Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/120

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86
HISTORY OF INDIA

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IlISTORV ()!•■ iNlJJA.

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Mootmrik Ivliail Hlli:

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A.D. 1321. of the attempt, proceeded at once with Heveral of lii.s soldiers to Mullik Kafoor's apartment, and put liiiii, and several of tiie princijjal eunuchs in his interest, to d(!ath. Prince Moobarik Khan immediately ascended the throne, and Prrnwi Oomor, who had occupied it nominally for three montliH, was deprived of sight, and imprisoned for life.

Moobarik's reign, which lasted four years, is a mere tissue of vices and crimes. The officer who had saved his life, and been the main instrument of his elevation, was put to death, merely because it was said that he j)resumed upon his services. After this most ungi-ateful act, he began to show some little activity; and, besides sending Ein-ool-Moolk, a general of great abilities, into Gujerat, proceeded in person into the Deccan, and recovered the country of the Mahrattas. On returning, he sent his favourite, Mullik Khosrow, to whom he had given the ensigns of royalty, as far as the Malabar coast. Here he remained about a year, and acquired immense wealth by plunder. His ambition being thus excited, he proposed to make himself sovereign of the Deccan. With this view, he endeavoured to gain over the chief officers of his army. He did not succeed ; and a formal charge of treason was made agaiast him to the king, who was, however, so blinded in his favour, that he punished his accusers, and trusted him still more than before.

Moobarik no sooner found himself in quiet possession of Gujerat, the Deccan, and most parts of Northern India, than the little activity which he had begun to display ceased, and he gave himself up to unbounded and shameless excesses. Indecencies which cannot be mentioned, were his daily amusements. Universal discontent and disgust were in consequence excited ; but the first attempt on liis

life was made by his favourite, Khos- row. He had been repeatedly warned that a conspu-acy was being hatched, and the proofs of it were so evident, that it had become the common talk. StiU, his infatuation was continued; and he was not roused from it tni the con- spii-ators were ac- tually on the stairs

He is of the palace. He endeavom-ed to make his escape by a private passage ; but

Khosrow, who knew of it, intercepted him, and a deadl}' struggle took place.

Mausoleum of Khosrow. — From Daniell's Oriental Scenery.