Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/153

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

SECOND CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MOGHULS 117 read and coin of the realm was struck in Nasir's auspicious name. When Ulugh Khan represented how the accursed foe had fled before the armies of Islam in the previous year and had gone to the upper dis- tricts, it seemed advisable that the royal army should proceed in that direction. This advice was approved and orders were given for the march. The army set forth on Monday, the first of Rajab, 644 A. H. (Nov. 12, 1246 A. D.), and proceeded to the river Sodra. Here Ulugh Khan was detached with several nobles and generals to make an incursion into the hills of Jud. The Rana of these hills had acted as guide to the Moghuls, but the hour of revenge for this was at hand. Ulugh Khan accordingly attacked the hills of Jud and the countries on the Jihlam, and led his forces as far as the banks of the Indus. All the women and dependents of the infidels that were in those regions were obliged to flee, and a party of the Moghul army crossed over the Jihlam and saw the forces which were arrayed under the command of Ulugh Khan. The mani- fold lines of the army, the numbers of the horse, and the wealth of armour filled all beholders with wonder and dismay. The bravery and generalship which Ulugh Khan displayed in scaling mountains, breaking through defiles, capturing fortified places, and crossing jungles cannot be described in writing. The fame of this cam- paign extended to Turkistan. There was no husbandry or agriculture in this country, however, and fodder became unobtainable, so that he was compelled to re- tire; but he returned victorious and triumphant to the