1 TYMGR. “118
2 in the capital when another calamity befell the Indians. This was the in-
3 vasion of Tymtir Beg Gorkan, who, having been informed of the disturbed
4 condition of the country, had conceived the design of subduing the whole
5 of India.
6 CHAPTER VII.
7 INVASION OF TYMUR,
8 NTELLIGENCE of the civil wars in India and the general distractions and
9 disorders of the empire having reached Tymur, or Tamerlane, at Samar-
10 kand, in 1896, he despatched an army under his grandson, Pir Muhammad,
11 who overran the countries west of the Indus. Tymdr followed in person, and,
12 crossing the Indus on September 12th, 1398, advanced by forced marches
13 on Léhore. An advanced guard was despatched under Shekh Nir-ud-din
14 to subdue Shahab-ud-din Mobarak Khan, governor of the Panjdéb, who had
15 advanced to the Chinéb in order to check the progress of the invader.
16 Mobarak Khan, took up an isolated position on the bank of the river,
17 and, throwing round it a deep ditch, with fortifications, prepared to defend
18 it to the last. Repeated attacks were made by the Indians and repulsed
19 each time by the Moghals, until at length Tymir came up with his whole
20 force. Mobarak Khan, overcome with fear at the approach of so large an
21 army, secretly embarked with his family and treasures, and sailed down
22 the river, leaving to their fate the Indian garrison, who, finding their leader
23 gone, surrendered unconditionally.
24 Tymtr now proceeded along the river bank to the junction of the
25 Chindéb with the Ravi. His army crossed by a bridge-of-boats thrown
26 across the river for the purpose, and encamped outside the town of Talamba.
27 Provisions failing, a sally was made into the town for the purpose of obtain-
28 ing them, but the impatient soldiery began to plunder the town, and the
29 inhabitants, resisting them, were mercilessly massacred. Without waiting
30 to besiege Talamba, which would have retarded the progress of the invading
31 army, Tymtr marched to Shahnawaz, where he was opposed by a Ghakkar
32 chief. This chief he slew, and, having seized as much provisions as he could
33 carry off, set fire to the rest of the town. He then crossed the Bids and
34 sent a reinforcement of 30,000 horse to his grandson, Mirza Pir Muhammad,
35 who, as already stated, had conquered Multan, and was now much harassed
36 by the inhabitants, who cut off his supplies and followed him up close-
37 ly. Tymir soon after joined the prince in person. Ajuddhan (Pdk-
38 pattan) was spared, out of reverence for the memory of Shekh Farid
39 Shakarganj, whose tomb is situated there, though the place had been al-
40 most entirely deserted by the inhabitants on the approach of the invaders.
41 Tymur now marched to Bhitner, the chief of which place had been the
42 principal source of the prince’s troubles. Here the people of Depalpar,
43 and the adjoining places, had assembled in large numbers to protect them-
44 selves against the advancing army of the Moghals. The town not being
45 sufficient to accommodate such a large number of people, most of them were
46 obliged to take shelter under the walls. But few of them escaped the
47 sword of Tymur’s troops, who attacked them and slew many thousands.
48 The Governor of Bhatner offered a faint resistance, but Tymfir in person
49 Tymir crosses the
50 Indus, 1398,
51 Mobarak Khan, go-
52 vernor of the Panjab,
53 checks his progress at
54 the Chinab,
55 But is repulsed.
56 Talamba plundered,
57 Massacre of the 1n-
58 habitants,
59 Tymur crosses the
60 Bias,
61 And marches to
62 Bhitner,
63 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com