Mukarrab Khán had secured Bahádur Náhir and his adherents, and had placed him in charge of the fortress of Old Dehlí. Mallú was entitled Ikbál Khán, and received charge of the fortress of Sírí. At length fights came to be daily occurrences between Dehlí and Fírozábád, Musulmáns shed the blood of each other, and neither party could obtain the mastery. The districts (shikk) in the Doab, and the fiefs (iktá's) of Sambhal, Pánipat, Jhajhar, and Ruhtak, were in the possession of Sultán Násiru-d dín [Nusrat Khán], while Sultán Mahmúd held no place except the forts above named. The amírs and maliks of the outlying territories (balád-i mamálik) set themselves up as rulers, at their own pleasure, and kept all the wealth and revenue in their own hands. Things went on thus for three years. Deadly contests were of daily occurrence between Dehlí and Fírozábád, and of varying results. Sometimes the men of Dehlí had to throw themselves into their fortress, sometimes they drove their adversaries into the fort of Fírozábád.
In the year 798 H. (1396 A.D.), Sárang Khán quarrelled with
Khizr Khán, amír of Multán, and much fighting went on between
them. At length some of the people (ghulám) of Malik
Mardán Bhattí joined Sárang Khán, and with their assistance
he got possession of the district (shikk) of Multán. Having
assembled a considerable force, he in the month of Ramazán, 799
(May, 1397 A.D.), marched against Sámána, and besieged the
amír Ghálib Khán. When he was no longer able to hold out,
Ghálib Khán fled, with a small party of horse and foot, to
Pánipat, to join Tátár Khán. As soon as Sultán Násir Sháh
(Nusrat Khán) heard of this, he sent Malik Almás, commander
of the slaves, with ten elephants and a small army, to Tátár
Khán, with orders to march against Sámána, expel Sárang Khán,
and to reinstate Ghálib Khán. On the 15th Muharram, 800 H.
(9th October, 1397 A.D.), a battle was fought at the village of
Kútila,*
and Tátár Khán gained the victory. Sárang Khán fled
towards Multán, and Tátár Khán pursued him as far as Tal-
In the month of Rabí'u-l awwal, 800 (November-December 1397), Pír Muhammad, grandson of Amír Tímúr, King of Khurásán, crossed the river Sind with a numerous army, and laid siege to Uch. 'Alí Malik, who held Uch for Sárang Khán, sustained the siege for about a month, when Sárang Khán sent his náíb Malik Táju-d dín, and some other amírs with 4,000 horse, to his assistance. Pír Muhammad, on hearing of their approach, left Uch, and fell upon this force at the village of Tamtama, on the banks of the Biyáh. The attack was unexpected, and resistance was unavailing; many perished by the sword, and many threw themselves into the river and were drowned. Táju-d dín fled, with a small party of horse, to Multán. Pír Muhammad pursued him, and Sárang Khán, being unable to oppose him in the field, was obliged to shut himself up in the fortress. The siege went on for six months, and then want of forage and provisions compelled Sárang Khán to surrender in the month of Ramazán, 800. Pír Muhammad made Sárang Khán and his family and dependents, and all the people of the city, prisoners. He also took possession of the fortress, and encamped his army there.
In the month of Shawwál, Ikbál Khán joined himself to Sultán Násiru-d dín [Nusrat Khán], and a compact was made between them at the tomb of the Shaikhu-l mashaikh Nizámu-l hakk wau-s shará [Kutbu-d dín Bakhtiyár Kákí]. He placed the Sultán [Nusrat Khán] upon an elephant, and conducted him into the Jahán-panáh. Sultán Mahmúd, Mukarrab Khán, and Bahádur Náhir, were shut up in Old Dehlí. On the third day, Ikbál Khán treacherously attacked Sultán Násiru-d dín [Nusrat Khán], who, being unable to resist, fled, with a small party of men and elephants, to Fírozábád. Ikbál Khán pursued with his forces, and all the elephants fell into his hands. The prince escaping to Fírozábád, fled from thence with his family and dependents, crossed the Jumna, and went to Tátár Khán. Fírozábád then came into the possession of Ikbál Khán. After this, fighting went on daily for two months between Mukarrab Khán and Ikbál Khán; but at length some amírs interfered, and made peace between them. Mukarrab Khán then entered Jahán-panáh with Sultán Mahmúd, and Ikbál Khán stayed in Sírí. Suddenly Ikbál Khán proceeded with a party of his followers to the house of Mukarrab Khán, took him, and slew him without mercy. He then kept Sultán Mahmúd in his power as a puppet, and himself directed all matters of government.
In the month of Zí-l ka'da, Ikbál Khán marched against Tátár Khán at Pánipat. When information of this reached the latter, he left his baggage and materials of war in Pánipat, and marched with a strong force against Dehlí. Ikbál Khán invested Pánipat, and captured the place in three days. Tátár Khán also attacked Dehlí, but notwithstanding his efforts, he could not take it. When he heard of the fall of Pánipat, he gave up the siege, and fled with his army to his father in Gujarát. Ikbál Khán took the elephants, horses, etc., from Pánipat, and returned to Dehlí. Malik Nasíru-l Mulk, relation (karíb) of Tátár Khán, joined the victor, and received from him the title of 'Ádil Khán, and a fief in the Doáb.* Ikbál Khán then devoted himself to affairs of State.
In the month of Safar, 801 H. (October, 1398 A.D.), intelligence came that Amír Tímúr, King of Khurásán, had attacked Talína,* and was staying at Multán, and that he had put to the sword all the soldiers of Sárang Khán, who had been taken prisoners by Pír Muhammad. This intelligence filled Ikbál Khán with dread and anxiety. Amír Tímúr continuing his march, besieged Bhatnír, took the ráí Khul Chain prisoner, and put the garrison to the sword. From thence he marched to Sámána, and many inhabitants of Díbálpúr, Ajodhan, and Sarsutí, fled in terror to Dehlí. Many prisoners were taken, and most of these received the glory of martyrdom. Then he crossed over the Jumna into the Doáb, and ravaged the greater part of the country. He made a halt at the town of Loní, and there he put to the sword all the prisoners whom he had taken between the rivers Sind and Ganges, in all 50,000 men, more or less: God knows the truth. Such was the terror inspired by him, that Musulmáns and Hindus fled before him, some to the mountains, some to the deserts, some to the waves of the rivers, and some to Dehlí. In Jumáda-l awwal, having crossed the Jumna, he halted at Fírozábád, and next day he took up his position at the top of the Hauz-i kháss. Ikbál Khán came out with his elephants, and gave battle to Amír Tímúr in the maidán. At the first charge, he was defeated by the warriors of Tímúr, and escaped through a thousand difficulties with his elephants into the city. But as they retreated into the city, many men were crushed under foot and died, and heaps of dead were left. When night came on, Ikbál Khán and Sultán Mahmúd, leaving their wives and children behind, came out of the city. The Sultán fled to Gujarát, and Ikbál Khán crossed the river Jumna and went to Baran. Next day Amír Tímúr granted quarter to the city, and took the ransom money from the inhabitants. On the fourth day he gave orders that all the people in the city should be made prisoners, and this was done.*