Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/29

 SUMNEUS KHAN. (178)

LTHOUGH India was first invaded by the celebrated Mahmood of Ghuzni, yet his operations had more the character of raids for plunder, than of attempts at conquest for permanent occupation. In the reign of Gheias-oo-deen, King of Ghuzni and Ghor, however, towards the hitter end of the twelfth century, his brother, the celebrated General Moiz-oo-deen Mahomed Ghoory, invaded the North-West Provinces of India and Rajpootana, on several occasions, with large armies, and obtained signal successes over the Rajpoot and other Hindoo nations. In one of these expeditions, indeed, he suffered a severe defeat, and returned to Ghuzni; but afterwards again set out by the route of Peshawar, at the head of a powerful army, without making his intentions known. This is stated by his historian to have caused so much speculation, that an old sage of Ghor remonstrated with him, when the general made the following reply: "Know, old man, that since the time of my defeat in Hindoostan, notwithstanding external appearances, I have never slumbered in ease, or waked but in sorrow and anxiety; I have therefore determined with this army to recover my lost honour from those idolaters, or die in the attempt." The brave general entirely fulfilled this intention. Having sent a declaration of war to Ajmere, to be averted only by the Hindoos consenting to become converts to Islam, he continued his march; and the Rajpoot princes, aroused by a common danger, assembled an army of, as stated, 300,000 cavalry, 3,000 elephants, and a large body of foot. With these they awaited the approach of the Mahomedans on the banks of the river Surasooti, the national battle-field of India. In this position a severe action was fought. The Hindoo line was broken by repeated charges of the "mail-clad" Afghan cavalry upon its centre, and the rest broke up into a confused mass, which was pursued with vast slaughter. The Hindoo King of Delhi, with many Rajpoot chiefs of note, were slain on the field, and the conqueror marched in triumph to Ajmere. This event occurred in 1193. On this occasion the Hissar Rajpoots, who belong to the Soorujbunsi tribes, were driven from their own country, and took possession of a large portion of the district of Hissar.