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’' Sultau Ibrahim pitching out his tents struck the kettle-drum of march, and making forced march*, in a short time, with a powerful army reached Bengal, and encamped at Firnzpur* Rajah Kans, on hearing this news, was confounded, and hastened to wait on the Saint Qutbu-l-‘Alara. Showing submissiveness and humility, and weeping, the Rajah said : “ Pray, draw the pen of forgiveness across the page of the offences of this sinner, and dissuade Sultan Ibrahim from subjugating this country.” The Saint replied: “ In order to intercede on behalf of an oppressive infidel, I cannot stand in the way of a Musalman sovereign, especially of one who has come out at my desire and request.” In despair, Kans pios* trated his head on the feet of the Saint, and added, “ Whatever the Saint may bid, I am willing to submit thereto. The Saint said: “So long as thou dost not embrace the Musalman religion, I cannot intercede for thee.” Kans assented to this condition, but his wife casting that misguided man into the well of misguidance, prevented his conversion to Islam. At length, Kans brought to the presence of the Saint his son named Jadu who was twelve years old, and said : “ I have become old, and desire to retire from the world. You may convert to Islam this 1 “ Qasi Shah&buddm f a sage of Hindustan, flourished in the time (of Ibrahim Shah). Ho was horn at Delhi and in that city acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the inductive sciences and traditional loro, and at the time of the arrival of Timur, he set out for Jaunpur in the company of his master Maulana Khwajigi who was the successor of Nasiru-d-din Cheragh of Delhi, and then continued his progress and bocatno tho envy of his time. 1 *—Ain-i-Akbari (Jarrett’s Tr. f Vol. II, pp. 169-170). 1 i.., Panduah- 116 son of Diinc, and then bestow on him the kingdom of Bengal.*’ The saint Qutbu-l-‘Alam taking out from his own mouth some chewed betel, put it into Jadu’s mouth, and making him pronounce the creed of the Musalman faith, converted him to Islam, and naming him Jalalu-d-din, had the fact proclaimed in the city, and caused the Khutba of the kingdom to be recited after his name The ordinances of the sacred Muhammadan law from that day were again put in force. After this, the saint Qutbu-l-‘Alam went to meet Sultan Ibrahim, and after making apologies, prayed that the latter might withdraw. The Sultan was annoyed at this request, and turned his face towards Qazi Shahabu-d-din. The Qa/.i said : *' Saint, the king has come here at your requisition; aud now you youTself siding with Kans, appear as his agent; what is your aim ? ” The Saint said : “ At that time (when I made the requisition) an oppressive ruler was tyranuising over the Musal- mans ; now owing to the auspicious airival of the Sultan, he has embraced the Muhammadan faith. The Jihad (or holy war) is enjoined against infidels, not against Musalraans.” The Qazi, finding no answer, kept quiet. But as the'Sultan’s temper was irritated, in order to soothe the Sultan, the Qazi commenced testing the learning and miracles of the saint, and was discomfit- ted. After much questions and auswers, the Saint said: “ To view with contempt saints and to try to test them, ends in nothing but discomfiture. Before long, thou shalt die in a wretched plight. And the saint at the same time cast an angry glauce towards tbo Sultan. In short, the Sultan, annoyed and vexed, returned to Jaunphr. It is said that shortly after Sultan Ibrahim and Qazi Shahabu-d-din Jaunpuri died. ‘ Whoever quarrels with saints, suffers.’ Rajah Kans hearing that Sultan Ibrahim had died, displaced Sultan Jalalu-d-din, and himself re-ascended the throne. According to the injunctions of his false creed, the Rajah prepared several gold-figures of cows, shoved in Jalalu-d-din through their mou s, and pulled him out from their buttock-sides, and then distribute the gold of those cow-figures among the Brahmans, aud thus ic- perverted his sou to his own creed. As Jalalu-d-din, however, had been converted by the Saint Qutbu-l-‘Alam, he did not abandon his faith in Islam, and the persuasions of the infidels had no e 117 on his heart. And Rajah Kans again unfurling the standard of misbehaviour, attempted to destroy and extirpate Muhammadans. When his cruelties passed all bounds, one day Shaikh Anwar, son of the Saint Qutbu-l-'Alam, complained to his father of the oppressions of that tyrant, aud said : It is a matter of regret that in spite of such a holy saint of the time as yourself, Musalmons should be oppressed and ground down by the band of this infidel.” The saint at that time was absorbed in prayer and devotion. On hearing tins utterance of his son, the saint was enraged, and replied: “ This tyranny shall cease only, when thy blood shall be shed on the earth.” Shaikh Anwar knew full well that whatever fell from the lips of his holy father, was sure to come to pass, and so after a moment, said : “ What you have said about me, is moet and proper ; but in respect of my nephew, Shaikh Zahid. wl.at is your will V The saiut said : “ The drum of the virtues of Zahid shall resound till resurrect ion-day.” In short, Rajah Kaus extend¬ ing more than before bis oppressions and cruelties, gradually oppressed the servants aud dependants of the saiut himself, plundered their effects and chattels, imprisoned Shaik]i Anwar and Shaikh Zahid. As lie had heard the Saints' prophecy about Shaikh Zahid, not dnriDg to kill him, he banished both to Sunar- gaon, aud sent orders to his agents there, that after ascertaining from them the whereabouts of the hidden treasures of their fathers^ and grandfathers, they should slay both. Aud on the Shaikh's arrival at Sunargaon. they perpetrated many cruelties, yet not finding any clue to the bidden treasures which did not exist, first they murdered Shaikh Anwar, and when they attempt¬ ed to take the life of Shaikh Zahid, the latter stated that in a certain village a large cauldron was hidden. When they dug it up, they fouud a large chatty, but did not find more than one gold com iu it. They enquired, “ What has become of the rest ?” Zahid said: “Apparently some one has slolen it,” And this affair was the ontcome of a miracle. It is said that on the very day and at the very moment when Anwar was murdered at Sunargaon and Ins sacred blood shed on the earth, Rajah Kans passed away from Ins sovereignty to hell. According to some accounts, his boh, Jalalu-d-dm, who was in prison leagued with his father’s ZZ?' 8le "' l,im * The lule and **>* ^ that heathen lasted seven years. ns THE REIGN OF JALALU-D-DiN,i SON OF RAJAH KANS. After tliis, Jalalu-d-diu mounted the throne with full inde¬ pendence. He converted, contrary to his father, many infidels to the Moslem faith, and compelled the Hindus who had tasted of the gold-made figures of cows, to eat beef. And calling back the saint Shaikh Zahid from Suuargaon, he paid him every respect and honour, and rendering him services, was very often in atten¬ dance on him. He managed the affairs of Government in n efficient manner. In his reign, people passed their lives in ease and comfort. It is said that in his time the town of Pandnah became so populous that it cannot be described. At Gaur, he erected a mosque, a resevoir, the Jalali tank and a caravanserai. The city of Gaur commenced being re-populated in his time. He reigned for seventeen years. In the year 812 A.H. 8 he removed the capital back again to Gaur. To this day, a large tower exists over liis mausoleum at Panduah. The graves of his wife and his son lie by the sides of his mausoleum. REIGN OF AHMAD f>HAH, 3 SON OF JALALU-D-DlN. When Sultan Jalalu-d-din was laid in the grave, his son Ahmad Shab, with the consent of the nobles and the generals of the army, asconded the throne, in succession to his father. As he was very peevish, oppressive and blood-thirsty, he shed blood for l He is described in coins (see J.A.S.B., p. 267, for 1873), as Jalalu-d-din Abal Muzaffar Muhammad Shah. His reign probably lasted from 817 to 834 A H (1413 to 1430 A.C.) Some of bis coins were strode at the mint-town of Sunargaon. He resided at Panduab, but in 822 A.H. built a Palace at Gaur, and shifted bis residence to the latter place. Panduah also became very populous in bis time. S The date is a mistake for 822 A.H. ! Hia name aa appearing oa hia coin. i S^mao-d-dto Abu M ° 1 ‘^ Ahnjad Shah. He reigned for 16 year, from 834 to 850 A.H. (that ,. 1430- '^TheTabaqat .talc, that he reigned for aixteen year., and died in 830 A.H. Stewart me, , ho reigned for eighteen year.. Fen.bta ) ■ good and generona king, whil.t Iliya. at.le.ho wo. a tyrant W. b Ahm.d |hih ended the dynaaty of Rajah KCna, and commenced the reatorohon the Ilyas Shiihi dynasty. (See J.A.S.D. for 1878, p. 268). 119 nothing, and used to cut open the bodies of pregnant woman. When his oppressions reached the utmost limits, and the low and the high were exasperated to desperation by his tyranny, Shadi Khan and Nasir Khan who were In's two slaves aud held the rank of nobles intrigued, and killed Ahmad Shah ; and this event occurred in 830 A.H. His reign lasted sixteen years, and according to another account, eighteen years. KEIGN OF NASIR 1SIAN, THE SLAVE. When the throne became vacant by the murder of Ahmad Shah, Shadi Khan desired to put Na$ir Khan out of the way and to become himself tho Administrator-General of the kingdom. Na$ir Khan, guessing his design, forestalled him, and slew Shadi Kljan, and boldly placing himself on the throne, commenced to enforce orders. The nobles and the Maluk of Ahmad Shah not submitting to him, slew him. His reign lasted seven days, and according to another account, half a day. -U- REIGN OF NASIR SgAH.