On the 14th Jumáda-l awwal Tímúr passed the Jumna and proceeded to another part of the Siwálik hills. There he heard that one of the ráís of Hind, called Ratan, had assembled a great number of Hindus, and had taken post on the lofty heights in the thick forests. The hills were so high that no eye could see from the bottom to the top, and the trees so dense that the rays of the sun and moon could not reach the ground. It was impossible to make a passage without cutting down the trees. But for all this Tímúr did not hesitate, and without even waiting for the night to pass, he, on the 15th,* gave his order for the advance. The troops accordingly marched on by the light of torches, and employed themselves in cutting down the trees and clearing a way. In that night they made a progress of twelve kos, and in the morning of the 15th they penetrated between the Siwálik mountain and the Kúka mountain. Here Ráí Ratan had taken up his position, with his forces drawn up in regular battle array, with right wing and left wing, and centre and supports.* But when the noise of our music and the cries of our soldiers reached the ears of the Hindus, they wavered and fled without waiting for the attack. Our officers and men pursued them, and put many of them to the sword. All their property in movables and cattle fell into the hands of the victors. Every soldier obtained a hundred to two hundred head of cattle and from ten to twenty slaves.
On the same day Prince Pír Muhammad and Amír Sháh Malik, in command of the right wing, went to another valley, where he destroyed many Hindus and obtained great spoil. The left wing, also under Prince Jahán Sháh, attacked and destroyed a body of Hindus in another direction, but they did not obtain so large a booty. On the night of the 16th both wings came up and joined the main body. In the morning Tímúr left the valley between the two mountains and returned to the Siwálik mountain. From this encampment to the country of Nagarkot there was a distance of fifteen parasangs. In this valley there are many dense jungles, and the mountains are high and difficult of ascent. Tímúr heard that there were great numbers of infidels in the mountains, and he determined to disperse and destroy them. The men of the left wing under Amír Jahán Sháh, and the army of Khurásán, had acquired but little spoil, so he sent them out to make a raid and collect plunder. Early on that day Sáín Tamúr,* commander of the advance-guard, came in to report that the number of Hindus in front exceeded all calculation. Tímúr therefore held his ground while the left wing was absent, engaged in its work of plunder. The men of this force put a great many infidels to death, and acquired great spoil in wealth and cattle. On the same day, at noon, news came from the regiment of Amír Shaikh Núru-d dín and 'Alí Sultán Tawáchí that there was, upon the left, a valley in which many Hindus had gathered, having with them much wealth and cattle. Tímúr immediately proceeded thither, and ordered the two officers who had made the report to attack the infidels. They accordingly fell upon the enemy and put many to the sword, and while they did so Tímúr stood upon the summit of a hill watching them and encouraging them with his presence. Many of the infidels were killed and wounded, and those who were able fled, leaving a great booty behind, which the victors brought into the presence of Tímúr, who warmly praised their bravery. Vast quantities of cattle were taken, and Tímúr stayed upon the mountain until evening, in order that the booty might be fairly distributed, and each man get his share. Every man got as much as he could take care of. That night they encamped in the valley. In the jungles there were many monkeys, and when night came on they entered the camp and carried off the things of the soldiers. In the course of one month, from the 16th of Jumáda-l awwal, when Tímúr was between the mountains Siwálik and Kúka, to the 16th of Jumáda-s sání, when he arrived at Jammú, he had twenty conflicts with the infidels and took seven fortresses, each of them a Khaibar in strength. These forts were situated one or two parasangs apart, and their occupants were all at war with each other. In the days of the old Sultáns they had paid the jizya, but they had broken away from their allegiance to the sovereigns of Islám, and would not now pay the tax, so the slaughter and plunder of them was lawful and laudable. One of these fortresses belonged to Shaikhú, a relation of Malik Shaikh Kúkar,* and he, by means of a few Musulmáns who dwelt there, had induced the inhabitants to make submission to Tímúr, and outwardly to admit their subjection. But proofs of their aversion and hatred soon become apparent, for when the ransom money was assessed upon them, they made all sorts of excuses and evasions. One of Tímúr's officers thereupon resorted to a clever stratagem. He gave orders that cast-off clothes and old bows should be accepted in payment of the ransom, and as he offered a good price for these things of little value, they brought forth their damaged weapons of all descriptions and sold them for a high price. By this sharp device they were led to strip themselves of their arms, so that they had no weapons left. After this an imperial order was issued that forty persons should be sent in to be the servants (khudám) of Hindú Sháh, the treasurer, one of his majesty's courtiers. The infidels resisted this order, and killed some Musulmáns. It thus became necessary for the soldiers of the Faith to exact vengeance. They assaulted the fort and took it. 2,000 infidels were put to the sword, and the smoke of their consuming goods rose from their roofs to the sky.*
Of these forts, the fort of Deo Ráj and five others were all taken; and in a short time the country was cleansed from the wickedness of the idolaters and infidels. The foundations of idolatry were uprooted, and the basis of the true religion and law was firmly laid.
When Tímúr had completed his campaign in the Siwálik, he resolved to march against the country of Jammú. On the 16th Jumáda-l ákhir he left the village of Mansár. After a march of six kos, he arrived and encamped near the village of Báíla, in the Jammú territory. On the same day he sent Amír Shaikh Muhammad Aikútmúr and other officers against that village. The men of Báíla were very brave, and they had some strong jungles. They placed palisades (chapar) along the edges, and then stood ready to fight and slay. The brave warriors of Islám were about to attack them without hesitation, when an order arrived from Tímúr ordering the assault to be postponed till the morrow, as he himself intended to be present.
On the 17th Jumáda-l ákhir, Tímúr mounted his horse and arranged his forces in order of battle, with right wing, left wing, and centre. The soldiers raised their war-cry, which resounded to the sky, and the infidels on hearing it were filled with terror and fled to the woods, abandoning their village. Thither the soldiers pursued them, and pulling up the palisades they took their post on the border of the jungle, while other soldiers plundered the village in safety. Great quantities of grain and fodder were secured, sufficient to supply the wants of the army. On the same day the army marched four kos and encamped. It was then joined by Úljah Tamúr Tunkatár, and Fúlád, and by Prince Rustam's confidant Zainu-d dín, who had been sent as ambassadors on the part of Tímúr from Dehlí to Kashmír. They brought with them letters to Tímúr from Iskandar Sháh, king of Kashmír, and were attended by ambassadors from him. The letters were presented, and Tímúr was informed that the king made his submission and had come as far as the village of Jahán.* At this stage Mauláná Núru-d dín, the ambassador, represented to his majesty that the officers of the Exchequer had called upon his master for a contribution of 30,000 horses and 100,000 durusts of gold, each durust weighing two and a half miskáls. He (the Sháh) had therefore gone to Kashmír to endeavour to provide for this demand, and would return when ready to discharge it. When Tímúr heard of this, he disapproved of the demand made by his revenue officers, saying that they had pressed too heavily on Sháh Iskandar, and had demanded more than the country of Kashmír could furnish. It was unjust and improper to demand from any country more than its extent and resources could pay. The ambassadors represented the ready submission of Sháh Iskandar, and Tímúr was pleased to act liberally towards him. He ordered the ambassadors to return to their master, and tell him on no account to fail in obeying the orders he should receive. On the following day, 18th Jumáda-l ákhir, the ambassadors were sent back, with the faithful Zainu-d dín, with directions that in twenty-eight days from that date he should come and wait upon Tímúr on the banks of the Indus.