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 Chap. III.]

PEER MAHOMED JEIIANGIR.

93

endeavouring to hold the balance, with the view of ultimately selling them- ^^ ^^^ selves to the most advantage. Civil war thus raged in the very heart of the city, and the streets freciuently ran with blood.

During this confusion, intelligence arrived, in 1396, that Prince Peer Ma- New M.>gia liomed Jehangir, grandson of the celebrated Timour or Tamerlane, had crossed the Indus by a bridge of boats, and laid siege to Ooch. The governor of Mool- tan was preparing for the relief of it when Peer Mahomed, anticipating his movements, amved, just in time to surpnse the Mooltanies immediately after they had crossed the Beas. Their show of resistance was useless ; and most of those who escaped the sword perished in the river. A few made good their retreat to Mooltan, but the victor was close at their heels, and the governor, Sarung Khan, had barely time to retire into the fort. After a siege of six months, want of provisions obliged him to sun-ender at discretion. The pre- sence of such an enemy as Peer Mahomed Jehangir was a dire calamity. H(jw fearfully must the calamity have been increased when lie proved to be only the forerunner of his grandfather. The event is of sufficient importance to demand a new (hapter.

Ri'iss OF TooHr.AKABAT). Part of the Serai.'

From Uucoii'« Vint linpresitoiis of India

' Toglilakabad wa.s named after its foiuuler, tlie taiits; but the nule, iiia.<!sy, and stiipendous ruins of Enperor Glieias-ii-din Toghlak, who <lied A.n. l'i'2Ct. its walla, palaces, and subterranean apartments still A faw miserable huts contain all its present inhabi- attract the notice of travellers.