1 112 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
2 attacked by a violent disease and died suddenly, after a brief reign of forty-
3 five days.
4 MAHMUD TOGHLAK.
5 Mahmiid succeeds. On the death of Humaytn, the succession was violently contested ; bnt
6 Mahmiid, a youth and the son of the late king Nasir-ud-din Muhammad, was
7 at length raised to the throne. The kingdom was, however, distracted
8 Distracted stato of by dissensions among the nobles, and factions were formed in the Court
9 eae which encouraged the viceroys of different provinces to revolt and assert
10 their independence. Khawja Jahan, the wazir, assumed the title of Mali-
11 kushshark, or the king of the East, and asserted his independence in a
12 portion of Bengal. The Ghakkars were in revolt in the Panjab, Gujrat
13 had become an independent kingdom, and Malwa and Khandes had long
14 ceased to acknowledge their dependence ou the Court of Delhi. The
15 Panjdb, however, was not lost to the emperor, for the governors, for a time
16 at least, remained firm in their allegiance to him, while confusion and
17 dissensions reigned supreme everywhere in India,
18 Sdérang Khan, the governor of Depdlpur, having collected a large body
19 of troops in the province of Multan and the north-west of the Panjab,
20 itiee ens do. marched against the Ghakkars, and a severe battle was fought on the plains
21 governor of Depalpar. of Ajuddhan, twenty-four miles from Lahore. The Ghakkars were defeated with
22 great loss, and their chief, Shekha, fled and sought refuge in the hills of
23 Jammu. After this victory Sdrang Khan returned to Depélpur, leaving
24 his younger brother, Adil Khan, at Lahore.
25 In the year 1895, differences having arisen between Srang Khan,
26 The revolt of 8. — governor of Depalptr and Khizr Khan, governor of Multan, war was
27 alas declared between them. Several engagements took place with varying
28 success, but victory at last declared for Sarang Khan, who, having captured
29 Multan, enlarged his power and resources. Elated with this success, Sdrang
30 Khan, the following year, advanced on the capital itself, but Tatar Khan,
31 His defuat, the governor of Panipat, and Almas Beg, gave him battle and signally
32 defeated him on October 4th, 1396, and compelled him to fly to Multan.
33 ih eae In the year 1396, Mirza Pir Muhammad the grandson of Tymir, com-
34 tel, grundson of monly known as Tamarlane, having constructed a bridge-of-boats over the
35 juruwde auitan Indus, crossed that river at the head of an army and laid siege to Uch.
36 Malik Ali, the governor of Uch, was reduced to great straits when Sdrang
37 Khan, the governor of Multan advanced to relieve and reinforce him.
38 Mirza Pir Muhammad, hearing of this advance, moved to the Bids and out-
39 flanking the Multén troops fell on them just as they were crossing the river.
40 The troops were taken by surprise and driven into the stream, in which large
41 numbers of them were drowned. Many were put to the sword, and only
42 a small number succeeded in effecting their retreat towards Multéu. The
43 prince pursued them to the gates of Mdltan, and Sarang Khan shut him-
44 Sheet self up within the citadel, which was beseiged by the Moghals.
45 ik Mew alte The beseiged held out for six months, when, provisions failing, Sdrang
46 Khan was compelled to capitulate with his entire garrison. Pir Muhammad
47 lost most of his horses and articles of transport in this protracted campaign,
48 and the rainy season setting in, he was unable to undertake further opera-
49 tions.
50 In the meanwhile two factions had been formed at the court of Delhi,
51 one under Ikbal Khan, and the other under Mokarrab Khan. The king
52 ret tnvaded by nes & mere puppet in the bands of the former, who succeeded in expelling
53 Fiaur, Lt ap, Mokarrab Khan and his partisans from the city. Peace was being restored
54 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com-