Riyaz al-salatin 62: REIGN OF MALIK ANDIL, THE ABYSSINIAN, STYLED FIRUZ SHAH.

62

When Malik Andil the Abyssinian, by his good fortune, took in lap the bride of the sovereignty of Bengal, he styled himself Firuz Shah, and proceeding to the metropolis of Gaur established himself there. In the directions of justice and liberality, he put forth noble efforts, and secured for his subjects peace and comfort. In that, during the time he was a noble, Malik Andil had done great and heroic deeds, both his soldiers and subjects dreaded him, and did not lean towards disaffection. In liberality and generosity, he was matchless. In a short time, he bestowed on the poor the treasures and largesses of past sovereigns, who had hoarded the same with considerable exertions and pains. It is said that on one occasion in one day he bestowed on the poor one lak of rupees. The members of Government did not like this lavishness, and used to say to one another : "This Abyssinian does not appreciate the value of the money which has fallen into his hands, without toil and labour. We ought to set about discovering a means by which he might be taught the value of money, and to withhold his hand from useless extravagance and lavishness." Then they collected that treasure on the floor, that the king might behold it with his own eyes, and appreciating its value might attach value to it. When the king saw the treasure, he enquired : "Why is this treasure left in this place?" The members of Government said : "This is the same treasure that you allotted to the poor." The king said : "How can this amount suffice? Add another lak to it." The members of Government, getting confounded, distributed the treasure amongst the beggars. Malik Andil, after reigning for three years, in 899 A.H. fell ill, and the light of his life was extinguished by the breeze of death. But the more reliable account is, that Firuz Shah also was slain at the hands of the Paiks. A mosque, a tower and a reservoir in the city of Gaur, were erected by him.