house. On hearing this the Saint got very angry, and said that the hated dogs of Firangís should tear Bahádar Khán to pieces. On hearing this, Bahádar Khán was very penitent, and confessed his error; but the decree of fate prevailed in the end.

At length Sikandar Khán, in his envy of Bahádar Khán, began to compass his death. Bahádar Khán, becoming aware of this, arranged his plans with a few faithful attendants to go to Dehlí, and then went to take leave of the Saint, and told him that he had spoken to the Sultán on the subject of his brother's designs, and that the Sultán replied that he himself was old and weak, and that the doctors talked to him about curing a disease which was incurable; that God would give the kingdom to whoever was best fitted for it, and that Bahádar Khán would be acting against his own interests in going away. Why, the Sultán asked, could he not go into hiding for a time? "I have therefore," said Bahádar Khán, " determined on going to Dehlí." The Saint said that the kingdom of Gujarát was undoubtedly destined for him, but not in the immediate present. He therefore thought it would be wise for him to travel for a while, and so dismissed him. Bahádar Khán said, on going away, that if the kingdom of Gujarát was to come to him the income of his jágír (during his absence) might be expended on the poor, or on feasts at the tomb of the Kutb-ul-Kutáb. When the Saint was bidding Bahádar Khán farewell, he asked Bahádar Khán if he wished for anything else besides the kingdom of Gujarát. Bahádar Khán answered that he desired exceedingly to wrest the fort of Chítór out of the hands of infidels, and to make it over to the Musulmáns, in retribution for what the accursed Ráná had done at Ahmadnagar, when he slew so many Musulmáns and carried their women away captive. The Saint fell into a fit of profound meditation. Bahádar Khán repeated what he had said, but the Saint returned no answer; when he asked the third time the Saint said that the thing was possible, but that the fall of Chítór was conditional

on the Sultán's own destruction. Bahádar Khán exclaimed that he was willing to sacrifice a hundred lives for that object. The Saint said, "Be it so; I cannot control fate."

Shekh Jíú then said, "This is our last interview; you will soon come back, but you will not find me here."* He then entreated Bahádar to be kind to his son Säíd Mahmúd, otherwise known as "Sháh Badah," who would, he said, be dependent on Bahádar's protection. Bahádar Khán then went to Champánír, and, having obtained a little money there, went off towards Dehlí. He went first to Bánsbálah, and thence to Chítór. The Ráná of that place received him with kindness, and showed him all possible attention. The Ráná's mother was a very sagacious woman, and used to call Bahádar Khán her "son." The nephew of the Ráná was much looked up to by the Rájpúts, for he was the son of the Ráná's elder brother, who was dead, and the Rájpúts regarded him as filling the place of his father, who had been a very remarkable man. This nephew invited Bahádar Khán to an entertainment at his house, and, after a day of amusement and pleasure, in the evening an entertainment was given. Among the dancinggirls was one of singular beauty, who danced exquisitely. Bahádar came nearer, to look at her, and the Ráná's nephew said, "Do you recognise her, and know who she is?" Bahádar Khán said, "Tell me." That ill-omened wretch replied, "She was the daughter of the Kází of Ahmadnagar,† and when the Ráná sacked Ahmadnagar I went to the Kází's house, killed him, and carried off this girl; the rest of his women and girls were carried off by the other Rájpúts." He had not finished speaking when Bahádar Khán struck him across the loins with his sword, and cut him in two. A great uproar arose. Bahádar Khán stood firm, his sword dripping with blood; the Rájpúts crowded round to kill him. Then the mother of the

* According to the lithographed edition, the Saint died in the year H. 931, in which year, also, these events are said to have taken place.

†The MSS. give somewhat differing versions of this story. That in the Hyderábád MS. has been here chiefly followed.

Ráná rushed in with a drawn dagger, and declared that she would rip herself up if anyone killed Bahádar Khán. When the Ráná heard the facts, he said that the infatuated young man, his nephew, had only been treated as he deserved for uttering such language to a prince of Gujarát, and he forbade anyone to injure Bahádar Khán. The Ráná added that if Bahádar Khán had not killed his nephew he should have done so himself. Shortly afterwards Bahádar Khán, finding that he was looked upon somewhat coldly in Chítór, left that place and went to Mewát. There Hasan Khán Mewátí met him with all honour, and offered him tribute, which the Prince would not accept. Afterwards, Hasan Khán asked if he desired to attack Gujarát, for in that case they were ready to assist him with money and troops to do so. Bahadar Khán thanked them for their loyalty to him, but said that he could not do anything so wicked as to attack his father. For the present, moreover, he was about to travel; afterwards, the Almighty knew what would happen.*

CHAPTER X.

REIGN OF SULTAN SIKANDAR, SON OF MUZAFFAR.

SULTA'N SIKANDAR ascended the throne on Friday, the 22nd Jumádi-ul-ákhir, AH. 932 (7th April, A.D. 1526), when his father Sultán Muzaffar died, and he shortly afterwards* went away to Muhamadábád. It is said that he went away without caring to visit the tombs of the holy men at Batóh, and when he was passing the tomb of the holy Burhán-ud-dín he did not go in nor speak to Shékh Jíú, the grandson of Burhán-ulMulk, whom they called the second Makhdúm-i-Jahánián; but, on the contrary, said to those about him, "This is the man who said that Bahádar Khán would be Sultan of Gujarát. He lied, and the man himself is a wanderer on the face of the earth." When Shékh Jíú heard this he said, "We must not be perplexed; what God wills is coming to pass, and will appear at His right time." When he arrived at Muhamadábád, according to the practice of his ancestors, he there took his seat upon the throne on the 25th‡ of the same month. Every

* According to the "Táríkh-i-Alfí," which other authorities corroborate, Sikandar left Ahmadábád three days after his father's death.

The

The text is here very corrupt; but the recension above adopted is supported by a comparison of MSS. and by the "Tab. Akbarí," which says that the Sultán " gave the holy man the lie," and " spoke unseemly words." Saint and his followers probably came out on the road to meet the Sultán and make their obeisance to him, and this interview took place as he was passing.

This date is probably incorrect. If the king remained three days after his father's death at Ahmadábád (as he would naturally do for his father's obsequies and other business), he could not well have reached Muhamadábád by the 25th. The correct date is, probably, the 28th or 29th, for the length of his reign is everywhere given as one month and sixteen days, and he was murdered on the 14th Sha'bán.

man who had served him in former days he advanced to a high position and title. He gave away one thousand seven hundred horses to his own followers, and from that cause the ministers and nobles of the late reign* were offended and alienated. He even offended 'Imád-ul-Mulk Khush-kadam, who was a king in his own way, and who had brought him up and pushed his interests.

Intelligence now came that Latíf Khán had set himself up in the hill country of Sultánpúr and Nandarbár, with the support of Bhím Rájah of Múnká,† and that several amírs were in correspondence with him. Sultán Sikandar raised Malik Latif to the title of Sharzah Khán, and sent him with three thousand horse to drive Latíf Khán out of the mountains. When he entered the hills the Rájpúts and Kólís, having seized the passes on the road, attacked him, and after a sharp struggle Sharzah Khán and several other chiefs of name were killed, and it is said that one thousand two hundred Musulmáns fell. On hearing of this the Sultán sent Kaisar Khán with a large army.

About this time sundry nobles having gained the confidence of 'Imád-ul-Mulk, told him that the Sultán had a design upon his life, and that he must be on his guard. 'Imád-ul-Mulk said, "If the Sultán has resolved to take my life, why should I not be beforehand and attempt his?"

One night the Sultán saw in a dream Kutb-ul-Kutáb, Sháh 'A'lam, and Shékh Jíú; Muzaffar Sháh was also with them. Muzaffar Sháb said to Shékh Jíú, "Surely it is not fated that Sikandar Khán should descend from the throne on which he is seated ?" The holy Shékh Jíú said, "Yes, it is even so." The Sultán awoke from his dream greatly alarmed, and told Yakúb, entitled Dariá Khán, what had happened, and said,

Who probably apprehended that they would be supplanted by the king's personal favourites.

↑ Ráná of Múnká. The "Tab. Akbarí " calls him Rájah of the jungles of Chítór; it says the retreat of the Gujarát army was cut off, and that more than 1,700 fell.