Storia do Mogor 51: OF THE KING SULTAN MIRAN SHAH, THE SECOND [KING] OF THIS FAMILY

51

Sultan Miran Shah wished to be heir of the conquests and valour of his father as he was of his wealth, but Fortune did not deign to accord to him the favour she displayed to Taimur-i-lang. This king, like his father, made irruptions into Hindustan, plundering it in one direction or another, but usually he was compelled to flee defeated into his own territories. His chief efforts were directed against the King of Cascar (Kashghar), his neighbour, but he could never secure the victory over this king; nay, he was seven times defeated and a prisoner of that same king. But that king was so generous that each time he captured him (Miran Shah) he released him after a few days. Scoffing at him, he would tell him to go back once more to his own country; he should go there and make ready a new army and more valiant warriors. He would then take the field in the hope of meeting him, and capture him once more. For it was a delight to fight against him, and to see the persistence in warfare which he had inherited from his father.
Fortune never long favours the same persons, and she allowed this king during one battle to fall into the hands of Sultan Miran Shah. This latter took advantage of this piece of good luck, never once remembering the favours received from this very king. Forthwith he ordered his eyes to be removed, and placed him in very harsh confinement. Thus did he repay the liberty given to him seven times by this king. But neither in this way did Miran Shah increase his fortunes, and he met his death from those same hands that so many times had freed him.
The interested reader should know that most of the Mahomedan great men pride themselves much upon their good shooting with bow and arrow. For this reason they practise many times a day in shooting at the target. One day Miran Shah was at this exercise, when his nobles said to him that the king, then his prisoner, could shoot so well with the bow that, even in his then condition, devoid of sight, and without aiming at the target, he could make no mistake in his shot. It sufficed to strike the mark with your foot, and on hearing the sound, he would shoot straight at it. Miran Shah, being anxious to see such a feat, gave an order to place in his hands a bow and arrow, causing him to be told that he should draw when he heard the sound. He excused himself, saying that no one could direct him to shoot when the king was present but the king himself. This message was brought to Miran Shah, who assented, not knowing the trick that the prisoner meant to play him. When he said 'Shoot,' the prisoner, having beforehand his arrow in readiness in his bow, let it off straight at the place whence came the king's voice, and with such dexterity that it penetrated his chest and killed him on the spot. This king, Sultan Miran Shah, reigned nineteen years, three months, and five days, and came to the end of his misfortunes, leaving in his place his firstborn son, Abuxaid (Abu Said).