Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/71

 NIY ALT AGIN, VICEROY OF HINDUSTAN 43 as governor of Hindustan he was instructed by the vizir Maimandi not to meddle with political or revenue mat- ters, which belonged to the function of Kadi Shiraz, the civil administrator, but to keep to the duties of com- mander-in-chief. Besides these military and civil gov- ernors, there was the head of the intelligence depart- ment to whom all orders from the Sultan and minis- ters were sent and who reported everything that oc- curred to his master. " Yet two must not give trouble to the court, " continued the khwaja, " what you have to write to me must be stated in detail in order to receive a distinct reply. His Majesty thinks it ad- visable to send with you some of the Dailami chiefs, to remove them to a distance from the court, since they are foreigners; and also some suspected persons and refractory slaves. Whenever you go on a campaign you must take them with you, but be careful that they do not mingle with the army of Lahore, and let them not drink wine or play polo. Keep spies and informers to watch them, and never neglect this duty. These be the king's secret orders, not to be divulged." To retain a hold on the new viceroy, his son was detained as a hostage. In spite of all these counsels, Niyaltagin quickly fell out with his civil colleague, and complaints reached Ghazni. Full of the example of his old master, he was not content with managing a mere province, but copied the Idol-breaker's daring raids, and actually surprised Benares. No Mohammedan army had ever before pushed so far east, and the great city on the Ganges