and manifestation of kingly authority. No one was capable of wielding regal power but himself; he was, therefore, indicated by public opinion as the person who ought, for the maintenance of the Mahomedan religion and tradition, to unfold the royal umbrella over his head, and to delight the eyes of those who longed for that beautiful display. In compliance with this requisition, in the year H. 810 (a.d. 1407), three years and seven months after the death of Sultán Muhamad, the victorious Zafar Khán raised the umbrella of royalty, and took to himself the title of Muzaffar Shah at Bírpúr.

From Bírpúr, Muzaffar went to Dhár, which is a dependency of Málwah, with the object of obtaining the submission of Alp Khán,† son of Diláwar Khán, the ruler of that country. He intimated that if Alp Khán yielded it would be well for him; if not, he was to be driven from the country. Alp Khán, from ill fate and his pride of power, gave battle; but the brave warriors of Muzaffar Sháh soon scattered his ranks as a whirlwind scatters clouds, and he was obliged to fly into the fortress of Dhár. The Sultán invested the fort, and Alp Khán was quickly reduced to extremity and obliged to surrender. The Sultán ordered him into confinement, and gave the country to Nasrat Khán.§

* According to some MSS. of the "Tab. Akbarí," the interregnum lasted one year and four months." One MS. has "three years and four months." It says also that Muzaffar Shah's full title was Shams-ud-dunia-wa-ud-dín. + Sultán Muzaffar Sháh had been informed that [Alp Khán afterwards] Sultán Hoshang had poisoned his father Dilawar Khán, so he placed him and some of his associates in confinement. There had been great friendship and affection between the Sultán and Diláwar Khán when they served together under Fíroz Sháh."-" Tab. Akbarí." "Mahomedan Historians," vol. iv. p. 36. Firishtah's verdict (which is probably impartial) is one of "Not proven." The "Táríkh-i-Alfí” says that the occasion of Muzaffar's attack was that Hoshang had attempted to assume the position of an independent prince in Málwah; it also calls Nasrat Khán Muzaffar Sháh's brother. Perhaps the discrepancies may be reconciled by supposing that Shams Khán was his only full brother, Nasrat Khán his half-brother.

According to Firishtah the battle was stubbornly contested, and Muzaffar Shah was himself wounded.

§ The "Tab. Akbarí" calls Nasrat Khán the younger brother of Muzaffar, but this is possibly an error. It is said elsewhere that Muzaffar Shah had only one brother, Shams Khán, who had just been appointed to Nágór,

Intelligence now arrived that Sultán Ibráhím Jónpúrí had raised his standards at Kanauj with the intention of subduing Dehlí. Sultán Muzaffar thereupon determined to march to the assistance of Sultán Mahmúd, the sovereign of Dehlí. On hearing of this, Sultán Ibráhím Jónpúrí desisted, and returned to Jónpúr. Sultán Muzaffar also fell back to his capital.

Muzaffar carried with him Alp Khán, whom he kept in confinement for a year. Músa Khán, a relation of Alp Khán, who had been governor of Mandú under him, having made himself strong, brought several districts of Málwah into his possession. Alp Khán wrote a petition with his own hand, which he sent to the Sultán Muzaffar. He represented that Músa Khán, who was one of his dependants, had established his authority over Málwah; but that if the Sultán would release him (Alp Khán) from the chains of imprisonment, and bind him with the chains of obligation, he would recover the country from Músa Khán, and would remain the Sultán's obedient servant for the rest of his life. Sultán Muzaffar took Alp Khán into favour, and sent his grandson, Ahmad Khán, and a large army along with Alp Khán to expel Músa Khán from the fortress of Mandú, and ordered him to place Alp Khán in charge of that place and its dependencies, and then himself to return. The prince proceeded by regular marches to Mandú, and Músa Khán, being unable to resist, took to flight. The prince then placed Alp Khán in Mandú, and returned.*

where he and his descendants ruled for long after. Nasrat Khán may, however, possibly be a title by which he was known, or there may have been other brothers of Muzaffar Sháh besides Shams Khán. The statements of mere relationship by various writers are, as will be seen hereafter, very vague and contradictory.

*The "Tab. Akbarí" states that the people of Málwah rose against the harsh rule of Nasrat Khán, and expelled him. Then they made Músa Khán, a relation (khwésh) of Alp Khán, their chief; and he took up his residence in the fort of Mandú. Sultán Muzaffar released Alp Khán, and sent him with Prince Ahmad and an army to Málwah, of which they soon obtained possession. Prince Ahmad placed it in charge of Alp Khán, and returned to Gujarát. According to Firishtah, Alp Khán had been placed in the custody

In the same year, 810 (A.D. 1407), Sultán Muzaffar sent an army against the infidels of Kambh-kót,* under the command of Khudáwand Khán. He also sent a person to wait upon Shékh Kásim, who was one of the holy men of the time, to ask his blessing, so that the arms of Islám might prove victorious. The Shekh looked over the muster-roll of the army. He drew a line over several of the names, and said, "These men will obtain the crown of martyrdom, the others will return triumphant." The result was just as the Shekh had predicted."

The author of the "Táríkh-i-Bahádar Sháhí” places the death of Muzaffar Sháh in the end of the month of Safar A.H. 813 (A.D. 1410), but does not mention the cause of his death. The circumstances of his death, as commonly reported and believed, were as follows. The Kólís inhabiting the town of Asawal rebelled and took to highway robbery and plundering. Sultán Muzaffar sent the force which he always had in readiness at the seat of government, under the command of Ahmad Khán, to punish them. Ahmad Khán went out of the city and encamped near the reservoir of Khán Sarwar. He there sent for learned men, and asked what was the opinion of men learned in the law and devoted to religion upon the following circumstances. "If one person kills the father of another unjustly, ought the son of the murdered man to exact retalia

of the prince, and so won him over that he begged, and obtained from the Sultán, the release and reinstatement of his prisoner. The "Táríkh-i-Alfí” agrees mainly with this statement, and adds that Nasrat disgusted not only the people of Málwah, but the Gujarát troops also who were with him. A large number of these deserted, and the nobles of Málwah put Músa Khán, who was the cousin (uncle's son) of Hoshang, on the throne. A longer account is also given of the campaign. It is affirmed that Prince Ahmad went no farther than Dhár, and then returned. Hoshang was not at first joined by the nobles, whose families were for the most part in Músa Khán's power at Mandú; and he himself went to Mahésar on the Narbadah, where he endeavoured to effect the conquest of the country, but without success, until Malik Ma'ghís, who was a son of one of Hoshang's uncles, took his part, and fled out of Mandú to him. This began to break up Músa Khán's party, and eventually he found himself unable to hold Mandú, and marched out of one gate as Hoshang walked in by another.

*The "Táríkh-i-Alfí " gives this name as Kanth-kít.”

tion?"

Everyone answered "Yes," and they gave their formal opinion. Ahmad Khán took the paper and kept it by him. Next day he went into the city, made the Sultán prisoner, and poisoned him. The Sultán said to him, "O son, why art thou in such haste? all this is intended for you." He replied (in the words of the Kurán), "All men have their times appointed, and when the hour is come, they cannot delay or advance it a moment." The Sultán said, "Listen to a few words of advice from me, which will be useful to you. First, do not give your friendship to him who has led you to this deed, but rather put him to death. Next, abstain from strong drinks, for such abstinence is proper for kings. Put Shékh Malik and Shír Malik to death, for they are both strifemakers." He spoke also some other words of advice.

It is

Sultán Muzaffar died at the end of the month of Safar, and was buried in the tomb which is in the citadel of Pattan. said that Sultán Ahmad bitterly repented of, and suffered deep remorse after, the death of his grandfather, which he compassed in the thoughtless days of youth through association with the wicked.*

The "Mirát-i-Ahmadí" says that Sultán Muzaffar reigned eighteen years eight months and fourteen days. The "Tab. Akbarí" says he reigned three years eight months and sixteen days after his second accession, and died in the month of Safar 814, five months and thirteen days after the accession of Ahmad Shah. This is explained by the "Táríkh-i-Alfí," which states that Sultán Muzaffar, being ill, abdicated in favour of his grandson, when he had reigned three years eight months and sixteen days, but that he did not die till five months and sixteen days later, which are reckoned as part of his reign, though the khutbah was read, and coin was struck, in the name of Ahmad Shah during that interval. The "Táríkh-iAlfí" says nothing of the poisoning, but, on the contrary, declares that Muzaffar died of the disease which caused him to abdicate. This tallies with the account of the "Tab. Akbarí." The facts so circumstantially given by these two writers seem to be correct, and although not absolutely irreconcila. ble with the supposition that Ahmad caused his grandfather to be poisoned, are at least primâ facie in conflict with it, and, at any rate, seem to dispose of the alleged motive for the crime.

CHAPTER IV.

REIGN OF AHMAD SHAH, SON OF TÁTÁR KHÁN, SON OF ZAFAR KHÁN (MUZAFFAR SHÁH).

SULTAN AHMAD,* son of Muhamad Shah, son of Muzaffar Sháh, ascended the throne on the 14th Ramazán A.н. 813 (A.D. 1410). Soon afterwards his cousin Módúd, son of Fíróz Khan,† who was Governor of Barodah, won over the amirs of that country, and set up his own claim to rule. In order to carry into effect his futile design, he allied himself with certain men fond of turmoil, who joined him at Nariád, such as Hísám-ul-Mulk Bhandírí and Malik Ahmad his son, Malik Badar Khatrí, and the son of Habib-ul-Mulk Mustáufí, Malik Karím Khusrú, Jíwan Dás, and Payág Dás. They defeated Bíkan and A'dam Afghán,§ the king's men, and, making Jíwan Khatrí their leader, they went on their way to destruction.||

* He assumed the title of Násir-ud-dín, which is given on his coins. See Thomas's "Chronicles of the Pathan Kings," p. 352.

Firishtah says that Fíróz Khán himself was leader of the revolt, and was proclaimed king. The reading of the name here given is supported by the "Muntakhab-ut-Tawáríkh," and is, no doubt, accurate, although the "Tab. Akbarí," followed by Firishtah, says, "Fíróz Khán, son of Sultán Muzaffar Shah." The printed version calls him "Mu'id-ud-dín, cousin of the Sultán." See subsequent notes.

"Malik Badar," in two MSS. which have been followed; others read "Shahpadar."

§ The "Tab. Akbarí" makes these the names of one man; but the probabilities are in favour of the reading in the text. Bíkan Afghán escaped, and rejoined the Sultán.

The "Tab. Akbarí" says that Sultán Hoshang of Málwah had agreed to support this rebellion, and had actually put his army in the field with that object. Sultán Hoshang was the "Alp Khán" of the previous chapter, who was under obligations to the dynasty, and probably personally to Ahmad Shah himself. The "Táríkh-i-Alfí" supports the statement of the "Tab. Akbarí," and says that the descendants of Muzaffar Shah having come to an agreement between themselves, Sultán Hoshang had to return, having effected nothing. The "Tab. Akbarí" says that 'Imád-ul-Mulk was sent to attack Hoshang, who retreated, and several of the zamindars who had joined him were captured and imprisoned.