Page images
PDF
EPUB

Mahomed took possession of Mooltan; but Sarung Khan, in a few days, found means to effect his escape.

In Dehly, Mulloo Yekbal Khan, having disagreed with Mookurrib Khan, abandoned the cause of Mahmood Toghluk, and sent a message to Noosrut Shah, offering to join his party. This proposal was readily accepted: the parties met, and went to the palace of Siry, where they swore mutual friendship on the Koran, at the tomb of Khwaja Kootb-ood-Deen Bukhtyar Kaky. A quarrel now took place between Mahmood Toghluk and Mookurrib Khan; and about three days after, another rupture occurred between Mulloo Yekbal Khan and Noosrut Shah, when the former, regardless of his oath, formed a conspiracy to seize the latter. Noosrut Shah, informed of the plot, thought it advisable to quit the palace of Siry, and Mulloo Yekbal Khan, intercepting his followers in his retreat, took all his elephants, treasure, and baggage; while the unfortunate Prince, being in no condition to keep the field, fled to his vizier, Tartar Khan, at Paniput.

Mulloo Yekbal Khan, having obtained possession of Ferozabad, increased his power, and strove to expel the King, Mahmood, and his partisan Mookurrib Khan, from the old city. At length, by the mediation of some nobles, peace was concluded between the parties; but Mulloo Yekbal Khan, perfidious as he was, and regardless of the sacred oaths of the treaty, attacked Mookurrib Khan in his own house, and slew him. He also seized Mahmood

Toghluk, and deprived him of all but the name of King.

Mulloo Yekbal Khan now marched from Dehly, accompanied by the pageant King, Mahmood, against Noosrut Shah and Tartar Khan at Paniput. Tartar Khan, leaving his elephants and baggage in the fort, passed by him by forced marches, and avoiding his army, arrived before Dehly, and invested it. Mulloo Yekbal Khan, trusting to the strength of the force he left in the city, besieged Paniput, and carried it by escalade on the third day. He then hastened back to Dehly, whence Tartar Khan, having failed in his attempt, fled to his father Zuffur Khan, in Guzerat, and Mulloo Yekbal Khan entering the city, began to restore the government to some order. Meanwhile, to complete the miseries of this unhappy people, news arrived, that Teimoor Beg had crossed the Indus, with an intention to conquer Hindoostan.

INVASION OF TEIMOOR (OR TAMERLANE).

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

Teimoor crosses the Indus, and proceeds by Toolumba to Mooltan, where he is joined by his grandson, Peer Mahomed.Proceeds to Bhutnere, which he reduces. Marches by Paniput to Dehly. Reconnoitres the city with a small division of troops-is attacked, but repulses the Indians. The Indian captives, to the number of 100,000, put to death by his order. -Battle of Dehly. - The Indians defeated, and their King, Mahmood Toghluk, flies. Contribution laid on Dehly causes resistance. Massacre and sack of Dehly. — Teimoor retreats, after appointing Khizr Khan, an Indian chief, his deputy.-Noosrut Shah enters Dehly, and expels Mulloo Yekbal Khan.-Noosrut Shah subsequently expelled by Mulloo Yekbal Khan. The territory of Dehly confined to a few villages.— Seven independent kingdoms established on the ruins of the Dehly monarchy. Mahmood Toghluk returns to Dehlyretires on a pension. - Mulloo Yekbal Khan attacks Khizr Khan, Teimoor's deputy — is killed in battle. Khizr Khan arrives at Dehly.

AMEER TEIMOOR, informed of the commotions and civil wars of India, began his expedition into that country in the eight hundredth year of Mohurrum 12. the Hijra, and on the 12th of Mo

A. H. 801.

Sept. 12. A. D. 1398.

hurrum, in the following year, arrived on the banks of the Indus. He crossed that river, and marched to the boundaries of Kole Julaly, so called since Julal-ood-Deen, King of Kabul, left Bungur, and resided at that kole (or fort). At this period, Ameer Teimoor despatched Sheik Noor-ood-Deen

to dispossess Shahab-ood-Deen Moobarik Khan, who, on the part of the King of Dehly, had advanced to the Behut, for the defence of the frontier districts. Noor-ood-Deen arrived within a few miles of Moobarik Khan, and required him to submit to his master. The latter occupied a strong post on the bank of the river, around which he had formed a fosse to insulate his position, and resolved to defend it. Noor-ood-Deen, however, found means, in the course of his approaches, to fill up the ditch, but suffered considerable loss from a sally made by the besieged during the night, which, in the end, he repulsed, and forced the assailants to take shelter within their walls. moor, at this time, also advanced with his whole army, and Moobarik Khan, intimidated by his approach, privately embarked with his family and treasures in 200 boats prepared for the purpose, and proceeded down the river, being two days pursued in vain by Noor-ood-Deen, who was detached for that purpose. The Indian garrison, after the departure of their leader, surrendered at discretion.

Tei

Teimoor now marched along the river, to the conflux of the Chunab with the Ravy, where was situated the strong fort and town of Toolumba. He caused a bridge to be thrown across the river, by which his army might pass, and pitched his camp outside the town, which he laid under contribution. While the inhabitants were collecting the sum demanded, complaint was made to Teimoor of the scarcity of provisions in his camp, on which orders were issued to seize grain wherever it might

be found. The soldiers accordingly proceeded to search the town; but not being content with provisions, a general plunder ensued; and the inhabitants, in endeavouring to oppose the outrage, were massacred with

A. H. 801.
A. D. 1397.

out mercy.

To have besieged the fort of Toolumba would only have retarded the progress of Teimoor. He therefore marched, on the following day, to a town called Shahnowaz, where finding more grain than sufficient for his whole army, he caused what could not be carried away to be burnt. At this place, the brother of the chief of the Gukkurs, who had attempted to defend the place with 2000 men, lost his life. Teimoor proceeded on the third day from Shahnowaz, and crossing the Beea, entered a rich and plentiful country. The following is an account of the proceedings of the Prince Mirza Peer Mahomed Jehangeer. After having, as has been already mentioned, taken Mooltan, the rains came on, and destroyed so great a part of his cavalry in the field, that he was under the necessity of withdrawing his army into the city of Mooltan. There he was reduced to much distress by the inhabitants of the country, who closely invested the place, and withheld supplies, so that his cavalry, unable to act or to procure forage, diminished daily. Such was the situation of the Prince when his grandfather invaded India. Teimoor immediately reinforced Mirza Peer Mahomed Jehangeer with a detachment of 30,000 select horse, and soon after joined him with the rest of his army. The Prince complained bitterly of the

« PreviousContinue »