1923.] Life and letters of Malik ‘Aynwl-Mulk Mahra. 279 
Proclamation addressed to the A’imma, Sadat, Mashayih, 
Khans, Maliks, and to all the R‘ayyats and the general public 
of the country of Lakhnauti. 
Before I give an abstract, I may mention that Emperor 
Firaz Shah Sultan invaded Bengal twice, viz. in 754-5 H. 
(1333-4 A.D.), and again in 760-62 H. (1350 A4.D.). In the first 
expedition, narrated both by Minhaj and Shams-i-Siraj, Sultan 
Firaz (who was absent from Dihli, for eleven months) had to 
fight with the Zabit of Lakhnaati, Ilyas Hajji, who had 
assumed the royal title of Shamsu’d-Din. As Ilyas was 
addicted to bhang or Indian hemp, he was vulgarly nicknamed 
Bhangra. In this and other expeditions, the peace-loving 
by his generous policy, and not by coming in deadly conflict 
with his enemies. 
This Proclamation (nishan), which is found among ‘Aynu’l- 
Mulk’s correspondence runs 
‘Whereas it has come to Our auspicious ear that Ilyas Hajji 
Nish ; has been committing nadie a high- 
stan or procla- handedness upon the people of the terri- 
ne alegre Mladen tory of Lakhnauti and Tirhut, shedding 
unnecessary blood, even shedding the 
blood of women, although it is a well established proposition in 
every creed and doctrine that no women even if she be a kafir, 
should be slain: And (wheveas the said Ilyas Hajji) has been 
levying iHegal cesses not sanctioned by the law of Islam, and 
thus putting the people into trouble; there being no security 
of life and property, no safety for honour, and chastity : And 
Whereas the territory was conquered by our Masters and has 
come down to us by inheritance, and also as a gift of the Imam 
(Abbasid Khalifa of Kgypt') it devolves upon our Royal and 
Courageous selves to safeguard the people of that State. And as 
llyas Hajji during the lifetime of his late Majesty was ol e- 
dient, and loyal to the throne ; and even during our auspicious 
Coronation he confessed his submission and fealty, as becomes 
® subordinate, sending petitions and waiters to attend upon 
Us; so if, heretofore, it were brought to our august notice an 
infinitesimal part of the oppression and high-handedness that 
he had been commiting on God’s creatures, we might have 
admonished him, so that he might have desisted therefrom : 
And whereas he has exceeded the limit, and publicly rebelled 
against Our authority, therefore we have approached with an 

: il ij | diploma 
' Tn Zil-Hijja 756 H. (1355 A.D.) a robe of honour and a dip 
arrived from Khalita ALHakim bi Amril’-lah Abi'l-Fath of Egypt ae 
ferring on the Sultan the territories ~f Hindustan-Tarikh.i Mu sae 
Shahi, Elliot-Dowson, 1V 9. Firtiz Shah’s Proclamation ts date 
= i the Fatimid Khalifa, so his claim 
