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 Chap. Ill]

SULTAN KEIKOBAD.

73

soldiers of fortune, and were even understood to have done good and faitliful service. Nizam-u-din, anxious to get quit of the Mogul mercenaries — who, he feared, mifjlit refuse to be the instruments of his designs — took advantage of a recent Mogul inciu'sion, to persuade Keikobad that it was impolitic to retain them, as in the event of a general invasion, they would certainly join their countrymen. It was therefore resolved to get quit of them by any means, however atrocious. The plan adopted was to assemble the Mogul chiefs, and massacre them by the guards. Even all other officers who had any connection with them were first imprisoned, and then sent off to distant garrisons. While Nizam-u-din was thus clearing away all real or imaginary obstacles, his wife was equally busy in the seraglio, and had all its inmates at her devotion.

Khurra Kiian, Keikobad's father, who had hitherto been contented with Bengal, hearing of the state of affairs at Delhi, wrote to warn his son of his danger. No attention was paid to his advice ; and Khurra Khan, seeing the crisis approaching, determined to anticipate it, by marching with a large army upon Delhi. Keikobad advanced with a still larger army to oppose his progress. The father, feeling his inferiority, proposed negotiation, but the son assumed a liaughty tone, and would appeal to nothing but the sword. Before mattere were allowed to come to this extremity, Khurra Kiian made a last effort, and wi'ote a letter in the most tender and affectionate terms, beijffinof he mifflit be blessed with one sight of his son. Keikobad was melted, and a reconciliation took place, the ultimate effect of which

was, that Nizam-ii-din saw all his trea- ~ ~r ~^^-r

cherous designs frustrated, and was shortly after cut oft" by poison.

For a time Keikobad seemed about to reform ; but he had no decision of character, and his old habits returning, new facticms were formed, and a kind of anarchy prevailed. To increa.se the con- fusion, his dissipation undermined his constituticm, and he became paralytic. Every noble now began to intrigue for power, and two great parties were formed — the one headed by a Khilji of the name of JVIullik Jelal-u-din Feroze, and the other bv two hijjh court oflicei's. who, more loyally disposed, wished to secure the crown to Keikobad's only son, Prince Keiomoors, an infant of three vears of age.

A.D. 1287.

Massacre of tlie Mugul mercen- aries.

.iV- — -.^

Khiuti Chieftain- and Woman '—From Hart's

Afglian Scoiier}-.

Intervifiw of Keikobad with his father, Khurra Kliaii.

The Khiljies, almost to a man,

li • The Khiljies were in former times by far the holding only the second rank among the races of their f most celebrated of the Afghans ; and though now country, they still fondly cherish a remembrance of Vol. I, 10