Account of Biha-Addoulah-’bn-Azduddoulah and his concerns.

When the country of Sístán was surrendered to the Sultán, Bihá-Addoulah began to express some desire that he should be admitted to share in the Khutbah, since, on account of the proximity of the two countries, they had been connected in public writings and Khutbahs, and the Sultán, on account of his noble descent and peculiarly high birth, was inclined to an alliance of love and affec­tion; also for the advantage of the kingdom. Noble words passed, and messengers came and went upon the subject. And they sent to Pars (Fars) the Kadi of Nisápúr, Abú (Abr?) Bastámí, a man celebrated throughout the whole world, for his virtues, eloquence, and gravity. And Biha-Addoulah behaved, in expediting that honourable design and favourable position, as became the glorious eminence of the Sultán. Subsequently to his arrival Biha-Addoulah inclined to a new arrangement, and the affair was delayed. And again, as Fakhraddoulah, uncle and heir of his father, governor of Dudman, and a great lord, was settled at Bagdád, the affair could not be conceived without his advice and permission. So he sent the Kadi to Bagdad, to bring this affair to his ears, and to obtain his pleasure upon this proposal. And when he returned from Bagdád Biha Addou­lah had left this world empty and found extinction. And his son Abú Shajá was heir of his father, and there arrived a royal letter from the palace of the Khiláfat, to establish him in the dignity, and giving him the surname of Sultán Addoulah. And his feet were firm in his kingdom, and the army placed their head upon the line of obedience. And, with respect to the proposal of marriage which had been made in that mission to his father, he knew not how he ought to answer it. How­ever he committed the duty of communicating and corresponding entirely to the Kádí, on account of his sincere and faithful affection to the Sultán, and his inclination towards the alliance, and his wish that he would imitate his father in his friendship. And he produced, accordingly, a satiety of sincere correspondence and many letters.

But Amír Abúl-Fawáris, his father’s brother, was settled at Karmán. Between them the open­ings of hatred appeared, and increased so much that Sultán Addoulah sent an army to Karmán, to dispossess him. He earnestly devoted himself to repel it, and a severe engagement took place between them, in which Abúl-Fawáris was defeated, and went to Sistán, to seek an asylum with and to obtain aid from the Sultán. The latter sent to the Amír Nasr-’bn-Nasir-Addín a special message, enjoining that he should honour his arrival, and that he should consider it his bounden duty to take pains in arranging his resi­dence, and providing for his retinue. He was, moreover, to give the Amír two thousand dinárs, by way of an offering (of welcome) and send the Prince to him. And the Amír most fully carried out his wishes, so that all the world wondered, and confessed that at no time had any kings or Sultáns taken such pains concerning other kings and princes, or, by the rain and sea of remarkable gifts and generosity, had displayed such special thoughts and humanity; and the renown of this act and the echo of these benefits reached the extremities of the world. He went out to meet him, treated him with splendour and magnificence, and gave him gold, silver, horses, and other presents, such as the imagination could not embrace, and such as could not come into the human mind— (into the mind of any mortal) except the royal mind of the Sultán, before whose eyes wealth was like gnats, which are not weighed; or dust, which is not of any account. He remained six months at Court, more esteemed than the Sultán’s sons and more honoured than his brothers. And after six months he felt inclined to return to his own country, and requested succour from the Sultán. The latter provided him with many troops, well equipped and armed, and dispatched, to attend upon him, Abú-Said-Táín, one of the most emi­nent learned writers of the Court, with an army which had contracted an affection for war and contest, and become accustomed to a recurrence of victories and supremacy of strength, the very edge of rapine and plunder (Verse)

“Troops like these would carry off a mountain-fort, as if it were (only) of the length (size) of that which is fastened on the crupper.”

With this army the Amír Abúl-Fawáris arrived at Karmán, and the army posted there, knowing that they had not strength to cope with them, retreated, and he was re-established in his king­dom, upon his promised throne. And Abú Saíd, having accomplished this affair, returned, accom­panied by his army. Some time passed, during which he preserved the respect and due reverence to the Sultán, and nothing happened that might destroy the structure which he had founded, or render useless the seat which he had arranged for him. At length the Sultán determined to return to Ghazna, and his terrible standards were far distant, and the Amír Abúl-Fawáris remained without shield or protection. Hereupon Sultán Addoulah sent another army against him, which defeated him. He fled to Hamadán, to Shams-Addoulah; and he, on account of the claims of kindred, and with the idea of being keeper of his property, and of gain, displayed zeal for his advan­tage. But afterwards an imagination flew before him, and he thought that the Amír Shams-Addoulah would display treachery to him, seize him, and send him to Sultán Addoulah. For this cause he went from Hamadán, to Bagdád. The rest of his adventures shall be given in their place, please God.*