The chiefs of Díbálpúr had previously made their submission
to Prince Pír Muhammad, who sent Musáfir Kábulí, with a
thousand men, to act as governor of the place. When the army
of the prince was reduced by the effects of the rainy season, the
men of that place, combining with the soldiers of Fíroz Sháh,
put Musáfir and his thousand men to death. Upon the intelligence
of the emperor's progress to Multán and Dehlí reaching
this neighbourhood, all men from the highest to the lowest were
in the greatest consternation. Fearing for their lives they
abandoned all else, and fled to the fort of Bhatnír. At Jahwál
the emperor left Amír Sháh Malik and Daulat Tímúr Tawáchí
with the baggage, with orders to proceed by way of Díbálpúr,
and to join him at Sámána, near Dehlí. He set off with
10,000 men, and by forced marches hastened to Ajodhan, which
he reached early in the morning of the 24th Safar. Previous to
this Shaikh Munawwar and Shaikh Sa'd, both men of evil character,
had seduced the people of this place from their allegiance,
and had incited them to leave their country. Some of them
went off with Shaikh Sa'd to Bhatnír, and others accompanied
Shaikh Munawwar to Dehlí. But the Saiyids and learned
Musulmáns of the place had heard of the kindness of Tímúr,
and resolved to remain patiently at home, and await the course
of events. As soon as they were informed of his arrival they
went to wait upon him, and were received with great favour.
Tímúr appointed Mauláná Násiru-d dín 'Umar and Muhammad,
son of Khwája Muhammad Shaháb, to be governors of the town,
and enjoined them not to allow the saiyids and learned Mu-
The fort of Bhatnír was extremely strong, and was celebrated as one of the strongest in Hind. It is situated far out of the road on the right hand, and it is surrounded by the desert of Chol. For fifty or a hundred kos round there is no water. The inhabitants obtain their water from a large lake at the gate of the city which is filled in the rainy season. No foreign army had ever penetrated thither, nor had any sovereign of India ever led his forces to that place. So the inhabitants of Díbálpúr, Ajodhan, and other places fled thither for refuge from the invading army. A very large number of people thus assembled there, so much so that the city would not contain them, and carts and vehicles with large quantities of goods and furniture had been left outside in the vicinity of the fort. On the 25th Safar, Tímúr reached Ajodhan, and paid a visit to the shrine of Shaikh Faríd Shakar-ganj. From thence he started for Bhatnír, and crossing the river,* he arrived at Khális-kotalí, two kos from Ajodhan, and fifty from Bhatnír. Three kos is equal to one legal farsakh or parasang.
Tímúr said his mid-day prayers at Khális-kotalí, and then
mounting he travelled the remainder of the day and the whole of
the night without resting, thus accomplishing this long distance
in one march. On the next day, at breakfast time, he was
within sight of Bhatnír. The drums were beaten and the shouts
of the warriors rent the air. All that was outside of the city
was plundered. The prince of that country and city was called
Ráo Dúl Chand,*
Ráo being a Hindí word meaning brave
(bahádur). He had a large number of soldiers, and the whole
neighbourhood was under his command. He used to levy tolls
from travellers, nor could merchants and caravans escape from
his exactions. When Tímúr approached the city the Ráo, confident
in the strength of his fortress and the number of his
followers would not submit. The army was at once brought up,
and fiercely attacked the city both on the right and on the left.
At the first assault the walls of the city were taken and many
Hindús were slain. Great booty fell into the hands of the
soldiers. The officers leading on their men with axes and pikes
advanced to attack the fort. Ráo Dúl Chand, with his brave
Indian warriors, drew up ready for combat at the gate of the
fort. Amír Sulaimán and other intrepid officers of the túmán
of Sháh Rukh went forward sword in hand and fought most
valiantly. The fort was on the point of being taken when fear
and despair fell upon the heart of Dúl Chand, and he sent out a
saiyid to beg an armistice for that day, promising to come out
on the day following and make his submission to Tímúr. The
emperor, relying on the promise brought by the saiyid, a
descendant of the Prophet, granted the demand. He withdrew
his men from the walls, put a stop to the fighting, and went out
to his tents. When the next day came Ráo Dúl Chand failed
to keep his promise, and orders were given that each amír should
sap the wall in front of his position. They set diligently about
the work, and bravely persevered, although fire and stones, and
darts and arrows were rained down upon them from the top of
the walls. When Ráo Dúl Chand and the chiefs of his party
beheld these proceedings they were filled with dismay. They
came to the tops of the bastions, and with cries and lamentations
called aloud for mercy. They acknowledged their fault
and admitted they had done wrong in not submitting to the
emperor, but they begged his forgiveness. He was graciously
pleased to grant their petition. On the same day the Ráo sent
out his son and his deputy with splendid presents and valuable
offerings. Tímúr gave the young man a robe of value, a sword-