Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/86

 58 THE HOLY WARS OF ISLAM purity of the southern breezes at that season. When he arrived near the frontier of Hind, snow fell such as had never been seen before, insomuch that the passes of the hills were closed, and the mountains and valleys became of one level. The roads were concealed, and the right could not be distinguished from the left, or what was behind from that which was before, and they were unable to return until God should give command. In the meantime the Sultan employed himself in col- lecting supplies, and summoned his generals from the different provinces. Having thus accumulated the means of warfare and having been joined by his sol- diers, who had come from different directions, and who were equal in number to the drops of an autumnal rain, he left these winter quarters in the spring, and, had the earth been endowed with feeling, it would have groaned beneath the weight of the iron, the warriors, the horses, and the beasts of burden. The guides marched on in front over hill and dale before the sun arose and even before the light of the stars was extinguished. He urged on his horses for two months, among broad and deep rivers and among jungles in which even wild cattle might lose their way. When the Sultan drew near the end of his destina- tion, he set his cavalry in array and formed them into different bodies, appointing his brother, Amir Nasr, to command the right wing, consisting of valiant heroes; Arslan-al-Jazib to the left wing, consisting of powerful young men; and Abu Abdallah Mohammad ibn Ibra- him-at-Tai to the vanguard, consisting of fiery Arab