 Section 6 of the Travels of Ibn Battuta. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Rita Butros. The Travels of Ibn Battuta by Ibn Battuta. Translation by Samuel Lee. Chapter 14. The River Sindh. Multan. Jarai. El-Samira. A Hindu sect. Sevastin. Natural Productions. Description of Couriers. Lahari. Bakar. Uja. The bow. A measure of strength. Abuhar. Natural Productions of Hindustan. Passes a desert infested by Hindu robbers. Ajudehan. The custom of burning widows. Drowning in the Ganges. Sarsati. Masood Abad. Delhi. Description of. The river, just mentioned, is the Sindhi. It is the greatest river in the world and overflows during the hot weather, just as the Nile does. And at this time, they sow the lands. Here also commenced the territories of the Emperor of Sindhya and India, who was, at this time, Muhammad Shah. From this place also is the description of persons arriving, sent in writing to the Emir of Sindhya to Multan. Their Emir, at this time, was one of the Mamluks of the Sultan Muhammad Sartes Shah, i.e. Sharped, by name, who reviews the armies of the Emperor. I next proceeded to the city of Jannay, in which is a people called El-Samira. They never eat with strangers, nor are seen eating by them, nor do they contract affinities, or suffer anyone to contract affinities with them. It was here I met the Sheikh El-Sali El-Abed, the religious Boha-Odin El-Korashi, c. 7, one of the three of whom the Sheikh El-Wali Boha-Odin El-Ahraj said in Alexandria that I should meet them in my travels, and I certainly did meet them, may God be praised. I then proceeded to the city of Sivastan, which is large, without it is a desert, and in this is there no tree except the Egyptian Thorn. Nor do they sow anything on the banks of its river except the melon. They generally live upon a sort of millet, peas, fish, and milk of the buffalo, for the buffalo is here in great abundance. The place is exceedingly hot, from Multan, the capital of Sindia, is at a distance of ten days, but from Multan to Delhi, the residence of the Emperor of Hindustan is a distance of fifty, which, however, will be traversed by the courier with his dispatches in five. There are in Hindustan two kinds of couriers, horse and foot. These they generally term el-woleik. The horse courier, which is part of the Sultan's cavalry, is stationed at the distance of every four miles. As to the foot couriers, there will be one at the distance of every mile, occupying three consecutive stations, which they term el-dava, and making in the whole three miles, so that there is at the distance of every three miles, an inhabited village, and without this, three sentry boxes in which the couriers sit, prepared for motion with their loins guarded. In the hand of each is a whip, about two cubits long, and upon the head of this are small bells. Whenever, therefore, one of the couriers leaves any city, he takes his dispatches in the one hand, and the whip which he constantly keeps shaking in the other. In this manner he proceeds to the nearest foot courier, and as he approaches he shakes his whip. Upon this out comes another, who takes the dispatches, and so proceeds to the next. For this reason it is, that the Sultan receives his dispatches in so short of time. In Sivastan I met the aged Sheikh Mohammed of Baghdad, who told me, that his age was then one hundred and forty years, and that he was present when the Khalif el-Mostasem was killed by the Tatars in the environs of Baghdad. I then proceeded by the Sindh to the city of Lehari, which is situated upon the shores of the Indian Sea, where the Sindh joins it. It has a large harbor into which ships from Persia, Yemen, and other places put. At the distance of a few miles from this city are the ruins of another, in which stones in the shape of men and beasts, almost innumerable, are to be found. The people of this place think, that it is the opinion of their historians, that there was a city formally in this place, the greater part of the inhabitants of which were so base, that God transformed them, their beasts, their herbs, even to the very seeds, into stones. And indeed stones in the shape of seeds are almost innumerable. I next proceeded to Bekar, which is a handsome city, divided by an arm of the river Sindh. Here I met the religious and pious sheikh Shams-Odin Muhammad of Shiraz. This was one of the men remarkable for age. He told me that he was something more than 120 years old. I then proceeded on to the city of Ujah, which is a large city situated on the Sindh. The governing emir, at the time of my arrival, was el-Malik el-Fazil el-Sharif Jal-Odin el-Kabji, a very brave and generous prince. Between myself and him a friendship arose and was confirmed. After this we met in Delhi. I next traveled on to Multan, which is the principal city of Sindhia, before the emir of which the sultan's soldiers are obliged to appear. This emir had always before him a number of bows of various sizes, and when anyone who wished to enlist as a bowman presented himself, the emir threw one of these bows to him, which he drew with all his might. Then, as his strength proved to be, so was his situation appointed. But when anyone wished to enlist as a horseman, a drum was fixed, and the man ran with his horse at full speed and struck the drum with his spear. Then, according to the effect of the stroke, was his place determined. There were many persons, emirs, nobles, and learned men, who came to this place before us and with us, all intending to be presented to the emperor. After a few days, therefore, one of the chamberlands of the sultan arrived here in order to conduct these persons to the presence. We then hasted on to Delhi, between which and Multan there was a distance of 40 days, throughout which, however, are many contiguous houses, and at these we were honored by being invited every morning and evening to feast, prepared by those who came out to meet, such as were proceeding to be presented to the emperor. The first city we entered, belonging to Hindustan, was Abuhar, which is the first Indian city in this direction. It is small and closely built, and abounds with water and plantations. There are not in Hindustan any of the trees peculiar to our country if we accept the Loat Tree, which, however, is larger in the trunk than it is with us. And its seeds are like those of a great gall-apple, exceedingly sweet. They have likewise large trees not known among us. Of their fruit trees the grape is one, which resembles the orange tree, except that its stem is larger, and its leaves more numerous. Its shade, too, is extensive and very dense, and is apt to effect with fever those who sleep under it. The fruit is about the size of a large damask prune, which, when green and not quite ripe they take, of those which happen to fall with salt and thus preserve them, just as the lemon is preserved with us. In the same manner they preserve the ginger while green, as also the pods of pepper, and this they eat with their meals. When the grape is ripe, which is in the autumn, its seeds become yellow, and this they eat like the apple. It is sweet, but during mastication acquires some acidity. It has rather a large stone, which they sow like the orange seed, and from this a tree grows up. Of their fruits are those termed the Shaki and Barki, the trees of which are high, and their leaves are like the jaws, or Indian nut. The fruit grows out from the bottom of the tree, and that which grows nearest to the earth is called the Barki. It is extremely sweet and well-flavored in taste. What grows above this is the Shaki. Its fruit resembles that of the great gourd. It's rind the skin of an ox. Leather. When it grows yellow in the autumn, gather and divide it, and in the inside of each is from 1 to 200 seeds. Its seed resembles that of a cucumber, and has a stone, something like a large bean. When the stone is roasted, it tastes like a dried bean. These, i.e. the Shaki and Barki, are the best fruits found in Hindustan. They have another sort of fruit, which they call el-tand. This is the fruit of the piperkula. Its seed is the size of that of an Armenian peach, to which its color may also be compared. It is exceedingly sweet. They also have the jamun, which is a high tree. The fruit resembles that of the olive, and is black, as does likewise its stone. They have also the sweet orange in great abundance, but the acid orange is more esteemed. They also have one between the sweet and sour, which is exceedingly good. They have, too, the fruit called the mahwa. The tree is tall, and the leaves are like those of the jaws, except that there is a mixture of yellow and red in them. The fruit resembles the small prune, and is very sweet. Upon the head of each of its berries is a small seed, not unlike the grape, both in shape and taste, but they who eat it generally experience the headache. When dried in the sun, its taste is like that of the fig. This berry they call el angur. The grape, however, is seldom found in Hindustan, and then only in Delhi and a few other places. It produces fruit twice in the year. The fig is not found in Hindustan. They also have a fruit which they call kosaf, which is round and very sweet. About the tree they dig and heap the earth, just as they do about the chestnut. They also have in India fruit common with us, which is the pomegranate, and which bears fruit twice in the year. The grain which they sow for subsistence is sown twice in the year, and that which is for the autumn, about mid-summer when the rains fall, which they reap in 60 days from the time of sowing it. Of this grain, one is termed the kadru, which is a sort of millet. This is the most plentiful grain in use among them. And of it are the kal and the shamakh, the latter of which is smaller than a bean. The shamakh, however, often grows without culture and is the food of the religious, the abstemious, the fakirs, and the poor generally, who go out and gather what thus grows spontaneously and live upon it the year round. When this is beaten in a wooden mortar, the rind falls off, and then the kernel, which is white, comes out. This they boil in the milk of the buffalo and make it into a stew, which is much better than when baked. Of their grain, one is the mash, which is a sort of pea, and of this the munjam is a species. The seed is oblong, and of a clear green color, this they cook with rice and then eat it with oil. It is called el-kashira and taken daily for breakfast. Another species of this is the lubia and another the munrut, which resembles the kudru, except that its seed is smaller and is used for fodder for cattle. It is pulse. They also feed the beasts with the leaves of the mash instead of green corn. All these are their autumnal grains, and when they cut these they sow the spring grain, which consists of wheat, barley, lentils, and pulse on the ground from which the autumnal grain had been gathered. The soil of the country is exceedingly good. As to the rice, they sow it three times during the year on the same ground. It is much in use among them. The sesame and sugarcane they cultivate along with the autumnal grain. Ayat length left the town of Abyuhar and proceeded for one day through a desert enclosed on both sides by mountains, upon which were infidel and rebel Hindus. The inhabitants of India are in general infidels. Some of them live under the protection of the Mohammedans and reside either in the villages or cities. Others, however, infest the mountains and rob by the highways. I happened to be of a party of two and twenty men when a number of these Hindus consisting of two horsemen and eighty foot made an attack upon us. We, however, engage them by God's help put them to flight having killed one horseman and twelve of the foot. After this, we arrived at a fortress and proceeding on from it came at length to the city of Ajudhan which is small. Here I met the holy sheikh Farid Odin al-Bad-Hawandi of whom the sheikh Al-Wali-Burhan Odin al-Araj had spoken to me in the port of Alexandria telling me that I should meet him. I therefore did meet him and presented him with the sheikh's salutation which surprised him. He said I am unworthy of this. The sheikh was very much broken by the temptations of the devil. He allowed no one to touch his hand or to approach him and whenever the clothes of anyone happened to touch his he washed them immediately. His patronimic is referred to Bad-Hawand a town of El-Sambal. In this part I also saw those women who burn themselves when their husbands die. The woman adorns herself and is accompanied by a cavalcade of the infidel Hindus and Brahmins with drums, trumpets and men following her both Muslims and infidels for mere past time. The fire had already been kindled and into it they threw the dead husband. The wife then threw herself upon him and both were entirely burnt. A woman's burning herself however with her husband is not considered as absolutely necessary among them but it is encouraged and when a woman burns herself with her husband her family is considered as being ennobled and supposed to be worthy of trust. But when she does not burn herself she is ever after clothed coarsely and remains in constraint among her relations on account of her want of fidelity to her husband. The woman who burns herself with her husband is generally surrounded by women who bid her farewell and commissioned her with salutations for their former friends while she laughs, plays or dances to the very time in which she is to be burnt. Some of the Hindus moreover drown themselves in the river Ganges to which they perform pilgrimages and into which they pour the ashes of those who have been burnt. When anyone intends to drown himself opens his mind on the subject to one of his companions and says you are not to suppose that I do this for the sake of anything worldly my only motive is to draw near to Kasai which is a name of God with them and when he is drowned they draw him out of the water burn the body and pour the ashes into the Ganges. After four days journey I arrived at the city of Sarsati it is large and abounds with rice which they carry hence to Delhi and after this at Hansi which is a very beautiful and closely built city with extensive fortifications I next came to Masoodabad after two days traveling and remained there three days the Emperor Muhammad whom it was our object to see had at this time left his residence in Delhi and gone to Kinoji which is at the distance of ten days from that place. He sent his vizier however Ahmed ibn Ayas a native of Rum with the number of kings doctors and grandees to receive the travelers and Amir is with them termed king the vizier then so arranged the procession that each one had a place according to his rank we then proceeded on from Masoodabad till we came to Delhi the capital of the empire it is a most magnificent city combining at once both beauty and strength both are such as to have no equal in the whole world this is the greatest city of Hindustan and indeed of all Islamism in the east it now consists of four cities which becoming continuous have formed one this city was conquered in the year of the Hajira 584 AD 1188 the thickness of its walls is 11 cubits they keep grain in this city for a very long time without its undergoing any change whatever I myself saw rice brought out of the treasury which was quite black but nevertheless had lost none of the goodness of its taste the same was the case with the kadru which had been in the treasury for 90 years flowers too are in continual blossom in this place its mosque is very large and in the beauty and extent of its building it has no equal before the taking of Delhi it had been a Hindu temple which the Hindus called but after that event it was used as a mosque in its courtyard is a cell to which there is no equal in the cities of the Mohammedans its height is such that men appear from the top of it like little children in its court too there is an immense pillar which they say is composed of stones seven different quarries its length is 30 cubits its circumference eight which is truly miraculous without the city is a reservoir for the rainwater and out of this the inhabitants have their water for drinking it is two miles in length and one in width about it are pleasure gardens to which the people resort the nobles of the city Chapter 15 Conquest of Delhi the project of the history of Hindustan from this time to that in which Ibn Batyuta visited this place the city of Delhi was conquered by the emir Qatbi Odan Aibak one of the Mamluks of the Sultan Shahab Oden Mohammed Ibn Samal Gori King of Gizna and Khorasan who had overcome Ibrahim Ibn Mahmood Ibn Sabuk Tajin the beginner of the conquest of India this emir Qatbi Oden resided here as governor on the part of Shabab Oden but when Qatbi Oden died his son Shams Oden Lahmish became governor after this Shams Oden became possessed of the kingdom here having been appointed there too by the general consent of the people and he governed India for 20 years he was a just learned and religious prince after his death his son Rakan Oden took possession of the throne but polluted his reign by killing his brothers and was therefore killed himself upon this the army agreed to place his sister El Malika Razia upon the throne who reigned four years this woman usually wrote about among the army just as men do she however gave up the government on account of some circumstances that presented themselves after this her younger brother Nasir Oden became possessed of the government which he held for 20 years this was a very religious prince and so much so that he lived entirely on what he got by writing out and selling copies of the Quran he was succeeded by his Nawab Giyath Oden Ahmed one of his father's Mamluks who murdered him this man's name was originally Balaban his character had been just discriminating and mild he filled the office of Nawab of India under Nasir Oden for 20 years he also reigned 20 years one of his pious acts was his building a house which was called the house of safety for whenever any debtor entered this his debt was adjudged and in like manner every oppressed person found justice every manslayer deliverance from his adversary and every person in fear protection when he died he was buried in this house and there I myself visited his grave the history of his beginnings is surprising which is this when a child he lived in Bokhara in the possession of one of the inhabitants and was a little despicable ill looking wretch upon a time a certain fakir saw him there and said you little Turk which is considered by them as a very reproachful term the reply was I am here good sir this surprised the fakir who said to him go and bring me one of those pomegranates pointing to some which had been exposed for sale in the street the urchin replied yes sir and immediately taking out all the money he had went and bought the pomegranate when the fakir received it he said to Balaban we give you the kingdom of India upon which the boy kissed his own hand and said I have accepted of it and am quite satisfied it happened about this time that the Sultan Shams Odin sent a merchant to purchase slaves from Bokhara and Samarkand he accordingly bought a hundred and Balaban was among them when these mamluks were brought before the Sultan they all pleased him except Balaban and him he rejected on account of his despicable appearance upon this Balaban said to the Emperor Lord of the world why have you bought all these slaves the Emperor smiled and said for my own sake no doubt the slave replied by me then for God's sake I will said he he then accepted of him and placed him among the rest but on account of the badness of his appearance gave him a situation among the cup-bearers some of the astrologers who were about the king were daily in the habit of saying to him one of the mamluks will one day overcome thy son and take the kingdom from him to this the Emperor on account of the justice and excellency of his own character paid no regard till they also told it to the Queen Mother who soon made an impression on his mind respecting it and summoned the astrologers before him and said pray can you tell which of the mamluks it is who is to take the kingdom from my son if you see him they said we have a mark whereby we can distinguish him the Emperor then ordered all the mamluks to be present who came accordingly station after station as commanded upon these the astrologers fixed their eyes but did not discover the person looked for until the day began to draw towards the close at this time the cup-bearers said one to another we are getting rather hungry let us join and send someone into the street to buy us something to eat they did so and Balaban as the most despicable was sent to make the purchase Balaban accordingly salied forth but could find nothing in that street which would suit him he then went on into another during which time the turn of the cup-bearers came on to be presented but as Balaban was not forthcoming they took a little pitch and whatever else was necessary for their purpose and dobbing it over a child took him with them in the place of Balaban and when his name was called over this child was presented and the business of the day was closed without the astrologers finding their mark upon anyone which was a providential circumstance for Balaban at last Balaban made his appearance but not till the business of the day was over the cleverness of Balaban was afterwards noticed and he was made head of the cup-bearers after this he was placed in the army and soon became a general officer after this the Sultan Jalal Odin married his daughter which was before he had been made king but when he was he appointed Balaban to the office of Nawab or Viceroy which he filled for 20 years he then killed his master and seized the empire this Balaban had two sons one of these namely Al Khan Al Shahid he appointed as his own successor and governor on his part in the provinces of Sindia he resided at Multan he was killed however in an affair with the Tartars leaving two sons Balaban's second son named Nasir Odan was appointed to govern the districts of Lucknuti and Bengal when however the heir apparent Al Khan Al Shahid had been killed Balaban appointed Al Khan Al Shahid's son Kekhasru his successor passing over his own son Nasir Odan Nasir Odan however had a son named Moiz Odan residing at the court of his grandfather at Delhi the person who eventually became successor to Balaban this at length came to pass on account of Giyath Odan Balaban's dying in the night when his own son Nasir Odan was out of the way in the district of Lucknuti on this occasion he appointed Kekhasru his grandson the son of Al Khan Al Shahid as already mentioned the king however or chief of the emirs and Nawab to the Sultan Balaban happened to have conceived a strong enmity against Kekhasru on this account he had recourse to a stratagem which gained him his end it was this he forged a letter in the name of the emirs stating that they had declared Moiz Odan son of Nasir Odan king with this he goes to Kekhasru by night as if wishing to advise with him and says the emirs have proclaimed thy uncle's son and I very much fear for thy safety the reply was what am I to do he said save thyself by escaping to the districts of Sindhya but replied he how am I to get through the gates of the city which are already barred the keys answered the emir are here in my possession I will open the gates for you the young man thanked him for this and then kissed his hand the emir said mount immediately he accordingly did with his nobles and slaves and the emir opened the gates let them out and immediately close them again he next went to Moiz Odan son of Nasir Odan and asked permission to enter which being granted he proclaimed him emperor but how is this replied Moiz Odan since Kekhasru my uncle's son was appointed successor the emir told him of his stratagem and how he had got rid of Kekhasru Moiz Odan thanked him for this and then took him to the palace where sending for the rest of the emirs and nobles they invested him with the supreme authority during the night in the morning this was confirmed by the people generally and Moiz Odan took possession of the throne his father however was living at this time in the provinces of Benga and Lucknuti and when the news of his sons being made emperor reached him he said I am heir to the crown how then can my son exercise this authority during my lifetime he accordingly set out with his army for Delhi in order to make war upon his son Moiz Odan Moiz Odan too marched out with his troops to give battle to his father they both arrived at the same time at the city of Karah which is situated on the banks of the Ganges took their stations on opposite sides of the river and prepared for the onset it was the will of divine providence however to spare the blood of the faithful and hence the heart of the father Nasir Odan began to relent towards his son for he said to himself surely as long as my son is king I shall partake of his glory Moiz Odan too felt in his mind that something of submission was due to his father each of them therefore as if by instinct left his army and rode directly into the middle of the river and met there here the emperor kissed the feet of his father and asked his forgiveness his father replied I give you my kingdom and so invested him with the authority of emperor he then wished to retire to his districts but his son said nay you must come with me to mine he accordingly accompanied him to Delhi and entering the palace seated his son upon the throne and took his own station before him this day is therefore called the day of meeting because they had this happy rencontre in the middle of the river no blood being shed and the kingdom mutually given and accepted after this Nasir Odan returned to his districts where after two years he died leaving a family behind him the kingdom was thus confirmed to Moiz Odan which continued for four years during which the inhabitants may be said to have enjoyed a continual holiday after this he was affected by a complaint by which one of his sides became quite withered and for which the physicians could find no remedy at this time his Nawab Jalal Oden Feroz Shah Al-Kilaji revolted taking his station upon a high mount without the city Moiz Odan sent his emirs for the purpose of giving him battle but they all one after another joined him and proclaimed him emperor Jalal Odan then entered the city and in closing Moiz Odan within his palace for three days overcame him put him to death and took possession of his kingdom this Jalal Odan was a mild and well informed prince he governed India for two years he had a son and a daughter the daughter he married to his brother's son Allah Odan a daring bold and powerful man his wife however so much harassed him that he was obliged to complain to her father in order to have an end put to their disputes the uncle had given him the government of Karah and Manikpur containing two of the most populous districts in India Allah Odan however had an eye to the kingdom the only difficulty he had to contend with was his want of money for he had none except what he got by his sword in making new conquests upon one of these expeditions his horse happened to stumble against a stone as he went along and from this a kind of ringing noise proceeded he immediately ordered his men to dig and here they found an immense quantity of wealth this he divided among his followers and hence acquired considerable power it happened that his uncle undertook an expedition against him and summoned him before him but he refused to appear the uncle then prepared to go to him for he said this young man is as my son I will therefore go to him the nephew accordingly met him which happened upon the banks of the Ganges in the very place where Moiz Odan and Nasir Odan had formally met and like them each rode into the middle of the river Allah Odan however had commanded his followers that at the time he should embrace his uncle Jalal Odan they were to kill him when therefore the parties met and the nephew was in the act of embracing the uncle the followers of the nephew killed him which put Allah Odan in possession of his uncle's army and all proclaimed him emperor after this he governed Hindustan for 20 years he was just and looked to the affairs of his subjects in person now he also had a nephew named Soleiman Shah and as he was one day engaged in the chase this nephew conceived the intention of destroying him just as he had of destroying his own uncle he shot him accordingly with an arrow in an unguarded moment and the uncle fell from his horse the nephew was about to make up to him when he was told by his slave that he need not do so as he was quite dead he left him therefore and returned to the palace and took possession of the government a little while after Allah Odan recovering from his stupor got up and mounted a horse which the army perceiving joined him he then entered the city and besieged his nephew Soleiman Shah in the palace who feeling his weakness he took himself to flight but was taken and put to death by his uncle Allah Odan after this he never rode a hunting to divine service or to the celebration of any public holiday he had five sons the younger of whom were Shahab Odan and Qatbi Odan the eldest he had during his lifetime ordered to be kept in prison when taken with his last sickness the anger of the young man on account of his imprisonment not having abated and when the disease was making rapid advances he sent for this son in order to name him as his successor but he delaying to come in consequence of this irritation the Mamluks the head of whom hated this son together with the principal Nuhab placed the younger son Shahab Odan upon the throne as soon as the emperor was dead and the appointment was confirmed by the people the three elder children however were ordered to be imprisoned and their eyes to be put out and thus was the government established upon this the queen sent for two of the most powerful of her husband's Mamluks the name of one of whom was Bashir that of the other Mubashir and with tears complained of the conduct of the principal Nuhab towards her children soliciting their assistance and stimulating them to put the chief Nuhab to death and affirming that it was his intention to murder her younger son Qatbi Odan they accordingly agreed to kill him which they did by stratagem while he was in his house they then brought forth Qatbi Odan to his brother Shahab Odan who held the reins of government Qatbi Odan remained for some time in the situation of his Nuhab but at length deposed his brother and took possession of the kingdom which he held for some time after this he took a journey to Dawlat Abad between which Andeli is a distance of 40 days the road is from first to last enclosed with willow and other trees so that a traveller seems to be in a garden throughout all this distance besides there are at the distance of every three miles the stations of the foot couriers at which there are also inhabitants as already mentioned from this place to El Talangana and El Mabar is a distance of six months in all these stations there is a lodging for the emperor with cells for his suite and for travellers generally there is no necessity therefore for a poor man carrying any provisions with him on this road when therefore the Sultan Qatbi Odan was on this journey and had with him Qazir Khan the son of his elder brother who was in prison some of the Anirs formed a conspiracy by which it was their intention to depose the emperor and to proclaim this son of his elder brother but the emperor discovering this instantly put his nephew and his nephew's father to death as well as his other brothers who were then confined in the fortress of Kaliur this fortress is situated on the top of a high hill and seems as if it had been cut out of the rock opposite to it is no other mount within it are reservoirs filled with rainwater and about it are numerous walls on which war-like engines are planted this is their strongest fortress beneath it is a small town when however Qatbi Odan had killed his brothers and so purified his kingdom that no one seemed left to contend with him divine providence gave the supreme power to one of his most powerful and choice friends namely Nasir Odan Qasir Khan who killed him and took possession of the empire but this he held only for a short time the reason was that when he had taken possession of the throne he sent dresses of honor to the governors of the several provinces which they all put on as a mark of obedience if we accept Toglik Shah, father of the present emperor of Hindustan Muhammad Shah this person was then governor of Debalbur and would neither put on the dress nor tender his obedience the consequence was an army was sent against him which he put to flight the emperor then sent his brother against him him also he routed and put to death and so far did matters proceed that Toglik also slew Nasir Odan Qasir Khan and seized his empire this Nasir Odan had originated some great abominations during his reign of which the forbidding oxen to be slaughtered is won and which is one of the regulations of the infidel Hindus for among them no one is allowed to slaughter an ox and in case he should do so he is ordered to be stitched up in its skin and be burnt the reason is they so much esteem the ox that they drink its urine both to promote prosperity and to recover health they also dob their walls with the dung of these animals hence it was that Nasir Odan became so hateful to the Mohammedans that they stimulated Toglik Giyath Odan to put him to death and to take possession of the kingdom this Toglik was originally descended from the Turks who inhabit the mountains in the district of Sindia he was very poor but be taking himself to the cities of these parts he got employment in feeding cattle after this he became a foot soldier and then a horse soldier in the next place as his abilities appeared he was made a commanding officer after this the emperor Kotbi Odan appointed him governor of Debalber and his son who is now emperor keeper of the horse Toglik was brave warlike honorable and just and as his son was stationed at Delhi as keeper of the horse when the father had determined to rebel he corresponded with this son who cajoled the emperor of Kasrukan sometimes for example appearing at his post without the city and then returning to his father after some days however he was missing till after sunset which giving some suspicion to Nasir Odan he sent for him but could not find him on this occasion he had escaped and taken all the best of the emperor's horses to his father Chapter 15 The emir of Multan, Kasrukan joined Toglik in his rebellion in order to avenge Kotbi Odan, son of Nasir Odan their common master when however the two conspirators entered Delhi and Nasir Odan had be taken himself to flight with only a few Hindu fakirs Toglik said to Kasrukan you shall be emperor but he refused and Toglik took possession of the government after this Nasir Odan was taken and put to death and the kingdom was purged and remained so for four years after this the emperor sent his son who is now emperor to reduce the provinces of Talinga which are at the distance of three months from Delhi but when he had arrived at a certain part of the way one of the courtiers thought proper to rebel and to possess himself if possible of the kingdom for this purpose he circulated a report that the emperor was dead supposing that the emirs would now immediately proclaim him king when they heard this however every one of them struck his drum and betook himself to his own part i.e. to rebellion so that the prince was left with his particular friends alone the emirs moreover intended to kill him but from this they were diverted by one of the great men of their body whose name was Timur the prince then fled to his father with ten of his friends whom he styled Yeran i.e. friends in the Purzik but when he came to him was immediately sent back on his journey with a large army upon this the emirs who had intended to put him to death fled but some of them were taken and put to death thus the matter terminated and he returned to his father the father himself then undertook an expedition against the province of Laknuti in which resided at that time the Sultan Shams Oden son of Ghiyath Oden Balaban to whom had fled the emirs of Toglik as just mentioned about this time however Shams Oden died having first bound his son Shahab Oden by contract who accordingly took possession of the throne his younger brother however Ghiyath Oden Bahadur Bora overcame him and seized upon the kingdom he then killed all the rest of his brothers except Shahab Oden who had been bound to mount the throne and Nasir Oden for they fled to Toglik imploring assistance he allowed them therefore to march with his army in order to give battle to Ghiyath Oden Balak had also appointed his son Mohammed to the office of Nuwab in Delhi during his own absence on this expedition he proceeded therefore and gained possession of the province of Laknuti having put Ghiyath Oden to the route after which however he took him prisoner and carried him to Delhi when he had got near to Delhi he sent to his son Mohammed requesting him to build him a kushka that is a palace which he did constructed one well made of wood in the space of three days but Mohammed the son made an agreement with the geometrician who planned it that the steps leading to it should be made sufficiently broad to allow the elephants to ascend them in order to their being presented to the emperor Toglik a place also was so constructed that when the foot of the elephant should come in contact with it the whole palace should fall down upon all who may happen to be in it when therefore the emperor arrived at his palace he had it carpeted and furnished and took up his residence within it now the emperor had a second son who was a great favorite with him in consequence of this the elder brother Mohammed very much feared lest he should be appointed successor to the throne when therefore the different orders as well as those who had come to welcome the sultan had concluded the banquet the elephants were presented before him but when the elephants foot came in contact with the place appointed down came the palace upon the head of the sultan Toglik his favorite son and the courtiers who were assembled before him and all perished Mohammed the present emperor accordingly took possession of the throne having been proclaimed by the emirs and people and thus was the kingdom purged of his enemies appendix an abstract of the history of the fortress of Gwalior from the Gwalior Nama of Heraman Ibn Khardar Das de Munchi as this fortress is one of the greatest curiosities in Hindustan I may perhaps be excused in giving some extracts from a book entitled the Gwalior Nama respecting its history and governors the hill it is said was originally called Kuma Tat and that its neighborhood abounded in wild beasts upon the hill a devotee named Gwalipa made his residence just 32 years before the reign of Bikra Majid sometime after this a Zemindar named Suraj Sin happening to come to this place while engaged in the chase applied to the devotee for water to drink which was granted upon this and some other occasions the powers of these waters turned out to be so wonderfully beneficial that the Zemindar requested to be permitted to enlarge the well and to build a fortress on the hill which was also granted the Darvesh after blessing the Zemindar and giving him a casket which had the supernatural property of supplying him with gold gave him the name of Suraj Pal adding that as long as his descendants retained the name of Pal so long would they hold this fortress and succeed in reducing their neighbors to their obedience the consequence of which was this Zemindar Zemindar and his posterity became the proprietors of all the neighboring country and after him the well Suraj Kund received its name after this king 84 of his posterity reigned in the fortress of Gwalior the fourth of whom Bim Pal built the pagoda called Bim Absar the seventh Bush Pal built the pagoda called Chatar Bush Ray at the top of the fortress the eighth Padampal built the pagoda of Lakshmi Narayan the ninth Anang Pal, skilled as it should seem in the chemical art struck golden Ashrafs of five tola in weight nothing remarkable is recorded of the rest until we come to the last who received the name of Yatash Karan and who conformable with the prophecy of the Hindu sage lost the government of the fort together with that of the adjacent countries the account of this event is shortly this a neighboring Raja named Ran Mal had no son and only one daughter this prince therefore of the Pal family offered himself as her suitor and was accepted before he could return to Gwalior he was adopted son and successor to the Raja Ran Mal and as this Raja's dominions were greater than his own he was easily persuaded by his viceroy Ram Dayo whom he had left at Gwalior to make over the government of the country and fortress to him seven of Ram Dayo's successors held the fortress accordingly until the time of the Sultan Shams Odan who was originally a slave of Turkish extraction belonging to the Sultan Kotbi Odan Epak this king when returning from an expedition to the Dekan saw for the first time this singularly strong fortress and upon finding that none of its governors had paid tribute to the emperors of Delhi swore upon the Koran that he would subdue it which he soon after accomplished upon this occasion which happened AH 630 AD 1232 a mosque was erected in the fort and prayers offered up in the name of the Sultan sometime after the Sultan surveying the place found that it contained only two wells of water and that the part at which he had entered was rather weak he ordered a wall therefore to be built joining it to the hill and in the area he made eight wells and nine badries all of which are still in being one of these wells is very famous for its waters which are carried to a great distance and are found very useful to invalids after the Sultan had made all his arrangements he returned to Delhi leaving the fortress in the hands of one Bahadur Khan from this time to that of the Sultan Allah Odan no officer had been sent from Delhi to Gwalior sometime after his session however it was given to two Rajputs of the Purgana of Dandaruli as a reward for faithful service these men however being much envied by their neighbors the Rajputs of Tunur were at length invited to a feast at a little distance from the fortress and killed by treachery the fortress then fell into their hands and eight persons of that tribe held it in succession several wells, pagodas and bowers were made by this race the last of whom was Bikramajit the fortress then reverted to the Muslims from this time to the reign of Ibrahim grandson of the Sultan Balul Ludi the fortress was held by Bikramajit upon paying tribute to the kings of Delhi Ibrahim however forced the power not without considerable loss out of the hands of Bikramajit who being sent to the presence a prisoner received the Jagir of Shamsabad the government of the fortress then fell into the hands of Azam Humayun Ibrahim's general sometime after this Ibrahim suspecting the fidelity of his nobles and thinking it particularly dangerous to retain Azam Humayun who had a large and powerful circle of friends had him suddenly put to death upon which Salim Khan son of the murdered general rebelled and betook himself to the east of Hindustan but was taken and put to death by Daria Khan who had been appointed governor of the province of Bahar soon after the Ludi family fled to the Punjab and presented themselves and their services to Zahir Odan Muhammad Baber in Kabul here they represented the perturbed state of Hindustan and formed a treaty with him which ended in its final subjugation for soon after a battle took place in which Ibrahim was slain with Bikramajit fighting at his side Kaja Rahim Dad one of Baber's servants was now appointed to the government of Gwalior but in a little time got out of favor when a Rajput named Dahar Mankad Azamindar of that quarter became governor of the fortress upon this occasion Sheikh Mohammed Ghoth a man of considerable influence represented to the king the great impropriety of an infidels holding this fortress under a sovereign who professed the true faith and Kaja Rahim Dad was restored to the government which he held but a short time and was succeeded by Abul Fath who held it till the death of Baber when Mohammed Humayun succeeded to the throne he took up his residence for some time in the fortress of Gwalior and at that time built the Humayun Temple a place commanding an extensive prospect and enjoying the most wholesome air he then returned to his capital when Sher Shah came to the throne he took up his residence for some time at Gwalior and then built the Sher Temple and also constructed a large tank in its area after the death of Sher Shah which happened at this place his son Jalal Khan succeeded to the throne and took the name of Islam Shah he also took up his residence in this fortress and in it he died during the next reign which was short and troublesome the possession of the fort of Gwalior remained in the hands of Barbal a slave of Sher Shah who held it until Akbar came to the throne the Rajputs however the virus of regaining their ancient ascendancy in these parts with Ramsar a son of Bikramajit assembled a large force and attacked the fortress upon this occasion Kaya Khan one of Akbar's generals was dispatched to relieve and take possession of it when Kaya arrived at Gwalior he was met by the forces of Ramsar and an obstinate battle of three days continuance and sued which ended in favor of Akbar's troops after this Barbal remained to be subdued and the fort to be taken which after a short siege was completed the servants of Akbar held the fortress after this for fifty years when Jahanjir came to the throne the government of Gwalior was put into the hands of his servants who seemed to have advised him to destroy the building termed the Sheer Mandar to erect another in its place and to name it the Jahanjir Mandar which is said to be very beautiful when Shah Jahan succeeded to the empire the government of Gwalior fell to the lot of one of his greatest favorites and bravest generals Muzafir Khan who on this occasion received the title of Walla Khani Jahan and in his hands it remained during a space of nineteen years this governor was a great encourager of good and learned men and very remarkable for his justice and liberality to all he is said to have had an elephant so powerful and courageous that he would destroy whole ranks of the enemy at once which he did so effectually upon a battle happening with the house of Ludi that he was the principal cause of the victory and for which the governor obtained the title of Khani Jahan on this and other accounts he had a statue of this elephant carved in stone and set up at the north gate of the fort near the same spot he erected and peopled a village and this he called after his former name Muzafir Pur in the vicinity of this he planted a garden and here he made two wells and erected some seats for the accommodation of the inhabitants a few trees of this garden still remain besides this he built a lofty mansion for himself containing some large rooms of state with other apartments in the court of which he made a deep tank and in the front of this court four gardens in this mansion the governors of the fort still reside it is also said that during this man's government his son Mansur planted a garden in the banks of the river Sun Rig which he called after his own name and which still is used as a promenade for the town he built two four walls of stone in the middle of which seats were constructed he also built and peopled the village Mansur Pur which he called after his own name and this still remains after the exploration of 19 years Khani Jahan took a journey to Lahore and there died on this occasion Sayyad Salar Khan who had been his confidential servant asked for and obtained the government of the fort of Gwalior he then resided in it for two years after this his brother governed the fort and he himself was appointed to the government of the provinces this brother named Sayyad Alam held the fort for five years during which time he made and beautified a garden near the Sarayev Meher Ali and in the ground known by the name of Kisur Pur he built and peopled the village Shah Kunj it is said that at that time the foundations of the gates of the fort called Badal Khada and Hyattapul had become much decayed and that he repaired them covering the gates with iron and so firmly nailing them that the rush of an elephant would not make the least impression on them soon after this he was put out of office for some crime which had better not be mentioned as our author tells us and was succeeded by Lohar Hasb Khan son of Muhabat Khan who appointed Khar Hasb Khan his lieutenant but after two years took up his residence himself in the fortress he is said to have been a brave and liberal man charitable to the poor and most anxious for information both from travelers and others he erected a court of justice without the gate called Badal Khada and close to the northern wall of the fort in which on certain days he administered justice to the people the kettle drum of royalty which formerly was placed at the gate termed Hyattapul he removed to the east of the fort and nearer to the city where it still remains he commenced the removal of the Shah Kunj to the east of the fort he left the work unfinished he also erected a lofty state room in the Arwahi and made two wells of exceeding good water in its courtyard after the space of six years however he was sent on an expedition into the Deccan from which he returned with success he then presented himself before the emperor in Delhi who appointed him to the government of the Suba of Kabul upon this occasion his governor was a person named Akharaj an officer in whom he placed great confidence this happened in AH 1067 AD 1656 during the sickness of the reigning king which happened at this time and the troubles which arose on account of the rebellion of Darashiko and his brothers we hear scarcely anything of the fortress of Gwalior because perhaps it happened to lie almost entirely out of the scene of action it remained however for some time in the hands of Akharaj but as he had the imprudence to close it on one occasion against the royal standard it was at length given to Obed Alakan and soon after this several of the rebels falling into the king's power were put into confinement in the fortress and there kept in the next year IE AH 1068 AD 1657 Darashiko was carried prisoner to Delhi and there lost his life and upon this his son Sipahar Shiko with several of his friends were all placed in the fortress of Gwalior in the custody of Obed Alakan the fort was now closely guarded and no stranger permitted to enter it about this time a great scarcity took place probably in consequence of the preceding wars when Obed Alakan made a provision for the first time for the pious for travelers and the poor this was given in the courthouse built by the former governor where Mohammed, a sheriff and Mansabdar presided soon after several other of the rebels namely Mohammed Sultan Solomon Shiko and several nobles their friends fell into the hands of the emperor and were consigned to the governor of Gwalior who now was Mutamed Khan Obed Allah having been commanded to give up the fortress to him Solomon Shiko however soon after died and Murad Baksh one of the nobles was put to death by the law of retaliation the graves of both are on the top of the fort the first two years of the government of Muatted Khan in the fortress of Gwalior were marked with the utmost liberality and regard to public good particularly so as a great scarcity prevailed during this time he also erected a lofty hall for the transaction of public business adjoining the Shah Jahan Mandar as also a bath which was a great public convenience a wall too which had long been commenced stretching out before the gate termed Badal Khada and which had been intended to obstruct a ready egress from the fort was completed by him to which he added another somewhat higher than the gateway and joining the walls of the castle a sixth gateway leading from the fort to the plane was also constructed by him and this received the name Alamgir upon both angles of the wall he likewise erected a lofty tower and over the gates of each of those a Chatteri on the left side of the gate Badal Khada all of justice was also built in which the business of state was ever after to be transacted from all of which the appearance and strength of the fort were greatly augmented the inscription then written on the Alamgiri gate was this in the happy times of Alamgir from whose bounty time was blessed Muatimid Khan from his lofty mind opened a door of prosperity upon the face of the fortress Hatif said on the year of its date let the place long remain the residence of Plenty the sum of the letters according to the Abjad found in the last line of these verses will give the date of the Hijjira in which this event took place which is AH 1071 AD 1660 the Mandui looking towards the city eastward and commenced by Muatimid Khan was completed by this governor named Arang Kunj Abad he also constructed the shops which run in both directions and in which the business of the city and markets is carried on over this place he constructed a high wall which joins the fort and which received the name of the fort the asylum of the city encompassing this is the Norikunj Abad also erected by him for the reception and support of the pious he also repaired and very much strengthened the court of the Kachari and as the inhabitants of this part were very much in want of water he obtained leave from the court to construct three stone cisterns with seats gates and whatever else was necessary to promote the convenience and pleasure of the people all of which he completed and the following is the inscription which was placed over one of the gates at this time the main of the great prince Almagir from whose justice the world is peopled Mustamid Khan erected a strong building from the water of which the sick are healed by wisdom says Hatif I sought the year of its erection it is a fountain of light i.e. the sum of the letters in the last four words which is AH 1073 AD 1662 the tank stood in the way to the fort and was situated near the Bahrum pool growing old was by the heavy rains which fell about this time utterly destroyed and the stones of which it had been built were carried to some distance this governor thoroughly repaired it and the idol temple standing near it which had originally belonged to Gawali Pa and was now much frequented by the Hindus he converted into a mosque for the use of strangers and travelers the following is the inscription which was then fixed upon it in the reign of the great prince Almagir like the full shining moon the enlightener of the world praise to god that this happy place was by Muatamid Khan completed as an alms it was the idol temple of the vile Gawali he made it a mosque like a mansion of paradise the Khan of enlightened heart nay light itself from head to foot displayed the divine light like that of midday he closed the idol temple exclamations of surprise rose from earth to heaven when the light put far away the abode of darkness Hatif said let the light be a blessing Nottabene the sum of the letters composing the last three words counted according to the abjad see Sir William Jones's Persian grammar page 14 edit 9 amounts to 1075 and this gives the year of the Hajjira in which this took place AD 1664 he also repaired and deepened a tank in the grounds called the Kabutar Khanna or pigeon house and to this he gave the name of Nuri Sakir another tank too situated on the top of the fort and near the Shah Jahan Mandar which had grown so much out of repairs to lose its water not withstanding its having been cut out of the solid rock he thoroughly repaired and enclosed with a wall firmly built with brick and mortar so that not a drop of its water was lost to each of these last a copy of verses was attached giving the date of the repairs and the name of the Khan which I do not think it worthwhile to copy out and translate the same governor it is said and planted the arwahi which appeared like a girdle about the mount that it presented fountains tanks a Chabutera grapes melons and other fruits such that many of the fruits were on account of their superlative excellence frequently sent to the presence at Delhi the melons were occasionally so large that some of them exceeded 14 of this there of Shah Jahan Abad in weight besides this a mosque was erected in the Chok Bazar with three immensely high towers and some minarets having also a tank of water with other fountains always filled with water and surrounded with seats for the convenience of ablution before this is an area with a very high gate on the top of which is a bankla and on both sides two beautifully constructed halls another tank was also made and named after his son Jamali Sarur which was surrounded by stone walls and provided with seats in the year 1078 of the Hejira AD 1667 an order came from the court commanding Mutimid Khan to give up the fort together with the prisoners it contained which were then three to Kidmatgar Khan and to proceed to the presence in order to receive the government of Akbarabad with this the Khan and proceeded to Shah Jahanabad where he was loaded with favors and dismissed to his station and as the writer of this history was a servant of Mutimid Khan his account of Gwalior closes with the removal of his master from that place End of section 6