English
He reformed the administration of jufltioe, put down oppressions uud corruption, lightly assessed land-revenue, and regulated its assessment according to the produce of the lauds assessed and also according to tho capacity of tho tenantry to bear the assessment, and abolished octroi duties. He established thirty colleges, founded fivo hospitals and dispensaries, erected forty cathedral mosques and two hundred caravanserais, twenty monasteries, one hundred palaces and villas, and one hundred and fifty-two baths, and numerous gardeas t and bridges. In the environs of HansI, he erected a fort called Hisar-i-FIruz, and joined it by means of a canal with tho river Jumna. His greatest work was the old Jumna canal; this canal drew its water from tho Jumna, near a point whore it leaves the mountains, and connected that river with the Ghaggar and the Sutlej by means" of irrigation channels, spreading fertility all around. He caused the translation of several Sanskrit works into Persian, and encouraged learning and the learned. He was the recipient of a Royal iuvestiture from Abul Fatah Ki^alif of Egypt. He reigned from 1351 to 88 A.C. The Togjjlak dynasty ended in 1414 A.G., tho Empire being shattered by the invasion of Timur in 1398 A.C., doriug the reign of M ah m ud Sliah Tughlak, the last real Tughlak king. (See Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi pp. 548 570 by Ziauddin Bami, and by Shama-i-Seraj). 100 of Rajah, who attempted to ie-conquci Bengal. It is said that at that time Sultan Shamsu-d-din built a bath, similar to the ^ fcau Firuz Shah who was furious with anger against Shamsu-d-din, in the year 754 A.H., set out for Lakhnauti, and after forced marches reached close to the city of Panduah, which was then the metropolis of Bengal. The Emperor encamped at a place which is still called Firnzpurabad, 1 and ruling from that place besieged the Fort of Panduah. Sultan Shamsu-d-din leaving his son with an army in the fort of Panduah, entrenched himself in the fort of Ekdalah which was very im¬ pregnable. Firuz Shah, not oppressing the people of Panduah, captured in battle the son of Sultan Shamsu-d-din, and marched towards the fort of Ekdalah. 2 (End of Fasc. 1.) (Fasc. 11.) On the lirst day. a bloody engagement look place. After tiiat, for twenty-two days, he besieged the Fort.-' Not succeed¬ ing, Firuz Shah resolved to transfer his camp to the bank 4 Firuzabadpnr is a mistake here for Firuzubad, close to Panduah. * Mr. Wcstmacott places Ekdalah near Dinajpur, whilst Mr. Beveridge places it near Dacca. For a discussion on the site of the fort of Ekdalah, also see Blochmanu’s Contributions to History and Geogruphy of Bengal, J.A.S., 1873, p. 213 and also Mr. Beveridge's Analysis of “ Khurshid Jahan Numa." In Tarikjh-t-Firuz Shahi by Zia ’Barni, Ekdalah is described as follows (Pers. text, p. 588): “ Ekdalah is the name of a mouza close to Panduah ; on one side of it is a river, and on another a jungle.” Zia ’Barni is a contemporary historian for the period; therefore, this description given by him fixe ho site of the Fort of Ekdalah near Panduah, and sets at rest all the specnlations to the contrary raised by Mr. Beveridge (in his Analysis of Khurshid Jahan Numa) who fixes it near the Bhowal junglo in Dacca district, and also by Mr. Westmacott who would place it towards Dinajpur. Professor Bloehmunn is inclined to treat ‘Ekdalah' as a generic name, referring to several places. Sco J.A.S.B. for 1873, pp. 212-213. Kennel gives another Ekdalah north of Dacca “map of Hindustan." Shams-i-Siraj in his Tarikh-Firaz Shahi (Pers. text p. 79) calls it the “ isles of Ekdalah." I The first expedition of Emperor Firuz Shah Tughlak into Bengal (in 764 A.H. = 1353 A.C.) is fully and huraouronely described by Zia'Barni, ft contemporary historian, in the Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi (Pers. text, p. 586), who 101 of the Ganges. Then, alone, he .searched for a proper camp¬ ing ground. Sultan Sltamsu-d-din thinkiug that Firuz Shah closes his history with a narrative of this expedition anil of the events up to the sixth year of Firuz Shah’s reign. The object of the expedition was to punish Saltan Rhamsn-d-dwf llaji Ilyas who had invaded and ravagod Tirliut and harried the frontier (then tho Sro river) between the Bengal Kingdom and tho Delhi Empire. Tho Emperor set ont from Delhi on 10th Shawal • 754 A.H.* reached Otidh, crossed tho Sro river, when Ilyas Shah with¬ drew to Tirhut, The Emperor crossing the Sro, marched through Arsa-i- Kharosah (not idcntilicd) and Gorakpur, the Rajahs whereof paid him homage and enlisted themselves on his side. Ilyas Shall then returned from Tirhut to Panduah, the Emperor following him towards Lakh- nauti r .ml Panduah, after traversing Jagnt or Jakat (nut identified) and Tiiinit (tho Rajahs whereof also paid homage to the Emperor). Ilyas Shall, on approach of tho Emperor to Pandoah, retired to Foi t Ekdalah, whore he entrenched himself. Tho Emperor did not plunder Panduah, but left its population uumolestcd, crossed the river in front of the fort Ekdalah, and laid siege to it for several days. He had scruples about destroying promiscu¬ ously tho garrison of the Fort, so he made a feint retreating movement back across the river, which resulted in drawing out Ilyas Shall from tho Fort. A battle was fought, tho Bengal army in which elephants formed a prominont feature was dofeated, and tho Imperialists captured forty-four Bengal elephants, Ac., 4c. On finding that tho rainy season was approaohing, tho Emperor by forced marches (after appointing Collectors in Tirhut district) returned to Delhi, which was reached on 12th Shaban 755 A.II. or 1354 A.C. This first expedition is also narrated by Shams Siraj Afif, another noarly contemporary historian, who continued Harm's Tnrikhri-Firuz Shuhi. (Seo Pers. MSS., text p. 76). From this account, tho following additional interest¬ ing facts are gleaned 1. 1 hat Firuz Shuh sailed to Bengal in one thousand flotilla of war- vessels, and his route lay across tho Sro, the Gauges and tho Kosi rivers, that his expeditionary force consisted of 70,000 Khanaus and Maluks, two Uxks in- fantry, 60,000 cavalry, besides an elephant-corps. 2. That when Firuz Shall crossed tho Kosi river, Ilyas Shah, king of Bengal, retired from Panduah to Ekdalah, which is called bore tho Isles of Ekdalah.” 3. That Firuz Shah laid siege to the fort of Ekdalah for several days, on nothing decisive occurring, made a feint retreating movement westward Boven karoh or Kos from Ekdalah, when Ilyas &hah thinking Firuz Shah was retreating, came out of the fort Ekdalah, advanced, and attacked the mperialists, who defeated and killed one lak of the Bengal army, and cap¬ tured 60 Bengal elephants. 4 >^ Thafc tI,0n Ily4s —* h CSCA P° d again to tho Fort of Ekdalah, which was a ut to be stormed by the Imperialists, when tho females of the garrison uncovering their heads, exhibited themselves, and raised loud lamentations, 102 had marched to retire, came out of the fort; aiid mustered his f orces. Owing to the sword and the arrow and the spear aud the gun, The market of fighting became warm on both sides. The bodies of heroes were emptied of their souls ; Like roses, on their faces, budded forth wounds. After much slaughter on bptli sides, a large number of people were killed and destroyed. At length, the breeze of victory wafted on the standard of Firuz Shah, aud Shamsu-d-din being over¬ powered fled, aud sought refuge in the Fort. Forty-four.elephants which he had brought from Jajoagar, together with the Royal Um¬ brella aud the standard and other regal chattels and paraphernalia, fell into the hands of the soldiers of Firuz Shah. It is said that at that time the Saint Shaikh Raja Biyabani 1 in whom Sultan Shamsu-d-din had great faith, died. Sultau Shamsu-d-din coming out of the Fort, in the guise of a mendicant, joined the Shaikh’s funeral. After finishing the obsequies, he rode alone to see Firuz Shah, and without the latter recognizing him, return¬ ed to the Fort. When the Sultau came to kuow about it, lie expressed regret. In short, wheu the period of siege was pro¬ tracted, and the rainy season set in, in that in the rains, the country of Bengal becomes one sheet of water, and cause for anxiety arises, Sultan Firuz Shah made overtures for peace. Sultan Shamsu-d-din, who was hard-pressed by the siege, partial¬ ly made his submission, and also sought for peace. Firuz Shah, releasing the sou of Sultan Shamsu-d-diu together with other prisoners of the kingdom of Lakhuauti, raised the staudard of return. And in the year 755 A.H., Sultan Shamsu-d-din sent many presents and numerous rareties, in charge of wise envoys, to Sultan Firuz Shah. The latter also showing attentions to the envoys", sent them back. And since Sultau Shamsu-d-dm had which eoftened the heart of Firoz Rhab, who abaudoned the work of destine- ‘"'S. That before -arching bttk towards Delhi, Firuz Shih haltod for some days at Panduah, named it “ Firuzabad,” introduced there the Siutba after his own name, and also named “ Ekdalah ” “ Azadpor. 6. That Firuz Shah’s expedition lasted eleven months. I He died in 1353 A.C. f754 A.H.) when Emperor Firuz £h.h besiege ooltan Shamau-d-din Eaji Ilyas in Ekdalah Fort. 103 great anxiety from Firnz Shah, consequently in 757 A.H. the former sent to Delhi wise and sagacious envoys, and sought for peace. Firuz Shah agreeing, returned the envoys loaded with honours. From that time, the boundaries between the Kingdoms of Delhi and Bengal were delimitated; and the Emperors of Delhi adhering to the terms of the treaty, never meddled with the Kings of Bengal, and by mutual exchange of presents on both sides, they maintained friendly relations between the two king- doms. And in the year 758 A.H.