698 H. (1298 A D.) his brother Malik Mu'izzu-d din1 and Nusrat Khán, the chief pillar of the state and the leader of his armies, a generous and intelligent warrior, were sent to Kambáyat, the most celebrated of the cities of Hind in population and wealth. Its air is pure, its water clear, and the circumjacent country beautiful and charming both in scenery and buildings. With a view to holy war, and not for the lust of conquest, he enlisted under their banners about 14,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry, which, in their language, are called dakk.”2

They went by daily marches through the hills, from stage to stage, and when they arrived at their destination at early dawn they surrounded Kambáyat, and the idolaters were awakened from their sleepy state of carelessness and were taken by surprise, not knowing where to go, and mothers forgot their children and dropped them from their embrace. The Muhammadan forces began to "kill and slaughter on the right and on the left unmercifully, throughout the impure land, for the sake of Islám," and blood flowed in torrents. They plundered gold and silver to an extent greater than can be conceived, and an immense number of brilliant precious stones, such as pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, etc., as well as a great variety of cloths, both silk and cotton, stamped, embroidered, and coloured.

They took captive a great number of handsome and elegant maidens, amounting to 20,000, and children of both sexes, "more than the pen can enumerate," and thirteen enormous elephants, whose motions would put the earth in tremor." In short, the Muhammadan army brought the country to utter ruin, and destroyed the lives of the inhabitants, and plundered the cities, and captured their offspring, so that many temples were deserted and the idols were broken and trodden under foot, the largest of which was one called Somnát, fixed upon stone, polished like a

1 [In the translation of Firishta he is called "Aluf Khan," but this is an erroneous transcription of his title "Ulugh Khán," or "Great Khán,” the same title as was previously borne by Ghiyásu-d dín Balban. The texts of Firishta and Barní both read "Ulugh Khán."]

2 This, probably, means dag, "a pace," just as we say 20,000 foot.

mirror, of charming shape and admirable workmanship. It stood seven yards high. Its position was such as if it was about to move, and its expression such as if it was about to speak. If the introducer of idolatry were to look on it he would become enamoured of its beauty. The infidels objected to people going near it. Its head was adorned with a crown set with gold and rubies and pearls and other precious stones, so that it was impossible for the eyes to trace the redness of the gold on account of the excessive lustre of the jewels, and a necklace of large shining pearls, like the belt of Orion, depended from the shoulder towards the side of the body.

The Muhammadan soldiers plundered all those jewels and rapidly set themselves to demolish the idol. The surviving infidels were deeply affected with grief, and they engaged "to pay a thousand thousand pieces of gold" as a ransom for the idol, but they were indignantly rejected, and the idol was destroyed, and its limbs, which were anointed with ambergris and perfumed, were cut off. The fragments were conveyed to Dehli, and the entrance of the Jámi' Masjid was paved with them, that people might remember and talk of this brilliant victory." "Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Amen! "

After some time, among the ruins of the temples, a most beautiful jasper-coloured stone was discovered, on which one of the merchants had designed some beautiful figures of fighting men and other ornamental figures of globes, lamps, etc., and on the margin of it were sculptured verses from the Kurán. This stone was sent as an offering to the shrine of the pole of saints, Shaikh Murshid Abú Is'hák Ibráhím bin Shahriár. At that time they were building a lofty octagonal dome to the tomb. The stone was placed at the right of the entrance. "At this time, that is, in the year 707 H. (1307 a.d.), 'Aláu-d dín is the acknowledged Sultán of this country. On all its borders there are infidels, whom it is his duty to attack in the prosecution of a holy war, and return laden with countless booty."

An Account of some Contemporary Princes.

When Sultán U'ljáítú was fully established upon the throne, Shaikhu-1 Islám Jamálu-d dín, towards the close of the year 703 H. (1303 A.D.), came to the court of the Protector of the world, and was received with distinguished honours and kindness. He was nominated to the government of Fárs, but declined the appointment, and returned to his independent principality of Kais. In the beginning of this year, the Malik-i 'Azam, Margrave of Hind, Takíu-d dín 'Abdu-r rahmánu-t Tíbí, who was endowed with great power and dignity, departed from the country of Hind to the passage (ma'bar) of corruption. The king of Ma'bar was anxious to obtain his property and wealth, but Malik Mu'azzam Siráju-d dín, son of the deceased, having secured his goodwill by the payment of two hundred thousand dínárs, not only obtained the wealth, but the rank also of his father.

Embassy to China.

Malik Mu'azzam Fakhru-d dín Ahmad and Búká Elchí were, by order of the just king, Gházán, appointed, in the year 697 H., as ambassadors to Tímúr Káán, with presents of cloths, jewels, costly garments, and hunting leopards, worthy of his royal acceptance, and ten túmáns (one hundred thousand pieces) of gold were given to him from the chief treasury, to be employed as capital in trade. Fakhru-d dín laid in a supply of necessaries for his voyage by ships and junks, and laded them with his own merchandize and immense jewels and pearls, and other commodities suited to Tímúr Khán's country, belonging to his friends and relations, and to Shaikh-1 Islám Jamálu-d dín. He was

1 At the close of the sentence the author contradicts himself, and ascribes this event to the year 702 н.

• Mention is made of this interesting embassy by D'Ohsson (Histoire des Mongols, Tom. IV. p. 320), but there is no allusion to the voyage by sea, nor to the characteristic reception of the ambassadors,

accompanied on the voyage by an army of expert archers, Turki and Persian.

The actual distance of the voyage was much augmented by the constant dangers to which their lives and property were exposed on the sea. When, at last, they arrived at the port of the Chinese frontier they were conducted stage by stage, by the deputies and officers of that country according to the Káání institutes, were furnished with supplies and tents, and were not troubled for the payment of any duties. In this manner they reached the Urdú, or Imperial Camp, at Táídú, near Khánbálígh.

The Khán was at that time indisposed, but the four principal ministers and other nobles 1 were present in the assembly and sat beyond the royal carpet on golden seats, with great pomp and dignity. Búká, on his first introduction, considered a salám sufficient, and did not kneel down, to which want of respect they raised objections. Búká, who was a shrewd and eloquent Turk, replied, "It is the royal order, that until I behold the blessed countenance of the Khán, the very abstract of the book of prosperity, I should not look upon any pillars of the state or nobles of his majesty." They were then admitted to a personal interview, and presented the rarities entrusted to them, which were most graciously received. The merchandize also was brought forward and approved. The Khán then presented a cup of wine with his royal hand, and issued orders that the ambassadors, during their stay, should be furnished with residences, food, clothes, and servants appropriate to the four seasons; and forty-five horses were placed at their disposal.

The ambassadors remained four years in China and were dismissed with honour, and a daughter of one of the nobles was bestowed upon Fakhru-d dín. Fakhru-d dín. A friendly reply was written to Gházán Khán, and presents were sent in return, together with some valuable silk stuffs, which had fallen to the share of Hulákú Khán, but had remained in China since the time of

1 The titles of these high dignitaries will be found in D'Ohsson, Hist. des Mongols, Tom. IV. p. 637.

Mangú Khán. An ambassador took charge of them on a separate junk, and he was commissioned to deliver expressions of friendship and regard.

Malik Fakhru-d dín departed, much gratified at his reception, accompanied by the embassies and twenty-three junks, and other vessels laden with valuable property. The ambassador of the Khán died on the voyage and when they were only two days distant from Ma'bar, Malik Fakhru-d dín also died. His tomb is in Ma'bar, near that of his uncle. His death occurred towards the close of the year of 704 H.1 (1305 A.D.).

In the middle of the year 705 H. Shaikhu-l Islam Jamálu-d dín was summoned from the principality of Kais to the capital of Shíráz, the government of which place was conferred upon him. He accepted the office in obedience to the command, although he was ill at the time. He died in the year 706 H. (1306 A.D.) to the great regret of the inhabitants of Shíráz, who raised a handsome tomb over his remains, and composed an elegy upon his death. The author also, in consideration of certain obligations conferred upon him by the deceased, gave vent to his feelings in the following poem.

The History of Sultán 'Aláu-d din (continued).

When Sultán 'Aláu-d dín had fully established himself in the empire of Dehli, and his conquests and holy wars had proclaimed him universally as the greatest champion of the Muhammadan religion, it happened, that in the year 708, 'Alí Beg Gúrgán, with an army consisting of three túmáns, marched to Hindústán, and pitched his camp in the vicinity of 'Iwaz (Oudh) and Badáún, expecting to make an easy conquest of that country. The Sultan despatched his general Hazár-Dínárí, who was

1 This does not coincide with the fact that they remained only four years in China.