power as a puppet, and himself directed all matters of govern

ment.

In the month of Zí-l ka'da, Ikbál Khán marched against Tátár Khán at Pánipat. When information of this reached the latter, he left his baggage and materials of war in Pánipat, and marched with a strong force against Dehlí. Ikbál Khán invested Pánipat, and captured the place in three days. Tátár Khán also attacked Dehlí, but notwithstanding his efforts, he could not take it. When he heard of the fall of Pánipat, he gave up the siege, and fled with his army to his father in Gujarát. Ikbál Khán took the elephants, horses, etc., from Pánipat, and returned to Dehlí. Malik Nasíru-1 Mulk, relation (karib) of Tátár Khán, joined the victor, and received from him the title of ’Adil Khán, and a fief in the Doáb. Ikbál Khán then devoted himself to affairs of State.

In the month of Safar, 801 H. (October, 1398 A.D.), intelligence came that Amír Tímúr, King of Khurásán, had attacked Talína, and was staying at Multán, and that he had put to the sword all the soldiers of Sárang Khán, who had been taken prisoners by Pír Muhammad. This intelligence filled Ikbál Khán with dread and anxiety. Amir Tímúr continuing his march, besieged Bhatnír, took the rái Khul Chain prisoner, and put the garrison to the sword. From thence he marched to Sámána, and many inhabitants of Díbálpúr, Ajodhan, and Sarsutí, fled in terror to Dehlí. Many prisoners were taken, and most of these received the glory of martyrdom. Then he crossed over the Jumna into the Doáb, and ravaged the greater part of the country. He made a halt at the town of Loní, and there he put to the sword all the prisoners whom he had taken between the rivers Sind and Ganges, in all 50,000 men, more or less: God knows the truth. Such was the terror inspired by him, that Musulmáns and Hindus fled before him, some to the

1 The Tabakat-i Akbari says, "Sámána as far as the middle of the Doab."

2 This name is so given also in the Tabakát-i Akbarí, and in Badáúní.

mountains, some to the deserts, some to the waves of the rivers, and some to Dehlí. In Jumáda-l awwal, having crossed the Jumna, he halted at Fírozábád, and next day he took up his position at the top of the Hauz-i kháss. Ikbál Khán came

out with his elephants, and gave battle to Amír Tímúr in the maidán. At the first charge, he was defeated by the warriors of Tímúr, and escaped through a thousand difficulties with his elephants into the city. But as they retreated into the city, many men were crushed under foot and died, and heaps of dead were left. When night came on, Ikbál Khán and Sultán Mahmud, leaving their wives and children behind, came out of the city. The Sultán fled to Gujarát, and Ikbál Khán crossed the river Jumna and went to Baran. Next day Amír Tímúr granted quarter to the city, and took the ransom money from the inhabitants. On the fourth day he gave orders that all the people in the city should be made prisoners, and this was done.1

Some days afterwards, Khizr Khán, who had fled in fear of Tímúr to the mountains of Mewát, Bahádur Náhir, Mubárak Khán, and Zirak Khán, by the favour of Amír Tímúr, were admitted to an interview, but, with the exception of Khizr Khán,2 they were all put into prison. From Dehlí, Tímúr returned by the skirts of the hills, and made prisoners of those people who had remained in the hills. When he arrived at Láhor, he plundered the city, and he made Shaikhá Khokhar prisoner, with his wives and children, and all those who had taken refuge with him. This Shaikhá Khokhar, through enmity to Sárang Khán, had early joined Tímúr, and had acted as his guide, in return for which he had received mercy and favour. Tímúr

1 Nizamu-d dín Ahmad, who is quoted by Firishta, is more explicit in his Tabakát-i Akbari. He says: "Tímúr granted quarter to the people of the city, and appointed a number of persons to collect the ransom-money. Some of the citizens, incensed by the harshness of the collectors, resisted and killed several of them. This daring incited the anger of Tímúr, and he gave orders to kill or make prisoners the people of the city. On that day many were captured or slain, but at length Tímúr was moved to pity and issued an edict of mercy."

2 "Whom Tímúr knew to be a saiyid and a good man.”—Tubakát-i Akbarí.

granted the fiefs of Multán and Díbálpúr to Khizr Khán, and sent him thither. Then he marched through Kábul to his own territories, and arrived at his capital, Samarkand.

1

After the departure of Tímúr, the neighbourhood of Dehlí, and all those territories over which his armies had passed, were visited with pestilence (wabá) and famine. Many died of the sickness, and many perished with hunger, and for two months Dehli was desolate. In the month of Rajab, 801 (March, 1399 A.D.), Sultán Násiru-d dín Nusrat Sháh, who had fled from the malevolence of Ikbál Khán into the Doáb, advanced with a small force to Mírat, where he was joined by 'Adil Khán, who brought four elephants. By craft he (Nusrat Khán) got him into his power, and took possession of the elephants. The people of the Doáb, who had obtained deliverance from the hands of the Mughals, began to rally, and he entered Fírozábád with about 2,000 horse. Dehlí, although ruined, came into his power. Shahab Khán came from Mewát, with ten elephants and his adherents; Malik Almás also joined him from the Doáb. When a large force had collected round him, he sent Shahab Khán to Baran to overpower Ikbál Khán. On his way, a party of Hindu footmen fell upon him in the night and killed him. His followers dispersed, and the elephants were abandoned. Directly Ikbál Khán heard of this, he hastened to the spot, and got possession of the elephants. His power and dignity increased daily, and forces gathered round him, while Sultán Násiru-d dín [Nusrat Khán] grew weaker and weaker.

In the month of Rabí'ul-1 awwal, Ikbál Khán left Baran, and proceeded with his army to Dehlí; the Sultán [Nusrat Khán] then left Fírozábád, and went into Mewát. Dehlí fell into the power of Ikbál Khán, and he took up his abode in the fort of Sírí. Some of the people of the city who had escaped the Mughals, came back and resumed their habitations. In a short

This is not mentioned in the Tabakát-i Akbarí, or by Badáúní. Firishta confirms it, but the fact does not appear in the translation.

time the fortress of Sírí became populated. The districts (shikk) in the Doáb, and the fiefs in the neighbourhood of the capital, came into the possession of Ikbál Khán; but the territories in general remained in the power of the amirs and maliks who held them. Thus Gujarát, and all its districts and dependencies, was held by Zafar Khán Wajíbu-l Mulk; the shikk of Multán, Díbálpúr and parts of Sind, by Khizr Khán; the shikk of Mahoba and Kálpí, by Mahmúd Khán, son of Malik-záda Fíroz; the fiefs (ikta's) on the side of Hindustán, such as Kanauj, Oudh, Karra, Dalamau, Sandíla, Bahráích, Bíhar, and Jaunpúr, were held by Khwája-i Jahán; the shikk of Dhár, by Diláwar Khán; the shikk of Sámána, by Ghálib Khán; and the shikk of Bayána, by Shams Khán-into so many portions were the territories of Dehlí divided.

In the month of Rabí'u-l awwal, Ikbál Khán marched towards Bayána against Shams Khán, who was at the town of Núh o Batal. A battle followed, and fortune (ikbál) favoured Ikbál Khán. Shams Khán fled into Bayána, leaving two elephants in the hands of the victor. Then Ikbál Khán marched against Katehr, and after exacting money and tribute from Ráí Singh, he returned to Dehlí. In the same year, Khwaja-i Jahán died at Jaunpúr, and his adopted son, Malik Mubárak, became king in his stead, assuming the title of Mubárak Sháh, and taking possession of all the fiefs (ikta's).

In Jumáda-l awwal, 803 (December, 1400), Ikbál Khán again marched towards Hindustán, and was waited upon by Shams Khán, of Bayána, and Mubárak Khán, [son of Bahádur Náhir. He carried them with him, and in the same month he reached Pattíálí, on the banks of the black river. Here he encountered Ráí Sír3 and other infidels, with a numerous army. On the

Badáúní confirms this, but writes Patal, instead of Batal.

2 "Ab-i siyah," or the "Kálá-pání." Badáúní and Firishta agree in saying "the Ganges."

3 Firishta agrees with the other authorities in this name, but the translation says, "the Ray of Sirinugur, (the ancient name of Bilgaram, which was at that time a principality)." But see suprà, notes 1 and 2, p. 26.

following day a battle took place, and God, who defends the Muhammadan religion, gave the victory to Ikbál Khán. The infidels fled, and he pursued them to the confines of Etáwa, killing many, and making many prisoners. From thence he proceeded to the district (khitta) of Kanauj, and Sultánu-sh Shark Mubárak Sháh came up from Hindustán. The river Ganges flowed between the two armies, and neither was able to cross. This state of affairs continued for two months, when each party retired to his own home. On his journey, Ikbál Khán became suspicious of [Mubárak Khán and] Shams Khán, and having got them into his power [he put them to death].1

In this year Taghí Khán Turkchi Sultání, son-in-law of Ghalib Khán, amir of Sámána, assembling a considerable force, marched towards Díbálpúr, against Khizr Khán. When intelligence of this was brought to Khizr Khán, he prepared for the attack, and marched with a large force into the khitta of Ajodhan. A battle was fought there on the 9th Rajab, on the banks of the Dahanda. Khizr Khán was victorious, and Taghí Khán fled to the town of Asahúhar.2 Ghálib Khán, and other amirs who were with him, then treacherously killed him.

In the year 804 H. (1401), Sultán Mahmúd left the khitta of Dhár, and proceeded to Dehlí. Ikbál Khán came forth to give him a formal reception, and the Sultán went to the Humáyún palace in Jahán-panáh. But the reins of government were in the hands of Ikbál Khán, and so hatred sprang up between him and the Sultán. Ikbál Khán again went to Kanauj, and took the Sultán with him. In this year Sultán Mubárak Shah (of Jaunpúr) died, and his brother, Ibráhím Shah, succeeded him as king, under the title of Sultán Ibráhím. On hearing of the approach of Sultán Mahmúd and Ikbál Khán, he marched out to meet them with a large force. When the two armies were near to each other, and the battle was imminent, Sultán

The necessary words in brackets are from the Tabakát-i Akbarí.

2 So in the MS., but the Tabakát-i Akbari has “ Bahudar," and Badáúní “Bahuhar."