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, Sultan Sharasu-d-din again sent from Bengal Malik Tajn-d-din with some nobles, in the form oi an embassy, with many presents and gifts to Delhi. Sultan Firuz Sliah bestowing attentions on the envoys more than before, after some days, sent in return to Sultan Shamsu-d-din Arab and Turkish horses, together with other valuable presents, in charge of Mali! Saifn-d-din Shahnafil. In the meantime, Sultan Shamsu-d-din 1 nad died in Bengal. Malik Taju-d-din and Malik Saifu-d-din had approached Behar, when they heard the news of the death of Sultan Shamsu-d-din. Malik Saifn-d-dln communicated this intelligence to Delhi, and agreeably to the order of the Emperor, he gave away the horses and the presents in lieu of the pay due to the Imperial soldiers statiufisd in Behar. Malik Taja-d-din returned to Bengal. The wjigu of Shamsil--d*din lasted 16 years and some months. THE REIGN OF SIKANDAR ( SHAH, SON OF SHAMSU- D-DIN. When Sultan Shamsu-d-din Bhangra passed away from this fleeting world, on the third day, with the consent of the nobles 1 Regarding coinage of Ilyas Shah, see ThomoB’s Initial Coinage of Bengal, J.A.S., 1867, pp. 57-58. “ Haring in 740, become master of Western Bengal, ITyas ghah in 753 A.H. established himself at 8unargnon, near Dacca, and thns founded n dynasty which with an exception of about forty years in the beginning of the ninth century of the Hijrah, continued to rule over Bengal till 886 A.H.” (Blochmann’a Contribution, J.A.S., 1878, p. 254). His coins (see p. 68, J.A.S. for 1867), disclose the interesting fact that Heveral of them were minted at Sunargaon (which is termed on the coins Hazrat Jallal Sunargaon or the Illustrious Royal Residence of Sunargaon) faring dates A.H. 753, 754, 765, 756, 757, 758. His name on the coins is "Sbamsu-d-din Abiil Mnztnffar Ilyas Shah." 104 and the generals, his eldest son, Sikandar Shah, ascended the throne of Bengal, and spreading the hem of justice and genero¬ sity on the heads of the people, proclaimed joyful tidings of peace and security. And deeming it expedient to conciliate Sultan Firuz Shah, he sent, in the shape of presents, fifty elephants with sundry rareties. In the meantime, Firnz Shah, Emperor of Delhi, in the year 760 A.H. marched 1 to subjugate the kingdom of Bengal. 1 The object of this second expedition of Emperor Firnz Shah into Bengal in 760 A.H. (1359 A.C.) was to reinstate Zafar Khan (son-in-law of Sultan Fakhro-d-din Mubarak Shah, king of Sunargaon) on the throne of Sunargaon. See details in Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi by Shams Siraj Afif (Pers. MS. text, p. 97). From it, it appears that the Mnsalman throne of Sunargaon was more ancient than the Mnsalman throne of Panduah, that on Firuz Shah’s return from Bengal after his first expedition (this would necessitate a slight modification of Professor Blochmann’s date in n: 1 ante p. 103) Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah sailed and reached Snnargaon in a few days. At that time (755 A-H. or 1354 A-C.) Sultan Fakhru-d-din was reigning in security at Sunargaon. Shamsuddin took him by surprise, captured and slew him, and usurped the Sunargaon Kingdom, in addition to his Kingdom of Lakhnauti and Panduah. At that time Zafur Khan, son-in-law of Fakhruddin who was tonring out in the interior of Sunargaon, to collect revenue and to locally enquire into the conduct of collectors of revenue, heard the above news, sailed on a ship from Sunargaon by the ocean-route to Thatah and thence proceeded to Delhi, and sought help from Firnz Shah. Peace was concluded with Sikandar Shah, on tho latter agreeing to reinstate Zafar Khan in the kingdom of Sunargaon—which how¬ ever did not come to pass, as Zafar Khan preferred to go back to Delhi. Like Ilyas Shah, Sikandar took refuge in the Fort of Ekdalah. From Bengal, Firuz Shah invaded Jajnagor (Orissa), defeated the Rajah who made his submission, carried off the idol of Juganath to Delhi, (p. 119) and captured many elephants. The Emperor’s stay in Bengal and Jajnngar during this expedition covered 2 years and 7 months (p. 121). In this connection, an interesting description of Jajnagar is given by Shams Siraj Afif (Tarikh-i- FTruz Shahi, Pens. MS. text, p. 115, and in Muntakhibal Tawarikh (Pers. text' p 247 Vol. 1, Faso. Ill, ). Bearing in mind what Zia ’BarnT states regarding Jajnagar in connection with Emperor B.ilban’s expedition to Sunargaon, I am inclined to agree with Professor Blochmann that there wore two Jajnagars , one in Orissa, and another towards Tipperah. The account in Muntakh.ba Tawarikh referred to above, is slightly different from that m 1^-..Firuz Shahi by Shams Seraj Afif. Badaoni in Mnntakhib states that F.ruz §hah after completing hie second expedition into Bengal (760 A.H.) returned from Panduah by forced marches to Jannpur (p. 247, Montakhib Pers. text W . , Fksc HI) where he spent tho rainy season, and that at the end of t hisyh by way of Behar. ho marched into Jajnagar (Orissa), passing through Sath, Ira : Baranaei, and crossing the Mahandri river (the Rajah of Barana- 105 When he reached Zafarabad,* the rains setting in, the Emperof* encamped there, and sent envoys to Sikandar Shfth. Sikandar Shah was in anxiety aboat the aim of the Emperor of Delb), when Firnz Shah’s envoys arrived. SikAndar Shah immediately sent his aid-de-camp together with five elephants and other presents, and opened negociations for peace; bnt these resalted in nothing. After the rainy season was over, Sultan Firnz Shah marched to Lakhnauti. When the Saltan encamped in the environs of Pandnah, Sikandar Shah feeling that he was no match for the Sultan followed his father’s tactics, and entrenched himself in the Fort of Ekdalah. Firuz Shah pressed the siege hard. When the garrison was reduced to straits, Sikandar Shah sending forty elephants together with other goods and presents and numerous rareties, and agreeing to pay an annual tribute, sought for peace. Firuz Shah accepting these returned to Delhi. After this for some years, Sikandar Shah with absolute independence gave full rein to enjoyments. And in the year 766 A.H., he built the Adina mosque ;* but before he could finish it, death overtook him, and the mosque remained half finished. Some trace of the mosque still exists in the jungles of Panduah, at a distance of one haroh from the town. The Author of this history has seen it. In fleeing to Telinga and the Rajah of Sathghira fleeing into a distant corner) marched into the territory of Rajah Prlhan Deo, who sent to the Emperor aa tribute 32 elephants, besides other valuable presents, and thence the Emperor marched on hunting expeditions into the forests of Padmavati and Piremtola which contained powerful and big elephants, bagged three live elephants, and killed two elephants, and in 762 A.H. returned to Delhi victorious. The account in Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi by Shnms-i-Siraj is more reliable, aB Siraj’s father was t cith Firuz §hah during the expedition (p. 115)—Siraj correctly mentions 'Banaresi' (which means evidently ‘Katak Banares', there* fere, Badaonis ’Baranasi’ appears to be an error), also names 'Adabah' as Rai of Jajuagar, also “ Rai Shanied,” also ‘Rai Thud.’ The Rajah of Jajnagar owned ships, elephants, and lofty palaces constructed of stone, and laid out with gardens, (p. 116). * Zafarabad lies on the right bank of the Gamti, a little below Jauupor, which lies on the 14* bank. The maps give instead “ Jaffarabad,” which is a oorrnption of " Zaffarabad.” Z&ffarabad is mentioned in the Ain*i*Akbari as apergunah in Sarkar Jannpnr under the Subah of Ilababad (Allahabad)_ Jarrett’s Tr., Ain., Vol. II, p. 164. * This beautiful mosque is at Panduah. Its inscription has been pub¬ lished in J.A.8.B., 1873, p. 257. The inscription was wriiteu in 770 A H (1369 A.C.) * ’ H 10G truth, it is a beautiful mosque, and an enormous sum must have been expeuded on its erection. One ought to be thankful for his efforts. It is said that Sikandar Shah had seventeen sons by his first wife, and by his second wife he had'one son, named Ghiasu- d-din, who, in polish of manners and other qualities, was superior to his other brothers, and was proficient in the art of government. Consequently, the first wife kindling the fire of envy and jealousy and wishing the destruction of Ghiasu-d-din, sought for an opportunity to injure him. One day, finding an opportunity, she respectfully placed the hand on her chest, in the presence of the king, and desired to state her object. The king guessing from the manner of the wife said : “ Speak out what thou hast to say.” The wife said: “ 1 would submit my prayer, if the king would take an oath to fulfil it and try his best to fulfil it.” The king swore to fulfil it, and indulging in a bit of hyperbole said : “ Un¬ bosom the desire that thou hast, and make thy lip the mirror of the dust of thy heart.” The shrewd queen said : “ I am in great anxiety, in consequence of the conduct of Ghiasu-d-din. He is scheming to mount the throne, by killing the king and des¬ troying my sons. Although he is in the position of a son to me, and I do not wish that he should be killed, yet as the safeguard¬ ing of the life of the king is incumbent, you should not let slip from the hand the rein of alertness, but provide previously against any mishap. The best course would be that you should imprison him, or blind his eyes.” The king on hearing this became perturbed, and said, “What is this aim of thine which thou hast mingled with the liquid of my welfare ?, and what is this fire of envy that thou hast mixed with solicitude for me? Thou feelest no shame that thou hast seventeen sons, whilst the other frail lady has only this one son. What you do not like for yourself, do not desire unto others.” The queen again anxiously said : “ Envy and jealousy have nothing to do with my suggestion.