Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/163

 RESTORATION OF ULUGH KHAN 127 trigue and deceit to cast the dust of his selfish plots on the prosperity of Ulugh Khan and to cloud the glory of that dignitary with the emanations of his malice. But " Divine mercy is for ever sufficient," and it prevented the success of these schemes. Malik Taj-ad-din Sanjar had been confined in prison by Kat- lagh Khan. By a bold device the captive escaped from Oudh and crossing the river Saru (Gogra) in a boat, he proceeded with a few horsemen to Bahraich. By the decree of fate, the fortune of the Turks now triumphed, and the power of the Hindus was levelled to the dust. Imad-ad-din was defeated and taken prisoner, and was put to death in Bahraich in the month of Rajab, 653 A. H. (Aug., 1255 A. D.). With him Katlagh Khan's fortunes declined. When these disturbances arose in Hindustan, several of the chief nobles of the court were drawn away from their allegiance, and it became necessary to put down the insurrection and to punish the disaffected nobles. The army accordingly left Delhi, on the new moon of Shawwal, 653 A. H. (Dec., 1255 A. D.), and marched toward Hindustan. Delay had occurred in assembling the forces of the Siwalik Hills, which were included in the government of "Ulugh Khan, so he hastened to Hansi. He arrived there on the seventeenth of Zu-1- ka'da, and so exerted himself that in fourteen days the soldiers of the Siwalik Hills, Hansi, Sarsuti, Jind, Bar- wala, and the neighbouring regions were collected, and marched in great force to Delhi, where they arrived on the third of Zu-1-hijja. Ulugh Khan remained in