Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/194

 156 MOHAMMAD TAGHLAK AND - FIROZ SHAH Tatar Khan saw what was the matter, and both were speechless with surprise. At last he began a little ser- mon on the wickedness of indulgence at such a time of anxiety. The Sultan inquired what he meant, and asked innocently if anything untoward had happened. The khan pointed to the hidden wine-cups under the bed and looked solemn. Firoz said he liked a modest drop now and then to moisten his throat, but Tatar was not to be mollified. Then the Sultan swore that he would drink no more wine while the khan was with the army. So the general thanked God and went out. But Firoz soon afterwards bethought him that the khan was much needed at the other end of the kingdom, and sent him there in all haste. Several times the Sultan was lectured by holy men on his weakness, but he worked off his excesses by vigorous hunting, to which he was enthusiastically devoted, and the vice cannot have gone to such lengths as to interfere with affairs of state at least so long as the able Hindu vizir was there to control them. The testimony of all contemporary chroniclers shows that Firoz was adored by the people. It was not only that he reformed abuses, checked extortion, reduced taxation, increased irrigation, and enlarged the markets and opportunities of labour, but he was " a father to his people," took care of the needy and unemployed, refused to dismiss aged officials, but let their sons act for them" the veteran," he said, " may thus stay at home in comfort, while the young ride forth in their strength "he contrived the marriages of poor Mos-