20 MAHMUD OF GHAZNI oning, according to the florid statements of the Oriental historians, fell into the hands of the Moslems. Mahmud was not cruel; he seldom indulged in wanton slaughter; and when a treaty of peace had been concluded, the raja and his friends were set free. With the proud despair of his race, Jaipal refused to survive his dis- THE FORT AT PESHAWAR. grace. Preferring death to dishonour, he cast himself upon a funeral pyre. There were many other kings besides Jaipal, how- ever; and when, after a successful raid upon Bhira, where " the Hindus rubbed their noses in the dust of disgrace," and another to Multan, whose Mohammedan (or rather Karmathian) ruler fled aghast, Mahmud appeared again at the mouth of the Khaibar in 1008, he found all the rajas of the Panjab, backed by allies from other parts of Hindustan, mustered to resist him with Anandpal, the son of Jaipal, at their head. Mah- mud had never yet encountered such an army, and he
