Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/205

 FIROZ SHAH THE BUILDER 165 have many troubles; of this there is no doubt. I set- tled allowances upon them in proportion to their neces- sary expenses, so that they might regularly receive the income. Again, by the guidance of God, I was led to repair and rebuild the edifices and structures of former kings and ancient nobles, which had fallen into decay from lapse of time, and I gave the restoration of these buildings the priority over my own works. The Masjid-i Jami' of old Delhi, which was built by Sultan Mu'izz-ad-din Sam, had fallen into decay from age, and needed repair and restoration. I so repaired it that it was quite renovated. The western wall of the tomb of the same Sultan, and the planks of the sepulchre's door, had become old and rotten. I restored this, and, in place of the balcony, I furnished it with doors, arches, and orna- ments of sandalwood. The minar of Sultan Mu'izz-ad-din Sam had been struck by lightning. I repaired it and raised it higher than it was before. The Hauz-i Shamsi, or tank of Altamish, had been deprived of water by some graceless men, who stopped up the channels of supply. I punished these incor- rigible men severely and opened again the closed up channels. The Hauz-i Alai, or tank of Ala-ad-din, had no water in it and was filled up. People carried on culti- vation in it, and had dug wells and sold the water from them. After a generation had passed I cleaned