Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/154

 122 ALA- AD -DIN KHALJI his measures, none may refuse him the title of a strong and capable ruler. The death of the strong man was followed by the results too common in Eastern history. There was no one fit to stand in his place. The favourite Kafur seized upon the government, and set up Shihab-ad- din Omar, a child of six years, on his father's throne. Two elder sons of the late king were deprived of sight with atrocious cruelty. The chief queen was robbed and turned out of the palace. The miscreant was even plotting a general massacre of the great nobles, when one night some foot-soldiers fortunately contrived to murder him in his bedroom. His regency had lasted scarcely more than five weeks. Another son of Ala-ad-din, after acting for a few months as governor over his infant brother, sent him away blinded, 'and took the throne himself in April, 1316, with the title of Kutb-ad-din Mubarak Shah. No more violent contrast to the stern and capable father could be imagined. Mubarak was an easy- going, good-tempered youth of seventeen, the slave of his own pleasures, and everything reverted to the old lax way. The genial new king opened the jails and let seventeen thousand prisoners loose, presented the army with six months' pay, and distributed his grants and largesses promiscuously. All the new taxes and penalties were abolished, and all dread of the Sul- tan and of the revenue officer's scourge vanished. 14 Men were no longer in doubt and fear of hearing
 * Do this, but don't do that; say this, but don't say