The Seven Cities of Delhi
with dreadful weapons, so that they might torture the wretched victims of his wrath. But yet "his pomp, wealth, and power were never equalled by any prince who sat before him on the throne of Hindustan."
On the death of the king, Malik Kafur raised to the throne the youngest son, Shahab-ud-din Omar, with a view to controlling the kingdom himself as regent ; to this end he produced a spurious will of the deceased monarch. But his inhuman cruelties, directed against the other sons of Ala-ud-din, caused the commander of the guards to plot against him, and assassinate him thirty-five days after. FIroze Shah was of opinion that he was a faithful servant, and restored his tomb, but history dwells rather on his cruelties. The puppet king was now deposed, and the third son of the late king, Kutb-ud-din Mubarik Shah,was released from prison and the instant fear of being blinded. He gained over all the nobles and ascended the throne, depriving his brother of any chance of regaining the throne by blinding him, for a blind man was ever considered unfit to be sultan. Perhaps we may consider him to have been merciful in not depriving his brother of his life also.
The king now proceeded to thoroughly enjoy himself, and is actually reported to have dressed190
