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Chap. Ill] REIGN OF ALA-U-DIN. 81

Two of them took effect, and he fell, apparently dead. Rukn Klian drew his a.d. 1299. sword to cut off his head ; but, as the deed seemed already effectually done, and time was precious, he desisted, and, hastening to the camp, was proclaimed king.

Ala-u-din's wounds were not mortal; and he was able, after they were bound up, to reach the camp, where, to the astonisliment of all, he suddenly appeared on an eminence. Rukn Khan was holdinfj his court when the {istounding news reached him, and had only time to mount his horse and flee. A party sent in pursuit, speedily overtook him, and, returning with his head, laid it at the feet of the king, who shortly after continued his march to Rintimbore, and capture of

Hiiitimbore.

renewed the siege. The phice was obstinately defended; and, after standing out a whole year, was only taken at List by stratagem. Humber Dew, his family, and the garrison were put to the sword. It seems that the rajah's minister had turned traitor, and gone over to the Mahometans with a strong party during the siege. He no doubt anticipated a splendid reward; but met the fate he deserved, wlien, with all his followers, he was ordered to execution. Ala-u-din justified the sentence by observing, that "those who have betrayed their natural sovereign will never be true to another."

Ala-u-din, alarmed at the frequency of conspiracies against his life, became Aiau dins

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anxious to adopt some effectual means 01 preventing their recurrence. With tive i-efonn this view, he summoned his nobles, and commanded them to give their opinions without reserve. They spoke more freely than might have been expected ; and mentioned, among other causes of treason, his own inattention to business, and the consequent difficulty of obtaining redress of grievances — the prevalence of intoxictxtion — the power of aristocratical families in connection with the abuse of patronage — and the unequal division of property. The opinion thus given made a deep impression upon him, and he immediately began to act upon it, though in a manner which left as much room for censure as for approbation. He first applied himself to reform the administration of justice, and made strict intpiiry into the private as well as public characters of all officials. He next adopted a kind of universal spy system, by which he obtained a knowledge of all that was said or done in ftxmilies of distinction in the capital, or throughout the country. Crime, also, was so rigorously punished, that robbery and theft, formerly common, became almost unknown; "the traveller slept secure on the highway, and the merchant carried his commodities in safety, from the Sea of Bengal to the Mountains of Cabool, and from Tulingana to Cashmere." These are Ferishta's words; but the description must be taken with considerable allowance, as a portion of the territories within these limits was not yet under the jurisdiction of the King of Delhi. To repress drunkenness, he issued an edict similar to that of Bulbun, making the use of wine and strong liquors a ctipital offence. To prove his sincerity and determination on the subject, he pm])tied his own cellars into the streets, and was imitated in this respect to T. U