1 TYMOR., 115
2 Gujrdét. The chief men of the city now crowded round the conqueror, who
3 gave them protection on condition of their-paying tribute. On the following
4 Friday, the Mahomedan sabbath, Tymir was proclaimed emperor of Hindos-
5 tén and the Khutba was read in his name in all the mosques.
6 The Delhi troops had been routed and the king had fled; but a greater
7 calamity still awaited it. It seems that Tymdr had entrusted the task of
8 levying contributions from the towns-people to the chiefs and magistrates of
9 the city. Certain nobles and rich merchants refused to pay their share of
10 contribution. Upon this the Amir sent troops to Delhi to heip the ma-
11 gistrates to collect the money. In the meantime, Tymir, according to his
12 custom after a victory, held a grand banquet in the camp, in which he
13 entertained his grandees and Omerahs.
14 The troops sent to the city created the utmost disorder, and, getting beyond
15 control, began to plunder the place. None dared to acquaint Tymér with
16 this circumstance, in the midst of his festivities, and the brutal soldiery
17 continued their excesses unrestrained. Hindu females were outraged and
18 their property seized and even the Mahomedans were not spared. The
19 patience of the citizens being exhausted, they at length resolved to face
20 the disaster which had befallen them, like men. They closed their gates,
21 put their own wives and children to death, set their houses on fire, and,
22 with such weapons as they could lay hands on, rushed on their enemies.
23 A general massacre ensued. The whole city was in flames and nothing
24 was to be seen in the streets but heaps of dead and the blood of the
25 victims. Great was the havoc which took place, and the horrors which
26 ensued were quite unprecedented. The courage of the men at Delhi at
27 last fuiled them before the hardy and merciless Tartars, who now drove
28 them before them like sheep, enormous booty falling into the hands of the
29 victors.
30 Tymir halted fifteen days at Delhi. He was much struck with the ele-
31 gance displayed in the architecture of the superb mosque built by the Em-
32 peror Feroz, and read with much interest and admiration the inscription on
33 this monument of Toghlak’s reign, describing the history of his times and the
34 regulations enforced under his government. He carried architects and
35 masons from Delhi to Samarkand to build a mosque there on a similar scale.
36 After these events, Tymur set out to return to his own country. Mirut
37 was taken by storm and the garrison put to the sword. Khizr Khan,
38 governor of Multdn, who, it will be remembered, had been worsted by
39 Sarang Khan, governor of Depalpur, in 1396, and, on the approach of
40 Tymér, had concealed himself in the hills of Mewat, now came in and made
41 _ Submission to the Amir, by whom he was graciously received. The Amir
42 took many forts on the route, and, on his arrival at Jammu, compelled the
43 raj&é to embrace the Mahomedan faith, after a severe combat, in which the
44 latter was wounded. Jasrat, the brother of Shekha Ghakkar, opposed
45 Tymir, but was defeated and put to flight. Shekha severely reproved
46 his brother for his conduct, and the matter having been represented to
47 Tymir, he was admitted into his presence and taken into favour. During
48 the Amir’s absence at Delhi, Shekha, availing himself of the confused state
49 of affairs, took possession of Lahore and refused to submit to the Amir,
50 when he was encamped at Jammu. The Amir accordingly sent a detach-
51 ment of his army to Ldhore, which was besieged and captured after a few
52 days, and Shekha was brought in chains to Tymér and instantly beheaded
53 by his orders. During his stay at Jammu, Tymir appointed Khizr Khan
54 his viceroy for the provinces of Léhore, Multdn and Depdlptr and returned
55 to Samarkand by the K4bul route.
56 Tymir proclaimed
57 emperor of Hindostin.
58 General massacre
59 and pillage at Delhi.
60 Submission of
61 Khizr Khan, governor
62 of Multan.
63 The principality of
64 Jammu reduced.
65 Shekha Ghakkar re-
66 bels at Lahore, but is
67 seized and beheaded.
68 The victor’s return
69 to his country,
70 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com