92 TWO OF THE SLAVE KINGS government, from his first conquest of Delhi up to this time, was twenty years, and the time of his reign, during which he wore the crown and had the Khutba read and caused coin to be struck in his name, was something more than four years/ Some confusion followed upon the death of Kutb- ad-din Aybek, since his son Aram proved unworthy to succeed him. The throne then passed to his son-in-law, Shams-ad-din Altamish, who was likewise originally a slave but had raised himself by his ability and had married Kutb-ad-din's third daughter. In the words of Minhaj, our Arab chronicler, the monarch had regarded him " as well suited for empire and had called him his son; " in fact " it was destined from all eternity by the Most High and Holy God that the country of Hindustan should be placed under the pro- tection of this great king, the light of the world and of religion." The remainder of the chapter is abridged from the chronicler's own account of Altamish, or Sul- tan Shams-ad-din, as he prefers to call him.
- It is related by credible persons that Sultan Shams-
ad-din Altamish was chosen in early childhood by the destiny of Providence from the tribes of Albari in Turkistan for the sovereignty of Islam and of the dominions of Hindustan. His father, whose name was Yalam Khan, had numerous dependents, relatives, and followers in his employ. The future monarch was remarkable from his childhood for beauty, intelligence, and grace, which excited such jealousy in the hearts of his brothers that, like Joseph's brethren, they en-
