Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/680

 — GUN

602

to have been fought on the banks of the Gumti in pargana Gundwa, probably at Bhatplira Ghat. The year assigned by Sir H. Elliot is 412' H. A.D, 1021 " Utbi places the scene on the Rahib which we know from Al Birtini to be on the other side of the Ganges, and is either the R^m' TJtbi's ganga or the Sai, apparently the latter in the present instance statement must be received as conclusive respecting a movement as far as

the Rahib." "

We

(Ibid, p. 463.)

also find

Puru

Jaipal holding dominions on the other side of the

We

may suppose therefore that, without being de facto ruler throughout these broad domains, hemay have held a sort of suzerainty or paramount rule, and was then- in the eastern portion of his dominions, engaged in settling the nuptials of his son Bhlm Pal, or had altogether transferred his residence to these parts to Ganges during the (next) campaign on the Rahib.

avoid the frequent incursions of his Muhammadan persecutors." Nizam-ud-dln's account of the battle is as follows 462.)

(Ibid, p.



It

must be borne in mind that the Jumna, of his account is the Rahib and that Sir H. Elliot has decided the Rahib to be the Ramganga

of TJtbi's, or Sai.

When

he (Sultan Mahmlid) reached the banks of the Jumna, Pur Jaifled before his troops, and who had now come to assist Nanda, encamped in face of the Sultan, but there was a deep river between them and no one passed over without the Sultan's permission. But it so happened that eight of the royal guards of Mahmud's army having crossed the river together they threw the whole army of Pur Jaipal into confusion and defeated it. Pur Jaipal with a few infidels escaped. The eight men not returning to the Sultan, advanced against the city of Bari which lay in the vicinity. Having found it defenceless they plundered it, and pulled down the heathen temples." "

pal

who had so often

" Nizam-ud-din", says Sir H. Elliot, " is the only author who states this. His account is fully confirmed by the statement of Abu Rihan that Bari became the Hindu capital after the loss of Kanauj. Firishta says that these eight must, of course have been officers, each followed by his own corps. He gives no name to the city which was plundered." (Ibid, p. 463.) TJtbi's

account of the battle,

quoted in

—a

contribution to

Oudh

history,

—may be

full.

" After the expedition against the Afghans, the Sultan turned again towards Hind with his bold warriors whose greatest pleasure was to be in the saddle, which they regarded as if it were a throne; and hot winds they looked on as refreshing breezes, and the drinking of dirty water as so much, pure wine, being prepared to undergo every kind of privation and annoyance. When he arrived in that country, he granted quarter to all those who submitted, but slew those who opposed him. He obtained a large, amount of booty before he reached the river, known by the name of Rahib. It was very deep and its bottom was muddy like tar used for anointing scabby animals, and into it the feet of horses and camels sank deeply, so the men took off their coats of mail ^n^d made themselves naked before

crossing

it.