Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 2: Firoz Shah Tughlik.
Táríkh-i Firishta, of Muhammad Kásim Hindú Sháh Firishta (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 2
- Language
- English
Firoz Shah Tughlik.
2.1
At the time of the death of Mahomed Toghluk, his cousin, Malik Feroze Bdrbek, nephew of Gheias-ood-deen Toghluk, was in the camp. Mahomed Toghluk having a great affection for him, inasmuch as he had paid the most devoted attention to the King during his illness, proposed making him his successor, and accordingly recommended him as such on his death-bed to his nobles. On the King’s demise, the army fell into the utmost disorder; to remedy which, Feroze gained over the majority of the Indian chiefs to his party, and prevailed on the Mogul mercenaries to remove to some distance from the camp, till he should be able to compose the differences which existed in the army. Malik Firoz Bdrbek thought it expedient, with reference to Altun Bahadur and the nobles who had come from Amir Kazghan as auxiliaries, to bestow dignities and honorary dresses upon them, according to their respective ranks, and to give them their dismissal, remarking that it was not improbable, that dissensions might arise between them and the soldiers of Hindustan, which would lead to disturbances, and therefore that it was better, before he marched, that they should break up their camp and depart. Altun Bahadur concurred in the propriety of this recommendation, and immediately striking his camp, pitched it at a distance of ten miles.
2.2
Amir Nowroze Kurhin, the Mogul chief who commanded the troops of his nation in the army, son-in-law of Turmesharin Khan, who in the time of Muhammad Tughlak Shah had come to India, and been enrolled among the chief nobles of the land, now acting a most ungrateful part, quitted the camp on the same night, and joined Altoon Tash, the leader of the auxiliary troops, to whom he suggested that the King of Hindustan was dead, that the army was without a leader and totally disorganized, that the time was favourable for them, and that it was their business as soldiers, to plunder the late King’s treasure on its march the next day, and then to retreat to their native country with all the money and jewels they could possess themselves of. Altoon Tash being persuaded to enter into this scheme, the Moguls returned next morning to the camp, which was still in disorder, to the army which was moving on like a caravan, without a guide, and without system or arrangement, and after a sharp skirmish, loaded several camels with treasure, plundering several treasure-chests which were laden upon camels, took captive many children of both sexes, and were not sparing in their pillage.
2.3
In order to secure himself from further depredation, Feroze [the Umras of Sultan Muhammad, oppressed with a thousand fears and alarms] led the army to Sevustan, commonly called Sehwan, and during the night took every possible precaution to defend himself (themselves,) against the Moguls, and thought rest and sleep a forbidden indulgence. Meanwhile the officers of his army, Makhdum-zada 'Abbasi Sheikh-u-Sheiyuk Nasi-u-din Mahmud, and U'dhi, better known as Chiragh Dehli, and other wise and holy men, grandees and chiefs, all with one accord having waited on Malik Feroze Barbek, represented that the late King had constituted him his successor, and that no other nobleman was more worthy of the honour, and entreated him not to reject the cares of state, but to ascend the throne, to which, after some hesitation, and declaring that he would proceed on a pilgrimage to the two holy cities and Hijaz, when he could no longer resist their importunities, he gave his assent, and was accordingly proclaimed King on the twenty-third of Muharram, after he had passed through more than fifty stages of his illustrious life.
2.4
On the same day he gave orders to ransom the prisoners, who during the late disorders had fallen into the hands of the turbulent people of Tutta and the Moghuls, and on the third day he marched against the rebellious people of Tutta (Thatta), and the Mogul auxiliaries, whom he defeated, that he might take any of them prisoners wherever they might be found, or that he might slay them, and took many of their chiefs prisoners, in short, many of the Moghul chiefs were seized and put to death, Amir Nauroz Kurkin and Altun Bahadur, seeing no further advantage in delay, hastened to their own country with the utmost precipitation, and even the people of Tutta (Thatta), who had proceeded to the greatest extremities in their insubordination and rebellion, placed their feet within the boundary of allegiance. The accession of Sultan Firoz Shah was hailed as a blessing by the people, and they prayed for his health and wealth with all earnestness. Shortly after, he marched by uninterrupted stages from Sewastan to the fort of Bakar.
2.5
In the year A.H. 754 (A.D. 1353) the King, having hunted at Kallanore, at the foot of the hills, caused, on his return, a palace to be built on the banks of the Soorsutty. In the month of Shuwal of the same year, he appointed Khan Jehan to the charge of Dehli, with unlimited powers, and himself marched with a large army towards Luknowty, to subdue Haji Elias. This chief had assumed royal honours and the title of Shums-ood-deen, and had also occupied with his troops the whole of Bengal and Behar, as far as Benares. On the King’s arrival in the neighbourhood of Gorukpoor, the Zemindars of that place made the usual presents, and were admitted to pay their respects. Udi Sing, Mukaddam of that place, came to pay his respects, and presented a suitable offering in money, together with two elephants, and was received with distinguished favour; and the Rai of Gorakhpur also paid up the arrears of tribute which had accumulated for several years, and both of them accompanied the King on his march. The King then penetrated as far as Bundwa, one of the stations of Haji Elias, the established residence of the ruler of Bengal, and the latter retreated to Yekdulla, which is a place of exceeding strength, with the river on one side, and jungle on the other. The King left Bandwa without molesting the inhabitants, and pursuing him to Yekdulla, arrived there on the 7th of Rubbee-ool-Awul. An action ensued on the same day;
2.6
but Haji Elias having entrenched his position very strongly, reduced the King to the necessity of surrounding him. The blockade continued for twenty days, when, on the 5th of Rubbee-ool-Akhir, Feroze, intending to change his ground, as the camp had become offensive, and to encamp on the banks of the Ganges, went out to reconnoitre. The enemy, imagining that he meditated a retreat, left their works and drew up in order of battle. On perceiving it was the King’s intention to attack them, however, they again retreated, but with such precipitation and confusion, that forty-four elephants and many standards, as well as the royal canopy and state equipages fell into the King’s hands. Many of the foot-soldiers were slain, and many taken prisoners. The next day the Sultan encamped on the field of battle, and gave orders that the captives of Lakhnauti should be released. The rainy season soon after came on with great violence, as it always does in the province of Bengal, and the Sultan observed, that as he had gained a victory, and captured the emblems of royalty, he would depart, and return in the following year. Shortly after peace was concluded; and the King returned to Dehli without effecting his object. In the year 755 Feroze built the city of Ferozabad, on the banks of the river Jun (Jumna), adjoining that of Dehli, and on the 12th of Shaban he marched on a hunting expedition to Depalpoor, and constructed a large canal forty-eight coss in length, from the Sutlej to the Kugur.
2.7
In the year 757 he constructed another canal, between (from) the hills of Mundir and Surmore from the Jumna, into which he led seven other minor streams, which all uniting, ran in one channel through Hansy, and from thence to Kaiseen (Absin), where he built a strong fort, which he called Hissar Feroze. Below the fort, near the palace, he excavated a lake, which he filled from the waters of the canal. He also conveyed an aqueduct (a canal) from the Kugur, over the river (which passing by the fort of) Sursutty, to the village of Peri Kehra, (entered the stream of Sirkhatra), where he founded a city, named after him, Ferozabad. At the same time he introduced another canal from the Jumna, which filled a large lake he caused to be constructed at Hissar Feroze. In the month of Zeehuj an honorary dress and a letter of congratulation on his accession, (diploma) were presented from Abool Futteh Aboo-Bukr Aboo-Rubeea Sooliman 'Abbasi Caliph of Egypt, signifying that he had conferred on him the countries of Hindustan, and conveying a recommendation in behalf of the Bahmania Kings of the Dekhan. In the same month also, he received an embassy, which brought many splendid and rare presents, with fresh proposals of peace, from Háji Ilyás, entitled Shamsu-d-din Shah, from Lakhnauti and Bengal, which Feroze accepted, and soon after ratified, and then dismissed the ambassadors with honours and distinction. * * *
2.8
From thence the King marched towards the mountains of Nagrakote, where he was overtaken by a storm of hail and snow; they brought him some ice. The King said, At the time my late liege-lord Sultan Muhammad Tughlak Shah arrived here, and they brought him iced sherbet for his beverage, he refused to take it, because I was not with him to partake of it. He then gave orders that some elephant and camel-loads of sugar, which were in camp, should be converted into sherbet and iced, and distributed throughout the whole army, in memory of Sultan Muhammad Tughlak Shah. The Raja of Nagrakote, after sustaining some loss, submitted, but was restored to his dominions. The name of Nagrakote was, on this occasion, changed to that of Mahomedabad, in honour of the late King. The people of Nagrakote told Feroze, that the idol which the Hindoos worshipped in the temple of Nagrakote was the image of Nowshaba, the wife of Alexander the Great, and that that conqueror had left the idol with them, which the Brahmins had made at the time that conqueror was in these parts, and placed within their temple, and that now that image was the idol of the people of this country. The name by which it was then known was Jwalamooky. In this temple was a fine library of Hindee books, consisting of 1300 volumes.
2.9
Feroze sent for some of the wise men of that religion, and ordered some of the books to be translated, and especially directed one of those books, which treated of philosophy, astrology, and divination, to be translated into prose (verse) in the Persian language, by one of the celebrated poets of that period, Eiz-ood-Deen, Khalid Khany, and called it Dulayil Feroze Shahee. It is in truth a book replete with various kinds of knowledge, both practical and theoretical. Some historians state, that Sultan Feroze Shah Barbek on this occasion broke the idols of Nagrakote, and mixing the fragments with pieces of cow’s flesh, filled bags with them, and caused them to be tied round the necks of Brahmins, who were then paraded through the camp.
2.10
In the year 774, the Wizier Mullik Mokbil (Makbiil), entitled Khan Jehan, died, and his eldest son, Joona Shah, succeeded to his office and titles. The following year was marked by the death of Zuffur Khan, Governor of Guzerat, who was succeeded in his office and titles by his eldest son, Duria Khan. During the next year, on the 11th of Safar, the King was plunged into affliction by the death of his favourite son, Futteh Khan, a prince of great promise, and the back of his strength was bent by the burden of grief. Finding no remedy except in patience and resignation, he buried him in his own garden, and performed the customary ceremonies upon the occasion. On account of the excess of his grief, the shadow of his regard was withdrawn from the cares of state, and he abandoned himself entirely to his sorrows. His nobles and counsellors placed their heads on the ground, and represented that there was no course left but to submit to the divine will, and that he should not show further repugnance to administer the affairs of his kingdom. The wise king acceded to the supplications of his friends and well-wishers, and, in order to dispel his sorrows, devoted himself to sport, and in the vicinity of new Dehli he built a wall of two or three parasangs in circumference, planted within the enclosure shady trees, and converted it into a hunting park. The ruins of it remain to this day.
2.11
As he could gain no information of Kurgoo himself, who remained concealed amongst the ravines and precipices of the hillcountry of Kamaun, eluding pursuit like so much quicksilver, and no one knew whether he was dead or alive, and as the rainy season was approaching, the standards resplendent with victories returned to the camp whence they set out. The King appointed one Mullik Dawood, an Affghan, whom he exalted to a very high rank, with a body of troops, to remain at Sumbhul, with orders to invade the country of Kutehr every year, to commit every kind of ravage and devastation, and not to allow it to be inhabited until the murderer was given up. The King himself also, under pretence of hunting, marched annually in that direction until the year 787, to see that his orders were fulfilled, and to do what Malik Daud had left undone; and for six years not an inhabitant was to be seen in that district, nor was a single jarib of the land cultivated. Not a soul slept at night in his hut, and several thousands of Hindus were slaughtered to avenge the death of those three Saiyids. In the above-mentioned year he built an exceedingly strong fortress in Bisauli, seven coss from Badaun, and called it Firozpur; but the common people, jocose amid all the oppression they had suffered, called it Akhirinpur (the last city);
2.12
and, in truth, it happened as they predicted, for the grace of God did not suffer him to construct any more forts, or to lay the foundations of new cities and towns, and consequently the fortress continued to be called Akhirinpur.