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The Seven Cities of Delhi

at Delhi, ordered a wholesale massacre of their families, who occupied a suburb called Moghalpur; very different was he from his lenient old uncle.

These proceedings awakened the resentment of the Moghals beyond the frontier, who, after sustaining one defeat, advanced in a great horde to the vicinity of Delhi. This was a business for the king to deal with, for no one else would undertake the task, although the streets were filled with refugees, and panic and famine raged.He therefore marched out of the Budaon Gate with a vast army, drew it up on the plains beyond the suburbs which stretched to the north- east, and joined battle with complete success,although the pursuit was not carried out with vigour, owing to jealousy among his generals.

Ala-ud-din now proceeded to extend his dominions. He had hardly set out, when he was severely wounded in a treacherous attempt at assassination ; fortunately he had the strength to appear before his army, who acclaimed him, and the would-be supplanter had to flee. But more rebellion followed, and on one occasion the rebels managed to seize a great portion of Delhi ; all attempts, however, ended in failure, and no pardon was ever extended to any of those who took part, even their families186