When the princes and amírs of the army who had under the imperial command marched by different routes, had all joined the imperial standards, every officer of the right and left wing was ordered to his own post. The Princes Pír Muhammad, Rustam, and Sulaimán Sháh with several amírs, were placed over the right. Sultán Mahmúd Khán, the Princes Khalíl Sultán, and Sultán Husain with amírs were in command of the left. In the centre were the túmáns of Allah-dád, of 'Alí Sultán Tawáchí, and of other amírs. A march of six standard farsakhs and two miles towards Dehlí was made. On the 22nd they arrived at the fort of Asandí, seven kos from Kaital. The inhabitants of Sámána, Kaital, and Asandí who were mostly fire-worshippers, burned their houses and fled to Delhí, so that none of them were met with. On the 23rd they marched from Asandí and arrived at the fort of Tughlikpúr, six kos distant. The infidels of this place belonged to the religion of the Magi (sanawíya) whose eyes had never been enlightened with the rays of the true religion. In the belief of these people there are two gods, one called Yazdán the other Ahriman whom they typify by light and darkness. They suppose all good to proceed from the one and all evil from the other. The people of this place who were also called Sálún, had left it empty and fled. The soldiers set fire to the place and reduced it to ashes.
On the 24th the army arrived at the town of Panipat, a distance of twelve kos from Tughlikpúr. The inhabitants of this place also had taken flight and not a soul was found there. In the fort there was a store of wheat more than 10,000 heavy mans in weight or 160,000 of the legal or standard man. This was given to the soldiers. On the 25th Tímúr marched six kos from that place and encamped on the river of Panipat. On the 26th the amírs put on their armour ready for battle. On the 27th the order was given for the generals of the right wing to proceed to Jahán-numáí, a building erected by Fíroz Sháh on a hill two farsakhs from Dehlí. The river Jumna runs at the foot of this hill. They accordingly ravaged the country from the village of Kanhí-gazín to Jahán-numáí. The people were killed or made prisoners and great booty was carried off to the camp.
On the 29th Tímúr passed the Jumna near the village of Palla and marched towards the fort of Loní which is in a great pasture country. This fort is situated in the doáb between the rivers Jumna and Halín. The latter is a large canal which Sultán Sháh brought from the river Kálíní, and it joins the river Jumna near Fírozábád. Amír Jahán Sháh, Amír Sháh Malik, and Amír Alláh-dád under Tímúr's orders, advanced to the foot of the hill of Jahán-numá. Maimun Maishúm the commandant of the fort, unmindful of Tímúr's strength, would not capitulate, but prepared to offer resistance. As soon as Tímúr approached, a wise and venerable old man came out and surrendered, but the other inhabitants who were gabrs and servants of Mallú Khán in their folly and presumption resolved to defend the place. The soldiers were immediately ordered to invest the fort and to take it by mining the walls. They accordingly commenced sapping in various places, and towards evening they took it. The gabrs had previously set fire to their houses in the fort and had burnt them with their wives and children. Tímúr remained outside of the fort that night. On the last day of Rabí'ul-awwal he gave orders that such of the servants of Naukar Khán and of the inhabitants of the place as were Muhammadans should be set aside, and that all the rest, gabrs and infidels, should be passed under the sword of Islám. All the inhabitants of the place were plundered except the saiyids who had been glorified with the light of the faith. The fort was burnt and laid waste.
On the 1st Rabi'u-l ákhír, Tímúr mounted his horse and leaving the fort of Loní he went forth to reconnoitre. He proceeded to the river Jumna near Jahán-numáí, and carefully examined the fords. He then returned to the camp, and as Dehlí was near he held a council with the princes and nobles as to the manner of besieging it. The decision arrived at was that plenty of grain and fodder should first be provided for the supply of the army and that then the siege should be entered upon. In pursuance of this plan Amír Sulaimán Sháh, Amír Jahán Sháh, and others were sent out to plunder the environs of Dehlí and bring in corn. On the following day he determined to pay a visit to the palace of Jahán-numáí. He set out with 700 men clad in armour, and passing the river Jumna he carefully examined the palace. Fíroz Sháh had given to the place the name of Jahán-numáí by inspiration as it was to become illustrious by the visit of the Sovereign of the world.
After inspecting the place he looked around to discover the
ground most suitable for a battle-field. 'Alí Sultán Tawáchí and
Junaid Búr-uldai who had marched with the advance-guard now
returned; the former brought in Muhammad Salaf, and the
latter another person as prisoners. After questioning them
Muhammad Salaf was put to death. At this juncture Mallú
Khán was descried with 4,000 horse, 5,000 infantry, and twenty-
On the 3rd Rabí'u-s sání Tímúr marched from Jahán-numáí, and pitched his camp to the eastward of Loní. All the princes and amírs who had been engaged in different expeditions assembled here under the royal banner [and Tímúr harangued them on the operations of war].
On the same day Amír Jahán Sháh and other amírs represented to Tímúr that from the time he crossed the Indus a hundred thousand Hindu prisoners, more or less, had been taken, and that these gabrs and idol-worshippers were kept in the camp. It was to be feared that in the day of battle with the forces of Dehlí they might join the enemy. This opinion was confirmed by the joy which the prisoners had exhibited when Mallú Khán marched against the imperial forces at Jahán-numáí. Tímúr considered the point, and deeming the advice of his officers to be wise, he gave orders for all the Hindu prisoners to be put to death. Every one who neglected to comply with this command was to be executed, and his wives, children, and goods were to become the property of the informer. In pursuance of this order 100,000 infidel Hindus were put to the sword. Mauláná Násiru-d dín, a most distinguished ecclesiastic, had fifteen Hindus in his train, and he who had never caused a sheep to be slaughtered was obliged to have these fifteen Hindus killed. Tímúr also issued an order that one man out of every ten should be left in camp to guard the wives and children of the prisoners, and the captured cattle.
On the same day Tímúr resolved upon marching to Dehlí, and setting off after mid-day prayer he encamped on the banks of the Jumna. The astrologers and soothsayers disputed with each other as to whether the stars and presages were favourable. Tímúr placed no reliance on their predictions, but put his trust in God, without whose pleasure nothing happens. Next morning, after prayers, he took the holy book and opened it for a fál. The verse which came out was favourable to his enterprize. Trusting in this omen he crossed the river Jumna, and encamped on the other side on the 5th Rabi'u-s sání. The soldiers by way of precaution intrenched their camp, which was near a little hill called Pushta-bihálí, and they fenced it in with branches of trees and palisades. In front of the ditch they fastened buffalos together by their feet and necks, and inside the fence they raised pent-houses (khamhá).