Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/78

 441 HISTORY OF INDIA. [Book /.

AD. inoi. the terms of accommodation ofl'eied l>y llajali Jeipal, and we are therefore prepared to see him enter (jn a career of Indian conquest. At first a series of struggles, which ended in the extinction of the Somani dynasty, engro.ssed his attention, but no sooner were these settled than he turned his eye to India His first expedition took phice in 1001, when, at Peshawer with only 10,000 chosen horse, he encountered his old enemy Rajah Jeipal at the heaxl of 1 2,000 horse, 30,000 foot, and 300 elephants. The field was keenly contested, but at Defeat and hist Jeipal, with fifteen of his chiefs, was taken pri.soner. Mahmood, whose

death of ,

Jeipal. avarice was at least equal to his ambition, was able to gi'atify l)oth pa.ssions by the victory, which, in addition to its fame, yielded him a rich spoil, partly in Jeipal's jewelled necklaces, one of which was valued at 180,000 dinars, or about £81,000. The value of the spoil was largely increased by the large ransom which he obtained for the prisoners. Jeipal did not long avail himself of his freedom. Dispirited by his two defeats, or, it is said, disqualified by them, according to a Hindoo custom, from any longer reigning, he resigned the crown to his son, and placing himself on a funeral pile, set fire to it with his own hand.s.

Defeat of Jn lOOl, ou failure of the tribute promised by the Hindoo.s, Sultan Mahmood

again set out, and passing through the province of Mooltan arrived at a city called Bhateea. Its position is not ascertained ; but it was surrounded by a very high wall and a deep and broad ditch, and belonged to a Rajah Beejy Ray, who, trusting both to its fortifications and the difficult nature of the suiTOundincf country, was not afraid to mea.sure his strength against that of the sultan. He had so skilfully seized the strong posts, that for three days he not only kept the Mahometans at bay, but inflicted on them such severe losses that they were on the point of abandoning the enterprise. In this emergency. Sultan Mahmood displayed his wonted inflexibility of purpose, and in announcing his intention to lead the main attack in person, added, " To-day I have devoted myself to conquest or death." Both armies, indeed, had worked themselves up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm; Beejy Ray, on his side, performing religious services by which he was believed by his followers to have propitiated the gods; while the sultan, after turning his face to Mecca, and prostrating himself in sight of his troops, started suddenly up, exclaiming, "Advance! advance! our prayers have found favour with God!" An obstinate struggle took place, but Mahometan prowess prevailed, and the Indians were pursued to the gates of the town. Here, though a stand of a few days took place, resistance was found to be hope- less; and the rajah being overtaken during an attempt to lead off his troops by night, only escaped imprisonment by rushing on his own sword. Two hundi'ed and eighty elephants, numerous captains, and a large spoil were taken in Bhateea, which with its dependencies was annexed to Ghuznee.

Sultan Mahmood's next Indian expedition took place in 1005. Its main object was

Mahmood '■ '^ "

encountered to chastisc Abul Fattcli Lodi, the chief of 3*Iooltan, who, though a Mu.ssulman,

by Anang- i • ii • it i • i

pal. had thrown off his allegiance and leagued with Anangpal, the son and succes.sor