1 MASUD 1 87
2 elephants, horses, camels and chariots, which he inspected on a travelling
3 throne. One hundred thousand foot, 50,000 horse and 1,300 elephants
4 passed in review before him as the dying hero reclined on his couch, and
5 when he had feasted his eyes on all, he burst into tears and retired to his
6 palace full of mortification and grief.
7 At the time of his death, Mahmud left an empire far exceeding that
8 of any monarch then living. His sway extended from Kashmir to Ispahdn
9 and from the Caspian to the Ganges. He was looked upon by all the
10 Mahomedan world as its chief. He was one of the greatest monarchs who
11 have ruled over the destinies of an Asiatic country, and there are few of
12 the world’s conquerors who have established a reputation equal to his.
13 Three miles south of Ghazni may still be seen the cupola that surmounts
14 the grave of Sultan Mahmid. The world-renowned sandalwood gates of
15 Somnath, which the great warrior carried to Ghazni, were erected by his
16 followers to adorn his grave. Forty-six years ago they were brought back
17 to Hindostdn by the armies of a nation whose name even was not known in
18 the East when the gates were carried away, and they are now objects
19 of curiosity in the British Museum in London. To this day the priests
20 of the Mahomedan faith read the Qurdén over the tomb of the famous Sultan
21 of Ghazni.
22 SULTAN MASUD I.
23 Sultan Mahmid left two sons, Muhammad and Mastid, who were twins.
24 The latter, at the time of his father’s death, was in Ispahdn, and Amir Ali,
25 son of Kazil Arsldn, the father-in-law of Mahmud, installed Muhammad on
26 the throne of Ghazni. Muhammad had, however, reigned only five months
27 when he was deprived of his sight and deposed by Mastid, who was pro-
28 claimed Sultan of Ghazni.
29 Having subjugated the Saljuk Tartars, Masi turned his attention to the
30 affairs of India, and, in the year 1033 a D., made an attack on the fort of
31 Sursuti, in the Kdshmir hills. The garrison offered a bold resistance, but
32 Mastid caused scaling ladders to be applied to the walls, and the fort was
33 carried after a bloody fight. The entire garrison were put to the sword,
34 except the women and children, who were carried away as slaves. The
35 intelligence of the defeat of his general by the Saljuks compelled Masid to
36 return to his wetsern dominions to restore order. He retraced his steps to
37 India in 1086, reduced the fort of Hansi, the ancient capital of Savalak,
38 deemed to be impregnable, and then marched to Sonipat near Delhi, which
39 was also reduced, the governor, Dipél Hari, having fled to the woods,
40 abandoning all his treasures, which fell into the hands of the conqueror.
41 On his return to Léhore the Sultan, having conferred the insignia and title
42 of royalty on his son Maudtid, entrusted to him the government of that
43 province, and, leaving with him Khwaja Ayaz, his favourite counsellor and
44 minister, himself returned to Ghazni. He was, however, hard pressed by
45 the Saljuk Turkmdns in 1042, and, being much discouraged by the
46 perfidy of his generals, he collected all his wealth from the stronghold of
47 Ghazni, and, loading it on camels, withdrew to Lahore the same year, with
48 the determination to live in India for the rest of his life. On reaching
49 Lahore he sent his son, Prince Maudud, to Balkh, as governor of that pro-
50 vince; but on the banks of the Jhelum his soldiers and slaves mutinied and
51 deposed him, raising his blind brother, Muhammad, whom he had brought
52 with him, to the throne. Masid was kept in close confinement, but was
53 soon after assassinated by his cousin, Sulaiman. Mastid reigned nine years.
54 He was a prince of a warlike temperament, possessed of much courage,
55 Extent of his
56 monarchy.
57 The mausoleum of
58 Sultan Mahmud.
59 The gates of
60 Somnath,
61 Muhammad succeeds
62 Mahmid, his father.
63 But is blinded and
64 deposed by his brother
65 Mastid, 1033 a. D.
66 Masiid invades
67 India, 1033 a, D.
68 Maudtid entrusted
69 with the government
70 of Lahore.
71 Sultan Mastd
72 deposed by the army
73 and put to death.
74 He is suceeceded by
75 Nuhammad.
76 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com