It is related, that during the time he was with his uncle Islám Khán, he went once to Sámána for the purpose of transacting some urgent and important business, taking with him two of his intimate friends, and hearing that there was a holy man named Saiyid ibn Májzub in that place, who made predictions (sáhib i lafz búd),* Malik Bahlol went to see that darwesh, accompanied by his two friends, and, after having treated him with every courtesy, sat down. That person, who was ab­stracted from worldly thoughts, asked, “if any one of them was able to buy the kingdom of Dehlí from him for 2000 tankas.” Malik Bahlol had 1300 tankas in his purse, which he took out and placed before the saint, and said, “This is all I possess.”* That worthy person consented to accept the sum so proffered, and said, “May the empire of Dehlí be fortunate to you!” When his two associates began to ridicule his superstition, the Malik said, “One of two things must happen: if the event be successful, I shall have made a good bargain; if not, in the day of judgment there are rewards for good deeds done to darweshes.” It is said in certain histories that Malik Bahlol traded;* but the truth or falsehood of this has never been clearly ascertained. It is known that his grandfather and father were merchants, and were in the habit of visiting Hind.*

Malik Bahlol, after the death of Islám Khán, gained posses­sion of the territories of Sirhind [and the Panjáb]* by the assistance of his other uncle Malik Fíroz, the brother of Islám Khán, aided by the whole of his kindred, and strengthened him­self and established his authority. The speech which Shaikh ibn Majzúb had made to him in his early youth caused him to aspire to the throne, and he was desirous of bringing the bird of empire into his net. After vanquishing Hisám Khán, Malik Bahlol wrote a letter to Sultán Muhammad, complaining of the mal-administration and depravity of Hisám Khán, and lauding his own candour and sincerity. He stated also in it that he would obey and serve His Majesty, if the wizárat were taken away from Hájí Hisám Khán,* and given to Hamíd Khan. Sultán Muhammad, who was totally inexperienced, believing what Malik Bahlol said to be true, put his guiltless and faithful servant Hájí Hisám Khán to death on the following day, and raised Hamíd Khán to the rank of chief minister. Malik Bahlol and the whole of the Lodís, when they heard this news, came forward without hesitation, and having paid their respects to the Sultán, were confirmed in the possession of their jágírs.

After this reconciliation, Malik Bahlol made war, in the name of Sultán Muhammad, against Sultán Mahmúd Khiljí of Malwa, [who was ruling over Hisár Fírozah, Hánsí, and Nágor,]* and overcame him. Upon which the Sultán ennobled him by giving him the title of Khán-khánán. Thus the Lodís became gradually more powerful, and possessed themselves by force, with­out King Muhammad's consent, of Lahore, Dípálpúr, Sannám, Hisár Fírozah, and various other parganas, and paid no atten­tion to what Sultán Muhammad wrote to them in remonstrance. They raised the standards of rebellion, collected a force, and went against Sultán Muhammad who was in Dehlí, and besieged that place; but failing in their attempt, they returned to Sirhind, where Malik Bahlol assumed the title of Sultán, but abstained from having the khutba read and coinage struck in his name until Dehlí should fall into his hands.

About this time Sultán Muhammad died, and the nobles and chief men of the State placed his son, Sultán 'Aláu-d dín, on the throne. The whole of Hind was divided into provinces governed by petty rulers (mulúk-i tawá'if); but the Lodís pre­dominated. Ahmad Khán Mewáttí possessed the country from Mahraulí to Ladhú Saráí, near the city of Dehlí. The Lodís held the country of Sirhind, Lahore, Sámána, Sannám, and Hisár, as far as Pánípat.* Daryá Khán Lodí governed the territory of Sambhal, up to the ferry of Khwája Khizr, which adjoins Dehlí.* 'Ísá Khán Turk-bacha held Kol and Jalálí. Kutb Khán, the son of Hasan Khán the Afghán, was governor of Ráprí.* And Ráí Partáb held the towns of Bhúígánw, Pattiálí, and Kampil. Bayána was in the hands of Dáúd Khán Auhadí; and Sultán 'Aláu-d dín ruled only in the city of Dehlí, and a few of the neighbouring villages.* There were also kings in Gujarát, the Dekhin, Málwá, Jaunpúr, [Mándú],* and Bengál.*

Sultán Bahlol, collecting an army for the second time, marched from Sirhind to Dehlí; but as he could not succeed in capturing the fort of Dehlí, he again returned to Sirhind. At this time, Sultán 'Aláu-d dín consulted Kutb Khán Lodí and Ráí Partáb, on the means of strengthening himself, to which they replied, “If the Sultán will degrade Hamíd Khán from the rank of wazír, and imprison him, we will wrest some parganas from the hands of the nobles, and make them over to the exchequer. Accordingly, Sultán 'Aláu-d dín ordered Hamíd Khán to be confined, and then marched from Dehlí to Burhánábád, and en­camped near Amroha. Kutb Khán, 'Ísá Khán, and Partáb came there to pay their respects, and promised to make over forty parganas to the Sultán, on condition that he would put Hamíd Khán to death. Partáb incited the Sultán to slay Hamíd Khán, because the Khán's father in former days had plundered his estate and seized his wife. Sultán 'Aláu-d dín, who was unfit to govern a kingdom, gave directions, without thought or reflection, for the execution of Hamíd Khán, whose brothers, learning these intentions, managed to liberate him from confinement, and then fled to Dehlí. Malik Muhammad Jamál, in whose custody he had been, pursued Hamíd Khán to his house and attacked him; but in the tumult he was killed by a spear, and many people joined the party of Hamíd Khán. The wazír removed the wives, sons, and daughters of the Sultán, exposed and bare-headed, out of the fort of Dehlí, and then took possession of the treasures and regalia. Sultán 'Aláu-d dín's irresolution hindered him from doing anything, and after putting off his revenge from day to day, he remained in Badáún on account of the rainy season. Hamíd Khán resolved to avail himself of the opportunity, and to establish another sovereign in the room of Sultán 'Aláu-d dín; but as Sultán Mahmúd, King of Jaunpúr, was connected with Sultán 'Aláu-d dín, and Sultán Mahmúd, King of Mándú, was too distant to admit of his holding communication with him, he did not think proper to make any determined move. Whilst he was meditating on his future schemes, Bahlol, having received intelligence of what was in contemplation, came with his entire army from Sirhind to Dehlí. Hamíd Khán did not quit his post, as he considered himself sufficiently strong to prevent Sultán Bahlol from entering the city.* After entering into a convention, Sultán Bahlol gained permission to enter the city, and he, in order to meet the neces­sities of the times, treated Hamíd Khán with all possible polite­ness and courtesy, and went daily to visit him, at the same time always keeping near his own person many Afgháns who had joined him from Roh. His determination was to make himself king, and turn Hamíd Khán out.