Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/70

 44 THE HOLY WARS OF ISLAM AN INDIAN NECKLACE. sulmans defeated their obstinate opponents, and quickly put them to a complete rout. Noon had not arrived when they had wreaked their vengeance on the enemies of God, killing fifteen thousand of them, spreading them like a carpet over the ground, and making them food for beasts and birds of prey. Fifteen elephants fell on the field of battle, as their legs, being pierced with arrows, became as motionless as if they had been in a quagmire, and their trunks were cut with the swords of the valiant heroes. The enemies of God, Jaipal, his children and grandchildren, his nephews, the chief men of his tribe, and his relatives, were taken prisoners, and being strongly bound with ropes, were carried before the Sultan. Some had their arms forcibly tied behind their backs, some were seized by the cheek, some were driven by blows on the neck. From Jaipal 's throat was taken a neck- lace composed of large pearls and shining gems and rubies set in gold, the value of which was two hundred thousand dinars; and twice that value was obtained from the necks of those of his relatives who were taken prisoners or slain. God also bestowed upon his friends such an amount of booty as was beyond all bounds and all calculation, including five hundred thousand slaves,