8. Volume 1 — part 8

of his most serviceable men had been slaughtered ; he had, in consequence, lost hope, and, withdrawing his consideration from his kingdom and wealth, had embarked, broken-hearted and in a helpless condition, on 200 boats, which he had procured for such an emergency as the present, and had kept moored under his own palace. He had thus effected his escape, fleeing down the river towards Ucli.

Upon this I issued a farman , to the effect that Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, with his nobles and retainers, should proceed along the bank of the river in pursuit of Shahabu-d din. He gallantly pursued with his brave army, and, having come up with the fugitives, engaged them with his archery, and succeeded in making great slaughter of them, and, returning in triumph, obtained the highest rewards. He was admitted to the honour of kissing my footstool, and in guerdon of the gallantry which he had displayed, I loaded him with my princely benefits. The troops also who, in the night attack, had shown such valour, and had received wounds, I distinguished with marks of favour. I ordered Amir Shah Malik to lead his troops into every nook and corner of the island, and search all the jungles and forests, so as to get into his power such of the enemy as had taken refuge in them. He, in obedience to my order, instituted a rigorous search through every nook and cranny of the island, and numbers of the enemy and Indians, who had taken refuge in it, fell a prey to his remorseless scymitar, and he returned, bringing as captives their women and children, and with a large booty consisting of their wealth and property, and many boats laden with grain. When I had burnt and overthrown the city and fort of Shahabu-d din, and levelled it to the ground, I was satisfied, and, departing thence, marched along the banks of the river Jamd (Jhilam). In the meanwhile I heard that Shahabu-d din’s fleet of boats, having arrived in the environs of Multan, had encountered the troops of Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir and those of Amir Sulaiman Shah (who had the command of Prince Shah Rukh’s army), and that the fleet had been completely destroyed, and that Shahabu-d

din had drowned himself, after having first thrown his wives and children into the river, which utter annihilation of his family was very pleasing to me.

After five or six days march, on Sunday the 21st of the month, I came to a place in which the rivers Jamd and Chinad (Chinab) unite, where there was a fort which they have built at the confluence of the two rivers. Here I halted and amused myself by beholding the waves and watery conflict at the junction of these great streams, and the sight of His wonders led me to reflect on the power of Almighty God. But it occurred to me that it would be difficult to cross here without constructing a bridge, and when I gave orders to the nobles and soldiery that they should commence building one, some of the zamtnddn and chief men of the country who were present prostrated themselves, and on their knees made representation that it was impossible to build a bridge over such a strong and turbulent stream, for when Turmsharm Khan came to this country, his utmost endeavours were insufficient to bridge the river, and he was finally obliged to cross by means of boats, so now the great king should also trans- port his army across in boats. I told them that I would cross in that manner in case I found myself unable to construct a bridge, and I immediately gave orders that my whole army should set to work to build one. Accordingly, collecting boats and con- necting them together firmly with chains and cables, and driving down beams and piles into the water, they formed a bridge, and all this was completed and made excessively strong in six days, that is to say by Wednesday the 28th of the month. Mount- ing my horse of state, I crossed the river and gave directions that the several divisions of my army should cross in succession, and I halted another day on the bank of that river for the baggage and troops to pass.

A V lieu all my troops had crossed in safety I marched forward, and when I arrived at the city of Tulamba I pitched my camp on the bank of the river. Tulamba is about seventy miles from Multan. On the same day the Saiyids, and ’Ulama, and

Shaikhs, and chief men and rulers of Tulamba came out to meet me, and enjoyed the honour of kissing my stirrup. As sincerity was clearly written on their foreheads, every one of them accord- ing to his rank was distinguished by marks of my princely favour. Marching forward I halted on Saturday, the 1st of the month Safar, in the plain which lies before the fortress of Tulamba. My waz'irs had fixed the ransom of the people of the city at two lacs of rupees, and appointed collectors ; but as the Saiyids , who are the family and descendants of our Lord Muhammad the chosen, and the ’ Ulama of Islam, who are the heirs of the prophets (upon him and upon them be blessings and peace), had always in my court been honoured and treated with reverence and respect, I gave orders, now that a ransom was about to be levied from the citizens of Tulamba, that whatever was written against the names of the Saiyids and ’ Ulama, should be struck out of the account, and I sent them away, having filled their hearts with joy and triumph by presents of costly dresses of honour, and Arab horses. A reinforcement of troops arrived about this time, so that my army became more numerous than the tribes of ants and locusts, causing scarcity of provisions, so that there was a dearth of grain in my camp, though the people of the city had quantities. Since a part of the ransom, consisting of coin, had not yet been collected, and since my troops were distressed on account of the scarcity of provisions, I ordered that the citizens should make payment in grain instead of money ; but they per- sisted in storing up their corn, totally regardless of the sufferings of my troops. The hungry Tatars, making a general assault upon them like ants and locusts, plundered an enormous number of granaries, so numerous indeed as to be incalculable, and according to the text, “Verily, kings when they enter a city utterly ruin it,” the hungry Tatars opened the hands of devas- tation in the city till a rumour of the havoc they wTere making reached me. I ordered the Siyawals and TawacMs to expel the troops from the city, and commanded that whatever corn and other property had been plundered should be taken as an equiva-

lent for so much ransom. At this time it was represented to me that some of the chief zammdars of the environs of Tulamba, at the time when prince Pir Muhammad was marching on Multan, had presented themselves before him, walking in the path of obedience and submission, but when they had received their dis- missal and returned to their own home they planted their feet on the highway of contumacy and rebellion. I immediately gave orders to Amir Shah Malik, and to Shaikh Muhammad, the son of Aiku Timur, to march with their tumdns and kushuns against these rebels, and to inflict condign punishment upon them. Amir Shah Malik and Shaikh Muhammad, taking a guide with them, instantly commenced their march, and having arrived at the jungles in which these wretches, forsaken by fortune, had taken refuge, they dismounted, and entering the jungle slew two thousand of these ill fated Indians with their remorseless sabres, carrying off captives their women and children, and returned with a great booty of kine, buffaloes, and other property. When on their victorious return they displayed in my sight the spoils they had won, I ordered them to make a general distribution to the soldiery. When my mind was satisfied with the extermina- tion of these wretches, on Saturday the 7th of Safar I set my foot in the stirrup and marched from Tulamba. I halted at a place called Jal, which is on the bank of the river Biyah, opposite to Shahpur. It was represented to me that in this country there was a certain zamindar, by name Nusrat, of the tribe of Khokhar, who, having established himself with two thousand bloodthirsty soldiers in a fortress on the bank of a lake, breathed out defiance and rebellion. Leaving a body of men in that place, I imme- diately marched to attack this Nusrat Khokhar.

Account of the utter annihilation of Nusrat Khokhar.

Leaving behind the heavy baggage with a select body of men, I commenced my march. I appointed Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din and Amir Allahdad to the command of the right wing of the arm}", and Amir Shah Malik and Amir Shaikh Muhammad

were the leaders of the left wing. I took up my own position in the centre, placing in my van ’All Sultan with the infantry of Khurasan. When I arrived at the heavy swampy ground on the bank of the lake, where the God-forsaken Nusrat had taken up his position, I found that he was there with his two thousand men drawn up all ready to receive me. ’All Sultan, with the gallant infantry of Khurasan, immediately entered the marshy ground, and, attacking those unsainted Indians, succeeded in forcing his way half through the difficult ground, and though he and several of his men were severely wounded, kept up a spirited fight. I immediately ordered Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din and Amir Allahdad with the troops of the right wing to hasten to his support, and as soon as they had succeeded in overcoming the difficulties of the ground, they charged full upon Nusrat and his men, who, already worsted, were totally unable to stand the second attack, and were routed with great slaughter. Nusrat himself fell among the slain, but it was not known how he had been killed, or whether he effected his escape. My victorious troops entered and set fire to the residence of Nusrat Khokhar, and having plundered the wealth and property of those Indians and taking an immense booty of flocks, herds, buffaloes, etc., retui’ned to my presence. I immediately left the place and halted at Shah Nawaz, which is a populous village on the bank of the Biyah, where there was a great quantity of grain stored up in magazines and granaries. My soldiers and I carried away as much as ever we were able, and as for what remained I ordered them to set fire to the granaries, and detached a portion of my gallant army in pursuit of some of Nusrat’s followers, who had escaped across the river Biyah. My troops crossed the stream, overtook the army, slaughtered a great number of them, and re- turned with many prisoners and an immense booty. On Tues- day, the 13th of the month, I set out from Shah Nawaz, on my return to the baggage, and pitched my camp on the bank of the river Biyah, opposite to Janjan, in the place where all my heavy baggage and supplies were collected, and gave orders that my

whole army and baggage should cross the river to Janjan, and that they should set up my tent on a little eminence outside the town, at the foot of which was a verdant garden, and when they had done this I myself crossed and mounted to the top of this little eminence, from whence a green pleasant plain met my view. I returned to my tent in time for mid-day prayer, after which one of prince Shah Rukh’s servants, by name, Pir Malik, brought me letters from the prince in Khurasan. These letters I found to contain assurances of his own well-being and that of the country intrusted to his care.

Account of the arrival of the news of the conquest of Multan.

At the same time, intelligence arrived from my prosperous son, Pir Muhammad Jahangir, and the other nobles who were besieging Multan, “that, by the mercy of God, and the good fortune of the great king, victory has shown her face, after we have been employed sis months in the siege of Multan. Sarang, the ruler of Multan, with his army and people, were reduced to such straits that nothing eatable, not even a cat or a mouse, remained alive in their city. When Sarang found himself reduced by famine to such extremity, he was forced by sheer weakness and exhaustion to surrender, bargaining only for his life. On this condition being granted, he came out of the citv and made it over to us, as has been mentioned before. Now the rainy season had by this time set in, and the rain kept con- tinually falling in torrents, so that most of the horses of my own stable, and those of great numbers of the nobles and soldiery died, and we were obliged, by the heavy rains, to shift our quarters from our camp into the city. When some time had elapsed in this manner, and scarcely a horse remained among us, the neighbouring zamindars and chieftains who, by way of obe- dience and submission, had entered the house of subjection, and had all come with offers of service, when they saw our apparent distress, all withdrew their feet from the highway of obedience,

and many of these perfidious chiefs brought death upon them- selves. Now, praise be to God, that at the time when, on ac- count of the mortality among our horses, and the rebellious conduct of the zamindars, we were reduced to perplexity and distress, the report has been spread through the country of the arrival of the victorious standards of the great king, infusing joy into the heart of his servants and inspiring the wretched enemy with penitence for their evil deeds. We shall follow close upon our petition to the glorious threshold.” On reading these letters from Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir, I returned thanks to Almighty God, and on the very next day, having received intelligence of the prince’s near arrival, I sent out a plentiful supply of food and provision for each of the princes and nobles ; I further ordered that all the nobles who were attendants on my stirrup should go forth to pay honour to Prince Pir Mu- hammad, and that all the nobles and army, tuman by tuman, and kushim by kushim, should go forth to meet him. This being done, the prince presented himself in my presence. First, I sent for Prince Muhammad Jahangir, and, affectionately em- bracing him, gave him a place before myself. I then ordered the admittance of the nobles, who knelt and saluted me. After this, ordering the attendance of Mushk-bashis and Yuz-basMs, I saluted them all. I then entered my private tent, taking the prince with me, and stationing the other nobles outside. I alleviated the toils and fatigues which they had undergone in the Multan war, and then, after affable conversation, I dismissed them to their own tents. But keeping with me Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir, I entered into a detailed inquiry of the circumstances of the army, and the behaviour of each of the nobles, and the services which each had rendered, together with any cowardice or short-coming on their part ; to all which ques- tions I received satisfactory answers, and he gave me all the information I required concerning the behaviour of the army, and the conduct of the war, and the particulars of the conquest of the mountain of Sulaiman, with the plundering of that

country, and the passage of the river Indus, and the conquest of the city T7ch, and the details of the siege of Multan, and the defeat of Sarang the brother of Mallu Khan, and various other matters which put me to sleep. I rewarded the prince for the conquest of Multan with a title and other favours, making him excessively joyful ; and I honoured with princely benefits and favours all the nobles who had done good service under him. Some chiefs who, in the expedition against Khwarizm, had de- serted from Jahan Shah’s army and fled into Hindustan, were now, after committing sundry acts of rebellion, reduced to great distress, and at the time that Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir undertook the siege of Multan they presented themselves before him, seeking his protection, which he graciously accorded to them. When the prince came to my camp, he entreated my forgiveness for them, and presented them to me with a petition that their lives might be spared. To gratify him, I agreed to overlook their offences, and ordered that they should be released after the bastinado.

On Saturday, the loth of the month Safar, I issued orders that my troops and baggage should cross the river Biyah, and then crossing over myself, I halted at Janjan, which was stated to be eight miles distant from Multan. At this place I halted four days, in order to give my troops time to effect the passage of the river, and here Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir had pre- pared a sumptuous entertainment, and presented me with valuable gifts, such as crowns, inwrought girdles, and money, and priceless jewels, and Arab horses, with housings inlaid with gold and jewels, and various kinds of embroidered cloths, and precious rarities, and specimens of gold and silver work, such as plates and dishes and covers and beautifully wrought urns and ewers, and these in such quantities that all the scribes attached to my retinue were employed two whole days in taking a detailed in- ventory of them. When I had inspected them, I distributed them among the amirs and others who were present at the as- sembly, taking care to include all in the partition.

Account of my presenting 30,000 horses to the army of Prince Pir Muhammad.

Now since the nobles and the soldiers of Prince Pir Mu- hammad had lost all their horses during the rains, and had undergone much toil and fatigue in their march, and had pre- sented themselves at my camp, some on foot and some riding bullocks, I gave orders to my master of the horse to produce 30,000 chargers, which I presented to Prince Pir Muhammad, thus furnishing his whole army with a remount. When all my troops, some by boats and some by swimming, had effected the passage of the river Biyah, I marched forward from Janjan and arrived at Sahwal. Leaving this place on Friday, the 21st of Safar, I arrived at Aswan, where I halted for one day ; continuing my march on the next I arrived at Jaliwal, where I pitched my camp. It was here brought to my notice that the zaminddrs and nobles of the city of Dibalpur had at first come to Multan and tendered their allegiance to prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir, beseeching a governor from him. Yield- ing to their entreaty, he appointed Musafir Kabuli to be Ddrogha of Dibalpur, and gave him the command of a thousand men ; but in the rainy season, when the horses of the soldiery were in- capacitated, the people of Dibalpur entering into a conspiracy with the servants of Firoz Shah, made a sudden attack upon Musafir Kabuli, who was unprepared for any such treachery, and put to death both him and the thousand men who were under his command ; but (said my informants) now that the Great King has paid these countries the honour of a visit, these rebels have deserted their city and taken refuge in the fort of Bliatnir, which is one of the most renowned fortresses of India, and the raja of the fort is an important person, famous throughout the whole country.

Account of the capture of the fortress of Bhatnir.

On hearing this relation, the fire of my indignation was ex- cited, and I appointed Amir Shah Malik and Daulut Timur

Tawachi to march forward with a large army, by way of Dibal- pur, towards Dehli, and ordered them to wait for me at Samana, which is a place in the neighbourhood of Dehli. I, myself, in the meanwhile, pushed forward upon Bhatnir with a body of 10,000 picked cavalry. On arriving at Ajodhan, I found that among the shaikhs of this place (who, except the name of shaikh, have nothing of piety or devotion about them) there was a shaikh named Manua, who, seducing some of the in- habitants of this city, had induced them to desert their country and accompany him towards Dehli, while some, tempted by Shaikh Sa’d, his companion, had gone to Bhatnir, and a number of the wise men of religion and the doctors of law of Islam, who always keep the foot of resignation firmly fixed in the road of destiny, had not moved from their places, but remained quietly at home. On my arrival in the neighbourhood of Ajodhan, they all hastened forth to meet me, and were honoured by kissing my footstool, and I dismissed them after treating them with great honour and respect. I appointed my slave, Nasiru-d din, and Shahab Muhammad to see that no injury was inflicted by my troops on the people of this city. I was informed that the blessed tomb of Hazrat Shaikh Farid Ganj-shakar (whom may God bless) was in this city, upon which I immediately set out on pilgrimage to it. I repeated the Fatiha , and the other prayers, for assistance, etc., and prayed for victory from his blessed spirit, and distributed large sums in alms and charity among the atten- dants on the holy shrine. I left Ajodhan on Wednesday, the 26th of the month, on my march to Bhatnii’, and, passing by Kudanah, I halted at Khalis Kotali, which is a place ten kos distant. At this place I made inquiries concerning the fort Bhatnir. The people of the country informed me that Bhatnir was about fifty kos off, and that it was an extremely sti’ong aixd well-fortified place, so much so as to be renowned thi’oughout the whole of Hindustan. All the water used by its inhabitants comes from a resei’voir, which is filled with rain water during the rainy season, and furnishes a supply for the whole year.1 The Choi 1 Mr. Chapman’s translation terminates here.

extends for many kos around, and water is not to be obtained. The people who had fled from Ajodhan had come to Bhatnir, because no hostile army had ever penetrated thither. So a great concourse of people from Dibalpur and Ajodhan, with much property and valuables, was there assembled. The town and fort were full, many could find no room in the city, and remained outside with their property and goods, so that the roads were choked. Immense numbers of cattle were collected in the neighbourhood.

The raja of that place was called Dul Chain.1 He had as- sembled a body of Rajputs , a class which supplies the most renowned soldiers of India, and with these he waited ready to do battle. When I had ascertained all about Bhatnir, after noon-day prayer I mounted my horse and rode out from Khalis- Kotali. The remainder of that day and all that night I pushed on, taking no rest anywhere until I had passed the Choi , and morning broke out. I had sent on an advance guard, which was attacked several times by the enemy’s van. Shaikh Darwesh displayed much bravery, overthrowing and killing two of the enemy’s men. Dul Chain’s advance guard then retreated. I pursued my journey, and at breakfast time I reached Bhatnir. I gave orders that the drums should be beaten, the instruments sounded, and the war cry raised. Immediately afterwards all the vast quantities of goods and property that were outside the city were plundered by my soldiers. Rao Dul Chain, having secured the fort and walls, prepared for his defence, and I, at the same time, resolved to attack and conquer the place.

When I came to the determination of taking the fort of Bhatnir, I appointed Shaikh Nuru-d din, Amir Sulaiman, Amir Allah-dad, and other amirs, to direct the attack upon the right of the fort, and to endeavour to make themselves masters of the

1 The Zafar-ndma calls him “ Dul Chan ; ” the Chain or Chan being most pro- bably intended for “ Chand.”

walls. I appointed Prince Khalil Sultan, Shaikh Muhammad, son of Aiku-timur, and some other commanders of regiments, to make the assault upon the left, and try to take the fort. I, myself, led the centre of my army against the gate. My brave soldiers stormed the fort and walls in all directions, and at the very first assault the fortifications and walls ( hisar wa shahr- band ) were wrested from the hands of the Hindus and the town was taken. Many Rajputs were put to the sword, and all the enormous wealth and property which was in the city fell as spoil into the hands of my soldiers. My brave men showed much courage and determination in this capture of the fort. Rao Dul Chain, with his fighting Rajputs , drew up at the gate of the fort to dispute the entrance. I then directed the generals of the division of Prince Shah Rukh, Amir Sulaiman Shah, and Amir Jahan Malik to fall upon Rao Dul Chain and the men who had rallied round him. They engaged in the conflict, and showed much intrepidity and valour with their flashing swords. Jahan Malik fought like a lion, and Saiyid Khwaja cut down several of the enemy. All my officers and brave soldiers swarmed round the fort like ants and locusts ; some advanced to the edge of the ditch, and some passed over it. When Rao Dul Chain perceived that his fort was being taken by the valour and prowess of my men, he raised a cry for quarter, and prayed a cessation of fighting, declaring his determination to come and make his submission to me. He sent a saiyid to intercede for him. When the saiyid came to me and represented the forlorn and miserable state of the Rao Dul Chain, my respect for the gray beard of the intercessor, and the reverence which I have for saiyids in general, led me to give the command for my soldiers to leave off fighting, telling them that the Rao had determined to come and surrender on the following day. In consequence of this order the soldiers withdrew from the fort and took up their quarters outside the town. The night passed with much vigilance and caution on our part. When morning came the Rao broke his word, and did not come to pay homage to me. I gave the order for again attacking

the fort vigorously, and I directed that every man should strive to mine the wall in front of him, and to make a passage under- neath. In execution of this order, the soldiers pressed forward to make holes under the wall, and a terrible fight ensued. The besieged cast down in showers arrows and stones and fireworks upon the heads of the assailants, but my brave men received these missiles on their heads and shoulders, and, treating them as mere dirt and rubbish, pushed on their work. The enemy found themselves hemmed in on all sides with breaches open, so fear took possession of them, their hearts fell, and they gave up resistance. Rao Dul Chain and his followers ( sipah ) came out on the top of the battlements, and with many signs of distress and trouble begged for mercy, promising that if I would graciously pardon their offences they would surrender, and faithfully wait upon me to pay their homage. I knew very well their hope- less condition, but I remembered the saying of the wise, that “ Clemency is better than victory,” so I granted the prayer of the enemy and returned to my camp. In the evening of the same day, Rao Dul Chain sent his son and his deputy to my tent, bringing with them some head of game and some Arab horses as presents. I received the youth with kindness and princely distinction, gave him a robe and a sword with a golden scabbard, and sent him back to his father. I enjoined him to warn his father against giving way to any suggestions of de- ception and false play, but to come in and make a frank sub- mission ; I would then treat him with favour. If, however, he made any delay, he should see what would happen.

The son returned to his father and told him all that he had seen and heard. Rao Dul Chain had no resource left, so on Friday, the 28th Safar, at breakfast time, he came out of his fort and approached my tent. He brought with him Shaikh S’ad Ajodhani, and, being introduced by the amirs, he was ad- mitted to the honour of kissing my feet. He presented me with twenty-seven Arab horses with gold-mounted harness, and several sporting hawks. I comforted him, and bestowed on him

a robe of gold brocade, a cap and girdle of gold work, and a gold-mounted sword.

A number of the zamindars and chiefs of the surrounding country had put to death the governors, especially the men of Dibalpiir, who had slain Musafir Kabuli with a thousand other persons. These men had fled, and had now taken refuge in Bhatnir. I accordingly ordered Amir Sulaiman and Amir Allah-dad to take their regiments into the town and to bring out all the strangers they could find, with their property and goods. In execution of the order, they went into the town, and, driving out all the refugees, they brought them, with their pro- perty and goods, to my tent. On the 29th Safar I distributed these people in lots among my amirs , and I confiscated all the money and valuables of these daring men for royal uses. Three hundred Arab horses, which had been taken in the fight, I dis- tributed among my soldiers. In retaliation for the murder of Musafir Kabuli and his thousand followers, I ordered 500 men of Dibalpur to be brought to punishment ( yasak ), and their wives and children to be made slaves, that this might be a warn- ing to other daring men. The men of Ajodhan and other places I punished according to their offences. Some received chastise- ment (yasak), and their wives and children were enslaved, others were set free.

When I had inflicted this chastisement on the malefactors, Kamalu-d din,1 brother of Rao Dul Chain, and the Rad's son were stricken with dismay. Although Dul Chain was in my camp, they fled into the fort and closed the gates. As soon as I heard of their proceedings, I ordered the Rao to be placed in confinement, and the flames of my wrath blazed high. I com- manded my officers and men to direct their efforts to the reduc- tion of the fort by breaching and scaling. When the garrison perceived my men advancing bravely to assault the fort, the Rao's brother and son again raised the cry of alarm and distress,

1 The two MSS. of this work, and the four of the Zafar-ndma all agree in giving this Musulman name to the Rao’s brother.

and begged for mercy. They put their swords upon their necks, came into my camp to make excuses for their folly, and presented the keys of the fort to my officers. I spared their lives.

On the 1st Kabi’u-1 awwal I gave instructions to Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din and Amir Allah-dad for realizing the ransom money, and sent them into the city. The rais and Rajputs and chiefs of the city did not act fairly in paying the ransom money, al- though it was a matter in which honourable dealing was neces- sary. Contention and fighting arose between the collectors and the evil-minded rats. When intelligence of this reached my ears, I directed my brave fellows to punish the infidels. In obedience to the order, the soldiers pressed towards the fort, and, fixing their scaling ladders and ropes to the battlements, they carried the fort by escalade. The infidels and Musulmans in the fort now found their case desperate. The infidels shut up their wives and children in their houses, to which they set fire, and they and their families were burned altogether; those who called themselves Musulmans, but who had strayed from the Muham- madan fold, killed their wives and children with the sword, and then boldly facing death rushed together into the fight. My men entered the fort on all sides, and plying their swords and daggers fell upon the foe. The men of the garrison were young and vigorous, active and daring. They fought manfully and a desperate conflict ensued. Some of my renowned and brave men performed prodigies of valour, and received most frightful wounds. The amirs maintained their character with their swords, and fought and strove with manly vigour. Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din maintained, on foot, a fierce conflict with the infidels, and many fell under the blows of his sword. Several of them then joined and made a simultaneous assault upon him. The amir was alone and they were many, so these demons in looks and demons in temper seized him and were endeavouring to take him prisoner. Just at the critical moment Firoz Sistani and Auzan Mazid Baghdadi cut their way to the side of Nuru-d din, and after charging the infidels once and again, they forced them to fall

back, and thus they rescued their comrades from the hands of the gabrs. So in all directions the brave warriors of Islam at- tacked the infidels with lion-like fury, until at length by the grace of God, victory beamed upon the efforts of my soldiers. In a short space of time all the people in the fort were put to the sword, and in the course of one hour the heads of ten thousand infidels were cut off. The sword of Islam was washed in the blood of the infidels, and all the goods and effects, the treasure and the grain which for many a long year had been stored in the fort became the spoil of my soldiers. They set fire to the houses and reduced them to ashes, and they razed the buildings and the fort to the ground. When this victory had been accomplished I returned to my tent. All the princes and amirs waited upon me to congratulate me upon the conquest and upon the enormous booty which had fallen into my hands. It was all brought out and I distributed it among my brave amirs and soldiers ; I bestowed great gifts and rewards on Mazid Baghdadi and on Firoz Sistani who had rescued Amir Nuru-d din, and I promoted them to a high rank.

When my heart was satisfied with the overthrow of the rats and rajas and turbulent dwellers of these parts, on the 3rd Rabi’u-1 awwal the drums of departure sounded ; I mounted my horse, and, after marching fourteen kos, encamped on the borders of a tank, near which was a jungle full of grass. Next day I again marched, and passing by the fort of Firoz I arrived at a town called Sarsuti.

When I made inquiries about the city of Sarsuti, I was in- formed that the people of the place were strangers to the religion of Islam, and that they kept hogs in their houses and ate the flesh of those animals. When they heard of my arrival, they abandoned their city. I sent my cavalry in pursuit of them, and a great fight ensued. All these infidel Hindus were slain, their wives and children were made prisoners, and their property and

goods became the spoil of the victors. The soldiers then returned, bringing with them several thousand Hindu women and children who became Muhammadans, and repeated the creed. Of all the braves who took part in this action, ’Adil Bahadur Fan-ash was the only one who fell.

The following day I rested in the town of Sarsuti, and on the next day, the 6th of the month, I marched eighteen kos, and came near to the fort of Fath-abad, where I encamped. The people of Fath-abad also, by the suggestion of Satan, had fled from the town and taken refuge in the deserts and jungles. I despatched some commanders of regiments after them who over- took them and slew great numbers of them. They took all their property and goods, horses and cattle, and returned to camp laden with spoil. Next day I marched from Fath-abad, and passing by the fort of Rajab-pur, I halted in the vicinity of the fort of Ahruni. The people of this town and fort did not come out to meet me and make their submission so as to escape from the rigour of the army of Islam ; so some savage Tui-ks entered the town and began plundering. Some of the inhabitants who resisted they put to death ; the others were made prisoners. The soldiers brought away great quantities of grain, and set fire to the houses and buildings of the town.

On the 8th of the month I marched from Ahruni, through the jungle to a village called Tohana. In answer to the inquiries I made about the inhabitants, I learned that they were a robust race, and were called Jats. They were Musulmans only in name and had not their equals in theft and highway robbery. They plundered caravans upon the road, and were a terror to Musul- mans and travellers. They had now abandoned the village and had fled to the sugar-cane fields, the valleys, and the jungles.1 When these facts reached my ears I prepared a force which I placed under the direction of Tokal Bahadur, son of the

1 Price demurs to the sugar-canes, but all the authorities agree. (See Price iii. 248.)

Hindu Karkarra,1 and sent it against the Jats. They accordingly marched into the sugar-canes and jungles. I also sent Maulana Nasiru-d din in pursuit of them. When these forces overtook the Jats they put 200 to the sword and made the rest prisoners. A large stock of cattle was captured, and my soldiers returned to camp.

It was again brought to my knowledge that these turbulent Jats were as numerous as ants or locusts, and that no traveler or merchant passed unscathed from their hands. They had now taken flight, and had gone into jungles and deserts hard to penetrate. A few of them had been killed, but it was my fixed determination to clear from thieves and robbers every country that I subdued, so that the servants of God, and Musulmans and travelers might be secure from their violence. My great object in invading Hindustan had been to wage a religious war against the infidel Hindus, and it now appeared to me that it was necessary for me to put down these Jats and to deliver travelers from their hands. I consequently placed the care of the baggage and of all the plunder which had been gained in my victories in the charge of Amir Sulaiman Shah, to convey it with the heavy baggage to the town of Samana.

On the 9th of the month I despatched the baggage from Tohana, and on the same day I marched into the jungles and wilds, and slew 2,000 demon-like Jats. I made their wives and children captives, and plundered their cattle and property. Thus I delivered the country from the terror it had long suffered at the hands of the marauding Jats. On the same day a party of saiyicls , who dwelt in the vicinity, came with courtesy and humility to wait upon me, and were very graciously received. In my reverence for the race of the prophet, I treated their chiefs with great honour. I gave them all valuable robes, and I appointed an officer to go to their abodes and protect them, so that none of my soldiers should do them any injury.

I marched from this place to the banks of the river Khagar,

where I halted, and Amir Sulaiman Shah arrived there also with the baggage on the 11th of the month. Sarnana was near to this place, and as the heavy baggage had not yet come up, I halted several days. On the 13th I marched again, and halted near the bridge of Kotila,1 an ancient structure over the river Khagar. At this stage Sultan Mahmud Khan, Prince Rustam and other commanders of regiments of the left wing, whom I had directed to march to India by way of Kabul, rejoined me. I re- ceived them graciously and enquired about the incidents which had happened on the march, and they informed me that wher- ever the people of any city, or village, or fort, made their submission and offered tribute, they gave them quarter; but whenever any city or fort offered resistance they conquered it, put the inhabitants to death, plundered the goods and property, and divided the spoil among the soldiers. I approved and ap- plauded them.

Next day I crossed over the bridge and halted. Here I was joined by Amir Shah Malik, who brought up the heavy baggage safe by way of Dibalpur. The following day I remained in the same position, but on the 18th I marched from the bridge of Kotila and the river Khagar and encamped at the end of a march of five /cos. Next day I reached the town of Kaithal, which is seventeen kos distant from Samana. I had now come near to Dehli, the capital of Hindustan, and began to prepare for its conquest.

For my intended attack upon Dehli I arranged my forces in the following manner : The right wing J placed under the com- mand of Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir, Prince Rustam, Amir Sulaiman Shah, and * * * • the left I gave to Sultan Mahmud Khan, Prince Khalil Sultan, Prince Sultan Husain, Amir Jahan Shah and * * *. Under my own direction I kept the great tumans , the tumans of San-sir (?) of Amir Allah-dad, and

• • • the army, as thus distributed, extended over a distance of twenty kos. Being satisfied as to my disposition of the forces, I began my march to Dehli. On the 22nd of Rabi’u-1 awwal I arrived and encamped at the fort of the village of Aspandi. In answer to my enquiries about this place I found that Samana was distant seven kos. The people of Samana, and Kaithal, and Aspandi are all heretics, idolaters, infidels, and misbelievers.1 They had now set fire to their houses and had fled with their children, and property, and effects, towards Dehli, so that the whole country was deserted. Next day, the 23rd of the month, I started from the fort of Aspandi, and after marching six kos arrived at the village of Tughlik-pur. I encamped opposite the fort hearing that name. The people of the fort on hearing of the approach of my army, had abandoned it, and had dispersed over the country. From the information supplied to me I learned that these people were called sanawi (fire-worshipers). Many of this perverse creed believe that there are two gods. One is called Yazdan, and whatever they have of good they believe to proceed from him. The other god they call Ahriman, and what- ever sin and wickedness they are guilty of they consider Ahriman to be the author of. These misbelievers do not know that what- soever there is of good or evil comes from God, and that man is the mere instrument of its execution. I ordered the houses of these heretics to be fired, and their fort and buildings to be razed to the ground.

On the following day, the 24th of the month, I marched to Panipat, where I encamped. I there found that in obedience to orders received from the ruler of Dehli the people had deserted all their dwellings and had taken flight. When the soldiers entered the fort they reported to me that they had found a large store of wheat amounting to some thousand mans. I ordered it to be weighed to ascertain the real weight, and then to be distributed among the soldiers. When it was weighed it was found to amount to 10,000 mans of the great weight ( sang-i kalan ),

1 “ Kdjirdn wa mushrik wa be-din wa bad-kish.”

or 160,000 of the legal standard ( sang-i shara’). On the fol- lowing day I inarched from Panipat six kos, and encamped on the banks of a river which is on the road. I marched from this place on Friday, the 26th of the month, and I gave orders that the officers and soldiers of my army should put on their armour, and that every man should keep in his proper regiment and place in perfect readiness. We reached a village called Kanhi-gazin and there encamped. I issued my commands that on the morrow, the 28th of the month, a force of cavalry should proceed on a plundering excursion against the palace of Jahan-numa, a fine building erected by Sultan Firoz Shah on the top of a hill by the banks of the Jumna, which is one of the large rivers of Hindustan. Their orders were to plunder and destroy and to kill every one whom they met. Next day, in obedience to my commands, the division marched and proceeded to the palace of Jahan-numa, which is situated five miles from Dehli. They plundered every village and place they came to, killed the men, and carried off all the valuables and cattle, se- curing a great booty. They then returned, bringing with them a number of Hindu prisoners, both male and female.

On the 29th I again marched and reached the river Jumna. On the other side of the river I descried a fort, and upon making inquiry about it, I was informed that it consisted of a town and fort, called Loni and that it was held by an officer named Maimun as kotwal on behalf of Sultan Mahmud. I determined to take that fort at once, and as pasture was scant where I was, on the same day I crossed the river Jumna. I sent Amir Jahan Shah and Amir Shah Malik and Amir Allah-dad to besiege the fort of Loni, and I pitched my camp opposite to the fort. They in- vested the fort which was under the command of the kotwal named Maimun. He made preparations for resistance. At this time a holy shaikh who dwelt in the town came out very wisely and waited upon me. Although the shaikh was greatly honoured by the people, still, they would not listen to his advice, but determined to fight rather than surrender to me. These people

were Hindus and belonged to the faction of Mallu Khan. They despised the counsels of the venerable father and resolved to resist. When I was informed of it, I ordered all the amirs and soldiers to assemble and invest the fort. They accordingly gathered with alacrity round the fort, and in the course of one watch of the day they carried the place. It was situated in a doab between two rivers, one the Jumna, the other the Halin, the latter being a large canal which was cut from the river Kalini and brought to Firozabad, and there connected with the J umna by Sultan Firoz Shah. Many of the Rajputs placed their wives and children in their houses and burned them, then they rushed to the battle and were killed. Other men of the garrison fought and were slain, and a great many were taken prisoners. Next day I gave orders that the Musulman prisoners should be sepa- rated and saved, but that the infidels should all be despatched to hell with the proselyting sword. I also ordered that the houses of the saiyids, shaikhs, and learned Musulmans should be pre- served, but that all the other houses should be plundered and the fort destroyed. It was done as I directed and a great booty was obtained.

When my heart was satisfied with the conquest of Loni, I rode away from thence on the 1st Rabi’u-1 akhir to examine the fords of the Jumna, and proceeded along the bank of the river. When I came opposite the palace Jahan-numa, I found some places where the river was passable. At the time of mid-day prayer, I returned to the camp. I gave orders to the princes and amirs , and then held a council about the attack upon Dehli and the operations against Sultan Mahmud.

After much discussion in the Council of War, where everyone had something to say and an opinion to offer, it appeared that the soldiers of my army had heard tales about the strength and prowess and appearance of the elephants of Hindustan. They had been told that in the fight one would take up a horseman

and his horse with his trunk and hurl them in the air. These stories had been met by suitable answers from some of the bold troopers. The Council of War at length agreed that a plentiful supply of grain must first be secured, and stored in the fort of Loni as a provision for the army. After this was done, we might proceed to the attack of the fort and city of Dehli. When the Council was over, I ordered Amir Jahan Shah, Amir Sulaiman Sh&h, and other amirs to cross over the Jumna and to forage in the environs of Dehli, bringing off all the corn they could find for the use of the army.

It now occurred to me that I would cross over the Jumna with a small party of horse to examine the palace of Jahan-numa, and to reconnoitre the ground on which a battle might be fought. So I took an escort of 700 horsemen clad in armour and went off. I sent on ’Ali Sultan Tawachi and Junaid Bur-uldai as an advance guard. Crossing the Jumna I reached Jahan-numa and inspected the whole building, and I discovered a plain fit for a battle-field. ’All Sultan and Junaid, my advance-guard, each brought in a man belonging to the van-guard of the enemy. ’All Sultan’s prisoner was named Muhammad Salaf. When I had interrogated him about the matters of Sultan Mahmud and Mallu Khan, I ordered him to be put to death as an augury of good. My scouts now brought me information that Mallu Khan with 4,000 horse- men in armour, 5,000 infantry, and twenty-seven fierce war elephants fully accoutred, had come out of the gardens of the city and had drawn up his array. I left Saiyid Khwajah and Mubashar Bahadur with 300 brave Turk horsemen on gray horses ( sufaid saicar i Tarli) in the Jahan-numa and withdrew towards my camp. Mallu Khan advanced boldly towards Jahan-numa and Saiyid Khwajah and Mubashar went forth to meet him. A conflict ensued, and my men fought valiantly. Immediately I heard of the action I sent Sunjak Bahadur and Amir Allah-dad with two regiments ( kushun ) to their support. As soon as practicable, they assailed the enemy with arrows and then charged them. At the second and third charge the enemy was defeated and fled

towards Dehli in disorder. Many fell under the swords and arrows of my men. When the men fled, an extraordinary in- cident occurred : one of the great war elephants, called Bengalis, fell down and died. When I heard of it I declared it to be a good omen. My victorious troops pursued the enemy to the vicinity of the city, and then returned to present themselves at my tent. I congratulated them on their victory and praised their conduct. Next day, Friday the 3rd of the month, I left the fort of Loni and marched to a position opposite to Jahan-numa where I en- camped. The officers who had been sent out foraging brought in large quantities of grain and spoil.

Timiir instructs the Princes and Amirs about the conduct of the war.

I now held a Court. I issued a summons to the princes, amirs , nuydns, commanders of kushuns, the commanders of tumdns, of thousands and of hundreds, and to the braves of the advance- guard. They all came to my tent. All my soldiers wrere brave veterans, and had used their swords manfully under my own eyes. But there were none that had seen so many fights and battles as I had seen, and no one of the amirs or braves of the army that could compare with me in the amount of fighting I had gone through, and the experience I had gained. I therefore gave them instructions as to the mode of carrying on wrar ; on making and meeting attacks ; on arraying their men ; on giving support to each other ; and on all the precautions to be observed in warring writh an enemy. I ordered the amirs of the right wing and the left wring, of the van and the centre, to take up their proper positions. Not to be too forward nor too backward, but to act with the utmost prudence and caution in their opera- tions. When I had finished, the amirs and others testified their approbation, and, carefully treasuring up my counsel, they de- parted expressing their blessings and thanks.

At this Court Amir Jahan Shah and Amir Sulaiman Shah, and other amirs of experience, brought to my notice that, from

the time of entering Hindustan up to the present time, we had taken more than 100,000 infidels and Hindus prisoners, and that they were all in my camp. On the previous day, when the enemy’s forces made the attack upon us, the prisoners made signs of rejoicing, uttered imprecations against us, and were ready, as soon as they heard of the enemy’s success, to form themselves into a body, break their bonds, plunder our tents, and then to go and join the enemy, and so increase his numbers and strength. I asked their advice about the prisoners, and they said that on the great day of battle these 100,000 prisoners could not be left with the baggage, and that it would be entirely opposed to the rules of war to set these idolaters and foes of Islam at liberty. In fact, no other course remained but that of making them all food for the sword. When I heard these words I found them in accordance with the rules of war, and I directly gave my com- mand for the Tawachis to proclaim throughout the camp that every man who had infidel prisoners was to put them to death, and whoever neglected to do so should himself be executed and his property given to the informer. When this order became known to the gliazis of Islam, they drew their swords and put their prisoners to death. 100,000 infidels, impious idolaters, were on that day slain. Maulana Nasiru-d din ’Umar, a counsellor and man of learning, who, in all his life, had never killed a sparrow, now, in execution of my order, slew with his sword fifteen idolatrous Hindus, who were his captives.

After the whole of the vile idolaters had been sent to hell, I gave orders that one man out of every ten should be told off to guard the property, and cattle and horses,1 which had been captured in the invasion ; all the other soldiers were to march with me. At the time of mid-day prayer the signal was given for the march, and I proceeded to the spot selected for crossing the Jumna, and there encamped. The astrologers who accom- panied the army consulted their books and almanacs as to the time propitious for battle, and they represented that the aspects 1 “ Burdahd, prisoners,” but see p. 213 supra.

of the stars made a short delay advisable. In all matters, small and great, I placed my reliance on the favour and kindness of God, and I knew that victory and conquest, defeat and flight, are each ordained by Him, so I placed no reliance on the words of the astrologers and star-gazers, but besought the giver of victory to favour my arms.

I did not wish the war to be of long continuance ; so as soon as night was over and morning came, I arose to my devotions. I said the morning prayers in the congregation, and I repeated my private prayers, then I took the holy book, which I always carried with me, and sought a fal 1 on the subject of the war. The verse which appeared was one in the chapter of the Bee.3 I immediately sought the interpretation of this verse from those who were present, and they replied that the manifest meaning of it was * * * I received this fal as a propitious indication, and acted in full reliance on its command and on the favour of God.

On the 5th of Rabi’u-l akhir I passed the Jumna by a ford, and pitched my tents on the (other) side of the river. I gave orders to the amirs and other officers to station their men as close as possible round my tent; and I also directed that the ground round the camp should be parcelled out among them, and that each one should have a deep ditch dug in front of his allotment. All the soldiers, great and small, assembled en masse to dig the ditch. In two watches of the day the ditch round the whole camp was complete. I rode round to inspect it, and I ordered that the trees in the vicinity should be cut down, and brought within the ditch ; that their branches should be formed into a strong abattis, and that in some places planks should be set up.

It had been constantly dinned into the ears of my soldiers that the chief reliance of the armies of Hindustan was on their mighty elephants ; that these animals, in complete armour,

2 Sale’s Koran, Yol. II., chapter xvi., verse — “ God propounded as a parable, etc. the application of -which is not very obvious, and required the exercise of some in- genuity on the part of its expounders.

marched into battle in front of their forces, and that arrows and swords were of no use against them ; that in height and bulk they were like small mountains, and their strength was such that at a given signal they could tear up great trees and knock down strongly built walls ; that in the battle-field they could take up the horse and his rider with their trunks and hurl them into the air. Some of the soldiers, in the doubt natural to man, brought some little of what they had heard to my attention, so when I assigned their respective positions to the princes and amirs of the right and left wing and of the centre, I enquired of the learned and good men that accompanied my army, such as * * * where they would like to be placed in the day of battle. They had been with me in many campaigns, and had witnessed many a great battle, but the stories about the elephants of India had so affected them that they instantly replied that they would like to be placed with the ladies while the battle was in progress. So to allay the apprehensions of this class of men I gave orders that all the buffalos which had been taken and placed with the baggage should be brought up ; I then had their heads and necks fastened to their legs, and placed the animals inside the abattis.

I gave orders for the camp to be carefully guarded all night to prevent a nocturnal surprise by the enemy, and the night was passed with the caution and care which are necessary in war. When the morn of victory dawned I said my prayers in the con- gregation, and after I had discharged that duty I gave directions for the drums and other warlike instruments to be sounded. The princes, amirs and niiyans , armed themselves completely and marched with their respective forces in regular order. I mounted my horse and rode forth to marshal my array. When I had arranged my right and left wings I placed the right wing under the command of Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir, Amir Yadgar Birlas, etc. The left wing I put under the command of Prince Sultan Husain, Prince Khalil Sultan, Amir Jahan Shah, etc.

The advance-guard I placed under Prince Rustam, Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, etc. I took my own place with the centre. When all the forces were arrayed I ordered the advance-guard to go forward and obtain some knowledge of the enemy. One of the advance-guard captured a man belonging to the enemy’s van and brought him in to me. When I enquired about the position of the enemy, he told me that Sultan Mahmud had drawn up his army with the intention of fighting. His right wing was com- manded by Mu’inu-d din, Malik Hadi, and other officers. His left wing was under Taghi Khan, Mir ’Ali, and others. The Sultan had taken up his own position with the centre, and had appointed a body of troops to act as rear-guard. His whole force amounted to 10,000 veteran horse, and 40,000 warlike infantry. He had also 125 elephants covered with armour. Most of them carried howclas in which were throwers of grenades (r’ad-andaz), fireworks ( atash baz ), and rockets ( takhsh-andaz ). Thus they came up to battle.

The enemy’s forces now made their appearance, and for better reconnoitering their order I rode to the top of a little hill which was hard by. There I carefully scrutinized their array, and I said to myself that with the favour of God I would defeat them and gain a victory. I alighted from my horse on the top of that hill and performed my devotions. I bowed my head to the ground and besought the Almighty for victory. As I did this I perceived signs that my prayers were heard. When I had finished, I mounted my horse in the full assurance of God’s assistance. I returned to the centre and took up my position under the Imperial standard. I then gave orders for ’Ali Sultan Tawachi, Altun Bakhshi, etc., to march with their regiments to strengthen the right wing. I also commanded the other officers to proceed with their men to the support of the vanguard. It so happened that just at the same time Amir Yadgar Birlas and Sulaiman Shah, who were with the right win", and Amir Shaikh

Nuru-d din and Amir Shah Malik, who were with the advance guard, had conceived the idea and had observed to each other

that they should look upon any reinforcement received from the centre as a presage of victory. It was just then that the Almighty put it into my mind to send them assistance.

The two armies now confronted each other, the drums were beaten on both sides, shouts and cries were raised, a trembling fell upon that field, and a great noise was heard. At this time Sunjak Bahadur, Saiyid Kliwaja, Allah-dad, and others, separated from the advance-guard, and when they perceived that Sultan Mahmud’s forces had drawn near, they moved off to the right, and getting secretly behind the enemy’s advance-guard as it came on unsuspecting, they rushed from their ambush, and falling upon them in the rear, sword in hand, they scattered them as hungry lions scatter a flock of sheep, and killed 600 of them in this one charge. Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir, who com- manded the right wing, moved forward his own forces, and with Amir Sulaiman Shah and his regiments of brave cavalry, fell upon the left wing of the enemy and poured down upon it a shower of arrows. They fell boldly upon this division of the enemy, which was commanded by Taghi Khan ; and Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir with great courage and determination at- tacked one of the fierce elephants and cut off its trunk with his sword, so that the severed part fell upon the ground. My brave soldiers pressing like furious elephants upon this wing of the enemy compelled it to take flight.

The left wing of my army, under Prince Sultan Husain, Amir Jahan Shah, Amir Ghiyasu-d din, and other amirs , bravely attacked the enemy’s right wing, which was commanded by Malik Mu’inu-d din and Malik Hadi. They so pressed it with the trenchant sword and piercing arrows that they compelled the enemy to break and fly. Jahan Shah pursued them, and at- tacked them again and again until they reached the gates of the city (of Dehli).

Simultaneously, Sultan Mahmud, with Mallu Khan and the army of the centi’e, with its officers and soldiers more numerous than ants or locusts, and with its strong war elephants, made its

attack upon (my centre). Prince Rustam, Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, etc., met it with a brave and resolute resistance. While they were thus engaged, Daulat Timur Tawachi, Mangali Khwaja, and other amirs came up with their respective forces and assaulted the enemy. I now gave the order to a party of brave fellows who were in attendance upon me, and they cut their way to the sides of the amirs , who were fighting in the front of the battle. They brought the elephant drivers to the ground with their arrows and killed them. Then thev attacked and wounded the elephants with their swords. The soldiers of Sultan Mahmud and Mallu Khan showed no lack of courage, but bore themselves manfully in the fight, still they could not withstand the successive assaults of my soldiers. Seeing their own plight and that of the soldiers and elephants around them, their courage fell, and they took to flight. Sultan Mahmud and Mallu Khan reached the city with a thousand difficulties, and shut themselves up close in the fortifications.

Prince Khalil Sultan captured one of the famous elephants of Sultan Mahmud, having brought down its driver with an arrow. He brought the animal to me, and I embraced the lad, and gave him some fine presents, for he was only fifteen years old though he had exhibited such courage and manliness.

The whole of Sultan Mahmud’s army was defeated ; part was slain, and part had found refuge in the fort, and I, exalted with victory, marched towards the fort. When I reached its gates I carefully reconnoitred its towers and walls, and then returned to the side of the Hauz-i Mass. This is a reservoir, which was constructed by Sultan Firoz Shah, and is faced all round with stone and cement ( gach ). Each side of that reservoir is more than a bow-shot long, and there are buildings placed around it. This tank is filled by the rains in the rainy season, and it sup- plies the people of the city with water throughout the year. The tomb of Sultan Firoz Shah stands on its bank. When I had pitched my camp here, the princes and amirs and nmyans , and all the generals and officers, came to wait upon me to pay their

respects and offer their congratulations on this great victory. I embraced the princes and amirs, and I praised them all for their exertions and courage which I myself had seen. When I re- counted the favours and mercies I had received from the Al- mighty, my excellent sons, the brave and renowned amirs , who served under me, and the great and glorious victories I had achieved, my heart melted, and the tears burst from eyes. I cast myself upon the ground and poured forth my thanksgivings to the All-beneficent. All who were present raised their voices in prayer, and in wishes for the continuance of my prosperity and the prolongation of my reign.

I called up the heavy baggage and here formed my camp, and I issued orders for my soldiers 1 to be very cautious and watch- ful. Sultan Mahmud and Mallu Khan, after their defeat, had taken refuge in the fort in a wretched state. They now repented of the course they had taken, and regretted that they had not made submission to me, and so avoided the evil which had be- fallen them. They saw that if they stayed in the fort they would be captured and made prisoners, so in the middle of that night, 7th Rabi’u-1 akhir, Sultan Mahmud and Mallu Khan left the fort of Jahan-panah and fled towards the mountains and jungles. When I heard of this I immediately sent Amir Sa’id and * * * other officers in pursuit. They followed with all speed, and, coming up with the fugitives, they killed many of them, and obtained great spoil. Malik Sharfu-d din and Malik Khudai-dad, sons of Rashid Mallu Khan, were taken prisoners, with many others, and brought back to my camp. On the same night that I heard of the flight of the Sultan and his generals from Dehli, I sent Amir Allah-dad and other officers to watch the gate of Hauz-raui, through which Mahmud had escaped ; and that of Baraka, by which Mallu Khan had gone out. I also sent men to all the other gates, with orders not to let the people escape.

1 There is a sentence here which I do not understand : —

I mounted my horse and rode towards the gate of the maiddn. I alighted at the ’ id-gali , a lofty and extensive building, and I gave orders for my quarters to be moved there, and for my throne to be set up in the ’id-gah. I took my seat upon the throne and held a Court. The saiyids, the kazis, the ’ulama (learned Musul- mans), the shaikhs , and the great men and chiefs of the (Muham- madans of the) city assembled and came out to attend my Court. I had them introduced one by one, and they made their obeisances, and were admitted to the honour of kissing my throne. I re- ceived every one of them with respect and kindness, and directed them to be seated. Fazlu-llah Balklii was vakil and ndib of Mallu Khan, and he came out to wait upon me and do homage, accompanied by a party of the officials and clerks of the govern- ment of Sultan Mahmud and Mallu Khan. Hereupon all the saiyids , ’ulama, shaikhs, and other leading Musulmans arose, and, making the princes their mediators, they begged that quarter might be given to the people of Dehli, and that their lives might be spared. Out of respect to the saiyids and ’ulama, whom I had always held in great esteem and honour, I granted quarter to the inhabitants of the city. I then ordered my ensign {tank) and royal standard to be raised, and the drums to be beaten and music played on the tops of the gates of Dehli. Kejoicings for the victory followed. Some of the clever men and poets that accompanied me worked the date of the victory into a verse, which they presented to me. Of all these memorial verses I have introduced (only) this one into my memoirs —

“ On Wednesday, the eighth of Rabi’ the second (17th Dec., 1398), 1 The Emperor Sahib-Kiran took the city of Dehli,” etc., etc.

I rewarded and honourably distinguished the literary men and poets who presented these verses to me.

I sent a party of men into the city to bring out the elephants which Sultan Mahmud had abandoned when he fled. They

1 This agrees with the Bauzatu-s Safa, translated by Price and followed by Elphinstone. Ferishta makes it a month later. — See Price Mahommedan History, III., p. 262; Briggs’ Ferishta, I., p. 401.

found 120 enormous elephants and several rhinoceroses, which they brought out to my Court. As the elephants passed by me I was greatly amused to see the tricks which their drivers had taught them. Every elephant, at the sign of the driver, bowed his head to the ground, made his obeisance, and uttered a cry. At the direction of their drivers they picked up any object from the ground with their trunks and placed it in their drivers hands, or put it into their mouths and kept it. When I saw these mighty animals, so well trained and so obedient to weak man, I was greatly astonished, and I ordered that they should be sent to Turan and Tran, to Fars, and Azur, and Rum, so that the princes and nobles throughout my dominions might see these animals. Accordingly I sent five to Samarkand, two to Tabriz, one to Shiraz, five to Hirat, one to Sharwan, and one to Azurbaijan.

When Friday came, I sent Maulana Nasiru-d din ’Umar, with some other holy and learned men that accompanied ray camp to the Masjid-i jami\ with directions to say the prayers for the Sabbath, and to repeat the khutba of my reign in the metropolis of Dehli. Accordingly, the khutba , with my name, was repeated in the pulpits of the mosques in the city of Dehli, and I rewarded the preachers with costly robes and presents.

When the preparations for holding a court in Dehli were com- plete I gave orders for the princes, the amirs, the nuyans, and other of my officers, and the saiyids, the ’ ulamd , the shaikhs, and all the principal men of the city to attend my Court. When they had all arrived I entered and took my seat upon the throne. The Turk and Tajik musicians and singers began to play and sing. Wine ( sharab ) and sharbat, and sweetmeats, and all kinds of bread and meat were served ; I bestowed rich robes, and caps, and girdles, and swords, and daggers, and horses, etc., etc., upon the princes, and amirs and other leading men of my army, especially upon those braves who had distinguished them- selves by deeds of valour under my own observation. To some I gave regiments and raised their dignity. Upon the saiyids and

'ulama of the city I bestowed robes and presents. I ordered my secretaries to draw up despatches announcing my victories in Hindustan, and to circulate them with all speed throughout my dominions. And I ordered my revenue officers to make pro- vision for collecting the ransom-money assessed upon the city, excepting the saiyids , ’ ulama, , and shaikhs. The collectors pro- ceeded about their work, and I remained in the same quarters for several days, holding courts, giving feasts, and partaking of pleasure and enjoyment.

On the 16th of the month some incidents occurred which led to the sack of the city of Dehli, and to the slaughter of many of the infidel inhabitants. One was this. A party of fierce Turk soldiers had assembled at one of the gates of the city to look about them and enjoy themselves, and some of them laid violent hands upon the goods of the inhabitants. When I heard of this violence, I sent some amirs , who were present in the city, to restrain the Turks. A party of soldiers accompanied these amirs into the city. Another reason was that some of the ladies of my harem expressed a wish to go into the city and see the palace of Sazar-sutun (thousand columns) which Malik Jauna built in the fort called Jahan-panah. I granted this request, and I sent a party of soldiers to escort the litters of the ladies. Another reason was that Jalal Islam and other diwans had gone into the city with a party of soldiers to collect the contribution laid upon the city. Another reason was that some thousand troopers with orders for grain, oil, sugar, and flour, had gone into the city to collect these supplies. Another reason was that it had come to my knowledge that great numbers of Hindus and gabrs, with their wives and children, and goods, and valuables, had come into the city from all the country round, and consequently I had sent some amirs with their regiments ( kusliur ) into the city and directed them to pay no attention to the remonstrances of the inhabitants, but to seize and bring out these fugitives. For

these several reasons a great number of fierce Turk! soldiers were in the city. When the soldiers proceeded to apprehend the Hindus and gabrs who had fled to the city, many of them drew their swords and offered resistance. The flames of strife were thus lighted and spread through the whole city from Jahan- panah and Slid to Old Dehli, burning up all it reached. The savage Turks fell to killing and plundering. The Hindus set fire to their houses with their own hands, burned their wives and children in them, and rushed into the fight and were killed. The Hindus and gabrs of the city showed much alacrity and boldness in fighting. The amirs who were in charge of the gates prevented any more soldiers from going into the place, but the flames of war had risen too high for this precaution to be of any avail in extinguishing them. On that day, Thursday, and all the night of Friday, nearly 15,000 Turks were engaged in slaying, plundering, and destroying. When morning broke on the Friday, all my army, no longer under control, went off* to the city and thought of nothing but killing, plundering, and making prisoners. All that day the sack was general. The following day, Saturday, the 17th, all passed in the same way, and the spoil was so great that each man secured from fifty to a hundred prisoners, men, women, and children. There was no man who took less than twenty. The other booty was immense in rubies, diamonds, garnets, pearls, and other gems ; jewels of gold and silver ; ashrafis , tankas of gold and silver of the celebrated ’Alai coinage ; vessels of gold and silver ; and brocades and silks of great value. Gold and silver ornaments of the Hindu women were obtained in such quantities as to exceed all account. Ex- cepting the quarter of the saiyids , the ’ ulama , and the other Musulmans, the whole city was sacked. The pen of fate had written down this destiny for the people of this city. Although I was desirous of sparing them I could not succeed, for it was the will of God that this calamity should fall upon the city.

On the following day, Sunday, it was brought to my know- ledge that a great number of infidel Hindus had assembled in

the Masjid-i jami’ of Old Dehli, carrying with them arms and provisions, and were preparing to defend themselves. Some of my people who had gone that way on business were wounded by them. I immediately ordered Amir Shah Malik and ’All Sultan Tawachi to take a party of men and proceed to clear the house of God from infidels and idolaters. They accordingly attacked these infidels and put them to death. Old Dehli then was plundered.

I ordered that all the artisans and clever mechanics, who were masters of their respective crafts, should be picked out from among the prisoners and set aside, and accordingly some thou- sands of craftsmen were selected to await my command. All these I distributed among the princes and amirs who were present, or who were engaged officially in other parts of my dominions. I had determined to build a Masjid-i jami ’ in Samarkand, the seat of my empire, which should be without a rival in any country ; so I ordered that all builders and stone- masons should be set apart for my own especial service.

By the will of God, and by no wish or direction of mine, all the three cities of Dehli, by name Siri, Jahan-panah, and Old Dehli, had been plundered. The khutba of my sovereignty, which is an assurance of safety and protection, had been read in the city. It was therefore my earnest wish that no evil might happen to the people of the place. But it was ordained by God that the city should be ruined. He therefore inspired the infidel inhabitants with a spirit of resistance, so that they brought on themselves that fate which was inevitable.

When my mind was no longer occupied with the destruction of the people of Dehli, I took a ride round the cities. Siri is a round city ( shahr ). Its buildings are lofty. They are sur- rounded by fortifications ( 'kala’/i ), built of stone and brick, and they are very strong. Old Dehli also has a similar strong fort, but it is larger than that of Siri. From the fort of Siri to that of Old Dehli, which is a considerable distance, there runs a strong wall, built of stone and cement. The part called Jahan-

panah is situated in the midst of the inhabited city ( shahr-i dhadan). The fortifications of the three cities have thirty gates. Jahan-panah has thirteen gates, seven on the south side bearing towards the east, and six on the north side bearing towards the west. Siri has seven gates, four towards the outside and three on the inside towards Jahan-panah. The fortifications of old Dehli have ten gates, some opening to the exterior and some towards the interior of the city. When I was tired of examin- ing the city I went into the Masjid-i jdmi, where a congregation was assembled of saiyids, lawyers, shaikhs, and other of the principal Musulmans, with the inhabitants of their parts of the city, to whom they had been a protection and defence. I called them to my presence, consoled them, treated them with every respect, and bestowed upon them many presents and honours. I appointed an officer to protect their quarter of the city, and guard them against annoyance. Then I re-mounted and re- turned to my quarters.

Campaign against the Infidels after the conquest of Delili.

I had been at Dehli fifteen days, which time I had passed in pleasure and enjoyment, holding royal Courts and giving great feasts. I then reflected that I had come to Hindustan to war against infidels, and my enterprize had been so blessed that wherever I had gone I had been victorious. I had triumphed over my adversaries, I had put to death some lacs of infidels and idolaters, and I had stained my proselyting sword with the blood of the enemies of the faith. Now this crowning victory had been won, and I felt that I ought not to indulge in ease, but rather to exert myself in warring against the infidels of Hindustan.

Having made these reflections on the 22nd of Rabi’u-1 dkhir, I again drew my sword to wage a religious war. I started from Dehli and marched three kos to the fort of Firoz-ab&d, which stands upon the banks of the Jumna and is one of the edifices erected by Sultan Firoz Shah. There I halted and went in to

examine the place. I proceeded to the Masjid-i jami’, where I said my prayers and offered up my praises and thanksgivings for the mercies of the Almighty. Afterwards I again mounted, and proceeded to pitch my camp near the palace of Jahan-numa. On this day Saiyid Shamsu-d din Turmuzi and ’Alau-d din, naib-karkari, whom I had sent on an embassy to Bahadur Nahir at the city of Kutila,1 returned to my camp, and presented to me a letter which Bahadur had most respectfully written to me to the following effect : “ I am one of the most insignificant servants of the great amir , and will proceed to his court to wait upon him.” The ambassadors informed me that Bahadur Nahir would arrive at my court on Friday. Bahadur Nahir sent to me as a tribute two white parrots which could talk well and pleasantly. The envoys presented them to me, and told me that these two parrots had belonged to Sultan Tughlik Shah, and that they had lived at the courts of the Sultans ever since. The sight of these parrots and the sound of their voices gave me great satisfaction, so I gave directions that they should be brought before me in their cages every day that I might listen to their talk.

Next day I crossed the Jumna and marched six kos to the village of Mudula. There I halted and encamped. On the following day, Friday, I again marched, and after going five or six kos, arrived at the village of Katah,2 where I pitched my camp. Bahadur Nahir, with his eldest son, named Kalnash, 3 arrived to pay their respects, and I received them with due courtesy. They brought rare and suitable presents from Hindustan, but I looked upon the two parrots as the best of their gifts. After I had ascertained their sincerity from their words and actions, I honoured them with my royal favour and bounty, and having raised their dignity, I removed all doubt and apprehension from their minds. On the following day I marched, and, after going six kos, I arrived at the town

1 See note infra page 455. 2 Or “ Kanah.”

3 The different MSS. of the Zafar-nama hare “Kaltash, ” “ Kathsh,” and “ Katlagh tash.”

of Baghpat, where I encamped. Next day, Sunday the 26th, I again moved, and, after travelling five kos, arrived at the village of Asar, which is situated in a tract called doab.

I now learned that there was in the vicinity a city called Mirat, having a very strong fort. The fortress was one of the strongest in Hindustan, and it was under the command of Tlyas Afghan and his son, Maula Ahmad Thanesari. There was also a gabr named Safi, who, with a large body of gabrs, had gone into the fort to aid in its defence. They had also plenty of the munitions and implements of war. When I heard all this, I instantly sent Prince Rustam, Amir Taghi Bugha, Amir Shah Malik, and Amir Allah-dad against this fort of Mirat, with orders to grant terms to the place if the inhabitants showed due submission and obedience ; but if not, to inform me and proceed to invest the place. These officers marched on the 26th of the month, and, arriving at Mirat, delivered my message, calling upon the inhabitants to capitulate, and to trust their lives, property, and honour to my protection. They replied that Tarmsharin Khan, with a host beyond all number and compute, had assailed their fort, but had retired from it baffled. My envoys reported to me the defiant answer of the inhabitants, and when I read the insolent reference they made to Tarmsharin Khan, who was a great king, my anger was roused, and J mounted my horse and gave orders for my forces to march against Mirat. On that same day, the 28th of the month, after mid-day prayer, I started with 10,000 picked horsemen. Halting one night upon the road, I accomplished the distance of twenty kos, and arrived at Mirat on the 29 th.

In the afternoon I ordered my officers to set the men of their divisions 1 to sap holes under the walls of the fortifications. In execution of this order they set to work, and in the course of one night each party had pushed their mine twelve yards forward under the defences. When the besieged discovered this, they

1 The word used is “ morchal,” which would imply that there was a special party or corps of sappers.

lost all nerve and were quite cast down and bewildered. At this time the devoted regiments ( kushiin ) of Amir Allah-dad Kuchin assaulted the gate of the fort, rushing against it shouting their war-cry. Sarai Bahadur, son of Kalandar Bahadur, one of the followers (naukar) of Amir Allah-dad, was the first to bring up a scaling ladder, attach it to the walls, and mount to the summit. A number of brave men rallied to support him, and, with the aid of their ladders and ropes, they mounted the walls and entered the fort. They then spread themselves in the interior, and, fighting vigorously and bravely, Rustam Birlas at length encountered Tlyas Afghan and his son, Maulana Ahmad Thane- sari. He fought valiantly, and made them both prisoners ; then, binding their hands to their necks, he brought them to my pre- sence. Safi, who had fought well, was killed. The braves and soldiers of my army spread themselves over every part of the fortifications, and put all the gabrs and people of the place to death. Their wives and children were made prisoners, and all their property was plundered. When my mind was set at rest by this conquest of Mirat, I gave orders that the wood used as props to support the mines under the walls should be set on fire, and that all the towers and walls should be levelled with the ground. The houses of the gabrs were set on fire, and the great buildings were razed. Divine favour had thus enabled me to obtain an easy victory over Mirat, a place which Tarmsharin Khan, a prince of great dignity and power, had besieged with an enormous army and failed to capture. With a small force I had made a rapid march upon the place, and my brave fellows, by sheer courage and determination, had planted their ladders and scaled the walls in broad daylight, and had carried the place at the point of the sword. For this signal success I offered my devout thanks to the Almighty.

On the 1st Jumada-1 awwal I placed the left wing of the army under the command of Amir Jahan Shah, with orders to march

up the Jumna, to take every fort and town and village he came to, and to put all the infidels of the country to the sword. The amir led off his army to execute my commands. I ordered Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din to take charge of the heavy baggage, and convey it to the banks of the river Kard-su.1 I, myself, de- termined upon directing my arms against the infidels on the Ganges. I accordingly marched towards that river, which is fourteen kos from Mirat. Amir Sulaiman Shah, whom I had left with the baggage, came up according to order, and joined me on the march with his division. The first day I marched six kos, and halted for the night at the village of Mansura. Next day, the 2nd of the month, I arrived early in the morning at Piroz-pur, and then I proceeded for two or three kos along the bank of the river in search of a ford. At breakfast time I reached the place of transit, but found no ford. A party of my men entered the river on their horses and crossed by swim- ming. I also was about to guide my horse into the water to cross in the same way, when the amirs and nhyans cast them- selves upon their knees, and represented that Prince Pir Mu- hammad and Amir Jahan Shah, with the right wing of the army, had crossed the river near Piroz-pur, and that it was advisable for me not to cross over that day. I assented to their representation, and encamped on the bank of the river, but I ordered Amir Jahan Malik, and others belonging to the division of Prince Shah Rukh, to cross over and pass the night there. On the following day, the 3rd of the month, I marched up the river for a distance of fifteen kos, towards Tughlikpur, and that place was five kos distant, when I heard that a large body of infidel Hindus had collected at the fords of the river. I immediately ordered Mubashar Bahadur and ’All Sultan Tawachi to proceed with 5,000 horse to chastise these infidels, and I proceeded on my way to Tughlikpur. As I went on, the air and the wind affected me, and I felt a pain in my right arm, which every moment increased. It caused me much suffering, and sundry 1 “Black-river;” a translation of the Hindu Eulini.

hot applications 1 were applied. I was now informed that there was a force of Hindus coining down the river in forty-eight boats with the intention of fighting. This intelligence acted as a cure for my pain, and eagerness for the fight made me forget my suffering. I mounted my horse, and, taking with me 1,000 troopers, who were at hand, we struck our heels into the flanks of our horses and hastened to the side of the river. As soon as my braves saw the boats, some of them rode their horses into the river and swam to the vessels ; then, seizing fast hold of the sides, they defeated all the efforts of the Hindus to shake them off. They forced their way into some of the boats, put the infidels to the sword, and threw their bodies into the river ; thus sending them through water to the fires of hell. Some of my men dismounted, and, proceeding to the ford, assailed the enemy with arrows. The occupants of the boats returned the arrows, but the vessels were at length wrested from their posses- sion, and were brought with their contents to my presence. The enemy had lashed ten of their boats together with chains and strong ropes, and these vessels maintained the fight. My men plied them with arrows till they slew many of them ; they then swam off, and, boarding the boats, put every living soul to the sword, sending them through water to the fires of hell.2

When I was at leisure, after this affair with the boats, I, on the same day, marched on to Tughlikpur, and there encamped. I sent on Amir Allah-dad, Bayazid Kuchin, and Altun Bakhshi with a force as an advance-guard to cross the river and to obtain information for me of the whereabouts of the enemy. After their departure, when three watches of the night had passed, two horsemen came in from Allah-dad to report that the re- connoitring party had discovered a ford by which they had passed the river, and had found on the other side a large body of infidel Hindus, with a great amount of property and goods,

1 “ Garm-dd.ru” explained as “hot spices, cloves, etc.” Timur was probably suffering from rheumatism.

2 Timtir was evidently proud of this savage jest.

under the command of a man named Mubarak Khan. Confident in their numbers, they were ready to fight. As soon as I learned this, I ordered my forces to be drawn Out, and I mounted my horse and started off greatly incensed. Before morning broke I passed the Ganges with 1,000 horsemen fully equipped for service. After proceeding a kos, the time for morning prayer arrived, so I alighted from my horse in the plain, paid my de- votions, and offered my praises. I then again mounted, in full assurance of the favour of the Almighty, and went on towards the enemy. Mubarak Khan was informed of my approach, and stood, with 10,000 fighting men, in battle array, prepared to fight.

Attended by my escort, I was carefully examining and scruti- nising the enemy, and the whole of my 1,000 horsemen had not come up. The great bulk of the army was engaged in plunder- ing expeditions at a distance. I had but 1,000 men, and the enemy numbered 10,000, still I put my trust in God and prayed to Him for victory. By a wonderful coincidence, just at this juncture, Saiyid Khwaja and Jahan Malik with 5,000 horse, whom I had sent on a plundering excursion, having made a sweep, came up in my rear just in the nick of time. If it had not been so I might here have said farewell, for I could hardly have escaped. I deemed their arrival a most fortunate omen, offered my thanks to God and faced the foe. I ordered Amir Allah-dad and Amir Shah Malik to make a charge upon the enemy with the thousand horsemen of my escort, and not to be dismayed by the numbers of their antagonists. When, in obedi- ence to my command, they dashed forward, the enemy did not await their charge, but wavered and turned and fled. My brave fellows pursued and killed many of them, made their wives and children prisoners, plundered their property and goods, and secured a vast number of cows and buffalos. When, by the favour of God, I had secured this victory, I got off my horse and prostrated myself on the ground to pay my thanks.

While the soldiers were occupied in securing the spoil, I sat down to take a little rest, but some of the reconnoitring party came in with the information that there was a large number of Hindus assembled in the valley of Kutila,1 on the side of the Ganges, having made that valley a place of refuge. I instantly mounted, and leaving the greater part ( tamami ) of my force to secure the spoil, I started off for the valley of Kutila with only five hundred horsemen. When I reached the place I found an immense number of gabrs assembled in the darra. Instantly I ordered Amir Shah Malik and ’All Sultan Tawachi to charge the enemy without paying the slightest heed to their numbers, although they were twenty to one. Spurring their horses, shouting their war-cry, and brandishing their swords, they fell upon the forces ( aficaj ) of the enemy like hungry lions upon a flock of sheep. At the first charge the ranks of the enemy were broken, and many of their men fell under the blows of the sword. God thus gave me victory with such a small band of followers over such a numerous host of the enemy. After many of them had been slain, those who escaped kept in the thickets and defiles (i darraha ), skulking like foxes and jackals. An immense booty was left, and my braves were busy in securing it. Only one hundred men remained with me as a guard, the other four hundred were engaged in collecting the plunder. At this con- juncture Malik Shaikha, commander of the infidels, with five hundred horse and a large force of foot, knitting their brows with hatred, advanced against me. I perceived this force coming to attack me, and my warlike spirit was roused, so, with the hundred men who supported me, I spurred on to meet the foe. When about the distance of a bow-shot remained between us, one of the horsemen, who was in advance of me, turned round and told me that it was a force belonging to Shaikh Kukar, one

1 In the two MSS. of this work this name is written and but the

MSS. of the Zafar-nama generally have Kupila, which is an old name of

Hardwar, and the description of the place in page 458 infra , leaves no doubt of its being Hardwar. Petis de la Croix and Price also both have Kupila.

of my dependents and servants, who was coming to join my camp. These words, so far from the truth, reached my ears, and I was satisfied and turned back. But Malik Shaikha drew his sword, and came dashing on with his men against my fol- lowers, of whom several received wounds. When I ascertained the fact that these were foes, and not the people of Shaikh Kukar, I turned rein, and charging the enemy despatched many of them at the first attack. Malik Shaikha received a spear thrust in his stomach, and a sword cut on the head. He fell from his horse, and my men made him prisoner. They bound his hands to his neck and brought him to my presence. Many of the gabrs were killed and wounded ; a few escaped half dead (with fright). Malik Shaikha, a very large and powerful man, was brought before me, wounded as he was. The awe of my presence added to his wounds, took such an effect upon him that when I asked him a question, he surrendered his soul to the Lord of Hell before he could answer me. God thus granted me two great victories in one day, and I offered my thanksgivings for his favour.

Again I mounted my steed, and as I did so intelligence was brought to me that in the valley ( darra ) of Kutila, two kos distant, a large number of infidels and gabrs had collected with their wives and children, and with property, goods, and cattle beyond all estimate. The road thither was arduous, through jungles and thickets. When I heard this my first thought was that I had been awake since midnight, I had travelled a long distance without any halt, and had surmounted many difficulties, I had won two splendid victories with a few brave soldiers, and I was very tired, I would therefore stop and take rest. But then I remembered that I had drawn my sword, and had come to Hind with the resolution of waging a holy war against its in- fidels, and so long as it was possible to fight with them, rest was unlawful for me. Although I had only a few amirs and a few soldiers with me, I placed my trust in God, and determined to attack the enemy. Spurring my horse, I started, and when I

had gone a little way, I remembered howr three days before I had sent Prince Pir Muhammad and Amir Sulaiman Shah across the river from the village of Pirozpur, and I thought how opportune it would be if they were now to join me. But then I said how can they know that I have crossed the river, or how can they conceive that I am engaged in this distant place1 in action with the infidels. I was going along with my head bent down, en- gaged in these reflections, when suddenly a large body of men came to view in the distance, and every man had something to say about them. I sent forward some scouts to ascertain what force it was, and as they drew near they discovered that it was the division of Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir and Amir Sulaiman Shah. The scouts immediately proceeded to the prince and told him of the state of affairs, how I had already won two great victories that day, and that for the third time I was marching against a numerous body of gabrs collected at Kutila. The prince and his men had previously heard nothing of me, and now, on getting this timely information, they were very glad, and turned to wait upon me. The scouts whom I had sent to reconnoitre returned, and told me that the prince with his division in martial array was coming up. They added that the prince knew nothing about me until they informed him of the enterprize I had in hand, and that he was now on the way to meet me. This information, so in accordance with my wishes, rejoiced me greatly. It was quite beyond my expecta- tions, for I had no idea of the prince being near ; so I was glad, and prostrated myself on the earth in thanks to God for having granted me what my heart desired. It was now the time of afternoon ( asr ) prayer, and it wras the fourth of the month. The prince and Amir Sulaiman Shah came up with their numerous force, and were honoured with an interview. Pressing on with all haste I passed the jungles and thickets, and arrived in front of the infidels. After a slight resistance the enemy took to flight, but many of them fell under the swords of my soldiers.

All the wives and children of the infidels were made prisoners, and their property and goods, gold, money and grain, horses, camels ( shutur ), cows and buffalos in countless numbers, fell as spoil into the hands of my soldiers. Satisfied with this rout of the enemy, I said the afternoon prayers in public in that desert, and I returned thanks to God for that I had fought three times with enemies outnumbering my men by ten and twenty to one, and that in each battle I had gained a signal victory.

The day now drew to a close and night came on, but in that desert there was no place for me to alight and pitch my camp, so I turned back with my enormous booty, and encamped in the field where I had won the second victory. There I passed the night in repose.

At this place information was brought to me that fifteen k os off, up the river, and near the mountains, there was a place in which there was the image of a cow, carved out of stone, and that the river («&) ran from its mouth. In the belief of the people of Hindustan the source of the river Ganges was in this same mountain. The Hindu infidels worship the Ganges, and once every year they come on pilgrimage to this place,1 which they consider the source of the river, to bathe and to have their heads and beards shaved. They believe these acts to be the means of obtaining salvation and securing future reward. They dispense large sums in charity among those who wear the Brah- manical thread, and they throw money into the river. When infidels die in distant parts, their bodies are burned, and the ashes are brought to this river and are thrown into it. This they look upon as a means of sanctification. When I learned these facts, I resolved to war against the infidels of this place, so that I might obtain the merit of overthrowing them.

Information was also brought to me that all the men whom I had defeated in the valley of Kutila, before coming hither, had not been killed. The day having drawn to a close, many had escaped and were hiding in the thickets and broken ground.

Neither had all their property been plundered. So I resolved to go again next day to that valley, and to put all the surviving infidels to death. At dawn on the 5th Jumada-1 awwal I said my morning prayer, and started with a suitable force for the valley of Kutila, which lies at the foot of a lofty mountain and on the banks of the Ganges. During the night all the gabrs who had been scattered reassembled under their chiefs, and as they had no place of refuge more secure, they resolved that if the Musulmans returned, they would fight till they died. So they were prepared for battle. When I approached the darra , I made the following disposition of my forces for conquering the infidels. I placed my right wing under Prince Pir Muham- mad Jahangir and Amir Sulaiman Shah. The left wing I gave into the charge of several amirs of tumans. I gave the command of the advance to Amir Shah Malik, and I kept the centre under my own orders. Upon entering the valley the infidels at first, having drawn up their forces, put on a bold appearance and advanced to the attack. I restrained the braves of my advance- guard, and of the right and left wings, and, having massed them together, charged the enemy, shouting aloud our war-cry until the hills and valleys resounded. The sounds of the kettle- drums and other warlike instruments fell upon the battle field, and at the first and second charge dismay seized upon the enemy, and they took to flight. My brave men displayed great courage and daring; they made their swords their banners, and exerted themselves in slaying the foe. They slaughtered many of the infidels, and pursued those who fled to the mountains. So many of them were killed that their blood ran down the mountains and the plain, and thus (nearly) all were sent to hell. The few who escaped, wounded, weary, and half dead, sought refuge in the defiles of the hills. Their property and goods, which exceeded all computation, and their countless cows and buffalos, fell as spoil into the hands of my victorious soldiers.

When I was satisfied with the destruction I had dealt out to the infidels, and the land was cleansed from the pollution of

their existence, I turned back victorious and triumphant, laden witli spoil. On that same day I crossed the Ganges, and said my mid-day prayers in the congregation, on the bank of that river. I prostrated myself in humble thanks to God, and after- wards again mounting my horse, marched five miles down the river and then encamped. It now occurred to my mind that I had marched as a conqueror from the river Sind to Dehli, the capital of the kings of India. I had put the infidels to the edge of the sword on both sides of my route, and had scoured the land ; I had seized upon the throne of the kings of India ; I had defeated Sultan Mahmud, the king of Dehli, and triumphed over him; I had crossed the rivers Ganges and Jumna, and I had sent many of the abominable infidels to hell, and had purified the land from their foul existence. I rendered thanks to Al- mighty God that I had accomplished my undertaking, and had waged against the infidels that holy war I had resolved upon : then I determined to turn my course towards Samarkand, my capital and paradise. On the 6th of the month I mounted and proceeded towards the heavy baggage, and, having travelled several /cos, I encamped, and sent some yurutchis (quarter- masters) to go and bring up the baggage.

On Tuesday I marched six kos, and the heavy baggage was now four kos distant. I now learned that an immense number of infidels had collected in the Siwalik hills. Upon inquiring into the nature of these hills, I was informed that the people of Hindustan compute this mountain region at one lac and the fourth part of a lac.1 It has narrow and strong valleys ( darra :), in which the infidels had assembled. When I received this in- formation I immediately ordered the troops, with the baggage, to march towards the Siwdlik hills, and I, myself, proceeded in

that direction. Marching in the evening and into the night, I accomplished five kos, and then encamped in the hills. At this halt Prince Khalil Sultan and Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, who had been with the baggage, and to whom I had issued my order, came up. When I was seated on my cushion of royalty, with all the princes and amirs around me, Amir Sulaiman Shah, Amir Shah Malik, Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, and other amirs, rose from their places, and, coming forward, bowed their knees before me and said : “ So long as we, your servants, are able to move hand and foot, we will execute your orders, but what necessity is there for our great amir to take all this toil and hardship upon himself, and that he should now order us to march against the infidels of the Siwalik, and to rout and destroy them?” I replied: “ My principal object in coming to Hindus- tan, and in undergoing all this toil and hardship, has been to accomplish two things. The first was to war with the infidels, the enemies of the Muhammadan religion ; and by this religious warfare to acquire some claim to reward in the life to come. The other was a worldly object; that the army of Islam might gain something by plundering the wealth and valuables of the infidels : plunder in war is as lawful as their mothers1 milk to Musulmans who war for their faith, and the consuming of that which is lawful is a means of grace.” When the amirs received this answer, they maintained silence. I now despatched some horsemen with all speed to Amir Jahan Shah, whom I had sent off a week before to plunder the forts and towns on the Jumna, ordering him to rejoin me with all speed, that he and his men might also share in the merit of fighting against the infidels. The amir came in directly and joined me. Then, placing my trust in God, I mounted my charger, and, on the 10th of the month, marched towards the Siwalik hills.

In a valley ( darra ) of these hills there was a rdi named Bahruz, the number of whose forces, and whose lofty, rugged, narrow, and strong position, made him superior to all the chiefs of the hills, and, indeed, of most of Hindustan. At the present time es-

pecially, he, having heard of my approach, had done his best to strengthen his position, and all the malignant rats of the country had gathered round him. Proud of the number of his men and

soldiers, the height of his darra and abode, he stood firm, resolved upon fighting. On the other hand, I resolved upon attacking Bahruz and conquering the Siwalik hills.

On the 10th Jumada-1 awwal I mounted my horse and drew my sword, determined on fighting the infidels of the Siwalik. First I attended to the disposition of my forces. I gave the command of the right wing to Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir and Amir Sulaiman Shah ; and I placed the left wing under Prince Sultan Husain and Amir Jahan Shah. I sent forward Shaikh Nuru-d din and Amir Shah Malik in command of the advance-guard of the centre. When my arrangements were complete, we marched, and on approaching the valley, I ordered the drums to be beaten, the instruments to be sounded, and the war-cry to be raised, until the hills and valleys echoed with their sounds. I proceeded to the mouth of the darra, where I alighted from my horse, and sent forward my amirs and soldiers. They all dismounted, and, girding up their loins, marched forward to the conflict, full of resolution and courage. The demon-like Hindus were lurking in places of ambush, and attacked my sol- diers, but these retaliated with showers of arrows, and falling upon them with the sword forced their way into the valley. There they closed with them, and fighting most bravely they slaughtered the enemy with sword, knife, and dagger. So many fell that the blood ran down in streams. The infidel gabrs were dismayed at the sight, and took to flight. The holy warriors pursued them, and made heaps of slain. A few Hindus, in a wretched plight, wounded and half dead, escaped, and hid them- selves in holes and caves. An immense spoil, beyond all com- pute, in money, goods and articles, cows and buffalos, fell into the hands of my soldiers. All the Hindu women and children

in the valley were made prisoners. When I was fully satisfied with the defeat of the insolent infidels of the Siwalik, and with the victory I had gained, I returned triumphant, and encamped in the same place. This night I passed as a guest in the tents of Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir.

When morning came I ordered all the plunder that had fallen into the hands of my men to be collected, for I understood that some had obtained much and others little, and I had it all fairly divided. On that day, the 11th of the month, I marched and joined the heavy baggage. I encamped at the village of Bahrah, in the country of Miyapur. Next day I again marched, and accomplishing four kos, halted at the village of Shikk Sar. An enormous quantity of plunder, goods and articles, prisoners and cattle, was now collected together with the heavy baggage, and the people of the army were very heavily laden ; consequently it was difficult to march more than four or five kos in a day. On the 13th I encamped at the village of Kandar.

On the following day, the 14th Jumada-1 awwal, I crossed the river Jumna with the baggage, and encamped in another part of the Siwalik hills. Here I learned that in this part of the Siwalik there was a rajah of great rank and power, by name Ratan Sen. His valley ( darra ) was more lofty and more narrow, and his forces more numerous than those of Raja Bahruz. The mountains around are exceedingly lofty, and the jungles and woods remarkably thick, so that access to the valley was im- possible, except by cutting through the jungle. When I under- stood these facts about Ratan Sen, I felt my responsibilities as a warrior of the Faith, and I was unwilling that the night should pass in ease ; so I issued a summons for the attendance of the amirs and other officers. When they were all present, I directed them to prepare their men for battle, and that they should carry hatchets and bills, etc., for clearing away the jungle. I directed some thousands of torches to be lighted, and the drums of de- parture to be sounded. So at night I mounted my horse, and when I reached the jungle, I ordered my warriors to cut away

the jungle, and make a way through. They proceeded to execute my order, and all night long they were occupied in clearing a passage. I went on to the front, and as morning broke I had traversed twelve kos by the way that had been pierced through the jungle. When I emerged from the jungle, the dawn ap- peared, and I alighted from my horse and said my morning prayers. Then I again mounted, and on the morning of the 15th, I found myself between two mountains, one the Siwalik mountain, the other the Ivuka mountain. This was the valley (i clarra ), and it was exceedingly strong. The hills on both sides raised their heads to the clouds. In the front of this valley Raja Ratan Sen had drawn out his forces, as numerous as ants or locusts. There he had taken his stand, prepared for battle with an advance-guard, a right wing and left wing, in regular martial array.

As soon as my eye fell upon the dispositions of Raja Ratan Sen, I ordered my warriors to shout their battle-cry aloud, and the drums and other instruments to be sounded. The noise reverberated through the hills, and filled the hearts of the infidels with dismay and trembling, so that they wavered. At this moment I ordered my forces to make one grand charge upon the infidels. At the first onset, the Hindus broke and fled, and my victorious soldiers pursued, slashing their swords, killing many of the fugitives, and sending them to hell. Only a few of them escaped, wounded and dispirited, and hiding themselves like foxes in the woods, thus saved their lives. When the soldiers save up killing the infidels, they secured great plunder in goods and valuables, prisoners and cattle. No one of them had less than one or two hundred cows, and ten or twenty slaves — the other plunder exceeded all calculation. On this day, Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir and Amir Sulaiman Sh&h, with the right ■win" of the army, and Prince Sultan Husain and Amir Jahan Shah, with the left wing, returned and joined me. By my orders they had parted from me, and had penetrated the valleys on my right and left. They had encountered and routed many

infidels, and had slain great numbers of them, but they had not gained so much spoil (as my division). I was satisfied with the victory I had won over Ratan Sen and his forces, and all that he possessed had fallen into the hands of my soldiers. Day came to a close, and I encamped between the two mountains. The princes and amirs of the right and left wing, whose way had lain through other valleys, came in to me in the evening, which was the evening of Friday, the 16th,1 and reported to me their en- gagements with the enemy, and the men who had distinguished themselves by feats of valour. After a night’s rest, on the morning of Friday, I arose, and after saying my prayers I mounted and rode towards the valley of those two mountains, intent upon the conquest of the Siwalik hills.

When I entered the valley on that side of the Siwalik, infor- mation was brought to me about the town ( shahr ) of Nagarkot, which is a large and important town of Hindustan, and situated in these mountains. The distance was thirty Jcos , but the road thither lay through jungles, and over lofty and rugged hills. Every rdi and raja who dwelt in these hills had a large number of retainers. As soon as I learned these facts about Nagarkot and the country round, my whole heart was intent upon carrying the war against the infidel Hindus of that place, and upon sub- duing the territory. So I set spurs to my horse, and wended my way thither.

The left wing of my army, commanded by Amir Jahan Shah, had obtained no booty on the previous day, so I ordered his division to the front to battle with the infidels, and to capture spoil to compensate them for the deficiency of the previous day. I sent Sain Timur with a party of soldiers forward as an advance-guard, and then I followed. At breakfast time Sain Timur, the commander of the vanguard, sent to inform me that there was a very large force of infidels in front drawn up in order

1 It must be borne in mind that the Muhammadan day begins at sunset.

of battle. I instantly ordered Amir Jahan Shah, whom I had sent to the front with the forces of the left wing and the army of Khurasan, to attack the enemy. The amir, in obedience to my order, advanced and charged the enemy. At the very first charge the infidels were defeated and put to flight. The holy warriors, sword in hand, dashed among the fugitives, and made heaps of corpses. Great numbers were slain, and a vast booty in goods and valuables, and prisoners and cattle in countless num- bers, fell into the hands of the victors, who returned triumphant and loaded with spoil.

A horseman belonging to the kushun of Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din and ’Ali Sultan Tawachi now came galloping in to inform me that upon my left there was a valley in which an immense number of Hindus and gabrs had collected, and were crying out for battle. Vast herds of cattle and buffalos were grazing around them, in numbers beyond the reach of the imagination. As soon as I heard this, I proceeded to the place, and having said my mid-day prayers with the congregation on the way, I joined Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, and I ordered him, with ’Ali Sultan Tawachi, to march with their forces against the enemy. In compliance with this order they went boldly forward, and by a rapid march came in sight of the infidels. Like a pack of hungry sharp-clawed wolves, they fell upon the flock of fox-like infidels, and dyed their swords and weapons in the blood of those wretches till streams of blood ran down the valley. I went to the front from the rear, and found the enemy flying on all sides, and my braves splashing their blood upon the ground. A party of the Hindus fled towards the mountain, and I taking a body of soldiers pursued them up that lofty mountain, and put them to the sword. After mounting; to the summit I halted. Finding; the spot verdant and the air pleasant, I sat myself down and watched the fighting and the valiant deeds my men were per- forming. I observed their conduct with my own eyes, and how they put the infidel Hindus to the sword. The soldiers engaged in collecting the booty, and cattle, and prisoners. This exceeded

all calculation, and they returned victorious and triumphant. The princes and amirs and other officers came up the mountain to meet me, and to congratulate me on the victory. I had seen splendid deeds of valour, and I now promoted the performers and rewarded them with princely gifts. The enormous numbers of cows and buffalos that had been taken were brought forward, and I directed that those who had captured many should give a few to those soldiers who had got no share. Through this order, every man, small and great, strong and feeble, obtained a share of the spoil. I remained till evening on the mountain, and after saying evening prayer I came down. I encamped in the valley where there were running streams. Several times when I en- camped in these mountains great numbers of monkeys came into the camp from the jungles and woods, both by night and day, and laid their claws upon whatever they could find to eat, and carried it off before the faces of the men. At night they stole their little articles and curiosities.

Since the 14th Jumada-1 awwal, when I entered the Siwalik hills, I had fought the enemy several times, I had gained vic- tories and captured forts. From that time to the 17th Jumada-1 akhir, one month and two days, I had been engaged in fighting, slaying, and plundering the miscreant Hindus of those hills, until I arrived at the fort of Jammu. I reckoned that during those thirty-two days I had twenty conflicts with the enemy, and gained as many victories. I captured seven strong celebrated forts belonging to the infidels, which were situated two or three kos distance apart, and were the jewels and beauties of that region. The people of these forts and countries had formerly paid the jizya (poll-tax) to the Sultan of Hindustan; but for a long time past they had grown strong, and casting oft’ their allegiance to those sovereigns, they no longer paid the jizya, but indulged in all sorts of opposition.

One of these eight forts belonged to a chief named Shaikha, a relation of Malik Shaikh Kukar. The people of the fort made some Musulmans who were dwelling amongst them their media-

tors, and sent offers of submission and service. But I saw looks of deception and treachery in the faces of the people of the fort. When my ministers had settled the amount of the ransom money, and the officers proceeded to collect it, these bad people evaded payment. On being informed of this, I gave orders that all kinds of articles should be taken at a good price instead of money and specie (jins). When this was understood, they brought forth all sorts of things and gave them over at a high valuation, so it came to pass that all the bows and arrows and swords that they possessed were surrendered instead of money. I now issued an order that forty of the Hindus of the fort should come out to serve Hindu Shah, my treasurer. Being of a dis- obedient rebellious spirit they resisted, paid no respect to my order, and even killed some of the Musulmans who were in the fort. Directly I heard this, I gave orders for the amirs with their respective forces to advance boldly against the fort. In execution of this order all my forces assembled en masse to storm the place. They assailed it on every side, and fixing their scaling-ladders they mounted the walls and penetrated to the interior. The men of the garrison having been guilty of conduct worthy of death, were killed. Two thousand thus perished and were sent to hell. The women and children were made prisoners, and the buildings were levelled with the ground. By the favour and grace of God my heart had thus been gratified with the over- throw of the vile infidels of the Siwalik. I had subdued their strongholds, and there remained no other contumacious rat or raja to conquer. I inquired of the people who were acquainted with this region if there were any more infidels in the vicinity against whom I could carry the scourge of holy warfare.

In answer to my inquiry I was informed that the castle of Jammu was near, that it was connected with the Siwalik and Kuka mountains, and that the inhabitants were not submissive and obedient to the Sultans of Hindustan. These facts being

made known to me, I on the 16th Jumada-1 akhir 802, marched from the village of Mansar determined to carry my arms against the infidels of Jammu. After marching six kos I encamped at the village of Baila, in the territory of Jammu. I sent Amir Shaikh Muhammad, son of Amir Aiku-timur, and some other officers, at the head of a body of horse against the village of Baila. The people in that village confident in their numbers, in the density of the jungle, and in the altitude of the position, had placed themselves in ambush in many places along the borders of the jungle prepared to give battle and offer resistance. The amirs wdio had gone on in advance reported these facts to me, and asked for permission to attack and defeat the enemy. I returned answer that I myself was desirous of sharing in the merit of the holy fight, and, therefore, the battle must be deferred till the morrow until I should arrive. When my orders reached them they postponed operations for that day. On the next day, the 17th, I marched towards Baila. When the eyes of the enemy fell upon my royal banners, and the cries of my warriors sounded in their ears, they wavered and fled, seeking refuge in the dense jungles and thickets. I directed the amirs in the front to advance and seize the mouths of the jungle and woods so that the troops might enter the village of Baila and plunder it in security. No man was to enter the jungle and wroods. The amirs carried out these orders and the soldiers obtained great quantities of grain, sugar, and oil. After that they set fire to the houses and destroyed the buildings.

The same day I advanced four kos and then encamped. TTljah Timur Tunkatar, Fulad Bahadur, and Zainu-d din whom I had sent as ambassadors from Dehli to Shah Iskandar, king of Kash- mir, now returned to me with the Shah’s envoys, bearing a letter from him. I read the letter from beginning to end. It was couched in the most respectful terms, the king declaring himself to be my humble servant, and stating his intention to follow his letters and to be honoured by waiting upon me. The Shah’s ambassadors bent the knee, and after offering their benedictions,

informed me that their master had come as far as the village of Jahan to meet me.

I was now informed that Mulla Niiru-d din, the ambassador of Shah Iskandar, who had been in attendance upon me, had returned without leave to his master at the village of Jabhan, to inform him that my ministers of finance had determined that when lie should arrive at my court there should be demanded from him a contribution of 30,000 horses and a lac of silver tankas , each tanka weighing two and a half miskals. Shah Iskandar, in order to provide for this payment, had returned from Jabhan to Kashmir. When I heard this I called for my financial officers and told them that they had put too heavy a burden on the neck of Shah Iskandar, that the tax and tribute to be demanded of every country ought to be in proportion to its income and cultiva- tion, and that they had exhibited their own ignorance in making such a demand. I immediately reassured the ambassador of the Shah, gave him a robe and presents, and sent him with Mu’ata- mad Zainu-d din to his master with a message that he was not to consider himself bound by the demand made by my officers, but to trust in my royal favour and to return without fear. It was then the 17th of the month, and when twenty-eight days had passed, on the 15th of the month of Rajab, he must come to my camp upon the banks of the Indus.

At the foot of a mountain in the vicinity of my camp there was a flourishing village, and I sent a force to plunder it. When they reached it, the Hindus of the place who were numerous, assembled to resist, but on the approach of my men fear fell upon their hearts, and they set fire to their houses and fled to the mountains. My victorious soldiers pursued them and slew many of them. A large booty in grain and property fell into our hands. There were two other large villages in the vicinity of this village. These also were plundered and a large amount of spoil was secured. On this day Ra-timur was wounded.

On the 19th I again marched, and came up opposite to the city of Jammu, and there encamped, my royal tents and canopies being set up. The five or six kos which I traversed in this day’s march was entirely through a cultivated country ; nowhere did I see any dry ( khushk ) or waste ( klidli ) land, and so in the place where I encamped there was no necessity for any man to go out into the fields in search of fodder for his horse or camel, for there was grain and grass enough between the tents to feed the animals. On the next day, the 20th, after resting for the night, I again moved with the intention of attacking the town of Jammu. I came into the valley where the source of the river of Jammu is situated, and there I pitched my tents ; but I sent my army over the river to the foot of a mountain, on the left of the town, and to the village of Manu on the right. When my forces had secured these positions, the demon-spirited Hindus sent off their -wives and children from their villages to the tops of the mountains, and they fortified themselves in their village. Their raja, with his warlike gabrs and athletic Hindus, took his post in the valley, where they howled like so many jackals. I com- manded that not a soldier should go towards the mountain, or have anything to do with these gabrs, but that they should attack and plunder the town of Jammu and the village of Manu. Accordingly my forces fell to plundering, and secured an enor- mous booty in grain, goods of all kinds, and cattle. I returned victorious to the baggage, where I entered my tents, and passed the night in pleasure and rest.

As soon as morning broke the drums sounded. I selected certain kushuns which I placed under the command of experienced veteran amirs, and I intrusted them to go and conceal themselves in the jungle, while I marched away with drums playing. The Hindus and gabrs , who had fled to the hills in alarm at my approach, would then come down from the mountains in fancied security, and my troops in ambush might fall upon the infidels and cut them to pieces. In execution of this order the troops went and concealed themselves, and I mounting my horse crossed

tlie river of Jammu, and marched four kos. All this distance was through arable land, and a green and fertile country. I encamped on the banks of the Chinawa1 on a piece of cultivated ground, and set up my tents with all the baggage around. Some horsemen now arrived in haste from the amirs , whom 1 had left in ambush, to inform me that, after I had marched away, the Raja of Jammu and other devilish gabrs came down confidently from the tops of the hills. When they reached the plain the amirs rushed suddenly from their ambush upon the infidels, and killed a great number of them. A few of them, worn out and wounded, had escaped to the jungle and woods. The Raja of Jammu, who was ruler of the country, with fifty Raos and Rajputs had been made prisoners by Daulat Timur Tawachi Husain Malik Kuchin and others belonging: to the tiiman of Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, and the whole force was coming up with the prisoners. I gave thanks to Almighty God that the enemies of the Muhammadan religion had been smitten down by the men of the faith, or had been made prisoners. The day before, proud of their numbers and confident in the density of the jungle and the altitude of the hills, they had raised their cries of defiance, and now, by the grace of God, they were prisoners in my hands. I immediately gave orders that the fifty prisoners should be put in bonds and chains. When my eyes fell upon the Raja of Jammu, who was wounded and a prisoner, fear took possession of his heart, and he agreed to pay certain sums of money and to become a Musulman if I would spare his life. I instantly ordered him to be taught the creed, and he repeated it and became a Muhammadan. Among these infidels there is no greater crime and abomination than eating the flesh of a cow or killing a cow, but he ate the flesh in the company of Musulmdns. When he had thus been received into the fold of the faithful, I ordered my surgeons to attend to his wounds, and I honoured him with a robe and royal favours.

1 The Chinab. The spelling in page 413 was Chinad. It is now Chinawa , and the Zafar-ndma favours this orthography.

On the 23rd Jumadarl akhir I remained stationary, and messengers arrived from Prince Pir Muhammad and Prince Rustam and Amir Jahan Shah, whom I had sent some days before with a force to Lahor. They brought me the information that the princes and amirs had arrived at Labor upon the busi- ness on which I had sent them. Malik Shaikha Kokhar was brother of INusrat Kokhar, who was formerly governor of Labor on the pai-t of Sultan Mahmud of Dehli. After I had defeated his brother Nusrat Shaikha Kokhar, he had been the first of all the zamindars and governors of Hindustan to wait upon me and make his submission. From my capture of the city of Dehli till my passage of the Jumna he remained in attendance on me. In the middle of the Doab he asked permission to return home to Lahor. I had always perceived the signs of hypocrisy upon his countenance, and I knew well that he had submitted from neces- sity and was false in his professions. Still he was the first to yield, and I was very considerate for his subjects, and whenever any zamindar of that country represented himself to be a depen- dant of Shaikha Kokhar, I protected him from the assaults of my followers, and from pillage and plunder. When I gave him permission to leave he proceeded to Lahor, and there forgot his protestations of service and devotion, and the duties imposed upon him by my favour and kindness. He kept not the pro- mises he made when he waited upon me, but when a party of my followers, such as Maulana ’Abdu-llah, etc., passed through Labor on their way from Samarkand to join me, he showed them no attention, and never asked them why are you come ? where do you come from ? or, where are you going to ? The defection of Shaikha Kokhar had become clear to me, and I had sent the princes and amirs to take that ungrateful man prisoner, and to levy a ransom from the city of Labor.

When I read the letters from the princes and amirs, I found that in execution of my orders they had gone to Lahor, and had fixed the amount of ransom to be levied from the inhabitants. They had found Shaikha Kokhar remiss and negligent in raising

the contribution, and so in compliance with my order they had made him prisoner. They had collected the whole of the ransom and were coming up to join me. In reply to their report I wrote that as Shaikha had proved false to his engagement and had acted inimically, his country was to be plundered and he himself should be sent in chains to my presence. This order I sent off by the hands of messengers.

Next day the 24th of the month, I crossed the river China,1 and after a march of four or five kos, I encamped in a verdant plain. Some messengers now arrived from Prince Miran Shah in Azar- baijan [ reporting all was well.'] On the 25th I again marched. There was a river in the way, which I crossed over and en- camped. On this day some of the sick men ( za’ifan ) were drowned in crossing the river, so I directed that all mv own horses and camels should be used for carrying the sick and feeble over. On that day all my camp crossed the river, and on the same day messengers arrived from Persia. * * I sent my treasurer Hindu Shah to Samarkand to announce my return home, and I also issued a notification to the princes and amirs of the armv, recounting how I had achieved great victories in Hindustan ; how I had taken Dehli the capital of the Sultans, and other cities, towns and renowned fortresses ; how by the grace of God I had overrun the country and the hills, and how my men had secured an immense booty in money and gold, jewels and stuffs, high-bred horses and elephants, and cattle in countless numbers. We had returned thus far, and I had sent off messengers to all parts of my dominions to announce my return home, so that the princes might come out to receive me as quickly as possible. I now thought it would have been better not to have sent the messengers, and that, having left the bag- gage behind, I should go on in advance. Accordingly, mounting my horse I crossed the river which lay in my route. On the 27th I travelled six kos and encamped on the edge of a jungle. The men of my advance-guard brought me information that there 1 Sic. : but the Chinab is intended.

was a brake near at hand in which there was a large tiger. When I arrived there my daring fellows surrounded the brake on all sides, and Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din quickly sprang forward and attacked the beast with his sword and slew it. I loudly praised the prowess of that brave man.

When I returned from the hunt Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir, Prince Bustam, Amir Sulaiman, and Amir Jahan Shah returned from Labor with much wealth and property and were received with all honour. The plunder which they had obtained at Lahor in money, goods, and horses they presented to me, and I divided and gave all the goods and effects among the amirs and councillors who were in attendance at the court. * * *

On the same day I ordered preparations to be made for holding a splendid court. * * * After bestowing many rewards, robes and girdles, swords and quivers upon the amirs and others, I ordered that the right and left wings of the army should march towards home by certain prescribed routes. The saiyids , and ’ ulama , and zamindars , and gentlemen, natives of Hindustan who had joined and accompanied my camp, all received presents and tasted of my royal bounty. I then issued orders for them all to return home. Khizr Khan, who was one of the principal men of Hindustan, had been made prisoner by Sarang, the governor of Multcin, and kept in confinement. But he escaped from prison and took refuge with Ahodan, governor of Bayana, who was a Musulman and an honest man. When I was marching victorious through Hindustan, Khizr Khan hastened from Bayana to wait upon me, and I received him with honour and kindness and took him into my suite. I now appointed him governor of Multan. [ and after bestoiving the usual marks of honour ] I sent him thither.

• • • On Friday the 26th of the month I again marched, and after accomplishing eight kos, arrived at the village of Jabhan, in the territories of Kashmir.

At this stage I made inquiries about the country and city of Kashmir from men who were acquainted with it, and from them I learned that * * Kashmir is an incomparable country. * * * In the midst of that country there is a veiy large and populous city called Naghaz. The rulers of the country dwell there. The buildings of the city are very large and are all of wood, and they are four or five stories high. They are very strong and will stand for 500 or 700 years. A large river runs through the middle of this city, as large as the Tigris at Baghdad, and the city is built upon both sides of it. The source of this river is within the limits of Kashmir in a large lake, some parasangs in length and breadth, which is called Yir-nak. The inhabitants have cast bridges over the river in nearly thirty places. These are constructed of wood, stone, or boats ; seven of the largest are within the city, and the rest in the environs. When this river passes out of the confines of Kashmir, it is named after each city by which it passes ; as the river of Dandana, the river of Jamd. The river passes on and joins the Chinab above Multan. The united waters pass below Multan and then join the Rawi. The river Biyali comes down through another part and joins them, and the three united rivers fall into the Sind or Indus in the neighbourhood of Uch. All these (united) rivers are called the Sind or the Panjab, and this river falls into the Persian Gulf near Thatta. * * *

On the 29th Jumada-1 akhir, I started from Jabhan and marched five kos and encamped on the banks of the Dandana. There I ordered a number of boats to be collected and a bridge to be formed. I ordered Amir Shah Malik and Jalalu-1 Islam to take their post at the head of the bridge and carefully superin- tend the passage of the army. When all the soldiers and bag- gage had crossed in safety, I also passed over and encamped. Next day, the 1st Rajah, I placed the heavy baggage in charge of certain amirs , who were to follow in the rear. Then I started for the seat of my empire, intending to travel rapidly. That day

I accomplished twenty kos, and rested at the village of Sambast, in the Jud mountains. On the 2nd I again started, and travel- ling one and a half watch of the day, I reached the vicinity of the fort of Baruja, where I halted for an hour, and after saying noon- day prayers, I again started, and entering the Chol-i Jalali, I continued my course until, at the time of evening prayer, I emerged from the desert, and encamped on the margin of a lake which had been filled by the rains of the rainy season. On the 3rd I again set off, and at breakfast time reached the banks of the Indus. I had sent orders to Pir ’All Salandoz, and other amirs who had charge of this territory, to construct a strong bridge of timber and boats over the river. They had executed my orders, and I passed over the bridge immediately. I ordered Amir Allah-dad to guard the bridge for the transit of the forces and baggage which were coming up. I halted by the river till noon- day prayer, which I said in public; then I again started, and travelled ten kos more before halting for the night. On the 3rd I marched again, and, travelling rapidly, I reached the fort of Banu, and there encamped. * * *

“The Book of Victory 11 by Maulana, Sharafu-d din ’All Yazd]', who died a.d. 1446. This work, which Mirkhond declares to surpass everything that had up to his time enlightened the world in the department of history, is a very partial biography of Timur, written a.d. 1424. It is interspersed with fables, and is well known to the Orientalists of Europe by the accurate French translation of M. Petis de la Croix ( Histoire de Timur Bee , Paris, 1722, 4 vols. 12mo.), which is one of Gibbon’s chief sources respecting this hero.

The translation of M. Petis de la Croix does not contain the second and third parts of the Zafar-nama, nor does it contain the supplement of the original written by Taju-d din Salmani, who continued the history to the time of Shall Rukk, a.d. 1410 ; and as the Zafar-nama does not commence till the twenty-fifth vear of Timur’s age, the translation is by no means to be con- sidered a complete biography, more especially as it is an abridged rather than a full version of the original. The French version was translated into English by J. Darby in 1723. There is also an Italian translation by Bradutti.

[As stated in the foregoing notice of the Malfuzat-i Thnuri , the Zafar-nama is based upon that autobiography, and so far as the expedition to India is concerned, it is merely a polished re- production of that work. This fact may be seen on a comparison of the following Exti’acts with those which precede this from the Malfuzat-i Timur't. So identical ai’e they that the Extracts

which follow might be dispensed with. But the Zafar-nama enjoys such a high reputation, and has been so largely used and quoted as an authority by writers, both in the East and in Europe, that it cannot be passed over in a comprehensive work like the present.

[The translation has been made by the editor, and he has had the use of four MSS. belonging to the Library of the India Office. In one of these (No. 985), the work has been stripped of much of its florid and redundant ornament — in fact, it has been subjected to a treatment closely resembling that which Petis de la Croix found to be necessary in making his French translation. This abridged MS. does not appear to give any account of the writer by whom it was prepared, but the following extract of a letter to Sir H. Elliot from the late Professor Duncan Forbes in all pro- bability refers to this same work. “Another curiosity (in the British Museum) connected with Timur is a very plain and sensible paraphrase of the Zafar-nama , done, by command of Jahangir, by ’Abdu-s Sattar Kasim in the city of Ajmir, a.h. 1024 (1617 a.d.). The doer of the thing says very sensibly in his introduction that Yazdi’s book is very flowery and pedantic, written in the ’ibarat-i munshiyana , which we may felicitously translate the Jedediah Cleishbotham style, which he, ’Abdu-s Sattar aforesaid, improves marvellously by leaving out all Arabic and Persian verses that are not to the point, and enriching the narrative from other sources.” The editor has, in general followed this MS., but he has constantly referred to the other copies, and has occasionally introduced from them names and passages which seemed worthy of notice.]1

Timur, the invincible and world-conquering, had given to Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir the provinces of Kunduz,

1 A translation of part of tbe Zafar-nama, by Major Hollings, was published in the Dehli Archaeological Journal, 1862, but I have not seen it. — Ed.

Bakalan, Kabul, Ghazni, and Kandahar, with all their depen- dencies as far as the confines of India. The prince accordingly took possession of these territories, and ruled with justice and liberality. Under the orders of the Emperor he collected the troops of his provinces, and marched forth to conquer other countries with a large army and valiant chiefs. * * * He plun- dered the Aghanis of the Koh-i Sulaiman, and crossing the river Indus he took the town of Uch by storm. From thence he marched to Mult&n and laid siege to it. Multan at that time was governed by Sarang, elder brother of Mallu Khan. After the death of Sultan Firoz Shah these two brothers raised his grandson Sultan Mahmud to the throne, and seized upon the government of Hindustan. Mallu remained at Dehli in attend- ance on the Sultan, and Sarang had taken possession of Multan. The prince’s forces having invested Multan, they every day made two vigoi’ous assaults. The intelligence of these proceedings being carried to Timur was the cause of his going to Hindustan. Just at that time he had resolved to assemble forces from all his dominions, and to march against China,1 with the intent of de- stroying the idol temples, and of raising mosques in their places. He had previously heard that the standards of the faith of Islam had been raised in Dehli and other places, and that its profession of faith was impressed upon the coins, but that the country in general was polluted by the inhabitants being infidels and idolaters. Impelled by the desire of waging a religious war, he resolved to march against Multan and Dehli. He consulted with his nobles and chiefs, and they concurred in the propriety of making the invasion.

In the month of Rajab, 800 h. (March 1398 a.d.), nearly cor- responding to the year of the Leopard, he began his march towards Hindustan, with an army as numerous as the leaves of the trees. * * * When he arrived at Indarab, the chiefs of that country came and cast themselves at his feet, saying that they were Musulmans, and that the infidel Kators and Siyah-poshes exacted sums of

money every year as tribute from them ; and in default of pay- ment, the infidels slew the men, and made their women and children prisoners. Their statements kindled the anger of the emperor, and he resolved to suppress these infidels. * * * He arrived at Khawak, and ordered the fort of that place, which was in ruins, to be repaired. The soldiers and many of the amirs left their horses there, and ascended the mountain of Kator on foot. * * * The infidels of this country are tall, stout, and vigorous. They generally go about naked. Their chiefs are called ’Uda and ’Udashu.1 They have a very peculiar language, different from Persian, Turki, and Hindi. Most of them know no language but their own. If men of the neighbourhood had not mixed with them, and learned their language so as to be able to interpret, no one would know anything about this lan- guage. * * * After three days’ continuous fighting Timur’s troops prevailed, and the enemy sued for quarter. Timur sent to them Ak Sultan, proposing that if they would surrender and become Musulmans, he would spare their lives and property, and confirm them in the possession of their country. When they were informed of these terms by means of interpreters they, on the fourth day, hastened with Ak Sultan to the court of Timur, made their profession of the faith, and with tears offered excuses for their conduct. They declared themselves to be his slaves, and ready to obey his commands. Timur, in his kingly gene- rosity, gave them robes and dismissed them. When night came on, these black-hearted renegades made an attack upon Amir Shah Malik. Some few of them, wounded and maimed, escaped, but 150 of them were taken prisoners, and were despatched to hell with the sword. The whole army of Islam then ascended the mountain and put all the men to the sword, and carried off the women and children. On the summit of the mountain pyramids were built with the heads of these infidels, who had never bowed their heads in adoration of God. An account

1 This name is very carefully written in two of the MSS., and they agree with the reading of Petis de la Croix.

of the victory was engraved upon stone, with the date of the month Ramazan 800 h., together with the date used in the locality. * * *

Timur marched from Banu, and on the 8th Muharram he reached the banks of the Indus, at the place where Sultan Jalalu-d din Khwarizm Shah flying from Ohangiz Khan cast himself into the river and swam over. Changiz Khan did not pass the river, but halted there and then returned. Timur gave orders for the construction of a bridge over the river. The work was immediately commenced, and in the course of two days a safe bridge constructed of three-legged trestles ( sih-payah ) and boats was completed. * * *

On Monday, 12th Muharram 801 h. (24th Sept. 1398), crossed the river with his army and encamped on the borders of the Choi,1 which is a large desert, called in books of history the Chol-i Jalali in consequence of Sultan Jalalu-d din’s escape thither. The rats and chiefs of the Jud mountain came respect- fully to pay homage to Timur and make presents. Some time before this Amir Rustam Taghi Buka Birlas, under the orders of Timur had marched towards Multan. He passed near the mountain of J u.d and remained there some days. The rats had then carefully attended upon him and had supplied him with provisions. This was the reason why Timur now treated them with such favour. They returned home happy and full of joy.

Contest mth Shahabu-din Mubarak Shah Tamimi.

Shahabu-d din was ruler of an island2 on the banks of the river Jamd. He was rich and had numerous followers and soldiers, by means of which he was distinguished above the Rais of Hind. When the Prince Pir Muhammad Jahangir arrived in the vicinity of Multan he came in and paid homage. He was

1 One MS. says, “ at the Jud mountain which is the Choi desert.”

2 Jazira, lit., an island, probably formed by a bend or branch of the river, connected as the text describes with a lake. The Tuzak-i Timuri ( supra, p. 410) says, it was “ in the middle of the river ; ” but the words here used are “ bar kinar i db i Jamd.”

received among the adherents of the prince and was treated with great kindness. For some time he remained in attendance on the prince, but after a while he obtained leave of absence and returned to his government. He was deluded by the devil, and being puffed up with pride of the strength of his place and the river, he set himself in opposition. When the army had crossed and was encamped on the banks of the Jamd, this revolt was communicated to Timur. He then ordered Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din to march with his tuman against the island, and to extermi- nate the whole band of rebels. When the Amir arrived near the island, he found that Shahabu-d din had dug a deep ditch and had raised high walls as means of defence. There was a large lake there, but the assailants plunged instantly into the water and kindled the flames of war. A fierce conflict followed which lasted till night, and the assailants then retired to take rest. During the night Shaliabu-d din fell upon the camp of the besiegers with 10,000 men and a great fight took place. Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din met the attack with a determined resistance, and the assailants being disheartened by this vigour fell back dispirited. Some of them cast themselves into the water and with difficulty brought the ship of life to the shore of safety.

Timur then came up with his army and encamped near the island. Shahabu-d din by a prudent precaution had kept 200 boats ready for such an emergency. When he retreated beaten from his night attack upon the besiegers he embarked with his family and followers in the boats, and proceeded down the Jamd towards TJch, which is one of the towns of Hind. Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din, under the orders of the emperor, pursued them with his victorious forces along the banks of the river, and killed a good number of them. On his return Timur bestowed rewards and honours upon those who had fought so valiantly and had been wounded in repulsing the night attack. When Shahabu-d din came near Multan, the Prince Pir Muhammad and Amir Sulaiman Shah with their detachment opposed his progress and cut many of the fugitives to pieces. Shahabu-d

din cast his wife and children into the river and with great difficulty brought them half-dead to land. Timur sent Shah Malik into the jungles in pursuit of the fugitives. He killed a great many of them and their allies, and returned laden with booty and with boats full of corn to the royal camp. The Emperor marched from thence, and in five or six days arrived on the banks of the Chinawa1 (Chinab) where that river unites with the Jamd. He encamped near the fort of Tulambi, and ordered a bridge to be thrown across the river. It was finished in three

Timur passed over the bridge with his army and pitched his camp on the bank of the river near the town. The maliks and rais of the place with the saiyids and learned men came forth to wait upon the emperor. They paid their homage and were well received. On the 1st Safar 801 H. in the plain of Tulambi the officers and ministers being assembled a ransom of two lacs was demanded from the inhabitants of the city, but orders were given that the saiyids and learned Musulmans should be exempted from payment. The collectors busied themselves in the work of collection, but the whole was not realized, when a large division of the army arrived in great want of grain and provisions. The royal order was given that they were to take grain wherever they found it. With savage feelings the soldiers entered the town on the pretext of seeking for grain, and a great calamity fell upon it. They set fire to the houses and plundered whatever they could lay their hands on. The city -was pillaged, and no houses escaped excepting those of the saiyids and learned Musulmans.

Timur was now informed that a party of the chiefs of Tulambi who had formerly submitted to Prince Pir Muhammad had broken out into revolt and open violence. This greatly incensed him, and he sent Shah Malik and Shaikh Muhammad Aiku-tamur

with their tumans to chastise these revolters. These chiefs ac- cordingly entered the jungles and killed about 2,000 of them. Then they returned laden with booty to the royal camp. On the 8th Safar the army again took to the march and pitched their camp near Jal, upon the By ah river, opposite the town of Shah-nawaz.

While encamped on the river the emperor was informed that Nusrat Kukari, brother of Shaikha Kukari with 2,000 men had constructed a strong river fortress ( rud-khdna-i’azim ) on the banks of the river and was there posted. Timur instantly marched against him with a strong force. The right wing he placed under the command of Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din and Amir Allah-dad ; and the left under Amir Shah Malik and Amir Shaikh Muhammad Aiku-tamur. Ali Sultan Tawachi at the head of the infantry, marched with the centre in battle array. Nusrat Kukari with great presumption and ignorance had col- lected a force of 1,000 Indian warriors, and had drawn them up to meet Timur on the banks of a lake.1 Ali Sultan Tawachi attacked them with his infantry of Khurasan, and after several assaults he overthrew them and put them to flight. Shaikh Nuru-d din and Allah-dad pursued the fugitives and slew many of them. He who bore the name of Nusrat (victory) could not save himself from this disaster, but went to hell with many of his followers. The soldiers secured great booty, and they set fire to the houses of the enemy. On the 10th Safar the army marched by a difficult road to Shah-nawaz through mud and dirt. This is a considerable village where large stores of grain were found. The men carried off all they could, and under the royal command set fire to what was left, so that it might not benefit the infidels. From thence the army marched to the river Biyah, and encamped opposite to the village of Janjan,2 where

1 “ Bar kinar-i db-i kol.” One MS. has “ Kunu.” “ Kol ” means lake, but here it may possibly be the name of a river.

the baggage was collected. Here an opportunity of crossing was found, and Timur availing himself of this advantage, ordered his forces to cross the river.

Arrival of Prince P'tr Muhammad from Multan.

It has already been recorded how Prince Pir Muhammad had besieged Multan, and how his forces were assaulting the place twice daily. The contest had lasted six months. Provisions had become so scarce in the place that not a dog or a cat was left, and the inhabitants being compelled to abandon the place, the prince had obtained possession of the country. He imme- diately sent a despatch of this victory to the royal camp. At this time heavy rains came on and lasted for several days, it being the season which in Hindustan is called the Barsh-kal. This caused a great mortality among the men and horses of the prince, and so he entered the city with all his forces. The chiefs and rulers of this country of Hind who had made their sub- mission, now conceived ideas of throwing off the yoke. They killed the governors of several places, and the soldiers being dismounted were unable to move against them. This gave the prince great annoyance, and he was a prey to constant anxiety, when the news of the emperor’s approach struck dismay into the hearts of the enemy.

The prince being thus delivered from his difficulty proceeded with his officers and followers to the royal camp. On the 14th Safar he reached the camp on the banks of the Biyah, when the emperor received him honourably and affectionately. * * * On the 15th Safar the emperor crossed the Biyah, and encamped under the fort of Janjan. There he remained four days. During these days all the men of the army crossed, some in boats and some by swimming, and not one individual was lost. * * * As the soldiers of the prince had lost their horses in the rainy season, and through the hardships of the campaign had been reduced to ride on bullocks and to walk, the emperor presented them with thirty thousand horses. The royal army then marched from

Janjan to Sahwal ; on the 21st it proceeded to Aswan, where it rested one day, and then marched to Jahwal.

The chiefs of Dibalpur had previously made their submission to Prince Pir Muhammad, who sent Musafir Kabuli, with a thousand men, to act as governor of the place. When the army of the prince was reduced by the effects of the rainy season, the men of that place, combining with the soldiers of Firoz Shah, put Musafir and his thousand men to death. Upon the intelli- gence of the emperor’s progress to Multan and Dehli reaching this neighbourhood, all men from the highest to the lowest were in the greatest consternation. Fearing for their lives they abandoned all else, and fled to the fort of Bhatnir. At Jahwal the emperor left Amir Shah Malik and Daulat Timur Tawachi with the baggage, with orders to proceed by way of Dibalpur, and to join him at S&mana, near Dehli. He set off with 10,000 men, and by forced marches hastened to Ajodhan, which he reached early in the morning of the 24th Safar. Previous to this Shaikh Munawwar and Shaikh Sa’d, both men of evil cha- racter, had seduced the people of this place from their allegiance, and had incited them to leave their country. Some of them went off with Shaikh Sa’d to Bhatnir, and others accompanied Shaikh Munawwar to Dehli. But the Saiyids and learned Musulmans of the place had heard of the kindness of Timur, and resolved to remain patiently at home, and await the course of events. As soon as they were informed of his arrival they went to wait upon him, and were received with great favour. Timur appointed Maulana Nasiru-d din ’Umar and Muhammad, son of Khwaja Muhammad Shahab, to be governors of the town, and enjoined them not to allow the saiyids and learned Mu- hammadans to be hurt by the people of the army.

Capture of the city walls ( shahr-hand and the fort of Bhatnir.

Extermination of the inhabitants of that place.

The fort of Bhatnir was extremely strong, and was celebrated as one of the strongest in Hind. It is situated far out of the

1 Petis de la Croix took this to be a proper name, and translated it “ the city of Band.”

road on the right hand, and it is surrounded by the desert of Choi. For fifty or a hundred kos round there is no water. The inhabitants obtain their water from a large lake at the gate of the city which is filled in the rainy season. No foreign army had ever penetrated thither, nor had any sovereign of India ever led his forces to that place. So the inhabitants of Dibalpur, Ajodhan, and other places fled thither for refuge from the in- vading army. A very large number of people thus assembled there, so much so that the city would not contain them, and carts and vehicles with large quantities of goods and furniture had been left outside in the vicinity of the fort. On the 25th Safar, Timur reached Ajodhan, and paid a visit to the shrine of Shaikh Farid Shakar-ganj. From thence he started for Bhatnir, and crossing the river,1 he arrived at Khalis-kotali, two kos from Ajodhan, and fifty from Bhatnir. Three kos is equal to one legal farsakh or parasang.

Timur said his mid-day prayers at Khalis-kotali, and then mounting he travelled the remainder of the day and the whole of the night without resting, thus accomplishing this long distance in one march. On the next day, at breakfast time, he was within sight of Bhatnir. The drums were beaten and the shouts of the warriors rent the air. All that was outside of the city was plundered. The prince of that country and city was called Rao Dul Chand,2 Mao being a Hindi word meaning brave (bahadur). He had a large number of soldiers, and the whole neighbourhood was under his command. He used to levy tolls from travellers, nor could merchants and caravans escape from

1 The French version says, he “ crossed the river of Dena,” and there is sufficient warrant for this in the MSS., no two of which agree. The true reading appears to be “ az rid guzashta," “he crossed the river;” but the word rid (river) is written also “ rudad and ridu.” Two of the MSS., and both those of the Malfizat-i Timuri, insert the negative, and say az rid nah guzashta, “ did not cross the river," which was evidently the reading of Petis de la Croix’s MS. ; but this is manifestly wrong, as the Gharra runs between Ajodhan and Kotali. Mr. Chapman, in his translation of the Malfuzat, (p. 421 supra), read, “ az Rxidanah guzashta,” and translated it, “passing by Rudanah ; ” but this may he read “ az rid nah guzashta ,” “ not crossing the river,” though, as above observed, the negative is certainly wrong.

his exactions. When Timur approached the city the Eao, con- fident in the strength of his fortress and the number of his followers would not submit. The army was at once brought up, and fiercely attacked the city both on the right and on the left. At the first assault the walls of the city were taken and many Hindus were slain. Great booty fell into the hands of the soldiers. The officers leading on their men with axes and pikes advanced to attack the fort. Rao Dul Chand, with his brave Indian warriors, drew up ready for combat at the gate of the fort. Amir Sulaiman and other intrepid officers of the tuman of Shah Rukh went forward sword in hand and fought most valiantly. The fort was on the point of being taken when fear and despair fell upon the heart of Dul Chand, and he sent out a saiyid to beg an armistice for that day, promising to come out on the day following and make his submission to Timur. The emperor, relying on the promise brought by the saiyid , a descendant of the Prophet, granted the demand. He withdrew his men from the walls, put a stop to the fighting, and went out to his tents. When the next day came Rao Dul Chand failed to keep his promise, and orders were given that each amir should sap the wall in front of his position. They set diligently about the work, and bravely persevered, although fire and stones, and darts and arrows were rained down upon them from the top of the walls. When Rao Dul Chand and the chiefs of his party beheld these proceedings they were filled with dismay. They came to the tops of the bastions, and with cries and lamenta- tions called aloud for mercy. They acknowledged their fault and admitted they had done wroug in not submitting to the emperor, but they begged his forgiveness. He was graciously pleased to grant their petition. On the same day the Rao sent out his son and his deputy with splendid presents and valuable offerings. Timur gave the young man a robe of value, a sword- belt, etc., and sent him back to his father. Next day Rao Dul Chand, being encouraged by this kindness and generosity of Timur, came out of the fort accompanied by Shaikh Sa’du-d din

Ajodhani, on the 28th Safar, and throwing himself upon the ground before the royal tent, he presented several fine animals and three Arab horses with golden saddles. Timur graciously accepted these presents, and in return gave him gold-embroidered robes, etc. A large body of people from many parts of India, especially from Dibalpur and Ajodhan, had taken refuge there from the arms of the conqueror, so Amir Sulaiman Shah and Amir Allah-dad were careful to guard the gate. On the next day they brought out to the royal camp the strangers who had taken refuse in the town. Five hundred men belonging: to Dibalpur, who had taken part in the murder of Musafir Kabuli and of a thousand other servants of Prince Pir Muhammad, were put to death in retaliation. Their wives and children were made slaves. Several men of Ajodhan also had deserted the standards of Timur, and had fled for security to Bhatnir. Some of these were brought to punishment, others were made prisoners, and their property was plundered.

Kamalu-d din,1 brother of Bao Dul Chand, and his son, when they saw Timur’s severity towards the guilty, being filled with terror, lost their judgment. On the 1st Rabi’u-1 awwal, although Dul Chand was in Timur’s camp, they closed the gates of the city, and opened the gates of sorrow and trouble for them- selves. The wrath of Timur was kindled ; he ordered his sol- diers to again invest the place, and to carry on their mining and scaling operations. The men set zealously about the work, and the besieged soon perceived that there was no hope for them, and that it was useless to struggle against their fate. The brother and son of the Ruo went forth humbly from the town, and hastened to cast themselves upon the earth before Timur, and implore his mercy. They gave up the keys of the town to the servants of the emperor. On the 2nd of the month Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din and Amir Allah-dad went into the city to receive the ransom money, but the evil-minded rats resisted payment of the tribute. There were in the city many gabrs and 1 All tile MSS. agree in this Muhammadan name.

bad men who set themselves in opposition and made open resist- ance. When Timur heard of this he issued a stringent order for his men to attack the fort, and put the occupants to the sword. The soldiers accordingly scaled the place by means of ladders and ropes. The gabrs set fire to the place, and cast their wives and children into the fire and consumed them. A party of them who called themselves Musulmans, cut off the heads of their wives and children like so many sheep. The two parties then joined and prepared for a desperate resistance. They were very numerous, and very resolute and savage. According to com- mand the soldiers entered the city, and shouting their war cry fell upon the defenders. A desperate conflict ensued, and many of the assailants were slain and many wounded. Amir Shaikh Nuru-d din had entered the city on foot, sword in hand, to fight with the infidels. He was surrounded by a number of infidels, and was in imminent danger, when Auzan Mazid Baghdadi and Firoz Sistani rushed to the rescue, and despatching several of the infidels they rescued him from his peril. Victory at length favoured our arms. Ten thousand of the infidels were slain, the houses were set on fire, and the whole place was destroyed. Nothing was left but a few heaps of ashes. The gold and silver, and horses and spoil of every sort that fell into the hands of the captors was by order of Timur divided among the soldiers. He solaced the wounded by his royal munificence, and he showed great favour and liberality to Auzan Mazid and Firoz, who had rescued Amir Nuru-d din at the risk of their own lives.

March of Timur against other cities of India , and suppression of

After the destruction of the town of Bhatnir the air was polluted by the putrefying bodies of the slain, so on the 4th of the month Timur ordered his army to march against other places of India. Having advanced fourteen kos, it reached a place called Kinara-i-hauz (brink of the reservoir), and there encamped. On the 5th it again marched and came to the fort of Firozah, from

whence it proceeded on the same day to the town of Sarsuti. The inhabitants of this town were for the most part infidels and kept pigs, whose flesh they ate. On hearing of the approacli of Timur they took to flight. A detachment was sent in pursuit, which overtook them and put many of them to the sword, and plundered the property which they had carried off. The detach- ment returned safe to camp with its plunder, all except ’Adil Farrash who was killed in the fight. Timur rested one day at Sarsuti and on the following day marched eighteen kos to Fath- abad where he encamped. The inhabitants of this place had also abandoned their homes and fled towards the desert. They were pursued by a party of our men who overtook them, killed many of them, and plundered their goods. On the 7th of the month Timur marched by the fort of Rajab-nur and came to the fort of Ahruni where he pitched his camp. This place did not contain any men of sufficient sense and intelligence to come out and secure protection by making their submission, so, some of the inhabitants were killed and others were made prisoners. The soldiers set fire to the fort, plundered the houses, and carried off the grain. Not a house was left standing.

On the following day the army marched into the desert to a village called Tohana. A body of the people called Jats had made themselves masters of this neighbourhood and for a long time had committed depredations on the roads. They had cast aside all the restraints of religion, plundering the caravans and merchants with violence and murder. When they heard of the advance of Timur’s victorious host to Hindustan, they fled into the deserts and into jungles filled with sugar-canes (naishakar) . Orders were issued for pursuing them, and Amir Tokal Hindu Karkarra,1 and Maulana Nasiru-d din were sent in command of the detachment. They penetrated the jungles and killed 200 of them, and having taken many prisoners they returned with the cattle and other spoil to the royal camp.

1 The Tuzak-i- Timuri say, “Amir Tokal son of Hindi Karkarra,” see supra p. 428.

One of Timur’s chief objects was to break up the bauds of robbers and to make the roads secure. On the 9th of the month he left Tohana, and he sent on Amir Sulaiman Shah with the baggage and with the plunder that had been collected towards Samana. On the same day he himself passed the fort of Mung towards Samana and encamped. From this place he made a rapid march against the retreats of the Jats in the deserts and jungles, and falling upon these wild demon-like men he put 2,000 of them to the sword, their wives and children he took captive, and their cattle and effects he plundered. He thus delivered the country from the fear of these robbers which had so long oppressed it.

In that neighbourhood there was a party of distinguished saiyids who had taken up their abode in a certain village and sustained the honour of their religion. They came full of hope and confidence to wait on Timur who received them kindly and bestowing on them his princely bounty, he gave them a governor to protect them from the violence of soldiers.

On the 10th Rabf u-1 awwal Amir Sulaiman marched with the baggage from the vicinity of Mung to the neighbourhood of Samana. He halted for the night and on the 11th reached the river Kha^ar. Timur who had made a forced march against the Jats rejoined the army on the banks of the Khagar which is near Samana. He rested there four days awaiting the arrival of the heavy baggage. On the 15th he marched from thence and halted at the bridge {fill) of Kubila.1 Here he was joined by the princes and nobles of the left wing of his army whom he had sent by another route through the valley ( murgh-zar ) of Kabul by the ordinary road to India. Whenever in their march they came to a hostile town or fort they subdued and plundered it. They now rejoined the imperial standard. On the 16th Timur marched,

1 Var. “ Kupila,” “ Kawila.” The Malfuzdt, (p. 430 supra) says, “Kfitila.” Price and Petis de la Croix have Kubila, though in the latter it is somewhat disguised as “ Foulcouble.”

and crossed the bridge of Kubila. The heavy baggage and the remainder of the army coming up from Dibalpur under Shah Malik, here joined the main army. On the 17th Timur halted, but on the 18th he marched from the bridge of Kubila, and having marched five kos, arrived at the bridge of Yakran1 where he rested. On the 19th he marched to the town of Kaital. The distance between Kaital and Santana is seventeen kos, i.e., five legal farsakhs and two miles.2

When the princes and amirs of the army who had under the imperial command marched by different routes, had all joined the imperial standards, every officer of the right and left wing was ordered to his own post. The Princes Pir Muhammad, Rustam, and Sulaiman Shah with several amirs , were placed over the right. Sultan Mahmud Khan, the Princes Khalil Sultan, and Sultan Husain with amirs were in command of the left. In the centre were the tumans of Allah-dad, of ’AH Sultan Tawachi, and of other amirs. A march of six standard farsakhs and two miles towards Dehli was made. On the 22nd they arrived at the fort of Asandi, seven kos from Kaital. The inhabitants of S&mana, Kaital, and Asandi who were mostly fire-worshippers, burned their houses and fled to Delhi, so that none of them were met with. On the 23rd they marched from Asandi and arrived at the fort of Tughlikpur, six kos distant. The infidels of this place belonged to the religion of the Magi ( sanawiya ) whose eyes had never been enlightened with the rays of the true religion. In the belief of these people there are two gods, one called Yazdan the other Aliriman whom they typify by light and darkness. They suppose all good to proceed from the one and all evil from the other. The people of this place who were also called Salim, had left it empty and fled. The soldiers set fire to the place and reduced it to ashes.

2 This stage is not mentioned in the Malfuzat, neither is it noticed in the revised MS., No. 985.

On the 24th the army arrived at the town of Panipat, a dis- tance of twelve kos from Tughlikpur. The inhabitants of this place also had taken flight and not a soul was found there. In the fort there was a store of wheat more than 10,000 heavy mans in weight or 160,000 of the legal or standard man. This was given to the soldiers. On the 25th Timur marched six kos from that place and encamped on the river of Panipat. On the 26th the amirs put on their armour ready for battle. On the 27th the order was given for the generals of the right wing to proceed to Jahan-numai, a building erected by Firoz Shah on a hill two farsakhs from Dehli. The river Jumna runs at the foot of this hill. They accordingly ravaged the country from the village of Kanlu-gazm to Jahan-numai. The people were killed or made prisoners and great booty was carried off to the camp.

On the 29th Timur passed the Jumna near the village of Palla and marched towards the fort of Loni which is in a great pasture country. This fort is situated in the doab between the rivers Jumna and Halin. The latter is a large canal which Sultan Shah brought from the river Kalini, and it joins the river Jumna near Firozabad. Amir Jahan Shah, Amir Shah Malik, and Amir Allah-dad under Timur’s orders, advanced to the foot of the hill of Jahan-numa. Maimun Maishum the commandant of the fort, unmindful of Timur’s strength, would not capitulate, but prepared to offer resistance. As soon as Timur approached, a wise and venerable old man came out and surrendered, but the other inhabitants who were gabrs and servants of Mallu Khan in their folly and presumption resolved to defend the place. The soldiers were immediately ordered to invest the fort and to take it by mining the walls. They accordingly commenced sapping in various places, and towards evening they took it. The gabrs had previously set fire to their houses in the fort and had burnt them with their wives and children. Timur remained outside of the fort that night. On the last day of Kabi’ul-awwal he gave orders that such of the servants of Naukar Khan and of the inhabitants of the place as were Muhammadans should be set

aside, and that all the rest, gabrs and infidels, should be passed under the sword of Islam. All the inhabitants of the place were plundered except the saiyicls who had been glorified with the light of the faith. The fort was burnt and laid waste.

On the 1st Rabi’u-1 akhir, Timur mounted his horse and leaving the fort of Loni he went forth to reconnoitre. He pro- ceeded to the river Jumna near Jahan-numai, and carefully examined the fords. He then returned to the camp, and as Dehli was near he held a council with the princes and nobles as to the manner of besieging it. The decision arrived at was that plenty of grain and fodder should first be provided for the supply of the army and that then the siege should be entered upon. In pursuance of this plan Amir Sulaiman Shah, Amir Jalian Shah, and others were sent out to plunder the environs of Dehli and bring in corn. On the following day he determined to pay a visit to the palace of Jahan-numai. He set out with 700 men clad in armour, and passing the river Jumna he carefully examined the palace. Firoz Shah had given to the place the name of Jahan-numai by inspiration as it was to become illus- trious by the visit of the Sovereign of the world.

After inspecting the place he looked around to discover the around most suitable for a battle-field. ’All Sultan Tawacln and Junaid Bur-uldai who had marched with the advance-guard now returned; the former brought in Muhammad Salaf, and the latter another person as prisoners. After questioning them Muhammad Salaf was put to death. At this juncture Mallu Khan was descried with 4,000 horse, 5,000 infantry, and twenty- seven elephants issuing from the groves near the city. They drew near, and Timur passed over the river to his camp. The advance-guard of the army, 300 men, under the command of Saiyid Khwaja and Mubashar met and attacked them, leading them to the side of the river where a warm conflict took place. Timur ordered Sunjak Bahadur and Allah-dad to support Saiyid Khwaja. They crossed the river with the utmost celerity, and joining their comrades they attacked the enemy with showers

of arrows. When the enemy saw the boldness and vigour of their assailants, they could not hold their ground, but broke and fled at the first charge. Saivid Khwaja pursued and killed many of them. In the flight a war elephant fell down and died ; an incident from which wise men drew an augury of victory.

March to the east of Loni — Massacre of Hindu prisoners.

On the 3rd Rabi’u-s sani Timur marched from Jahan-numai, and pitched his camp to the eastward of Loni. All the princes and amirs who had been engaged in different expeditions assem- bled here under the royal banner [ and Timur harangued them on the operations of war].

On the same day Amir Jahan Shah and other amirs repre- sented to Timur that from the time he crossed the Indus a hundred thousand Hindu prisoners, more or less, had been taken, and that these gabrs and idol-worshippers were kept in the camp. It was to be feared that in the day of battle with the forces of Dehli they might join the enemy. This opinion was confirmed by the joy which the prisoners had exhibited when Mallu Khan marched against the imperial forces at Jahan-numai. Timur considered the point, and deeming the advice of his officers to be wise, he gave orders for all the Hindu prisoners to be put to death. Every one who neglected to comply with this command was to be executed, and his wives, children, and goods were to become the property of the informer. In pursuance of this order 100,000 infidel Hindus were put to the sword. Maulana Nasiru-d din, a most distinguished ecclesiastic, had fifteen Hindus in his train, and he who had never caused a sheep to be slaughtered was obliged to have these fifteen Hindus killed. Timur also issued an order that one man out of every ten should be left in camp to guard the wives and children of the prisoners, and the captured cattle.