Sunārgāon, he paid him every respect and honour, and rendering him services, was very often in atten­dance on him. He managed the affairs of Government in an efficient manner. In his reign, people passed their lives in ease and comfort. It is said that in his time the town of Panduah became so populous that it cannot be described. At Gaur, he erected a mosque, a resevoir, the Jalālī tank and a caravanserai. The city of Gaur commenced being re-populated in his time. He reigned for seventeen years. In the year 812 A.H.* he removed the capital back again to Gaur. To this day, a large tower exists over his mausoleum at Panduah. The graves of his wife and his son lie by the sides of his mausoleum.

REIGN OF AHMAD SHĀH,* SON OF JALĀLU-D-DĪN.

When Sultān Jalālu-d-dīn was laid in the grave, his son Ahmad Shāh, with the consent of the nobles and the generals of the army, ascended the throne, in succession to his father. As he was very peevish, oppressive and blood-thirsty, he shed blood for nothing, and used to cut open the bodies of pregnant woman. When his oppressions reached the utmost limits, and the low and the high were exasperated to desperation by his tyranny, Shādi Khān and Nāṣir Khān who were his two slaves and held the rank of nobles intrigued, and killed Ahmad Shāh; and this event occurred in 830 A.H. His reign lasted sixteen years, and according to another account, eighteen years.

REIGN OF NĀṢIR KHĀN, THE SLAVE.

When the throne became vacant by the murder of Ahmad Shāh, Shādi Khān desired to put Nāṣir Khān out of the way and to become himself the Administrator-General of the kingdom. Nāṣir Khān, guessing his design, forestalled him, and slew Shādi Khān, and boldly placing himself on the throne, commenced to enforce orders. The nobles and the Malūk of Ahmad Shāh not submitting to him, slew him. His reign lasted seven days, and according to another account, half a day.

REIGN OF NĀṢIR SHĀH.*

When Nāṣir Khān the slave in retribution for his misdeeds was killed, the nobles and the generals leaguing together, raised to the throne one of the grand-sons of Sultān Shamsu-d-dīn Bhangra who had capacity for this onerous charge, styling him Nāṣir Shāh. Nāṣir Shāh conducted himself with justice and liberality, so that the people, both young and old, were contented, and the wounds of oppression inflicted by Ahmad Shāh were healed. The buildings of Gaur and the Fort there, were erected by this high-ranked king. Reigning thirty-two years over Bengal, he passed away like others before him from the world, and according to another account, his reign did not exceed twenty-seven years.

REIGN OF BARBAK SHĀH,* SON OF NĀṢIRU-D-DĪN.

When Nāṣir Shāh died, his son Barbak Shāh mounted the throne. He was a sagacious and law-abiding sovereign. In his time, the soldiers were happy and contented, and he also spent his life in comfort and ease. He died in 879 A.H. His reign lasted seventeen or sixteen years.

REIGN OF YŪSUF SHĀH.

After the death of Barbak Shāh, his son Yūsuf Shāh with the consent of the nobles and the elitê of the kingdom ascended the throne. He was a sovereign of gentle temperament, solicitous for the welfare of his subjects, and virtuous and learned and pious. He reigned seven years and six months, and died in 887 A.H.*

REIGN OF FATḤ SHĀH, SON OF YŪSUF SHĀH.

After the death of Yūsuf Shāh, his son Sikandar Shāh,* ascended the throne. He had a little touch of lunacy. As he had no capacity for this important function, the nobles and the leaders deliberating that very day superceded him, and raised to the throne another son of Yūsuf Shāh, named Fatḥ Shāh. The latter was wise and sagacious. Observing with wisdom the usages of the rulers and sovereigns of the past, and bestowing on the nobles dignities according to their individual ranks, he pursued a liberal policy towards his subjects. In his reign, the gates of happiness and comfort were thrown open to the people of Bengal. It was then the established custom in Bengal for five thousand paiks to turn out every night with music, and for the king to go out for a while in the morning to receive their salute, and then to give them leave to depart, a new corps of paiks relieving them. One day, the eunuch of Fatḥ Shāh, bear­ing the name of Barbag, leagued with the paiks, and slew Fatḥ Shāh.* This event took place in the year 896 A.H. Fatḥ Shāh’s reign lasted seven years and five months.