The History of Fīrūz Shāh (Baranī) 1.10

1.10

The Sultán frequently observed to his associates that elephants and horses were the strength of Hindustan, and that one elephant was worth five hundred horsemen. * * * In the first year of the reign, sixty-three elephants were sent by Tátár Khán, son of Arslán Khán, from Lakhnauti to Dehli, which greatly pleased the people, and was the occasion of great public rejoicing. * * * He took great pleasure in hunting, and followed it with much zest during the winter. By his orders the country for twenty kos round Dehli was preserved, and no one was allowed to take game. * * * He used to go out in the morning, and always returned at night, even if it were midnight. A thousand horsemen belonging to the palace guard, each man of whom was acquainted with his person, accompanied him ; besides a thousand old and trusty footmen and archers. Reports of the hunting expeditions of the Sultán were carried to Huláku, at Baghdád, and he said, "Balban is a shrewd ruler and has had much experience in government. He goes out apparently to hunt * * * but really to exercise his men and horses, so that they may not be wanting when times of danger and war arrive. * * *