Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 219.9

219.9

The reign of Mahmood Shah lasted eighteen years, three months, and some days. In the same year, also, died Sulim, the son of Sheer Shah of Dehly, and Nizam Shah, the King of Ahmudnuggur. Mahmood Shah was considered a just prince, fond of encouraging literature, particularly punctual in keeping public festivals, and liberal in the distribution of charity. The most remarkable work of his age is the park wall, fourteen miles in circumference, on the banks of the Kary, in which was plenty of game, and many pleasure-houses. Mahmood carried his fancy to such lengths, in the embellishments in this park, as to clothe the trunks of many of the trees round the pleasure-houses with green and scarlet velvets. He left no heir, having given positive instructions to all the attendants in the seraglio, that when any of the ladies became pregnant, medicines should be administered to produce abortions, rather than incur the necessity of infanticide after birth; for he conceived this to be the only means of securing himself from the attacks of his children. It is worthy of remark, that he permitted Etimad Khan, originally a Hindoo slave, who persuaded the King he had destroyed his virility by the use of camphor, to reside within the seraglio without restraint. The following lines, commemorating the date of the death of the three kings who died in this year, were written by the author's father, Gholam Ally Hindoo Shah: — 1. Sak, eds Syyyarst Aw Sos (2 she ¥S,S5 (2H Jars;! NO 2S