The feeble and inauspicious dynasty of the Seitls terminated A. D. 1450, by the abdication of Alla, and the sub sequent elevation of Belloli, an Afghan of the commer cial tribe of Loudi, by whom an inland trade was carried on between Pei sia and Ilindostan. Belloli is represented as a humane and generous prince ; but being destitute of talents and vigour, he was totally unqualified to preserve the empire under the circumstances of dissension and weakness in which it was placed. In 1483, it was dis membei ed. All Hindostan fell into separate governments, and the authority of the emperor did not extend beyond the province of Delhi and the contiguous districts. The whole of Bengal and Bahar was under the dominion of a Mahomedan usurper, who had taken the title of king. A potentate, styled King of the East, whose residence was at Jionpour, in the province of Allahabad, was the most formidable of these petty sovereigns. The provinces of the Decan, north of the Krishna, had long thrown off their al legiance, and were now formed into five Mahomedan states, equally independent of each other, and of the imperial government. Yet though the monarchs of Delhi had thus lost their influence and power, they still retained their diadem ; and Secunder, the son of Belloli (who reigned thirty eight years) an enterprising prince, would probably have regained some part of its dignity, had not a premature death put an end to his projects. He died at Agra in 1509, to which city he had transferred the seat of govern ment.
He was succeeded by his son Ibrahim, a man of a very different character. He rendered himself ridiculous by his vanity, and detested by his cruelty. The horrors of civil war and assasination were spread over the country. At length the nobles, who were apprehensive that they were not of themselves equal to the task of getting rid of their tyrant, solicited the assistance of Sultan Babel., the Mogul prince of the house of Timur Bec. This sove reign reigned over a kingdom composed of most of the provinces situated between the Indus and Samarcand. Flaying been stript of the northern parts of his dominions by the Usbecs, he determined to try his fortune in Ilin dostan, and accordingly most readily accepted the invitation of the nobility of Agra. His residence was at Cabul, whence he undertook his first expedition across the Indus, in the year 1517. But it was not till six years afterwards that he took possession of Lahore, and the next year he marched to Delhi. Before he reached that city, Ibrahim met him with a large army, and a fierce battle ensued on the plain of Panniput. In this battle, 16,000 Patans, with Ibrahim himself, were killed. Thus an end was put to the dynasty of Loudi. in consequence of this victory, proceeded first to Delhi, and afterwards to Agra ; both these cities opened their gates to him, and he was pro claimed Emperor of Ilindostan, in the year 1525. It is
said that he crossed the Indus the last time with -only 10,000 chosen horse, the enemy's generals, by their revolts, furnishing him the rest of his army. The provinces which Ire gained were those of .lulran, Lahore, Delhi, Agra, Apneer, and Oude : for, as we have already remarked, the empire of Delhi was no longer the same that flourish ed under Balin. The province of Bengal was completely separated. The rich countries of tic Decan were the scat of another empire. Guzerat did not even nominally ac knowledge the sovereigns of Delhi, and the mountain tribes of Pam) were independent, or at least troublesome and restless subjects.
The reign of Saber, even in those districts which he gained, was by no means tree from anxiety and disaster. He was frequently harassed by insurrections, and at one period his fortune seemed so desperate, that his nobles ad vised him to return to Cabul. To this, however, he would by no means agree ; and by his moderation and firmness, unit ed to a considerable degree of talents and activity of mind, he overcame all obstacles, and placed his kingdom in a state of comp:want c tranquillity. He died in the year 1530. His character may be understood, both front the account given of him by Ferishta, and by the memoirs of his life, written by himself; and the historian does not appear to have drawn it in too flattering colours in the fol lowing terms : " lle so often pardoned ingratitude and trea son, that he seemed to make it a principle and rule of his life to return good for evil ; he thus disarmed vice, and made the wicked the worshippers of his virtue. He was of the sect of the Ilaunafies, in whose tenets and doctrines he was perfectly versed ; but he yielded more to the evi dence of reason, than to the marvellous legends of su perstitious antiquity. He was not, however, forgetful of that rational worship which is due to the Great Creator, nor a despiser of those laws and ceremonies which are founded on sound policy. Ile excelled in poetry and mu sic, and he wrote his own commentaries in the Mogul language with such elegance and propriety, that they arc stir ersally admired." The historian adds, that he was fond of pleasure, though moderate in its enjoyment ; and that he was equally celebrated for his clemency, courage, and justice. As an instance of the latter, he relates, that a caravan from China having been buried in the snow in crossing the mountains. he caused the merchandize to be collected, and sent notice to China of what had happened, in order that the owners might claim their property ; and he restored it to them, refusing to be reimbursed even the expellees he had incurred.