Page:Indian tales of the great ones.djvu/72



Ghyas-ud-din Tughlak, the Moghul, had heard of the beauty of the daughters of Rana-Mal-Bhatti, the Rajput: and he wished a Rajput princess for the wife of his brother Rajab.

But when he sent to ask this, Rana Mai made a haughty answer—"No daughter of the Moon could wed with a slayer of cows."

Then Tughlak demanded at once, and in cash, a whole year's tribute to be paid to Delhi. And Rana Mal was sad, for though the people stripped themselves bare, it would not be easy.

And the sound of the people's crying reached the ears of Rana Mal's old mother, who came to her son's house weeping, with unbound hair, to plead for the people. And as she came Naila, the most beautiful of Rana