The History of Hindostan (1812), by Alexander Dow

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Part 15 of 15

[Section XVIII. The Reign of Sultan Moazim Mohizzib Firose Shaw, the son of Sallar Rigib.]

FEROSE III.

When the death of Mahommed happened, his cousin Ferose [Moazim Mohizib Ferose Shaw, ben Sallar Regib.] was in the imperial camp. He was nephew to the Emperor Tughlick; and Mahommed, having conceived great friendship for him, designed to make him his successor, and, for that purpose, recommended him upon his death-bed to the Omrahs. Upon Mahommed's demise the army fell into the utmost confusion. Ferose, having gained over the majority of the Omrahs to his party, prevailed, with presents, upon the Mogul mercenaries to move to some distance from the camp to prevent disturbances, till he should reduce the rest of the army to obedience.

Amir Norose, a Mogul chief, who commanded a great body of the imperial troops, deserted that night, and, having joined Altu, the general of the Mogul mercenaries, told him, that now was the time to plunder the late Emperor's treasure, and to retreat to their native country. Altu was easily prevailed upon to adopt this lucrative scheme. They therefore returned next morning to the camp, which was still in very great confusion, and, after a very sharp skirmish, loaded some camels with treasure. Ferose, to secure himself from further depredations, led the army to Sewan, and took every possible means to defend himself against the avarice of the mercenaries.

The Omrahs, the day after this movement, waited upon Ferose, and entreated him to mount the throne. After many pretended excuses, he favoured the Omrahs with his consent, and was accordingly proclaimed Emperor.

He, the very first day of his reign, gave orders to ransom many prisoners, who, during the late confusion, had fallen into the hands of the people of Tatta; and, upon the third day, he marched against the Mogul mercenaries, took many of their chiefs prisoners, and forced the rest to fly towards their own country.

He, soon after, directed his march to the fort of Bicker, and gladdened the face of the court with princely presents, and gave very liberally to the zemindars of Bicker and Sewistan. He from thence sent Ahmed and Ali Ghori against the rebel Tiggi, with a part of his army, and marched himself towards Outch, where he did many acts of benevolence and charity.

At Outch the Emperor received advices from Delhi, that Jehan, who was a relation of the late Emperor, now about ninety years of age, had placed upon the throne a boy whom he had adopted, by the name of Mahommed, and had massacred a number of the citizens who had refused to pay him allegiance.

Ferose sent Shanapil, to expostulate with the old man, who, he thought, was now in the dotage of years, with promises of forgiveness and favour, if he would relinquish his ridiculous scheme. The Emperor himself, in the mean time, remained with the army to regulate the territory of Outch. He was soon after joined by Muckbil, the vizier of the empire, who received an honorary dress, and a confirmation of his former dignity.

Ferose having reached Hassi, on his way to Delhi, met an ambassador from Jehan, acquainting him, that now the empire was in the hands of Mahommed's family, and therefore, that it would be no more than justice in him, to acknowledge the title of the young King, and act as regent, during the minority. Ferose immediately convened the Omrahs before the ambassador, and asked them, whether they knew any of the male issue of Mahommed. They all declared, that unless Molana Cumal, an Omrah then present, knew, they were perfectly strangers to any surviving issue of Mahommed. Molana made answer, that though one should remain of the issue of the former Emperor, it was now advisable to stand by what was already done. We have reason to believe, from this circumstance, that the youth who was set up at Delhi, was actually a son of Mahommed, though it was, at that time, prudent in the Omrahs not to acknowledge him.

The Emperor, after the council, sent Zada the ambassador back to acquaint Jehan of what had passed, and to advise him to accommodate matters. in an amicable way. When Zada arrived in the city, a number of the principal men in the place hastened to the camp of Ferose, and made their submission. Much about the same time, advices were received from Guzerat, that the rebel Tiggi was defeated by Ahmed: and, that very day, a son was born to the Emperor, whom he named Fatti. These fortunate circumstances concurred to strengthen the interest of Ferose.

Jehan, perceiving that he could not support the young King, made overtures towards an accommodation to Ferose. He sent some respectable Omrahs to intercede with the Emperor for his pardon, and to solicit leave to pay his respects in person. Ferose consented, and accordingly the old man, with his head bare, and his turban hung round his neck, came, accompanied by some of the principal men of his party, to make his submission. The King, according to his promise, gave him his life, but ordered the chief magistrate of Hassi to take him under his care, which was a kind of imprisonment. Chattab, one of Jehan's associates, was banished to Karkinda, and Gustami expelled the court.

Upon the second day of Regib, in the year 752, Ferose marched into Delhi, and mounted the imperial throne. He immediately began to administer impartial justice to his people, who flocked from all quarters, with their petitions. He, in the mean time, conferred offices and titles upon his Omrahs.

Upon the fifth of Siffer, in the following year, he, in order to hunt, removed his court towards the hills of Sirmore, and reduced several zemindars to obedience. He, in the mean time, had a son born to him at Delhi, whom he named Mahommed, and ordered great rejoicings to be made upon the occasion; distributing his favours with a liberal hand.

In the year 754, the Emperor hunted at Callanore. He ordered, upon his return, a palace to be built upon the banks of the Sursuti; and, towards the end of the year, appointed one Jehan to the viceroyship of Delhi. He himself, in the mean time, marched towards Bengal, to subdue Elias, who had assumed the imperial title, and possessed himself of all Bengal and Behar, even ta Benaris. When he had arrived in the neighbourhood of Gorupoor, the zemindars of that place, having brought proper presents, were admitted to his presence.

Ferose having penetrated as far as Pundua, one of the residences of the princes of Bengal, Elias retreated to a strong post, whither the Emperor pursued him. An action ensued, but Elias secured himself in his post, which obliged the Emperor to surround him, the place being almost inaccessible. Things having continued in this situation for twenty days, Ferose, intending to change his ground, and to encamp on the banks of the Ganges, went out to reconnoitre. The enemy, imagining that he meditated a retreat, advanced out of their post, and drew up in order of battle. But, when they saw that the Emperor was preparing to attack them, they again retreated within their works, but with such precipitation and confusion, that forty-four elephants, and many standards, fell into the Emperor's hands. The rainy season coming on with great violence, a kind of peace was patched up between them, and the Emperor returned disappointed to Delhi.

In the year 755, Ferose built the city of Feroseabad, adjoining to that of Delhi; and in the following year marched to Debalpoor, where he made a canal one hundred miles in length, from the Suttuluz to the Jidger. In the year 757, between the hills of Mendouli and Sirmore, he cut a channel from the Jumna, which he divided into seven streams; one of which he brought to Hassi, and from thence to Beraisen, where he built a strong castle, calling it by his own name. He drew, soon after, a canal from the Cagar, passing by the walls of Sirsutti, and joined it to the rivulet of Kera, upon which he built a city, named after him, Feroseabad. This city he watered with another canal from the Jumna. These public works were of prodigious advantage to the adjacent countries, by supplying them with water for their lands, and with a commodious water-carriage from place to place.

An embassy about this time arrived, with presents and new conditions of peace from Bengal, which Ferose accepted, and soon after ratified the treaty. Bengal became, in a great measure, independent of the empire, paying only a small acknowledgment annually, by way of present. He exacted no other terms of the Decan; so that these two great members were now lopt off from the government of Delhi.

In the year 759, the king of Bengal sent a number of elephants, and other rich presents, to Delhi, which was amply repaid in Arabian and Persian horses, jewels, and other rich curiosities. But when the imperial embassy arrived at Behar, they received news of the death of Shumse, king of Bengal, and that his son Ascunder had acceded to the throne. They thought proper not to proceed further, and returned to Delhi. The Emperor being, in the same year, encamped at Semana, received advices that the Moguls had made an incursion as far as Debalpoor. He forthwith ordered a general, with a great army, against them; but the Moguls, before his. arrival, had laden themselves with spoil, and retreated towards their own country.

Notwithstanding the treaty of 757, Ferose, in the year 760, resolved upon another expedition into Bengal. Having arrived at Zifferabad, he cantoned there his army, during the rains. When he lay at this place, Bustami, who had been banished, returned ambassador from the Calipha of Egypt [After the taking of Bagdat by Halacu, king of Persia, the grandson of Zingis, one of the family of Abassi assumed the title of Calipha in Egypt.], with a chelat; for which he was graciously received, and dignified with the title of Azim. An embassy having been, in the mean time, dispatched to Ascunder, the new king of Bengal, returned with another on his part, and with rich presents. The King, not being satisfied with these concessions, marched, after the rains were over, towards that country, and, on his way, conferred the ensigns of royalty upon the prince Fatti his son. He gave him masters for his instruction, to whom the royal youth gave great attention.

Ferose having arrived at Pundwah, Ascunder, after the example of his father, retreated to Ackdalla, and shut himself up in that place. Being however closely invested, and reduced to great straits, he sent forty-eight elephants, and other presents, to the Emperor, with overtures of peace. In a few days the terms were agreed upon, and Ferose marched to Jionpoor, where he cantoned his army for another season, and then moved down behind the mountains, towards Jagenagur.

Ferose having crossed the river Mendri, arrived at the capital of the Indian prince of Jagenagur, which was also called Benaris. The Raja, upon the Emperor's approach, fled towards Tillingana. Having plundered the country, Ferose returned, and, upon his way, was met by the prince of Beerban, who presented him with thirty-seven elephants, and other valuable presents, upon consideration of not ravaging his country. The Emperor, having received the presents, changed his route, and, as he passed through the woods of Pudmawitti, which abounded with elephants, he caught thirty-three of them, and killed a few in the chace. He then continued his march, and arrived at Delhi, in the year 762.

Ferose, who had much at heart the improvement of his country, was informed, that near Hirdar, in the province of Sirhind, there was a mountain from which there issued a great stream of water, which fell into the Suttuluz; and that beyond that place there was a small rivulet called Selima, divided only by a rising ground from the large stream which we have just mentioned. The Emperor considered, that, by making a cut through this eminence, the great stream might be carried into the rivulet, and so form a river to water the countries of Sirhind and Munsurpoor, from whence it might be carried to Sunnam, and so render great tracts of land. fertile. He therefore marched immediately that way, and ordered fifty thousand labourers to be collected together to cut the passage. When the workmen were in this place employed in digging to great depth, they found some immense skeletons of elephants in one place, and in another, those of a gigantic human form, the arm-bones of which measured one yard. Some of the bones were in their natural state, and others petrified.

The Emperor, having finished this great work, built a fort at Sirhind, which he called Ferosepoor. He, from that place, marched towards the mountains of Nagracut, where he was overtaken by a storm of hail and snow. He, however, reduced the Raja of those parts, after sustaining some loss on his side, and confirmed him again in his dominions; changing the name of Nagracut to that of the city of Mahommed, in honour of the former Emperor. Ferose was told here, that the goddess, whom the Hindoos worshipped in the temple of Nagracut [Some authors relate, that the image now worshipped at Nagracut is not that of Noshaba, which, say they, Ferose sent to Mecca, where it was buried before the door of the great Mosque. It is not improbable, but Alexander, who penetrated to the Indies, might have left an image of the Grecian Goddesses upon the frontiers of his conquests. The Brahmins might have, with less absurdity, converted this foreign Goddess into one of their own growth, than those holy persons at Rome, who have changed the statue of Jupiter Tonans into one of St. Peter; disgracing, with a parcel of keys, that hand which formerly held the thunder.], was the image of Noshaba, the wife of the great Secunder, which that conqueror had left with them. The name of the idol is now changed to that of Jewallamucki. In the temple there was also, at that time, a fine library of the books of the Brahmins, consisting of one thousand and three hundred volumes.

Ferose ordered one of those books, which treated of philosophy, astrology, and divination, to be translated into the Persian language, and called it the Arguments of Ferose. The Emperor, after the conquest of Nagracut, moved down the Indus towards Tatta, where Jambani, who had been always a subject of Delhi, had rebelled and fortified himself. The imperial army invested the city, but as provisions and forage became excessively scarce, and the rains had set in with great violence, Ferose was obliged to raise the siege, and march to Guzerat. He there spent the season in hunting, and, after the rains, he conferred the government of Guzerat upon Ziffer, and returned again to Tatta. Jambani capitulated, and delivered himself up to Ferose, who carried him, and the principals of his faction, to Delhi; but, after some time, he took him again into favour, and sent him to resume his former government.

In the year 774, Jehan, the vizier, died, and his son was honoured with his titles. Nothing remarkable happened till two years after, when the Emperor was plunged into affliction, by the death of his favourite son Fatte, a prince of great expectations.

Ferose, in the year 778, was informed, that the revenues of Guzerat were greatly deficient of the collections. This induced him to listen to the proposals of Wamaghani, who offered to give one hundred elephants, forty lacks of rupees, four hundred Abassinian slaves, and forty Arabian horses, every year, over and above the present payment, should he be appointed to that government. The Emperor replied, that if the present viceroy, the successor of Ziffer, who was dead, would consent to give as much, he should be continued. But to this the viceroy would not agree, and therefore the imperial mandates were granted to Wamaghani, and he forthwith set out for Guzerat. Not being able the next year to perform his promise, he withheld the revenue, and rebelled, which was a just punishment upon Ferose for his folly and avarice. The rebel, however, having greatly oppressed the people of his province, a conspiracy was formed against him, and, by the assistance of the Mogul mercenaries, who were settled in that country, they seized him, and sent his head to Delhi. This was the only rebellion that happened during this Emperor's reign. The government of Guzerat was conferred upon Musirra, with the title of Firhit-ul-Muluck.

There was a petty insurrection among the zemindars of Atava, in the year 779. It was however soon crushed, and the insurgents brought to punishment, while forts were built to keep them in proper subjection. In the year 781, Ferose marched towards Samana, Amballa, and Shawabad, as far as the foot of the mountains of Saitoor, and after demanding his tribute from the princes of the hills, which they paid him, he returned to his capital.

Much about this time, information was brought to the Emperor, that the zemindar of Kitter, whose name was Kirgu, had invited Mahommed, governor of Budaoon, and a number of his family, to his house, where he basely assassinated them. The Emperor, enraged at this villainy, marched immediately that way, and took severe vengeance upon the associates and kindred of the assassin, putting them without distinction to the sword, and levelling their houses with the ground. The murderer himself made his escape to the mountains of Cumaoon, and was protected by the Indian princes of those parts. Ferose ordered a detachment of his army against them. They brought back near thirty thousand of those unhappy mountaineers, who were all condemned to slavery. The Emperor's justice, in this case, degenerated into extreme severity. Neither did the misfortunes brought upon those miserable captives satisfy his thirst for revenge. He returned, every year, under pretence of hunting, to that unhappy country; but the people, and not the beasts of the forest, were his prey. He, by degrees, cut off all the inhabitants, and converted whole provinces into a wilderness.

Age and infirmity began, in the year 787, to press hard upon Ferose. Jehan the vizier, having the sole management of affairs, became very powerful in the empire. The Emperor was so much under his direction in all things, that he had the effrontery falsely to accuse Mahommed, the King's son, of a design against his father's life, in conjunction with several Omrahs. He brought the old man firmly to credit this accusation, and obtained his authority to secure the supposed conspirators. Ziffer was accordingly recalled from his government of Mahoba, and confined.

A party was sent to seize the prince, who, having previous intelligence of the design against him, began to provide for his security, placing guards, and fortifying himself in his own palace. In this situation he remained shut up for some days; and at last, having obtained leave for his wife to visit the King's Zinnana, he put on his armour, went into the close chair, and was carried into the Seraglio. When he discovered himself in that dress, the frightened women ran screaming into the Emperor's apartment, and told him, that the prince had come in armour with a treasonable design. The prince, having followed them, presented himself to his father, and falling at his feet, told him with great emotion, “That the suspicions he had entertained of him were worse than death itself. That he came therefore to receive it from his own hands. But first he begged leave to inform him, that he was perfectly innocent of the villainous charge which the vizier had purposely contrived to pave his own way to the throne.”

Ferose, sensible of his son's sincerity, clasped him in his arms, and weeping, told him, he had been deceived; and therefore desired him to proceed, as his judgment should direct him, against the traitor. Mahommed upon this went out from the presence, and ordered twelve thousand horse to be in readiness. With this body he surrounded the vizier's house that night, who, upon hearing of the prince's approach, put Ziffer to death, and, collecting his friends, came out to engage him in the street. Upon the first onset, the traitor was wounded, and drew back to his house. He fled immediately towards Mewat, and the prince seized all his wealth, and cut off his adherents.

Ferose, immediately after these transactions, resigned the reins of government into the hands of his son, and abdicated the throne. The prince, assuming the name of Mahommed [His titles were, Nazir ul Dien ul Dunia.], ascended the throne in the month of Shaban 789; and immediately ordered the Chutba to be read in his own and his father's name, He settled the offices of state, and distributed honorary dresses among the Omrahs. Eacoob, an Omrah in great repute, was promoted to the government of Guzerat, with the title of Secunder Chan.

Secunder, having arrived at Mewat, upon his way to his government, Goga, with whom Jehan, the vizier, had taken refuge, fearing the new Emperor's resentment, seized him, and sent him bound to Secunder, who cut off his head, and sent it to Delhi.

Mahommed went with his army, in the year 790, towards the mountains of Sirmore, to hunt, according to the custom of sovereigns. When he was employed in the diversion of the chace, advices were received, that Musirra, governor of Guzerat, at the head of the Mogul mercenaries settled in that country, had risen in rebellion, defeated and slain Secunder, who had been appointed to succeed him. The Emperor hastened to Delhi; but, as if all at once infatuated, he gave himself up entirely to pleasure, and seemed to be insensible of the loss which he had sustained, and of the dangers in which his conduct had involved him. When his old Omrahs attempted to rouse him from his lethargy, he turned them from his presence, and filled their offices with pimps and court flatterers.

The emperor's nephew, Baha, resolved to rush upon him in the midst of his dream of pleasure. He, for this purpose, conspired with the disgraced Omrahs, and arming one hundred thousand slaves, erected the standard of rebellion. Mahommed immediately dispatched Malleck Lahori, to treat with the rebels. When he came to their camp, which was pitched without the city, the mob pelted him with stones, and obliged him to retire, very much bruised and wounded. Mahommed, seeing no hopes of a peaceable accommodation, began at length to bestir himself, and advanced with his army against the conspirators, and, after a bloody contest, drove them into the city. They immediately possessed themselves of the palace, and again renewed the fight. The city became now a horrid scene of slaughter and confusion. During the space of two days and two nights, there was nothing but death in every street; friends and foes, victors and vanquished, were jumbled together without any possibility of distinction.

The slaves, upon the third day, brought out the old King, in his palakie, and set him down in the street between the combatants. When Mahommed's troops saw their former master, their affection returned, and, imagining that this was a voluntary deed of his, they at once deserted the prince, and crowded with shouts of joy to Ferose. Mahommed fled instantly, with a small retinue, to the mountains of Sirmore. Both parties looking up to the aged monarch, settled themselves into peace in his presence.

Ferose, unable to govern on account of the infirmities of age, placed, by advice of the Umrahs, Tuglick, the son of his eldest son, prince Fatte, upon the throne. The slaves, in the mean time, assassinated Hassen, the Emperor's son-in-law, for having endeavoured to support Mahommed: and even the first order issued by Tuglick, when he mounted the imperial throne, was, to kill all the adherents of Mahommed, wherever they should be found.

Ferose, who had arrived at the age of ninety, died in the year 790. Though no great warrior in the field, he was, by his excellent qualities, well calculated for a reign of peace. His severity to the inhabitants of Cumaoon, for the assassination of the governor of Samana, is a great blot in his reputation. But to this he perhaps was prompted by a religious zeal and enthusiasm: for the persons murdered were seids, or descendants of the prophet.

He reigned thirty-eight years and nine months, and left many memorials of his magnificence in the land. He built fifty great sluices, forty mosques, thirty schools, twenty caravanseras, a hundred palaces, five hospitals, a hundred tombs, ten baths, ten spires, one hundred and fifty wells, one hundred bridges; and the pleasure gardens he made were without number.

The Empire of Persia continued under petty princes till Timur-Bec, commonly called Tamerlane in Europe, mounted the throne of the kingdoms of Zagatay, which comprehended all Maver-ul-nere or Transoxiana, and the provinces of Cabul, Zabulistan, and others towards the Indus. After the conquest of the northern Tartary, he turned his arms against Persia, and entered Chorassan, seven years before the death of Ferose, the Patan Emperor of Hindostan. He completed the conquest of Persia in less than five years, and when Ferose died, Timur was employed in the reduction of the provinces upon the Euphrates.

[Section XIX. The Reign of Yeas Ul Dien, Tughlick Shaw, the son of Fatte Chan, and grandson of Sultan Firose Shaw.]

TUGLICK II.

TUGLICK [His titles were, Yeas-ul-Dien.] having mounted the throne in the palace of Feroseabad, ordered, according to custom, the Chutba to be read, and the currency to be struck, in his own name. He appointed Ferose Ali his vizier, by the title of Jehan, and confirmed Musirra, the rebellious governor, in his command of Guzerat.

He soon after sent an army under the vizier, to expel his uncle Mahommed from Sirmore, and that prince, upon the approach of the imperial army, fled to the mountains. He there took possession of a strong post, and, securing the wives and children of his adherents, waited to give the imperialists battle. He was however beat from post to post till he arrived at Nagracut, and shut himself up in that place. That fortress being very, strong, his enemies did not think proper to besiege it, and therefore returned to Delhi.

Tuglick giving reins to his youthful passions, and neglecting the affairs of state, vice, luxury, and oppression, began to rise up on every side. He was not blind to those misfortunes, but he mistook the cause, and admitted jealousy and mistrust within his mind. He confined, and treated cruelly, his own brother, Sallar: and his cousin Abu Bicker, having reason to dread the Emperor's resentment, fled the court, and, to secure himself, stirred up a faction against Tuglick. The conspirators consisted of Rukun, the vizier's deputy, and several other Omrahs of high repute, with all the imperial slaves, many of whom were in the highest offices at court.

Matters being ripe for execution, the conspirators rushed into the Divan, and assassinated Mubarick, the captain-general of the forces. Tuglick, being thus surprised, fled by the Jumna gate. Rukun pursued him, and having taken him and Jehan the vizier, they were immediately put to death. This event happened on the twenty-first of Siffer, in the year 791; Tuglick, after a reign of five months and a few days, having fallen by the effects of the folly of youth.

[Section XX. The Reign of Abu Bicker Shaw, the son of Ziffer Chan, and grandson of Firose Shaw.]

ABU BICKER.

Tue conspirators having assassinated the King, raised Abu Bicker, the grandson of the Emperor Ferose, by his third son, to the empire. Rukun, being appointed vizier, took the reins of government in his own hands. But his ambition was not satisfied with that high employ. He formed schemes to cut off the new King, and to usurp the throne. Abu Bicker, having timely information of his intentions, was beforehand with him, and ordered him and many of the principal slaves concerned in the conspiracy to be put to death.

In the mean time, the Mogul chiefs of Samana assassinated the viceroy, Sultan, the fast friend of the reigning Emperor, and sent his head to the prince Mahommed, at Nagracut. They earnestly solicited him to come and assert his right to the empire. Mahom. med accordingly, having collected his friends, advanced by the way of Jallendar to Samana, and proclaiming himself King at that place, advanced with a great army towards Delhi. After some repulses, Mahommed, as we shall see in the sequel, proved victorious, and sent Abu Bicker to his grave upon the twentieth of Zihige, in the year 792, when he had reigned one year and six months.

[Section XXI. The Reign of Nasir Ul Dunia Ul Dien Mahummud Shaw, the son of Firose Shaw.]

MAHOMMED IV.

MAHOMMED [Nasir ul dunia ul dien, Mahommed Shaw.], as we have already seen, mounted the throne in his father's life-time, in the year 789. How he was deposed and expelled by Baha, and the other Omrahs, in confederacy with the Mogul mercenaries of Guzerat, and the slaves of the household, and his transactions, till he shut himself up in the fort of Nagracut, has been also related. When the chiefs of the Moguls had assassinated the governor of Samana, Mahommed, according to their invitation, marched with great expedition from Nagracut, calling all his friends from Delhi. He soon found himself at the head of twenty thousand horse, with which he advanced towards the capital.

Upon the fifth of the first Ribbi, in the year 792, he entered Delhi, and lighted at the palace of Jehan. The Emperor, Abu Bicker, in the other quarter of the city, called Feroseabad, prepared himself for battle; and, on the second of the first Jemmad, the two armies engaged in the streets of Feroseabad. In the mean time Nahir, with a strong reinforcement, arrived, and joining Abu Bicker, they marched out of Feróseabad next morning, and drove Mahommed, with great slaughter, quite out of Delhi.

Mahommed retreated with two thousand horse only, over the Jumna; and immediately dispatched Humaioon his son, and several Omrahs, to Samana to recruit his army. He himself, in the mean time, remained in the town of Tillasar upon the banks of the Ganges. Having experienced from first to last, that the slaves of Ferose were his declared enemies, he gave orders to plunder all their estates in the neighbouring country, and to slay them wherever they should be found. The zemindars fell upon some thousands, who had possessions in other parts of the empire, and massacred them; while the farmers in general, disgusted with Abu Bicker's government, which had been very oppressive, withheld their rents, and listed themselves under Mahommed.

In the mean time, the viceroy of Moultan, and many Omrahs of note, having joined Mahommed with their forces, he collected, in a few days, an army of fifty thousand horse, made the usual appointments in the empire to please his friends, and advanced a second time towards Delhi. Abu Bicker had remained inactive in that city, ever since his late victory; he, however, drew out his army at a village called Hindali, to oppose Mahommed, and was so fortunate as to come off victorious once more. He drove Mahommed towards Tillasar, but contented himself with pursuing him three crores, and with taking his baggage, and then returned to his capital.

Humaioon, the son of Mahommed, not many days after the battle of Hindali, with the troops he had raised at Samana, made another attempt upon the capital, but succeeded no better than his father, being defeated at Paniput, and obliged to retreat towards Samana. But after all these successes, Abu Bicker thought it unsafe to leave the capital, being suspicious of a faction in the city in favour of Mahomined. Having at length punished some of the most disaffected, he ventured to march about forty miles towards Tillasar, where Mahommed was again collecting an army.

The latter having, by this time, concerted measures with his faction in the city, left the body of his army, with all his baggage, at Tillasar, and advanced, with four thou- sand chosen horse, towards Abu Bicker. When Abu Bicker had drawn up his army, Mahommed made a quick motion to the left, and passing the enemy's line, pushed forward to the capital. He there engaged the troops of Abu Bicker who guarded the walls, and having set fire to the Budaoon gate, forced his way into the city. He immediately entered the imperial palace, whither the citizens flocked to pay him their respects.

But Abu Bicker, having closely pursued Mahommed, arrived the same day before the city; and having forced the guards which Mahommed had placed at the gates, advanced to the palace, and drove that prince, whose troops had dispersed themselves, quite out of the city. He was obliged to retreat again to Tillasar, where he joined his army, having lost the major part of his detachment in the action.

Some time having thus passed without any decisive action, Hagib, chief of the imperial slaves, known by the title of Islam, disgusted with Abu Bicker, wrote to Mahommed, that if he would make another attempt upon the city, he would support him with the greatest part of the slaves who were under his direction. Abu Bicker hearing that Mahommed was again in motion, and having also discovered the disaffection of the slaves and others in his army, shamefully abandoned the capital, and fled with a small retinue.

Mahommed, in the month of Ramzan, entered Delhi, and ascended the imperial throne. He gave the office of vizier to Islam, to whom he principally owed his restoration. When he found himself firmly established, he ordered all the elephants which belonged to the slaves of Ferose, to be taken from them, and converted to his own use. The slaves, enraged at this injustice, fled the city that night, and hastened to join Abu Bicker. Mahommed, upon this desertion, turned out a few who remained, and ordered them, upon pain of death, never to appear in the city, where they had acquired such dangerous influence. Notwithstanding this decree, many slaves, unwilling to leave Delhi, concealed themselves: a search was ordered to be made, and such as were found were massacred. Some of those poor wretches, upon this occasion, cried out for mercy, affirming that they were originally Tartars. They were, upon this, ordered to pronounce the word Gurragurri, by which they were immediately distinguished. All who sounded it with the accent of Hindostan were put to death.

Mahommed, after having expelled the slaves, began to recruit his army, and sent Humaioon his son, with a considerable force, against the Emperor Abu Bicker. When this army arrived at Kotluh, Abu Bicker, by advice of Nahir, surprised Humaioon in his camp. The prince, however, exerted his utmost efforts in opposing the enemy, being gallantly supported by the vizier, drove Abu Bicker, after a brave resistance, quite off the field. Mahommed marched at the same time, with great expedition, towards Mewat, where Abu Bicker, seeing no hopes left, surrendered himself, and was sent prisoner to the fort of Merat, where he died some years after.

Mahommed returning to Delhi, received advices that Musirra, governor of Guzerat, rebelled. Ziffer was immediately dispatched with an army to suppress the rebellion; but for the particulars of this expedition, we must refer the reader to the history of the province of Guzerat [Our author's second volume, in the original Persian, treats of the particular history of all the provinces in Hindostan.].

In the year 794, intelligence was brought to Delhi, that the prince Nirsingh, Sirvadon chief of the Mahrattors, and Bireban of Bessu, chiefs of the Hindoos, had rose in arms against the empire. Mahommed ordered the vizier, with a considerable force, against Narsingh, the most powerful of the insurgents. Narsingh was defeated, made peace, and attended the conqueror to Delhi. The other two chiefs were subjugated at the same time.

The zemindars of Attava, upon account of some grievance, rose in arms, and ravaged Bittaram and the adjacent districts. Mahommed marched against them in person, and chastised them. The fort of Attava was levelled with the ground, and the Emperor took the route of Kinnoge and Tillasar, in the last of which cities he built à fort, which, from his own name, he called Mahommed-abad.

Advice came to the Emperor from Delhi, that the vizier was preparing to fly to Lahore and Moultan, to kindle in those provinces the flames of rebellion. Mahommed hastened to the capital, and charged him with his treasonable intentions. The vizier absolutely denied the fact, but Jaju, a Hindoo and his own nephew, swore falsely against him. Mahommed, being either convinced of his vizier's guilt, or instigated by a jealousy of his power, condemned him to die. Jehan, who was perhaps a no small promoter of the vizier's fall, was advanced to his office. Muckurrib, who made a figure in the next reign, was, at the same time, appointed governor of Mahommed-abad.

In the year 795, Sirvadon chief of the Mahrattors, and Bireban of Bessu, appeared in arms; and Muckurrib was ordered with the troops at Mahommed-abad, against them.

The Emperor, about this time, marched to Mewat, to quell some disturbances in that place. Upon his return to Mahommed-abad, he was taken ill of a dangerous fever, which rendered him delirious for some days. When he was in this condition, news was brought, that Nahir [An adherent of Abu Bicker.] had plundered the country to the gates of Delhi. The Emperor, though far from being recovered of his illness, hastened to Mewat. Nahir, who headed the rebels, drew up his army at Kottilab, and gave Mahommed battle; but he was defeated, and fled to Jidger.

Mahommed, after this victory, returned to Mahommed-abad, and, in the month of Ribbi the second of the year 796, sent his son Humaioon to crush the Prince of the Gickers, who had rebelled, and possessed himself of Lahore. But before the Prince had left Delhi, news was brought to him of his father's decease; for the Emperor, having relapsed into his former disorder, expired on the 17th of Ribbi the second, at Mahommed-abad. He reigned about six years and seven months; and his body was deposited at Delhi, with his fathers.

Mahommed being mixed with the dead, his son Humaioon ascended the throne, by the name of Secunder, He continued or confirmed all his father's officers; but being in a few days taken with a violent disorder, he went the way of his fathers, after a reign of forty-five days.

[Section XXII. The Reign of Nasir ul Diel Mamood Shaw, the son of Mahummud Shaw.]

MAMOOD III.

WHEN Humaioon yielded to the power of his fate, violent disputes arose among the nobles about the succession. They at last fixed upon Mamood [Nasir ul dien, Mamood Shaw. ], an infant son of the Emperor Mahommed, whom they placed upon the throne, by the name of Mamood Shaw; while Jehan remained in the office of vizier, and absolute government of the state. Muckirrib, governor of Mahommed-abad, was made captain-general of the forces. Sadit was appointed lord of the audience, Saring Chan governor of Debalpoor, and Dowlat nominated to the office of chief secretary of the empire.

The apparent debility of the empire, arising from the King's minority and dissensions of the Omrahs, encouraged all the Hindoos around to kindle the flames of rebellion; particularly those of the eastern provinces. Jehan, the vizier, upon this occasion, assumed the title of King of the East, and proceeded towards Behar with a great army. He soon reduced that country to obedience, and having at the same time forced the Prince of Bengal to pay him the customary tribute, he returned, and fixed his residence at Jionpoor.

While Jehan thus established himself, in opposition to his master, in the east, Saring, governor of the provinces near the Indus, began to form an independency in the west. Having, as suba of Debalpoor, collected the troops of the province of Moultan, and the north-west division of the empire, he advanced against the Gickers, who waited for him at Adjodin, about twenty-four miles from Lahore. A battle immediately ensued, and the Gickers, being defeated, were obliged to take refuge among the mountains of Jimbo. Saring, after this victory, left his brother Adil in the government of Lahore, and returned himself to Debalpoor.

Mamood this year, having left Delhi in charge of Muckirrib the captain-general, marched towards Gualier and Biana, accompanied by Sadit and many of the chief Omrahs. When the King had arrived in the neighbourhood of Gualier, Mubarick, Eckbal the brother of Saring, and Alla, conspired against the life of Sadit. But Sadit, having timely information of the plot, slew Mubarick and Alla, while Eckbal escaped to Delhi. Though the conspiracy was thus quashed, the confusions which were the consequences of it, obliged the Emperor to return to the capital, without prosecuting the scheme of reducing those territories to obedience.

The distractions in the empire began now to multiply exceedingly. Mamood arriving in the neighbourhood of Delhi, Muckirrib, the captain-general, came out to pay his respects. But having on his way understood that Sadit had sworn vengeance against him for affording protection to Eckbal, he fled back to the city, and, shutting the gates against the Prince, prepared to make a resolute defence. The city, in short, was besieged for three months, till the King being assured that the war was commenced and continued on account of Sadit, accommodated matters with Muckirrib, and, in the month of Mohirrim 797, was admitted into Delhi.

Muckirrib, encouraged by the coming over of his Prince, marched the next day out of the city, with all his force, against Sadit; but he was beat back with great loss. The rains had now come on, and it being impossible for Sadit to keep the field, he struck his tents, and marched into Feroseabad. He immediately sent for Nuserit, the son of the Prince Fatte, the eldest son of the Emperor Ferose, from Mewat, and set him up in opposition to Mamood, by the title of Nuserit Shaw. Under the name of this Prince, Sadit began to manage the affairs of that part of the empire which adhered to Nuserit.

But a new faction breaking out in his government, disconcerted his measures. The slaves of the Emperor Ferose, disgusted with his behaviour towards them, prevailed upon the keepers of the elephants to join them. They forcibly placed Nuserit upon an elephant, advanced against Sadit, and drove him quite out of the city of Feroseabad, before he had time to prepare for his own defence. To avoid one danger, the unfortunate Sadit fell into another; for having sought protection under Muckirrib, the captain- general, he was by him put to death.

The misfortunes of the state daily increased. The Omrahs of Feroseabad, and some of the provinces, espoused the cause of Nuserit. Those of Delhi, and others, supported the title of Mamood. The whole empire fell into a state of anarcy, confusion, and distraction. A civil war was kindled in every corner; and, a thing unheard-of before, two Kings, in arms against one another, resided in one capital. Things, however, remained in this unfortunate situation for three years, with a surprising equality on both sides; for if one monarch's party had at any time a superiority over the other, it was in singularity of misfortunes. It was not a state of war, but a continued battle between the two cities: thousands were killed almost every day, and the place of the slain was constantly supplied by reinforcements from different parts of the empire. Some of the subas of the provinces took no part in this civil war. They hoped to see the empire so weakened by public calamities, that they themselves might become independent; and, to lay a foundation for their future power, they withheld the customary revenues.

In the year 798, Saring, the brother of the famous Eckbal, the governor of Debalpoor, having some differences with Chizer, governor of Moultan, made war upon him. After several engagements with various success, victory declared for Saring. He immediately seized Moultan, became very powerful, and, in the year following, advanced with a great army to Samana, which he reduced to his obedience. Nuserit dispatched Tatar, suba of Panniput, and Almass, with an army against him. They engaged Saring on the first of Mohirrim, in the year 799, gave him a signal overthrow, and obliged him to fly to Moultan.

Saring received, in that city, in ligence that the Prince Mahommed Jehangire, the grandson of Timur [Tamerlane.], had built a bridge over the Indus, and that, having crossed that river, he invested Outch. Saring immediately dispatched his deputy, with other Omrahs, and the best part of his army, to reinforce Ali, the deputy of the governor of Outch. Mahommed, hearing of this army, advanced to the Bea, fell upon them by surprise just as they had crossed that river, defeated, and drove them back into the stream; so that more were drowned than fell by the sword. A few of the discomfited army made the best of their way to Moultan.

Mahommed kept close at the heels of the runaways, and obliged Saring to shut himself up in Moultan. After a siege of six months he was obliged, for want of provisions, to surrender at discretion; and being imprisoned, with all his army, Mahommed took possession of the city. Saring, in a few days, found means to escape: but the country remained in subjection to the Moguls.

But to return to the transactions at Delhi. Eckball, being disgusted with the Emperor Mamood, deserted him. He sent a message to Nuserit, to desire leave to join him with his party. This offer was very readily accepted; they met, went to the palace of Seri, and, upon the Koran, swore mutual friendship, at the tomb of Chaja Kaki. During these transactions, Mamoodi, with Muckirrib the captain-general of his forces, remained in the old city.

The perfidious Eckbal, about three days after his desertion, quarrelled with Nuserit, and not regarding his oath, began to form a conspiracy against him. Nuserit, being informed of the piot, found himself constrained to quit the palace of Seri. The traitor fell upon him in his retreat, and took all his elephants, treasure, and baggage. The unfortunate Prince, being in no condition to keep the field, fled to his vizier at Panniput.

Eckbal took immediately possession of Feroseabad. His power daily increased, and he now employed it to expel the Emperor Mamood and Muckirrib from the old city. At length, by the mediation of some nobles, peace was concluded between the parties. But Eckbal, peculiarly perfidious, broke through all the sacred ties of the treaty; and setting upon Muckirrib in his own house by surprise, slew him. He immediately seized Mamood, and left him nothing but his life and the name of Emperor.

Eckbal, in the same year, marched from Delhi with Mamood, against Nuserit and Tatar at Panniput. Tatar, leaving his elephants and baggage in the fort, passed, by forced marches, the army of Eckbal, arrived before Delhi, and invested it. Eckbal, trusting to the strength he left in Delhi, advanced and attacked Panniput, and took it the third day, by escalade. He then hastened back to Delhi, and Tatar having failed in his attempt upon that place, fled to his father in Guzerat. Eckbal entering the city, began to regulate the government, which had fallen into the utmost confusion. In the mean time, to complete the miseries of the unhappy city and empire, news arrived, that Timur had crossed the Indus, with an intention to conquer Hindostan.

From the year 790 to the present year, Timur extended his conquest over all the western Asia, reduced the northern Tartary, and spread his ravages into Russia, as far as the Arctic Circle.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.