5. Volume 4 — part 5

' Where he held the festival described in the extract from the Tdrikh-i Yamini [Vol. II., p. 34]. Flrishta fixes the date in the year 400 h., and says it lasted for three days. Haidar E&zt says, " the beginning of the j'ear 400 h."

2 This must allude to the expi dition' against Nardln or Nariin, on wMoh subject there is nothing in Firishta or Eaidar R^i. Mirkhond ascribes it to the year 400 H. [Vol. II., p. 448].

5 Mirkhond here inserts an expedition to Kusdir, which is assigned by Wilken to 402. Firislita assigns the conquest of Thtoesar tn that year. Haidar E4zl mentions an Indian expeditiuii in 402, without naming luiy place, so dues the Tdrikh-i Alfiia 392, after tlie Prophet's death. The expedition against Knsdar, and further particulars respecting Gbor, will be found among theExtr.icts from the £cmzatu-s Safd.

In the middle of all this, Shdr Shah, King of Grhuijistan, rebelled against the Sultdn and was taken prisoner; the whole of which story, collected into a small compass, amounts to this : In those times, the inhabitants of Ghurjistan ^ called their rulers by the name of Shir, just as the Hindus call their kings Rdi. In the time of Nuh bin Mansur Samdni the Shdr of Ghurjistdn was Abu Nasr. This Abu Nasr, from the excessive integrity of his mind, and the inclination which he had towards the society of men of learning, resigned the reins of government into the hands of his son Muhammad. When the star of the prosperity of Yaminu-d daula had travelled to the summit of honour, having sent 'Utbi, the author of the Tdtihh-i Yamtni, to the Shar, be demanded his obedience and submission. The Shdr attended to his orders and to his prohibitions. The son of Shdr Abu Nasr, -whom they call Shdr Shdh, came to the Sultan, and having been treated "with much kindness and courtesy, and decorated with robes of honour, returned to his country.

After some time, the resolution of making war having come again into the mind of the Sultdn, he summoned by royal man- date Shar Sh4h to his presence, but through sensual imaginations and satanical delusions, he would not obey the order of the Sultdn. Yaminu-d daula appointed Altuntash the chamberlain, and Arslan Jdzib, to put him out of the way, and when these two afficers arrived near the royal residence of the Shar, Shdr Abti Nasr took shelter with Altuntdsh, and acquitted himself of all responsibility for the deeds of his son. Altuntdsh sent him to Hirat, and Shar Shah having taken refuge in a fort, gave himself up after a few days, in consideration of quarter, and the chief amirs were sent off to G-haznin. When he arrived

1 Price (Mahomm. Mist., ii , 286) recognizes Georgia in this, following D'Herbelot. Even Dr. Bird, who is generally very Ciiuiious, falls into this error. Elphinstoue correctly speaks of it, on the authority of Ouseley's Ibn Hauk.il (pp. 213, 221, 225), as lying in the upper course of the river Murghib adjoining Ghor. Fur further particulars respecting its position, see Grmaldesaal, vol. iv., p. 125, and Fundgruhen des Oiients, vol. i., p. 321. [See Vol. II., p. 576.J

before Mahmtid, the Sultdn showed him his mercy by only flogging him, and then shut him up in one of the forts ; but the superintendent of the finances, according to the Sultan's orders, supplied him with all the necessaries of life. After this, Yaminu-d daula sent for Shdr Abu Nasr from Hirdt, and showed great kindness to him ; he bought with gold all the villages and estates of the Shars, and . Khwaja Ahmad bin Hasan Maimandi took Shdr Abu Nasr under the shadow of his patronage. He died in the year 406 a.h. (1014^-15 A.v.y

In the year 405 h. Sultdn Mahmiid, again thirsting for a war with the infidels, turned his attention towards the extreme part of Hindustan, and fought a battle with one of the greatest princes of that country. He sent many of the heretics to hell, subdued the city of Ncirdin,^ and then returned to Ghaznin. In the same year, he led an army to the territories of Thanesar,* the ruler of which was a certain infidel well known, and possessed of elephants which they call the Ceylonese. According to his usual custom, he fought with and plundered the inhabitants, and then returned to Ghaznin.*

During the first years of Sultdn Mahmud's reign, an individual named Mdmiin governed Khwdrizm, and when he died, his son Abu 'All became king of that country. He testified friendship

^ Firishta mentions in this place a demand made by Mahmiid upon the Khalifa for the surrender to him of Samarkand and Khuristo. The Khalifa's reply was an indignant, but facetious, refusal, which need not be here detailed.

^ The Tahakdt-i Akbarl says, " Naudand in the hill of Baloit," and iixes the expedition subsequent to that of Th^nesar, and says that S&rogh was left there as governor. The Tdrikh-i Baddmi says " Parnandana."

^ Nizimu-d din Ahmad and Firishta tell us that there was an idol there, called Jagarsom or Jagsom, and that Jaip&l offered to give forty elephants if Mahmiid would abstain from this expedition. The Sult&n, nevertheless, advanced towards the city, broke the idol in pieces, and sent them to be trodden under foot at the gate of his palace. [See Vol. II., p. 452.]

• He omits the expedition to Lohkot or Loharkot in the year 406 or 407 h.

to Yarainu-d danla, and married his sister. After the death of Abu, 'All, his brother Mamuii bin Mdmun succeeded. He married his brother's wife, the sister of Mahmud, and accordinjij to established usage, he profess,ed allegiance to Sultan Mahmud. During the last days of M^mun, Yaminu-d daula, having sent a messenger to Khwarizm, ordered Mamun to read the khutha in his name. Mamun consulted on this matter with his minis- ters of State. Most of them replied, " If you hold your kingdom in disgraceful partnership with any one else, we will not bind on the girdle of obedience ; and if you submit to be under the com- mand of another, we will not choose for ourselves the ignominy of your service." The envoy having heard these speeches, returned and made relation of the circumstance.

After this, the general of the army of Khwarizm, Binaltigin,'^ and the nobles and amirs of Mdratin, repented of their misdeeds, and were terrified at the vengeance of the Sultan. In the middle of all this, when one day, according to established custom, they went to pay their respects to Mamun, the sudden news of his death was divulged to them, but nobody else was informed of the circumstance. Binaltigin then raised the son of Mamun to the Sultanship, and entered into an agreement with all the rebel- lious amirs, to the eifect that, if the Sultdn should march towards them they would unanimously make war upon him.

When Yaminu-d daula heard of this, he marched towards Khwarizm, with a desire of vengeance and hostility, and in the territories of that country he kindled the flames of war. Many of the Khwarizmians were killed, and 5000 of them were taken prisoners, and the rest of the unfortunates fled. Binaltigin took to a boat, in order that he might cross over the Jihun, but, on account of the littleness of his understanding, he adopted such an insolent tone towards one of the boatmen who was known to him, as to bring matters to this point, that that individual having seized Bindltigin, conveyed the ungrateful wretch to the

' Dow calls him "Abistagi Bochari." D'Herbelot, " B^althegin." S. deSacy, «' Nebal-t^ghin." Wilken, " Inalthegin."

camp of SultS,ii Mahmud, who gave orders that they should erect gallows before the tomb of Mamun, and upon them Bindltigiu, with some other of the seditious nobles, was hung up by the neck. Having given over the government of Khwdrizm to Alttin- tash, the Sultan returned towards Ghaznin.^

In the year 409 h. (1018-19 a.d.), during the season of flowery spring, when the days and nights are equal, when the lord of vegetation leads his army of verdure and of odoriferous herbs over the deserts and gardens, and when from the temperature of the air of Ardlbihisht, and from the blowing of the morning breeze, he has subdued the citadels of the green rose-buds, Yaminu-d daula again formed the resolution of warring against the infidels of Hindustan. With an excellent army of 20,000 volunteers, who, for the sake of obtaining the reward of making war upon infidels, had joined the mighty camp, he marched towards Kanauj, which was distant a three months' journey. In the middle of his way he came upon an impregnable fort, which was the residence of a certain king possessed of bravery in war. When that king saw the multitudes of the warriors of the religion of the chief of the righteous, having come to the foot of the fort, he confessed the unity of God.

The Sultdn then directed his steps towards a fort which was in the possession of a certain infidel named Kulchand. Kul- chand fought with the faithful, but the infidels were defeated; and Kulchand, through excessive ignorance, having drawn his dagger, first killed his wife, and then plunged it into his own breast, and thus went to hell. Out of the country of Kulchand the dependents of Yaminu-d daula obtained 185 elephants.^ -

From that place the Sultan proceeded to a certain city, which

' The liauzattt-s Safd and Tdrikh-i Alfi mention that some prisoners were sent from Khw5.rizm to Ghazni, and afterwards released, and sent to accompany the army despatched to India.

2 So says 'Uthi, but Firishta has 80 ; Haidar E&,zi, 160.

was accounted holy by the people of the country. In that city the men of Ghaznin saw so many strange and wonderful things, that to tell them or to write a description of them is no easy matter. There were a hundred palaces made of stone and marble, and the Sultan, in writing a description of these build- ings to the nobles at Grhaznin, said " that if any one wished to make palaces like these, even if he expended a hundred thou- sand times thousand dinars, and employed experienced superin- tendents for 200 years, even then they would not be finished." Again, they found five idols of the purest gold, in the eyes of each of which there were placed two rubies, and each of these rubies was worth 50,000 dinars : in another idol there were sapphires, which weighed 600 drachms. The number of silver idols upon the spot was more than lOO.i In short, Sultdn Mahmiid, having possessed himself of the booty, burned their idol-temples, and proceeded towards Kanauj.

Jaipdl, who was the King of Kanauj, hearing of the Sultdn's approach, fled, and on the 18th of Sha'bdn, of the year above mentioned, Yaminu-d daula, having arrived in that country, saw on the banks of the Ganges seven forts, like those of Khaibar, but, as they were destitute of brave men, he subdued them in one day. The Ghaznivides found in these forts and their dependencies 10,000 idol-temples, and they ascertained the vicious belief of the Hindus to be, that since the erection of those buildings no less than three or four hundred thousand years had elapsed. Sultan Mahmud during this expedition achieved many other conquests after he left Kanauj,^ and sent to hell many of the infidels with blows of the well-tempered

' Firishta adds, these were laden on as many camels, which, according to Briggs would not carry more than 150,000^. in silver.

2 The omissions here are the conquest of Munj, A'sl, and the fort of Chand Raf which are mentioned hy 'Utbi, Eashfdu-d din, and Mirkhond. The subsequent expeditions to India preceding that of Somn&t, which none of these authors have noticed, but which are given in detail by Fivishta, are also omitted. The Tdrikh-i Alfi also omits these subsequent expeditions, mentioning, however, one which cannot be identified with any of Firishta's.

sword. Such a number of slaves were assembled in that great camp, that the price of a single one did not exceed ten dirhams.

When Mahmud returned victorious from this expedition to the royal residence of Ghaznin, he built a general mosque and a college, and endowed them with pious legacies.^ Some years after these events, Sultdn Mahmud, of praiseworthy virtues, formed the design of taking Somndt, and of slaying the detest- able idolaters. On the 10th of Sha'ban, 416 h. (1025-6 a.d.), he marched towards Multan with 30,000 cavalry, in addition to a multitude of men, who also bent their steps thither for their own pleasure, and for the obtaining the reward of warring against infidels. Having arrived at that city in the middle of Ramazan, he resolved to travel the rest of the distance by the way of the desert. The soldiers were obliged to carry water and forage for many days, and in addition the Sultan loaded 20,000 camels with water and provisions, so that the troops might not by any means become diminished in number. Having passed that bloodthirsty desert,* they saw on the edge of it several forts filled with fighting men, and abounding with instruments of war, but the omnipotent God struck fear into the hearts of the infidels, so that they delivered the forts over without striking a blow. Sultan Mahmud went from that place towards Nahrwala,^ and he killed and plundered the inhabitants

'' ririshta adds, that letters were -written to the Khalifa by Mahmlid, detailing his Indian victories, and that the Khalifa had them read from the pulpits in the presence of the people.

2 Firislita says that he passed hy Ajrair, but the Tdrikh-i Alfi, perhaps more cor- rectly, says Jaisalmir, destroying all the temples on his way, and massacring so many of the inhabitants, that for some time no one could pass that way on account of the stench arising from the dead bodies.

2 Mirkhond, Khondamlr, and the Tdrilch-i Alfi read "Bahw&ra;" but no doubt the reading of Firishta is correct, " Nahrw&la." It appears from Bird's Gujarat, p. 144, that the R&j&'s name was Jamdnd, a Solankhi Eajpiit. Ibn Athtr says his name was Bhim, confounding him with his contemporary BhimpM, the last of the dynasty of Northern India.

of every city on the road at which he arrived, until, in the month of Zi-1 ka'da of the above year, he arrived at Somnat. Historians agree that Somnat is the name of a certain idol, which the Hindus believe in as the greatest of idols, but we learn the contrary of this from Shaikh Faridu-d din 'Attar, in that passage where he says : "The army of Mahmud obtained in Somnat that idol whose name was Ldt." According to historians, Somnat was placed in an idol-temple upon the shore of the sea. The ignorant Hindus, when smitten with fear, assemble in this temple, and on those nights more than 100,000 men come into it. From the extremities of kingdoms, they bring offerings to that temple, and 10,000 cultivated villages are set apart for the expenses of the keepers thereof. So many exquisite jewels were found there, that a tenth part thereof could not be contained entirely in the treasury of any king. Two thousand Brahmans were always oc- cupied in prayer round about the temple. A gold chain, weighing 200 mans^ on which bells were fixed, hung from a corner of that temple, and they rang them at appointed hours, so that by the noise thereof the Brahmans might know the time for prayer. Three hundred musicians and 500 dancing slave girls were the servants of that temple, and all the necessaries of life were provided for them from the offerings and bequests for pious usages.

The river Ganges is a river situated to the east of Kanauj,^ and the Hindus are opinion that the water of this river springs from the fountain of Paradise ; having burned their dead, they throw the ashes into the stream, and this practice they hold as purifying them from their sins.

In short, when Mahmud encamped at Somndt, he saw a large fort on the shore of the sea, and the waves reached up to the earth underneath that castle. Many men having come upon the top of the rampart, looked down upon the Musulmans, and

' Sometliing is omitted here : it being intended to imply that the idol was washed ■with water conveyed from the Ganges.

imagined that their false god would kill that multitude that very night.

" The next day, when this world, full of pride, Obtained light from the stream of the sun ; The Turk of the day displaying his golden shield, Cut off with his sword the head of the Hindu night." '■

The army of Ghaznin, full of bravery, having gone to the foot of the fort, brought down the Hindus from the tops of the ramparts with the points of eye-destroying arrows, and having placed scaling-ladders, they began to ascend with loud cries of Allah-u Akbar (i.e., Grod is greatest). The Hindus offered resistance, and on that day, from the time that the sun entered upon the fort of the turquoise-coloured sky, until the time that the stars of the bed-chambers of Heaven were conspicuous, did the battle rage between both parties. When the darkness of night prevented the light of the eye from seeing the bodies of men, the army of the faithful returned to their quarters.

The next day,^ having returned to the strife, and having fiiiislied bringing into play the weapons of warfare, they van- quished the Hindus. Those ignorant men ran in crowds to the idol temple, embraced Somnat, and came out again to fight until they were killed. Fifty thousand infidels were killed round about the temple, and the rest who escaped from the sword embarked in ships and fled away.^ Sultan Mahmiid, having entered into the idol temple, beheld an excessively long and broad room, inso- much that fifty-six pillars* had been made to support the roof

' The Turk being fair is compared to the day, and the golden shield is intended to represent the sun. The night is called Hindu on account of its blackness. . " Firishta represents that reinforcements arrived to the Hindus on the tMrd day, led by Parama Deo and Dabshilim whom Mahm\id attacked and routed, slaying 5000 Hindus.

' Mirkhond, the Tdrikh-i Alfi, and Firishta, say that some of the Sult&n's men pursued them on the sea, and as Sarandip is mentioned, Briggs considers that probably the dip, or island of Difi, is indicated; but from the historical annals of Ceylon it appears that that island was then a dependency of India. — TJpham's Sistory of J^uddhism, p. 31.

• Mirkhond adds that the columns were set with hyacinths, rubies, and pearls, and that each column had been raised at the expense of one of the chief " Sult&ns " of Hind, and that more than 60,000 idolaters were' slain in this siege.

Somnat was an idol cut out of stone, whose height was five yards, of which three yards ^ were visible, and two yards were concealed in the ground. Yaminu-d daula having broken that idol with his own hand, ordered that they should pack up pieces of the stone, take them to Grhazuin, and throw them on the threshold of the Jami' Masjid.* The sum which the treasury of the Sultdn Mahmud obtained from the idol-temple of Somnat was more than twenty thousand thousand dinars,^ inasmuch as those pillars were all adorned with precious jewels. Sultan Mahmud, after this glorious victory, reduced a fort in which the governor of Nahrwala had taken refuge,

At that time having made over the government of Somnat to Dabshilim Murtaz, he turned towards Ghaznin.* It is related that when Sultan Mahmud was about to return from Somnat, he consulted with his ministers of State, and said : " It is necessary to appoint some proper person to the government and possession of the kingdom." They answered, " As none of us will again cross over into this country, it is fitting that you should appoint some person resident in the country to be the ruler."

' "Wilken, in translating Mirkhond, says " cubitoa," but the original has, like the SdUbu-a ^iyar,\S D'Herbelot makes the five into fifty cubits, and says forty-seven of them were buried beneath the earth.

^ The Tabakdt-i Ndsiri says the fragments of the idol were thus distributed, one at the gate of the J&mi' Masjid, one at the gate of the royal palace, one was sent to Mecca, and one to Medina.

3 One of these thousands is left out in some copies.

• Meaning "disciplined, exercised, a hermit." [See vol. ii., p. 500.] Bird derives Dabshilim from Deva Sila, " the meditative king," in the objective case J)eva silam. The name is probably a mere legendary one. It is to be remembered that D&bshillm, a contemporary of Hfishang, was the Indian monarch by whose orders the well-known fables of Pilpay were composed. Elphinstoue concurs that both these Dibshiltms were representatives of the family of Ch&.wara, to whom the father of the reigning E&jS. of the family of Chilukya had succeeded through the female line. See Biogra- phie Universelle, torn, x., p. 420.

0 The Tabakdt-i Akbari says he returned by way of Sind and Multan, and ex- perienced great difficulty in the desert. [See vol. ii., pp. 191 and 270 : also the general Note on Mahmfid's expeditions, vol. ii,, p. 434.]

The Sultan having spoken on this subject to some of the people of Somnd,t, one party said : " Among the sovereigns of the country, no one is equal to the tribe of Ddbshilim in cha- racter and lineage. At the present moment there is a young man of that tribe, a Brahman, who is wont to practise severe austerities: if the Sultan delivers over the kingdom to him, it will be proper." Another party did not approve of this proposal, and said : " Dabshilim Murtaz is a man of a morose disposition, and it is through indigence that he is obliged to practise austeri- ties. There is another man of the tribe of Dabshilim, the ruler of a certain country, very wise, and a keeper of his word, whom it is fitting that the Sultdn should make sovereign of Somu4t."

Yamlnu-d daula said ; " If he will come and wait upon me and make this request, it will be listened to ; but to give over a kingdom of this magnitude to a person who is already possessed of one of the kingdoms of Hind, and who has never been in attendance upon me, seems to be a thing far from the solid opinions which should actuate Sultdns."

Then having called Dabshilim Murt4z, the ,Sult4n gave him the sovereignty of Somnat. Dabshilim agreed to pay tribute,^ and spoke thus : " A certain Ddbshilim is in a state of hostility towards me, and when he obtains information that the Sultdn is gone, he will certainly lead his army hither ; and as I have not the means of resistance, I shall be subdued. If the king will remove this mischief from my head, this great matter will be all right; but if not, I shall certainly be destroyed in a very short time." The Sultan answered : " Since I have come from Ghaznin with the purpose of making war upon infidels, I will also Settle this business."*

' Mirkhond makes him say: " I will agree to transmit to Ghazni all the gold Mid rubies of the mines of IJind, if this further favour be conferred on me." Pirishta makes him promise to remit double the revenue of Zibulist&.n and K^bulist^n.

'^ The answer in the Maiaatu-s Safd and Khnlasatu-l JLkhbdr is more specific : " As three years have already elapsed since my departure from Ghazni, what does it matter if six months more are added to that period f " But by comparing the dates of his departure and return, Mahmiid does not appear to hav« been absent much wore than one year and a half, or at most, as Firishta asserts, two years and a half. His

He then led his army towards the country of that Ddbshilliri, and having taken him captive^ deKvered him over to Ddbshilim Murtdz, who thus addressed the Sultdn : " In my religion the killing of kings is unlawful, but the custom is that when one king gets another into his power he makes a small and dark room underneath his own throne, and having put his enemy into it, he leaves a hole open : every day he sends a tray of victuals into that room, until one or other of the kings dies. Since it is now impossible for me to keep my enemy in this manner, I hope that the troops of the Sultan will take him away to the royal residence of Ghaznin, and that when I am at ease about him, they will send him back." Yaminu-d daula consented, and then hoisted the flag of his return to Ghaznin.

Ddbshilim Murtaz obtained absolute sovereignty over the government of Somnat, and, after a few years had elapsed, sent ambassadors to the Sultan, requesting that his enemy might be given up. At first the Sultdn was irresolute about sending that young man ; but in the end, at the instigation of some of his nobles, he delivered over that Dabshilim to the emissary of Ddbshilim Murtdz. When they had brought him to the terri- tories of Somndt, Ddbshilim Murtaz ordered the appointed prison to be got ready, and according to a custom which was well known among them, he himself went out from the city to meet him, in order that, having placed his basin and ewer upon the youth's head, he might cause him to run by his stirrup, while they conducted him to prison.

In the middle of his way he began to hunt, and galloped about in every direction, until the day became very hot : he then laid down under the shade of a tree for repose, and having spread a red handkerchief -over his face, during that interval, according to the decree of the Most High God, a bird with

campaign was Conducted during one cold season. The rainy season he seems to have psssed at Anhahv&ra, and after a little more fighting and plunder in the heginning of another cold season, he returned to Ghazni, before the rains had set in in Hindustan, He must have delayed late in the hot season, or he could not have experienced his diffioalties and sufferings in the desert.

strong talons, imagining that handkerchief to be flesh, alighted from the air, and having struck his claws into the handkerchief, they penetrated so far into the eyes of Dabshilim Murtdz that he became blind. As the grandees of Hindustdn do not pay obedience to those who are in any way defective, a tumult arose among the soldiers, in the middle of which the other Dabshilim arrived, and all having agreed to invest him with authority, they placed that same basin and ewer upon the head of Ddbshilim Murtdz, and made him run as far as the prison, so that thus Dabshilim Murtaz became taken in the very manner which he had planned for this young man, and the saying, "Whoever digs a well for his brother falls into it himself," became apparent, as also it became clear "that God gives and snatches away a kingdom to whom and from whom he chooses : he gives honour and dishonour to whom he pleases : Thou possessest goodness, Thou art master of all things."

Sultdn Mahmiid, in the year 420 h. (1029 a.d.), formed the design of subduing 'Ir4k-i 'Ajam, and accordingly hoisted the standard of departure towards that quarter. When he arrived in the territories of Mazandaran, Mamichihr bin Kabus bin Washmichihr having hastened to pay him his respects, brought fitting magnificent presents. In the mean time the governor of 'Irdk, Majdu-d daula bin Fakhru-d daula, having sent a messenger to Yaminu-d daula, brought a complaint against his amirs. The Sultdn having sent his troops towards Re, Majdu-d daula joined himself to the army of Ghaznin, and the officers of that army took him and sent him to the Sultdn.

Sultan Mahmud himself went to Re, and havinw sent for Majdu-d daula into his assembly, thus addressed him: — "Have you read the Shdh-nama, and are you versed in the history of Tabari?" He answered, " Yes," The SuMn said: "Have you ever played at chess?" He answered, "Yes." The Sultan

said : " In those books have you seen it written that two MngS" can rule in one country ? and on the chess-board have you ever seen two kings on one square ? He said, " No." The Sultdn said : " Then how comes it that you have given over the reins' of your power to one who has greater strength than yourself?" He then sent Majdu-d daula and his son to Ghaznin, under the custody of a guard of soldiers, and having given over the sovereignty of that country to his son Mas'ud, he turned his reins towards the royal residence of Ghaznin.

A short account of the opposition of Mas'iid to his father and of the death of Mahmud.

Historians who wear the mantle of praises, and composers clothed in the garb of felicity, have related that Sultan Mahmud loved his younger son Muhammad better than Mas'ud. On account of this,, he preferred him as the heir-apparent, and one day, before the taking of 'Irak, he asked Mas'ud how he would behave towards his brother. Mas'ud answered, " I shall follow the example of my father, and behave towards my brother in the same way as you behaved to yours." I have mentioned the quarrel of Mahmud with his brother Isma'il before, so there is no need of a repetition. My only object in mentioning this is, that when Mahmud heard this speech from Mas'ud, it entered into his mind that he would remove Mas'ud to a distance from the metropolis of Ghaznin, so that after his death war and quarrelling might not take place between the two brothers. On this account, having undertaken a journey to 'Irak, when he had brought that country into the courtyard of subjection, he gave it to Mas'ud, and said, "You must swear that after my death you will not oppose your brother." Mas'ud answered, " I will take this oath at the time when you feel an aversion to me." Mahmud said, "Why do you speak to me like this ?" Mas'ud answered, " If I am your son, I surely have a right to your property and treasures." Mahmud said, " Your brother will

render to you your dues : do you swear that you will not carry on war with your brother, and that you will not display enmity towards him?" Mas'ud said, " If he will come and swear that according to our precious laws he will render to me my due out of your worldly effects, then I will promise not to display enmity towards him, but he is now in Ghaznin, and I in Ee ; how then can the affair be furthered?"

Mas''ud, from his excessive haughtiness, and from his covet- ousness to obtain the idle vanities of the world, showed his presumption and spoke in this harsh manner to his father. The Sultan bade him adieu, and directed his steps towards Ghaznin, where, after his arrival, he laid his side on the carpet of weakness, and died, either of consumption or of disease of the liver,^ (for there are two opinions urged on this point) on Thursday, the 23rd of Eabi'u-1 dkhir, 421 h.» (1030 a.d.). His funeral rites were performed on a night whilst it was raining, and he was buried in the blue palace at Ghaznin.

The learned men who flourished during Mahmiid's reign.

Among the learned men who flourished during the time of Sultan Mahmud, one was 'Utbi, who composed the Tdrikh-i Yamini, which is an account of the descendants of Subuktigin. That book has been translated Abu-s Sharaf Nasir bin Zafar bin

1 Wilkeu translates, " Etenim ambigitur tabesne fuerit an dorai segritndo an alvi prolnvium." Briggs says " the stone." Abii-1 ieik {Ann. Mos., torn, iii., p. 76), " diarrhcca et cachexia." Price {Malmm. Siat., vol. ii., p. 294) translates, " a con- sumptive complaint, accompanied by a disorder in the loins," The TabdkdUi Akbari says "fever." [See supra, p. 134.]

2 The Mzdmu't Tawdrikh says 420 H., but the text is concurred in by the Jdmi'u-t Tawdrikh, Ahfi-1 Fazl Baihakl, AbtS-1 fed!, the Saumtu-a Safd, and the Tdrikh-i Alfi, quoting from H&.fiz Abrfi and the Tabakdt-i Akbari. Firishta also concurs with the text (Briggs translating Friday instead of Thursday), which, however, Hammer- Purgstall asserts to be the right day. Haidar E4zi mentions the 11th of Safar as the date of Mahmiid's death. The Stgdriatdn says the 13th of Eabi'u-1 awwal, and De Guignes brings it down as late as Jum&da-l awwal ; but there can be no doubt that the date mentioned in the text is the correct one ; for it is the one which his tomb at Ghazni bears. See Eeinaud, Mem. aur VInde, p. 273, and Thornton's Gazetteer, v. ** Ohuznee,"

Sa'du-1 Munshl-1 Jarbddkdni, and the translation is well known among men.

Another of the learned men of that time was 'TJnsuri, who was the greatest poet of his age, and was always composing odes and quatrains in praise of Sultdn Mahmud. The following is one of his quatrains : —

" You are that monarch whom in the east and west,

Jews, Fire-worshippers, Christians, and Musulmans

Name when they count their beads, and ejaculate the praises of God,

Saying, Oh God, give me an end that is laudable {Mahmud)."

They say that 'Unsuri composed many verses in praise of Sultan Mahmud, and out of the many books which he wrote in the name of the Sult4n there was one book, viz., Wdmik o 'Azrd. which is now lost.

Another of the poets, who was a panegyrist of the Sultdn Mahmud was 'Asjudi, who derived his origin from Merv. When Somn^t was taken he composed a kasidah in praise of the Sultdn of laudable virtues, the beginning of which runs thus :

" When the acute-minded Sultan made his expedition to Somnat, He made his own exploits the standard of miracles."

Another of the poets contemporary with Sultan Mahmud was Parrukhi, who, from the excessive generosity of the Sultdn, having amassed great wealth, determined to go to Samarkand. When he drew near that city, he was attacked by highwaymen and plundered of all that he had. Having arrived in Samarkand he showed himself to nobody, but after a few days he hoisted the flag of his return, having given utterance to the following lines : —

" I have seen all the charms of Samarkand, I have looked upon its gardens, its villas, its valleys, and its

deserts. But since my purse and my pockets are without dirJiams, My heart has folded up the carpet of pleasure from off the court- yard of hope.

I have heard that there is one Icosar and eight paradises ;

I have seen thousands of rivers and thousands of paradises :

But what profit if I always return with a, thirsty lip ?

The eye seeing wealth, and not having the money in the hand,

Is like a head cut off in the midst of a golden basin."

Firdusi was another one of the poets contemporary with Sultdn Mahmtid : his history is well known. It is written in the books of learned authors, that during his first years Firdusi took great pleasure in versification. It happened that at one time he re- ceived ill-treatment from somebody, upon which he set out for Ghaznin, .which was the royal residence of the Sultan Mahmud, with the intention of lodging his complaint. When he arrived near that city, he saw in a certain garden three persons who were sitting together, and seemed to be very intimate. He conjectured that they were the servants of the Sultan, and said within himself, " I will go to them, and tell them some of my business ; perhaps I shall gain some advantage by it." When he came near the resting-place where 'Unsuri, 'Asjudi, and Farrukhi were sitting, those individuals were astonished at him and said, " He will spoil our quiet converse." They communed with one another, and agreed to tell this person that they were the poets of the Sultdn, and that they held no inteixourse with any one who was not a poet ; that they would recite three verses, to which it would be difficult to add a fourth, and that they would say. that whoever would make a fourth verse would be admitted into their society, and unless he could do so he would be excluded.

When Firdusi arrived where they were sitting, they played oiF upon him that which they had determined among themselves. Firdusi said, " Recite your verses." 'Unsuri said, " The moon has no brightness like your cheek." Farrukhi said, " There is not a rose in the rose-garden like your face." 'Asjudi said, " Your eye-lashes pierce through a coat of mail." Firdusi, upon hearing those verses, instantly replied, " Like the spear of Geo

in the fight with Pushan." The poets were astonished at his readiness, and inquired about the story of Geo and Pushan. Firdusi told them the story at full length, and accordingly, when he arrived at Court, he experienced kind treatment, and Mahmud told him that he had made a paradise of his Court, and it was owing to this that he assumed his titular name of Firdusi.

Having afterwards been appointed to compose the Shd/i-ndma, he wrote a thousand verses, and took them to the king, who highly applauded them, and made him a present of a thousand dinars. When Firdusi had finished writing the Shdh-ndma, he took the book, which contained 60,000 verses, to the Sultan, expecting that he would get a dinar for each verse, as he had done before ; but some envious persons of mean disposition, in- dulging their malignity, wondered what must be the value of that poet who was worth being exalted by such a large gift, and they made the Sultan give him 60,000 dirhams instead. When Firdusi came out of the bath, and they brought those dirhams before him, he was exceedingly vexed at the circumstance, and gave 20,000 dirhams to the bath-keeper, 20,000 to a sherbet- seller who had brought some beverage^ for him, and the re- maining 20,000 dirhams he gave to the person who brought the money. Having composed about forty verses, as a satire upon the Sultan, he introduced them into the beginning or conclusion of the Shdh-ndma, and fled to Tiis. One day, some little time after this circumstance, Ahmad bin Hasan Maimandi was out hunting with the Sultdn, and having come close to him, he repeated several verses out of the Shdh-ndma, which were exceed- ingly applauded by the Sultan, who asked whose poetry it was. He answered that the verses were the produce of the genius

1 "Fuklcd'," a kind of drink made of water-barley and dried grapes. Richardson also adds " beer or ale," in which interpretation he is borne out by M. Lorsbach, who, in the first Tolume of the Archwfiir die Morgenlandische Zitteratur, has adduced several passages from Avicenna in favour of this interpretation. He also adds, that in modern Greek (povKop signifies "beer." See S. de Sacy's note in Mtices dea MSS., tom. iv., p. 235.

of Firdusi. The Sultan repented of his neglect of that in- comparable poet, and ordered them to take 60,000 dinars with rich robes of honour to Tiis, and to ask Firdusi's pardon. In the Bahdrktdn it is written that when those presents came in at one gate of Tus, tho coffin of Firdusi was carried out at the other. An only daughter was his heiress, to whom the emis- saries of the Sultan offered those honourable presents ; but she, from the pride inherent in her disposition, refused them and said, " I have enough wealth to last me to the end of my days ; I have no need of this money." The agents of the Sultan built a caravanserai in the neighbourhood of Tus with that money. Afzalu-1 Anami Maulana Niiru-d din 'Abdu-r rahm4n Jami has written these lines at the end of this story :

" It is pleasing to recognize one's merits, when the crooked sphere Has bent the final arrow of misfortune into the shape of a bow. The honour of the Sultan has perished from the world, and there

remains not anything Except this tale, that he recognized not the merits of Krdusi."

According to the Guzida, Firdusi died in the year 416,^ but God knows everything !

When the hand of Yaminu-d daula Mahmiid was cut off from possession in worldly things, his son Muhammad,^ accord- ing to the will of his father, placed upon his head the crown of Sultanship, and, just as it was in the days of Mahmud, he appointed Hasnak Mikdl prime minister. Sultan Mas'iid, who was at Hamaddn, having obtained intelligence of the death of his father, hastened towards Khurasdn, and wrote a letter to

• Daulat Sli&b in his TcmMra says 411 h., 1020-1 a.d.

2 The Tabakdt-i Ndsirl styles him " Jal&.Iu-i3 daula," and says he wrote much AraHo poetry. The Tdrlkh-i Alfi, quoting Hifiz Abrfl, says, "he was exactly like his father, of moderate stature, elegantly made, and marked with the small -pox; that Mas'iid was taller and stouter, so that it was difficult to get a horse to carry him, and, therefore, he usually rode on an elephant."

his brotlier to the effect that he did not want the country which his father had given to his brother, but he insisted that his name should be recited first in the khutba. Muhammad, having re- turned a stern refusal, began to make preparations for war, but several of those who consulted the welfare of the government em- ployed their exertions to bring about a reconciliation between the two brothers. They were unavailing, for Muhammad would not yield in the least. Having entrusted the advance guard of the army to Yiisuf bin Subuktigin, he set out on the road, and on the 1st of the blessed month of Eamaz^n, in the year 421 H., he arrived at Nagin4bad,i which was in truth Nakbat^bad (i.e. the abode of calamity), at which place he remained during the whole of the fasting month. On the feast day, his cap happened to fall ofi' his head without any cause, a circumstance which the people interpreted as a bad omen, for on the night of the 3rd of Shawwal, Amir 'Ali Kheshawand^ and Tusuf bin Subuktigin, having conspired together, raised the standard of enmity, and made advances to Mas'ud. Having surrounded the tent of Muhammad, they seized him and imprisoned him in the fort of Nagindbdd.^

The chief men then went out to meet Mas'iid, and Amir

1 [The real name is Takin&hkdu See vol. ii., pp. 271, 293, but this can hardly have been the spelling used by Khondamir in the text.] Briggs says, " TakIS,b4d, thirty miles north from Ghazni," but he is not going north, but west towards Hamad&n. It must be the place mentioned in the itineraries as lying on the road between Bust and Ghazni, and fire stages from Bust, which would bring it near Kandah&r. Ouseley {Oriental Qeog., p. 210) calls it " JSfuskeenabad " or "Tus- keenabad." "Wilken {Sist. Oham. pp. 193 and 237) calls it " Theaknabad," and Mordtmann {I>as Buck der Lander, p. 114) calls it " Bahirabad." Price (Mahomm, Sist. vol. ii., p. 313) has " Bikken or Tikkenabad."

' " Eelation," so called, says Mfrkhond, out of Mahmfld's regard for that individual.

' The Nizdmu-t Tawdrikh says Mas'iid was on his road to Ghazni, and that before his arrival T6suf bin Subuktigin imprisoned Muhammad in the fort of Mangsal [vol. ii., p. 256]. Other authorities differ somewhat. Mirkhond makes Amir 'All Kheshiwand the chief conspirator. Firishta makes Amir 'All, Yiisuf, and Hasnak equal participators. He adds, that Muhammad was sent to be imprisoned "in the fort of Walaj, which the people of Kandah&r now call Khalaj," — no doubt the present "Kelat i Ghilzi." The TabaMt-i Akbari says the "fort of "Wanj." The Tdrikh-i Badduni says "Naj," or " Yakh," but as there are no vowel points, it may read ten different ways.

Hasnak, who was at Naishdptir, came to the Court of Mas'tid. When Mas'iid saw him, he ordered him to be hanged, because he had heard that Hasnak had one day said in the Court of Muhammad that before Mas'ud should become kins: it would be right to make War. When 'Ali Khesh^wand and Tusuf Subuk- tigin arrived at Hirat declaring their fealty to Mas'ud, the former was imprisoned and the latter murdered. Mas'ud rapidly moved on to Ghaznin, having imprisoned Muhammad in the fort of Naginabad.

In contradiction to what has been above written, men have it that before the eye of the prosperity of Muhammad was made blind by the iron of oppression, he had reigned four years. After Mas'tid had obtained the kingdom, Muhammad was imprisoned for nine years. After the death of Mas'ud he again became king for one year,^ and in the year 434 H. he ,was murdered by the order of Maudud bin Mas'ud.

The surname of Sultan Mas'ud, according to some historians, was Nasiru-d din, but in the opinion of Hamdu-Ua Mustaufi, it was Nasiru-d daula.^ After he had deprived his brother of eyesight, he placed upon his own head the crown of sovereignty at the metropolis of Ghaznin. He occupied himself with laying the foundation of justice and equity, and threw open the doors of kindness to all learned men. During the days of his rule, such buildings as mosques, colleges, and inns, were erected in different parts of the kingdom. Every year he occupied his ambitious mind in war against the infidels of Hind, and it was owing to this that the Saljukians obtained an opportunity of

' The Tabakdt-i Ndsiri says he reigned on the first occasion seven months, and on the second four months. Some authors, as Hamdu-lla Mustaufi, place the reign of Muhammad, whom they style 'Im&du-d daula, after Mas'iid's; but others, as Khondamir and Firishta, place it hefore Mas'fid's. The Itdbu-t Tawdrikh presents further differences.

• The coins have " N&siru-d dinu Hah ; " and so he is styled in the Kdnun Mm'udi.

crossing the river Oxus, and having gained strength, they subdued in a little time the cities of Khurasdn.

During the latter days of his prosperity, Mas'ud again made war upon the cities of Hind, and on his return from the river Indus, Noshtigin, and the sons of 'Ali Kheshdwand, and Yusuf bin Subuktigin, all of whom bore enmity towards him, seized him and delivered him over to his brother, Muhammad Makhul : he was imprisoned in a strong fort, and was killed in the year 430 H. (1038-9 A.D.). His reign lasted twelve years.

In the year 422 h. (1031 A.d.) Mas'ud mounted the throne of G-haznln. He appointed Abu Suhail Hamadtini ^ to the ad- ministration of Hirat, and having written out a farmdn, he delivered over the governorship of IspahAn to 'AlAu-d daula Ja'far bin Kaktiya. 'AlAu-d daula was the son of the maternal uncle of Majdu-d daula bin Fakhru-d daula Dailami, and in the language of Dailam they call a maternal uncle by the word " Kakuya." This Kakuya was at first the viceroy of 'Irak, but afterwards he arrogated to himself absolute dominion. In the year 423 h.^ (1032 a.d.) Altuntdsh hajih, conformably with Mas'ud's^ order, proceeded from KhwArizm to MAwardu-n nahr against 'Alitigin, who had subdued Samarkand and Bukhara. On the confines of Balkh he was joined by 15,000 men fi:om the army of Grhaznin, and Altuntash first marched to Bukhara, which he took, and then directed his steps towards Samarkand.

'Alitigin having come out of the city with the intention of

' fighting, drew up his army near a certain village, on the one side

of which was a river and numerous trees, and on the other a

mountain, equal in height to the revolving heavens. When

Altuntash came up to that spot, the flame of battle was

^ [One MS. calls him " Abil Suhail," another " Ahii Suhal." He is the Bii Suhal Hamadiinl, of Baihaki, see toI. ii., pp. 62 and 146.]

2 Haidar E&zi and Firishta notice an expedition to Kej and MakrS,n, in the year 422, when these provinces were compelled to pay tribute. They also notice the destruc- tion of 'Umar bin Lais' embankment by an inundation, of which there is a detailed and interesting account in the Extracts from Abii-1 Fazl Baihaki. [Vol. ii., p. 114.]

3 [He is here called in the MSS. " Mas'M Tigla."]

kindled, and in the middle of the fight a band of men, who had lain in ambuscade, rushed out and charged the army of Khwdrizm. They wounded Altuntash mortally, but that brave man concealed the circumstance, and conducted himself with such resolution that many of the army of 'Alltigin were killed, and the rest, who escaped the sword, were taken prisoners. When it was night, Altuntash sent for the nobles and generals of the array, showed them his wound, and said, " I shall never recover from this wound : ^ do you now make your own arrange- ments." That very night they sent a messenger to 'Alitigin, and brought about a reconciliation, and then returned to Khuras4n. The next day Alttintdsh died, and his son Harun took his place. Khwaja Ahmad bin Hasan Maimandi ^ died in the year 424 h., and Mas'ud having sent for Abu Nasr Mu- hammad bin 'Abdu-s Samad, who was the accountant of Harun, appointed him wazir, which post he filled up to the last days of the life of Mas'iid.

In the midst of all these events, the Saljukians, having passed over the Jihun, settled in the vicinity of Naishapur. When, after a little time, they had obtained strength, they began to show hostilities towards Mas'tid. In the year 426 (a.d. 1034-5),^ Sultan Mas'ud led his army towards Jurj^n and Tabaristdn, because his governors in 'Irak had implored help from him. Abu Suhail Hamadunl, the governor of Re, sent an army to reduce to obedience the inhabitants of Kumm * and S4wa, who had rebelled. Sultan Mas'ud returned from Jurjdn to Grhaznin, and then wished to march to Hind ; but some of the amirs and chief men of the State hinted to him that it would be proper first to go

1 We learn from Mirkhond and Firishta that he had already received in MahmUd's time a wound in the same place, from a manjanik, when attacking a fort in India.

2 He had heen released by Mas'ud from the prison of Kilinjar on the frontiers of India, to which he had been sent by Mahmftd, who was anxious to obtain the wealth which he had aecumulated.

^ Kiiondamir has omitted all notice of the capture of Sarsi or Sarsuti, which is ascribed in the Jdmi'u-t Tawdrilch to the year 425 H., and by Mirkhond and Firishta to 424 H. The Tabalcdt-i Akiari says, " Sarsf, which is one of the passes to Kashmir."

to Khurasan and dislodge the Saljukians ; but he listened not to the proposal, and hastened to Hindustan. During his absence the Saljukians perfected their power, and 'Alau-d daula bin Kdkiiya having rebelled, drove Abu Suhail Hamaduni out of Re, In the year 428 h. (a.d. 1036-7), Mas'iid returned from his expedition,! and when he obtained intelligence of the victories of his enemies, he repented of his attack upon Hindustan. After he had made preparation for war, he marched to Balkh, and the inhabitants of that place informed him that during his absence the victorious standards of Tuztigin had several times crossed over the river, and his men had murdered and plundered the people. Mas'ud told them that he would defeat him in the cold season, and that in the spring he would engage in eradicating the Saljukians. The nobles and deputies complained to him and said : " It is two years since the Saljukians have taken Khura- san, and the people seem inclined to submit to their government ; it is first necessary to dislodge them, and then we will turn our attention to the execution of other important matters." One of the poets on this occasion composed the following verses, and sent them to the Sultdn.

" Your enemies were ants, they grew into serpents : Kill the ants which have become serpents : Give them- no rest, delay no more ; For if they have time, the serpents will become dragons."

As the star of the destiny of Mas'ud had reached the limits of misfortune, he listened not to this advice, and having passed the river, he directed his steps in search of Tuztigin. During that winter, the rain and the snow fell very heavily in M4wardu-n nahr, on account of which the Ghaznivides were extremely dis- tressed. In the middle of all this, D4ud Saljtiki marched from Sarakhs towards Balkh, with the intention of fighting, upon which Mas'ud was obliged to beat the drum of retreat, and

' Mirkhond says he returned Unsuccessful from his Indian expedition in 428, and marched to Baikh in 430 h.

Tuztigin, following in the rear of the army of Ghaznin, plun- dered and carried away all the best horses and camels of Mas'ud, and thus disgrace fell upon the army of the Ghaznivides.

After Mas'ud had arrived at his royal residence, having finished repairing the state of confusion into which his troops had been thrown, he turned his attention towards the Saljukians, and several times fighting took place between the two parties, the end of which was, that Mas'ud was defeated, and obliged again to return to Ghaznin ; on his arrival at which place he put to death some of the aiobles and chief men of the State, under the pretence that they had misbehaved themselves during the war. He sent his son Maudud with an army to Balkh, while he him- self, with Muhammad Makhiil and Muhammad's sons, Ahmad, 'Abdu-r Eahmdn and 'Abdu-r Rahim moved towards Hindustdn, with the intention of remaining during the winter there, and then, when the spring arrived, of turning his attention towards dislodging the Saljukians.^

Mas'ud had crossed over the Sind, but all his baggage and property was on the other side of the river, when Noshtigin, with some of his attendants, plundered the treasury, and put Muhammad Makhul on the throne. According to Hamdu-lla Mustaufi, they seated him on an elephant, and carried him round the camp. Mas'ud upon hearing this fled, and took refuge in a certain sardi, but the rebels seized him, and took him before Muhammad, who confined him and his dependents in the fort of Kiri. Muhammad relinquished the Sultdnship to his son Ahmad, upon which Ahmad, who was tainted with insanity, without per- mission of his father, and in conjunction with the son of Yusuf bin Subuktigin and the son of AH Kheshawand, went to the fort, and in the year a,h. 433 (a.d. 1041-2), murdered that king, who was the protector of the learned.*

' The Jdmtu-t Tawdrikh ascribes the conquest of "several forts in Hind" to the year 429 h.

'^ Some say he was thrust alive into a well which was then filled ujp with earth. Mirkhond says he reigned nine years and eleven months. Firishta, nine years and nine months. Other authors assign twelve years to his reign.

Amongst the learned men who were contemporary with Mas'ud was Shaikh Abu Eihdn Muhammad bin Ahmad Birtini Khwarizmi the astrologer, and author of the book called TafUmu-t Tanjim i.e., " Explanation of the Science of Astrology," and also of the Kdniin Mas'iidi. Another was Abu Muhammad Nasihi, who wrote the Kitdh-i Mas'udi, on the theology of Imdm Abu Hanifa, upon whom let there be the mercy of God ! These books were all compiled in Mas'iid's name.

When Maudud, who was in Balkh, the tabernacle of the faith- ful, heard of the murder of his father Mas'ud, he hastened with his victorious troops towards the metropolis of Grhaznin, and Muhammad also marched up from the neighbourhood of the Sind in the same direction. A battle was fought between the uncle and nephew,"^ but the gale of victory blew upon the banner of Maudud, and Muhammad with his children, and Noshtigin Balkhi who was at the head of the insurrection, became the captives of the powerful decree of fate, and were all put to death, with the exception of 'Abdu-r Rahim the son of Muhammad. The reason of his salvation was as follows :

During the time that Mas'ud was in prison, it happened one day that 'Abdu-r Rahmdn snatched Mas'iid's cap off his head in a very rude manner, upon which 'Abdu-r Rahim took it from him, and placed it back again on the head of his uncle, at the same time reproaching and abusing his brother. In short, bavins taken vengeance on his father's murderers, Maudud built a village and a caravanserai upon that spot where he had gained the victory, and called it Fathdbad.^ He then hastened to Ghaznin and. Kandahar, where he made firm the carpet of justice,

1 Firiahta says in the year 433 Maudfid departed from Ghaznin, and blind Muham- mad, after appointing his youngest son Nimi to the government of Peshawar and Multin, encountered Maudiid in the neighbourhood of the river Sind. The action was fought in the desert of Dipiir or Dindr. [See vol. ii., p. 274.]

2 Firishta says that he carried the bodies of his father and brothers from Kirf and buried them at Grhaziii.

and exalted the standard of his power by bringing into the kingdom of Ghaznin and Kandahar several of the cities of Hind ; but even during the prosperous days of Maudiid the empire of Khurds^n remained just the same as before, in the possession of the Saljukians, whom he could never conquer.

Maudud died, after he had reigned seven years,i on the 20th of Eajab, 441 h. (1049-50 a.d.).

Account of the enmity between Majdiid and Maudud.

Historians have related that Sultdn Mas'iid, daring the latter days of his reign, appointed his son Majdud to subdue some of the cities of Hind, who brought into the courtyard of subjection Multan and several other cities. Possessed of a powerful army, upon hearing of the death of Mas'ud, he aspired to absolute dominion, and the vapour of pride ascended into the hall of his brain.^ Maudud, hearing of this, formed an army to extinguish the fire of the insurrection of Majdud, who also moved out with a numerous army and arrived at Labor, about the time of the 'Tdu-z %uhd, where, having celebrated the festival of sacrifices, he was found dead by the courtiers in his tent on the morning of the third day of the festival. The truth of the circumstance, whatever it was, has not been written.

After this event, as many of the cities as pertained to Sultan Mas'ud came also under the tribunal of Maudud, and the Kings of Mawar4u-n nahr also testified their submission, but the Saljukians, as they had always done, offered opposition and resistance. In the year 435 h. (1043-4 a.d.) Maudud sent an army desirous of warfare, under his chamberlain, to Khur^sdn ; but Alp Arslan, on the side of the Saljukians, having come

' The lahaMt-i Ndsirl says "nine years, in the thirty-ninth year of his age." The Jdmi'u-t Taw&rikh concurs in the " nine years."

' ririshta says that, supported hy Ayaz Kh&s, he advanced from Multan to L&hor, and acquired possession of the whole country from the Sind to Th&nesar and Hansi, at which latter place he fixed his residence. Aykz died shortly afterwards. AbiS-I Fids, says he died a.h. 449, and the Muntakhaiu-t Taw&rlkh of Kh&ki Shir&zf men- tions the same date. Kustam All, in the Tdrikh-i Mindi (p. 142), says that Ay&z is reported to have been son of the ruler of Kashmir.

out to meet the Ghaznivides, defeated them, and in the same year a horde of Saljuk Turkomans broke into the territories of Garmsir. Maudud having appointed an army to dislodge them, a dreadful battle was fought on both sides, and the Ghaznivides having obtained the victory, took many of the Saljiikians prisoners.

In the same year some of the rulers of Hindustan, having entered L^hor with 6000 cavalry and 75,000 infantry, seized that city. The Musulmans who were there sent a messenger to Maudud asking for help, and Maudud was obliged to lead his army thither ; but before the arrival of that army at Ldhor, dissensions sprang up among the infidels, who began to direct their steps towards their own country. The men of Ldhor pursued them, and the Hindus took shelter on a spacious and lofty mountain. The army of Labor surrounded that mountain, and the Hindus, after displaying their courage and prowess, asked for quarter, which was granted them upon this condition, that they should deliver over to the Musulmdns every fort in the cities of Hind which were in their possession. Owing to this brilliant victory, all the princes of Hind came again under obedience to Maudud.

in the middle of Eajab of the year 441 H. (1049-50 a.d.) Maudud, with the intention of making war on the Saljukians, marched from Ghaznin at the head of a numerous army; but being seized with colic on the first stage, he was obliged to send 'Abdu-r Eazzak with the army to Sistdn, which was in the possession of the Saljukians, whilst he himself returned to Ghaznin, where he died shortly afterwards.

Sultan Mas'iid II. Sultan 'All bin Mas'ud I. When Maudud departed to another world, his son Mas'ud,^

1 The Taiakdt-i Ndsirl and Tabakdt-i Ahbari call the son of Maudfid, " Muham- mad," and the first says, this conjoint reign lasted only two months ; the second says three months. The Tabakdt-i Akbari says he was _on the throne for five days, and was only three years old.

by virtue of his father's will, succeeded to the throne ; but as he was of a tender age, and not capable of administering the oflSces of royalty, the chief ministers of the State removed him, after the expiration of a month, and unanimously agreed to the sovereignty of his uncle 'AH bin Mas'ud bin Mahmud, whom they surnamed BahAu-d daula, and whose reign was extended to nearly two years ; at the end of which time, on account of the hostile invasion of 'Abdu-r Rashid, he fled from Ghaznin.

According to the Rauzatu-s Safd, this 'Abdu-r Eashid^ was the son of Mas'ud bin Sultan Mahmud ; but according to the author of the Guzida, he was the son of Sultdn Mahmud bin Subuktigin, and his patronymic was Abu Mansur, and his surname Majdu-d daula. 'Abdu-r Rashid had been confined by the order of Maudud in a fort which was between Bust and Grhaznin, and 'Abdu-r Eazzdk, after he had heard of the death of Maudud, moved to Sistan, and hastened towards that fort, and placed 'Abdu-r Rashid upon the throne, the officers of the army yield- ing their allegiance. 'Abdu-r Rashid then moved towards Crhaznin, and 'All, without either couching lance or striking a blow with the sword, betook himself to the desert of flight.

When 'Abdu-r Rashid had fully established his authority in Ghaznin,* he sent Tughril the chamberlain, who was Maudiid's wife's brother, and in whom he had great confidence, with 1000

• The Tahakdt-i JSfdsiri styles him " Bah&u-d daula," and says he reigned two years, and lived thirty years. The Tahakdt-i Ahhari gives him only three months' reign, in which it is followed by the Tdrikh-i Bad&imi,

' Mr. E. Thomas has shown that the name of 'Abdu-r Eashid occurs on a coin with the date of 440 h., which is irreconcilable with the date assigned here to the death of Maudad. Minh&ju-s SirSj, Ibnu-1 Aslr, Abii-1 Faraj, Abii-l Fida, Eashldu-d din, and Ibn Khaldiin unite in affirming that both Maudiid's death and 'Ahdu-r Eashid's accession toot place in the year 441 h. Some of these assume a direct succession, without the intervening reigns of Mas'fid II., and Sultiin 'AH. See Journal S,oyal Asiatic Society, No. xviii., pp. 278-9, 352; and Defremery, va. Revue Kumismatiqtte, 1849, p. 229.

cavalry, all of them brave soldiers, to S{st4n; and Tughril, having overcome Abu-1 Fazl and Beghui Saljuki, in a short time obtained the entire command of that kingdom ; and imbued with the idea of rooting out the shoots of the prosperity of 'Abdu-r Rashid, he marched towards Ghaznin. When he arrived within five parasangs of the city, 'Abdu-r Rashid discovered his deceit and treachery, and fled to one of his forts. Tughril entered Ghaznin, sent letters and messengers threatening and intimi- dating the kottodl of the fort, until the garrison, getting dis- trustful, dehvered over to him 'Abdu-r Rashid i and all the descendants of Mahmiid ; upon which Tughril, having murdered all the princes, forced against her will the daughter of Mas'ud, the son of Sultdn Mahmud, into the bonds of marriage. It was from this circumstance that he was surnamed Tughril Kdfir-i Ni'amat {i.e. the ungrateful).

When Jarjir, who was one of the chief men among the nobles of Ghaznin, and who was then residing in Hindustan, heard of these shameful proceedings, he set his mind on getting rid of such an ungrateful wretch, and forthwith wrote letters to the daughter of Sulian Mas'ud, and to the grandees of Ghaznin, blaming and finding fault with them for conniving at the base actions of Tughril. Instigated by reading these letters, a band of bold men, who hated Tughril in their hearts, advanced one day with the foot of courage to the throne where Tughril was sitting, and cut his body in pieces with the wound-inflicting sword.^ After this event, Jarjir having arrived at Ghaznin, took Farrukhzdd out of prison,^ where he had been incarcerated by Tughril, and made him king. According to the Rau%atu-s Safd, Farrukhzad was the son of Mas'ud bin Sultdn Mahmud ;

' The Nudmu-t Tawdrihh fixes his death in the year 445 h.

■2 The Tabakht-i Ndsirl assigns a separate reign to Tughril, and calls him eighth Sulta,n, and says he reigned forty days, committing every kind of oppression. The Jdmiu-t Tawdrikh and the Tlirlkh-i Guzlda give no reign to Tughril.

3 The Tabakdt-i NdsiH says he was imprisoned at Barghand with Ibrahim, who was suhsequently removed to the fort of Nil. Barghand lies hetween T&k and Ghaznf.

but according to Hamdu-Ua Mustaufl, he was the son of 'Abdu-r Eashid.i

Sultan Jamalu-d daula Farruhhzdd. When Farrukhzad placed the crown of sovereignty on his head, he committed the administration of affairs to Jarjir, and it was about the same time that Ddud Saljiiki, having obtained intelHgence of the change which had happened in the prosperity of the Grhaznivides, hastened towards Ghaznin. Jarjir went out to oppose him with an array, and Daud was defeated, after he had fought his best with sword and arrow. The people of G-haznin seized an immense quantity of plunder. After this, Farrukhzad, with a well-equipped and victorious army, exalted his triumphant standards towards Khurasdn ; and Kulsarik, having come out on the part of the Saljukians to meet him, became, along with many others, the victims of the powerful decree of fate. When Jakar^ Beg Saljuki heard of this, he sent his son Alp Arslan to encounter Farrukhzad. The Salju- kians on this occasion were victorious, and took prisoners many of the chief men of Ghaznin; upon seeing which, Farrukhzad clothed Kulsarik in a robe of honour and set him free. This example was followed by the Saljukians with regard to their prisoners. Farrukhzad reigned six years, and died of colic in the year 450 h. (1058-9 a.d.)^

Sultan Zahiru-d daula Ahii-l Muzaffar Ibrahim.

On the death of Farrukhzdd, Sultdn Ibrahim* adorned the throne of sovereignty with his beneficent presence. He was a prince of such piety and devotion that he joined together Rajab,

1 Coins show the Sauzatu-s Safd to be correct. He is distinctly announced on them as the " son of Mas'tid." See Journal Soyal Asiatic Society, No. xviii., p. 280. [SuprA, Tol. ii., p. 483.]

• This agrees with Briggs; hut the text of Firishta says "Ja'far Beg." [In two MSS. of the Hahibu-s Siyar the name is given as " Bajr " or " Baju."]

' The Tabakdt-i Ndsiri says he reigned seven years, and died in the 461, at the age of thirty-four years.

• In the Tabakdt-i Ndsiri he is styled " Saiyidu-s sal§itin, Zahiru-d daula."

Sha'ban and the blessed Ramazdn, and fasted three months in the year. He was occupied during the days of his power in spreading the carpet of justice, and in looking after the welfare of his subjects, and he was always exercising his energies in distri- buting charities and doing good works. Sultdn Ibrahim entered into a reconciliation with the Saljukians, and it was agreed that neither party should entertain designs against the other's kingdom ; SultS,n Malik Shdh Saljuki giving his own daughter in marriage to Ibrahim's son, whose name was Mas'ud.

After he had strengthened the foundations of reconciliation and friendship, Sultan Ibr4him several times led his army to make war on Hind,^ each time returning victorious to Ghaznin. Sultan Ibrahim died in 492 H. (1098-9 A.D.), according to Bindkiti and Hamdu-lla Mustaufl, and according to the same account he reigned 42 years ; * but other historians say that Ibrahim died in 481 H. (1088-9 a.d.) But God knows all things !

Among the poets who were contemporary with Sultan Ibrahim, the chief were Abti-l Farah and Arzaki. Amons the poems composed by Abti-l Farah there is an ode which he wrote in praise of 'Abdu-1 Hamid, the opening lines of which are as follows : " 'Abdu-1 Hamid Ahmad 'Abdu-1 Samad gave order to

' The J&mi'u-t Tawdrihh fijes one of these expeditions in 472 h., when Ibrahim took the fort of Azra, no doubt Agra, as mentioned in the Extract from Mas' fid Sa'd Salm&n, (see Appendix to this vol.). The Jami' says that the capture occupied four months, and that it was defended by 10,000 men. After that he went to Darra and took it.

^ So says the Tabakdt-i Ndsiri, and that he died in 492, at the age of sixty years. The Nudmu-t Tawdrihh says his reign commenced in 450, and closed with 492 h., and strangely omits all notice of Farrukhzad. The Jdmi'uA Tawdrihh says he died as late as 508 h., and omits all mention of his son Mas'ud, and the Tdrikh-i Guzida says he died in 492 h. The numismatologists he]p us here, and show the probability of Ibrahim's reign having lasted forty-two years. — Journal Royal Asiatic Society, No. xviii., p. 280.

Mirkhond, Khondamir, Nizimu-d din, and 'Abdu-1 KS.dir are very barren in this interesting reign. Something more will be found among the Extracts from the Tdrikh-i Alfi, the Tabakdt-i Akbari, and Firishta. Amongst other victories attri- buted to Ibr&him, Abd-1 Farah Euwaini attributes that of Kanauj to him. Saiyid Hasan Ghaznivl says lbrS,hfm built a fort at Sann&m, capable of containing 100,000 cavalry. Mas'iid Sa'd Salm&n attributes others to him.

wisdom, liberality, and to the dues of justice." Arzakl was surnamed Afzalu-d din ; he came originally from Hirdt, and the book called Alfiya wa Shalfiya ^ was composed by him. In the Bahdristdn it is written that the cause of his writing this book was as follows.* This verse upon the qualities of wine was the production of ,his genius :

" Oh cup-bearer, bring red wine, the thought of which Makes the mind a tulip bed, and the eye a rose garden. If at night a fairy should come within your rays, She would not be concealed from the eyes of men ; More fragrant than amber, deeper coloured than the camelian. Brighter than the stars and purer than the soul."

Sultan Mos'ud III. bin Ibrahim. His surname, according to Hamdu-lla Mustaufi, was 'Alau-d daula; but according to the account which is written in the Bauzatu-s Safd, it was Jal41u-d daula.* All historians agree that Mas'iid reigned for sixteen years after his father,* and according to the Tdrikh-i Gfuzzda he departed to the world of eternity in the year 508 h.^ (1114-15 a.d.), and that same history declares that, after the death of Mas'ud, his . son Kamalu-d daula Shirzad ascended the throne.^ But, after the lapse of a year, in 509 h., he was murdered by his own brother, Arslan Shah. Other historians, who have come afterwards, have mentioned Mas'ud without any reference to ArsMn Shdh : but Grod knows everything !

1 This obscene poem was written by Arzakl, a physician, for Tugh&n Sh&h, the king of Naish&pUr, who was afflicted with impotence.

' An obscene story follows in the original.

2 The Tabakdt-i Ndsiri styles him " 'Aliu-d din,'' and gives a very different ac- eount of this reign, in which he is followed by Firishta. Mirkhond and Niz&mu-d din are equally barren. The coins have " 'Al&,u-d daula."

• So says Mirkhond, but he is inconsistent about the dates of these later reigns.

• The Midmu-t Tawdrikh concurs in this date.

• The Tdrikh-l Badduni gives him a separate reign. Mas'iid Sa'd Salmon styles Mm Shirz&d Shah.

When Arslan Shah became King of Ghaznin, he appointed 'Abdu-1 Hamid bin Ahmad to the office of prime minister, and having seized his brothers, threw them into prison. One of his brothers,^ Bahram Sh^h, managed to flee away and went to his uncle Sanjar, who at that time ruled in Khurdsdn on the part of his brother Muhammad bin Malik Shdh. Sultdn Sanjar hoisted his standard for G-haznin, in order to help his nephew. On his arrival at Bust, the ruler of Sistan, Abu-1 Fazl, joined him with a powerful army. Arslan Shdh sent a numerous and powerful army to give battle to the Sultdn, which ended in many of the Ghaznivides being slain by the army of Khurasan, and the rest escaping the sword by running away in a shameful manner to Ghaznin.

Arsldn Shah, having opened the doors of humility and low- liness, sent his mother, who was the sister of Sultan Sanjar, to him, with 2000 dinars and many valuable presents, and pro- posed a reconciliation. The Sultan evinced a desire to return, but Bahrdm Sh4b, not content with what had passed, prevailed over him to such a degree as to persuade him to set out for Ghaznin. When the victorious army was encamped about one parasang from Ghaznin, Arslan Shah drew up his army in order of battle, for the purpose of opposing the king of Khura- san. His forces consisted of 30,000 cavalry, numerous infantry, and 160 elephants. When the brave heroes on both sides had finished contending with sword and spear, through the prosperity of the courage of Abu-1 Fazl, ruler of Sistan, the Ghaznivides were defeated. Sultdn Sanjar, having entered Ghaznin on the 8th of Shawwil 510 a.h. (1116-7 a.d.), prevented his victorious troops from pillaging and plundering the city. He remained forty days in Ghaznin, appropriated all the treasures of the descendants

' The Niaimu-t Tawdrikh also calls him a brother, but the Tabakdt-i Nddri' makes BahiS.m Sh&h the uncle of Mslkn Sh&h.

of Subuktigin,! and gave over the realm to Bahr4m Shah, he himself hoisting his standard for Khnrdsan.

When Arsldn Shah heard that Sanjar had gone away, he led out a numerous army from the confines of Hindustan, and marched towards Grhaznin. Bahram Shah, unable to oppose him, hastened to B4miy4n, and implored the aid of Sultdn Sanjar, who again turned his reins towards Grhaznin. Arslan Shah abandoned the capital of his dominion,^ and being seized by the troops of Sanjar who went in pursuit of him, was taken before Bahram Shah, who having put him to death in the year 512 A.H. (1118-19), became thus fully established in the Sultan- ship. Arsldn Shah reigned for either three or four years. But God knows everything !

The title of Bahram Shdh was Yaminu-d daula, according to the belief of Hamdu-Ua Mustaufi : but the Rauzatii-s Sofa, gives it as Mu'izzu-d daula. He was a prince possessed of bravery in war, was a magnificent monarch, and courted the society of learned and literary characters. During his reign he several times carried on war against the infidels of Hind, and subdued many of the forts and cities of that kingdom. In the latter days of his reign, " 'Alau-d din Husain Grhori " led an army to Ghaznin, and caused Bahrdm Shdh to fly towards Hindustan.

' Mirkhond says he took away, among other precious things, five crowns, each valued at 2,000,000 din&rs, seventeen thrones made of solid gold and silver, and 1300 saddles and other articles inlaid with jewels. Mr. E. Thomas shows that the name of Sanjar occurs upon the coins of Bahr&m, and that this feudal suhjection extended to the early part of the reign of Khusrii Shih. — Journal Royal Asiatic Society, No. xviii., p. 281. See also Defremery's Sistoire des Seldjoukides, pp. 66-8. Mevm Numism. 1849, p. 248, and VuUers, Hist. SeldscAuk., p. 174.

' Firishta says he sought refuge amongst the Afghans, and that at his death he was twenty-seven years old. The Jdmi'u-l Mikiy&t says he fled to the Sankr&n [Shakr&n] mountains, which are the same as those mentioned in the history of Sultin Jal&lu-d din. The same work mentions that when Bahr&m fled to Sanjar from Ghazni, he did so with only nine attendants, who had their horseshoes reversed to escape detection. [See vol. ii., p. 199.]

'Aldu-d din then appointed his own brother, whose name, ac- cording to one account, was Suri, and according to another Sdni, as governor of the city, and himself returned to Ghor. Bahr4m Sh4h again hastened to Ghaznin, and having defeated the brother of 'Aldu-d din Husain, he seated him on a cow and paraded him round the city.

When 'Aldu-d din Husain heard of this, he hastened towards Ghaznin, thirsting for vengeance ; but before he could arrive there, the hand of fate folded up the roll of the life of Bahrdm Shah. The Rauzatu-s Safd gives the year 547 a.h. (1152-3), as the date of the death of Bahram Shdh, but Hamdu-lla MustaufI fixes that event at 544. According to the first authority, his reign lasted thirty-five years; according to the second, only thirty-two years.^

Among the celebrated learned men and great poets who were contemporary with Sultan Bahram Shah, one was Shaikh Sandi Abu-1 Majid bin Adamii-1 Ghaznivi. In the Hafhdt, the cause of the repentance of Shaikh Sanai is thus explained. When Sultan Mahmud had set out from Ghaznin in the winter season, for the purpose of reducing to obedience some of the country of the infidels, Sandi, having composed an ode in praise of Mahratid, set out for his army, for the purpose of presenting his verses to the Sultan. In the middle of his journey, he arrived at the door of a distiller, where a certain darwesh, experienced in misfortunes, was saying to his cup-bearer, " Fill a cup to the blindness of the contemptible Mahmud Subuktigin." The cup- bearer replied, "Mahmud is a king and a Musulmdn, who is always engaged in making war upon the infidels." The unlucky wretch replied, " He is a contemptible man, and never satisfied ; he was unable to govern what he already possessed, and still he desires to appropriate another kingdom." The darwesh drained the cup, and said to the cup-bearer, " Fill another goblet to the blindness of the despicable poet Sandi." The cup-bearer replied,

1 The TabaMt-i Nisiri extends his reign to 562 h., and to a period of forty-one years. Firishta concurs with the Rauzatu-s Safd, Abii-1 Fidi says 548.

" Sanai is a learned poet, endowed with an elegant genius." The miserable man answered, "If he were a gainer by his elegant genius, he would employ himself in some business which would be serviceable to him : he has in a certain paper written several frivolous remarks which are of no use to him, neither does he know for what reason Grod created him." Sanai, upon hearing this speech, became a changed man : he awoke from his intoxi- cation of negligence, and employed himself in walking in the path of the Prophet.

From minds which can discern minute objects, the asylum of men of learning and of intelligence, it cannot remain concealed, that this story shows that the fame of Shaikh Sanai for com- posing poetry existed during the days of Sultan Mahmtid of Ghaznin, although the Sadikatu-l Hakikat, which that great man composed in verses which are miracles of counsel, shows that Shaikh Sanai was contemporary with Sultan Bahram Shah, that book being written in the illustrious name of that mighty king. Sultan Mahmtid Ghaznivi died in the year 421, and the Sadikatyas has been ascertained from its pages, was completed in the year 525. From looking at these two dates, in which men of , learning all agree, it is evident that this story is very im- probable ; but God knows everything ! According to the author of the Gfuzida, Shaikh Sanai died during the days of Sultan Bahrdm Shah ; but according to some learned men, that event took place in the year 525 a.h. (1130-1 a.d.), which was the year in which the Sadikat was completed.

Among the eloquent men, adorners of discourse, and among poets abounding in eloquence, Nasru-lla bin 'Abdu-l Hamid bin Abu-1 M'dli and Saiyid Hasan Ghaznivi were contemporaries with Bahrdm Shkh. Nasru-lla wrote the Kalila and Damna, in the style which is now current among mankind, and dedicated it to this Sultin ; and Saiyid Hasan, on the day of Bahrdm's accession, composed an ode, the first line of which is as follows :