Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/300

 240 THE EMPEROR HUMAYUN present, was completely established over the race of Afghans. From fear either of personal punishment or of deprivation of office there was not a creature who dared to act in opposition to his regulations; and if a son of his own, or a brother, or any of his relations and kin, or any chief or minister, did a thing displeasing to Sher Shah, and it got to his knowledge, he would order the culprit to be bound and put to death. All, laying aside every bond of friendship or regard, for the sake of the honour of the Afghan name, obeyed un- hesitatingly his irresistible decrees. From the day that Sher Shah was established on the throne no man dared to breathe in opposition to him; nor did any one raise the standard of contumacy or rebellion against him; nor was any heart-tormenting thorn grown in the garden of his kingdom; nor was there any of his nobles or sol- diery, or a thief or a robber, who dared to turn the eye of dishonesty upon another's goods, nor did any robbery or stealing ever occur in his dominions. Travel- lers and wayfarers in Sher Shah's reign had no need to keep watch, nor feared to halt in the midst of a desert. They camped at night at every place, desert or inhabited, without fear; they set their goods and pro- visions upon the plain and turned out their mules to graze, and themselves slept with easy mind and free from care as if at home, and the mansabdars, or com- manders of companies of horse, kept watch over them lest any mischief might befall the travellers and they themselves be held responsible. Such a protection over- shadowed the world that a cripple was not afraid of