1 MAHMGD OF GHAZNI. 81
2 On his return from a military expedition into Sistan, in 1004 A.D,
3 Mahmud found that the tribute from Hindostan had not been fully paid.
4 Anangpal, the réj&é of Léhore, had paid his share, but a tributary prince,
5 Biji Rai, r4j4 of Bhatia, had withheld his quota, and, being bitterly hostile
6 to the Mahomedans, was molesting the Mahomedan Governors whom
7 _ Mahmud had established in India. Mahmfid entered the raja’s territory
8 by the ,Multdn route, and found Bhatia fortified with a high wall and sur-
9 rounded by a deep broad ditch. The Rdj& drew up his Rajput army in
10 order of battle, and the Indians charged the Mahomedans so desperately
11 that the latter were repulsed in several engagements during three succes-
12 sive days. All the strong positions were held by the Hindus, and so severe
13 was the loss sustained by the Mahomedan troops that they were on the
14 point of abandoning the field. At length, on the fourth day, Mahmud,
15 prostrating himself towards Mecca, in sight of his army, with his hand out-
16 stretched in prayer, and shouting that the Prophet had given him the
17 victory, led the main attack himself. A loud shout from the soldiers rent
18 the air, and the Mahomedans pressed forward with such impetuosity that
19 the enemy were driven back to the gates of the city. The following morn-
20 ing, the fort of Bhatia was closely besieged, and in a few days the sur-
21 rounding ditches were all filled up. Biji Rai, finding it impossible to
22 maintain his position, abandoned the citadel, leaving a small garrison to
23 defend it, and took refuge in a wood on the banks of the Indus with the
24 rest of his troops. He was pursued in his forest retreat by a detachment
25 of Mahmfid’s army, which attacked his position and reduced him to great
26 straits. His best friends deserted him, and he was on the point of being
27 taken prisoner, when he fell on his own sword and thus put an end to his
28 life. His followers, who attempted to avenge the death of their master,
29 were, for the most part, put to the sword. Bhatia was taken by assault.
30 Two hundred and eighty elephants, with a large number of slaves and
31 other spoils, fell into the hands of the king, who returned triumphant to
32 Ghazni.
33 Shekh Hamid Sadi, the first Mahomedan ruler of Multdn, acknow-
34 ledged allegiance to Amir Sabuktagin and paid him tribute. After him his
35 grandson Abul Fath Daud, the son of Nasir, acknowledged himself the
36 vassal of the Sultan of Ghazni, but he shook off his allegiance in 1500 A.D.,
37 in collusion with Anangpal of Lahore. Mahmtd now formed the design
38 of reconquering Multdn, and in the beginning of the spring marched
39 with a large army to that place. In the hills of Peshdwar he was opposed
40 by Anangpal’s troops, which were signally defeated and pursued by the
41 Ghazni army to the town of Sodra,* on the bank of the Chinab.
42 Anangpal, deserting his capital, fled to Kashmir. Mahmud marched
43 to Miultdn by way of Bhatinda and laid close siege to it for seven
44 days. Dad at length surrendered and was pardoned, on a promise to pay
45 an aunual tribute of 20,000 gold dirams. The Sultan would probably have
46 prolonged his stay in India, but news of the invasion of his western terri-
47 tories by his father-in-law Elek Khan, King of Kashgar, compelled him to
48 retrace his steps to Ghazni, leaying the affairs of India in the hands of
49 Sewakpal, a Hindu prince who had become a convert to Mahomedanism
50 under the influence of Abu Ali, Governor of Peshawar.
51 A rebellion on the part of Sewakpal, the deputy, who expelled all the
52 officers of the Sultan from their respective departments, again brought
53 Mahmud on the soil of India in 1005-6. He sent forward a part of his cavalry
54 in advance, and the troops, coming unexpectedly in sight of the Hindu army,
55 * The modern Wazirabad on the left bank of the Chinab.
56 Second Invasion,
57 1004 A. D,
58 Fight against the
59 raja of Bhatia,
60 A furious onset,
61 Suicide committed
62 by the raja.
63 Third Invasion,
64 1005 a. D.
65 Conquest of Miltin.
66 Fourth Invasion,
67 1005-6 a. D.
68 Rebellion of Sew-
69 akpal, a renegade
70 Hindu raja.
71 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary Namdhantlibrary@ gmail.com