A Toorky slave of Mahomed Ghoory — his former life and history — is left Governor of India — is besieged in Hansy by the Hindoos, who are defeated, and compelled to retire — quits Hansy to meet Mahomed Ghoory coming from Pishawur. — Recapitulation of the campaign. — Kootb-ood-Deen is styled son by Mahomed Ghoory — is presented with a white elephant. — Ajmeer taken from the Raja, and bestowed on Gola, his natural son. — Hemraj, a relation, expels Gola. — Kootb-ood-Deen marches to oppose the usurper, who is defeated. — Ajmeer tributary to the Moslems. — Kootb-ood-Deen invades Guzerat — defeats the Hindoos, and returns to Hansy — visits Kohram and Dehly. — The Raja of Guzerat unites with the Raja of Nagoor to take Ajmeer. — Kootb-ood-Deen marches to oppose them, but is defeated, and severely wounded. — Ajmeer besieged by the allies. — Kootb-ood-Deen receives reinforcements from Ghizny — raises the siege, and pursues the Hindoos to Aboogur — a bloody battle ensues, in which 50,000 Hindoos are slain — proceeds to Guzerat, and leaves an officer to occupy the country. — Kalunjur besieged and taken by the Moslems. — Mahomed Bukhtyar Khiljy sent to occupy Behar. — Kootb-ood-Deen Eibuk invested with the ensigns of royalty by the successor of Mahomed Ghoory — ascends the throne at Lahore, and assumes the title of King of India — is attacked by Taj-ood-Deen Yeldooz, whom he defeats — pursues him to Ghizny, and is again crowned — expelled from Ghizny — returns to India — death and cha­racter. — Life of Taj-ood-Deen Yeldooz.

KOOTB-OOD-DEEN was of a brave and virtuous disposition; open, and liberal to his friends, cour­teous and affable to strangers. In the art of war and good government he was inferior to none, nor was he a mean proficient in literature. In his childhood he was brought from Toorkistan to Ny-shapoor, and there sold by a merchant to Kazy Fukhr-ood-Deen, Bin Abdool Azeez Koofy, who finding that heaven had endowed him with genius, sent him to school, where he made considerable progress in the Persian and Arabic languages, as well as in science. His patron and master dying suddenly, he was sold as part of his estate by his executors; and having been bought by a rich mer­chant for a considerable sum, was presented for sale to Moyiz-ood-Deen Mahomed Ghoory.

That prince purchased him, and called him by the familiar name of Eibuk, * from having his little finger broken. Eibuk conducted himself so much to the satisfaction of his new master, that he attracted his particular notice, and daily gained his confidence and favour. One night his mas­ter, having given a grand entertainment at court, ordered a liberal distribution of presents to be made among his servants. Eibuk partook of this muni­ficence, but had no sooner retired, than he divided his share among his companions. The King hear­ing of this circumstance, asked him the cause; and Eibuk kissing the earth, replied, that all his wants were so amply supplied by his Majesty's bounty, that he had no desire of burdening himself with superfluities, provided he retained his sovereign's favour. This answer so pleased the King, that he immediately gave him an office near his person, and shortly after appointed him master of the horse.

In one of the expeditions against the King of Khwaruzm, to expel that prince from Khorassan, Eibuk commanded a foraging party on the banks of the Moorghab. Here he was surrounded by a body of the enemy, and though he did the utmost to save his detachment, he was, after the loss of most of his men, taken prisoner, and carried to the King of Khwaruzm, who put him in irons. That monarch being defeated a few days after, Eibuk was dis­covered sitting on a camel on the field, and being carried to his old master, he was received with great kindness.

In the year 588, when Mahomed Ghoory took revenge of his enemies the Hindoos, he appointed Eibuk, now dignified with the title of Kootb-ood-Deen , * to the chief command of the army left to protect his conquests. In discharge of this duty he took possession of many districts around, and reduced the fort of Merut; he also laid siege to Dehly; but the enemy, finding their own numbers far exceeded the besiegers, marched out of the place, and gave battle. The conflict was san­guinary on both sides; the river Jumna was dis­coloured with blood: the Rajpoots were at length defeated, and retired within their walls, and the garrison after a long siege, was at last reduced to surrender. In the year 589, Jeewun Ray, a general of the Raja of Nehrwala, in Guzerat, ad­vanced with an army to besiege Hansy. Kootb-ood-Deen marched with his forces to relieve it, compelled him to raise the siege, and pur­sued the Guzeraties to their own frontier. In the year following he crossed the Jumna, and took the fort of Kole by assault, wherein he found a thousand fine horses, and much spoil; and being informed of Mahomed Ghoory's approach towards Kunowj, he proceeded as far as Pishawur to meet him, and presented him with a hundred fine horses, besides two elephants, the one loaded with gold and the other with silver. At Pishawur, he mustered before the King 50,000 horse, and being honoured with a dress, was preferred to the command of the advance of the royal army.

He commanded that division when it defeated the Raja of Benares, who, on seeing his army retreat, urged on his elephant in despair. Kootb-ood-Deen, who excelled in archery, came in contact with Raja Jye-chund, and with his own hand shot the arrow which, piercing his eye, cost the Raja his life.

The number of slain on this day was so great, that it was long ere the body of the Raja could be found by his friends, who were permitted to search for it; till at length his corpse was recognised by his artificial teeth, * which were fixed in by golden wires. Mahomed Ghoory, following with the body of the army into the city of Benares, took pos­session of the country as far as the boundaries of Bengal, without opposition, and having destroyed all the idols, loaded four thousand camels with spoils. Kootb-ood-Deen on this occasion pre­sented the King with above three hundred elephants taken from the Raja of Benares.

The drivers, on a signal given, made the elephants bow down when brought before the King, except­ing one white elephant which refused. This animal was reckoned a great curiosity, and though extremely tractable at other times, had on this occasion almost killed his rider, when he endea­voured to force him to make his obeisance.

The King, when leaving India, sent the white elephant back, as a present to Kootb-ood-Deen, styling him son in his letter. Kootb-ood-Deen ever afterwards rode this animal; and at his death the elephant is said to have pined away with visible sorrow, and to have expired on the third day. This was the only white elephant of which I have heard in Hindoostan, though it is said, that the King of Pegu * has always two white elephants, and that when one dies, orders are issued to search the woods for another to supply his place. Kootb-ood-Deen, after the departure of the King, re­mained some days at Asny, where the Raja's treasure was found; thence returning to Dehly, he received advices that Hemraj, the cousin of the discomfited Prince of Ajmeer, issuing from the mountains of Alwur, had driven Gola Ray, the reigning Prince, towards Runtunbhore, and that Hemraj's General, Chutr-Ray, was moving with another army towards Dehly. Kootb-ood-Deen marched to oppose him; and separating twenty thousand horse from the rest of his army, engaged the enemy, and put them to flight. Some days after, however, having collected their scattered troops, they retreated in good order towards Ajmeer, pursued during the whole way by the Mahomedans. Hemraj being joined by his General gained confidence and gave battle; but in spite of his own exertions on this occasion he was slain and his army routed. Thus Ajmeer was restored to the Mahomedan government, and was afterwards ruled by its laws.

A. H. 591.
A. D. 1194. In the year 591, Kootb-ood-Deen marched towards Nehrwala, the capital of Guzerat. Jeewun Ray, the General of Bheem Dew, who was encamped under the walls, fled at his approach; but on being closely pursued, he drew up his army, and fought till he lost his life, when his army resumed its flight. Bheem Dew, hearing of this defeat, fled from his domi­nions; and Kootb-ood-Deen having ravaged the country at leisure obtained much booty. He marched from thence to the fort of Hansy, which he repaired, and having visited Kohram returned to Dehly.

Meanwhile advices reached him from the go­vernor of the districts near Runtunbhore, that the brother of Gola Ray of Ajmeer, who lived in the hills, threatened to invade his territories. This news induced Kootb-ood-Deen to move to his relief, on which the enemy retired; and Kootb-ood-Deen paid a visit to Gola Ray, who enter­tained him magnificently, and at his departure, presented him with some fine jewels, and two tents of gold tissue. He soon after returned to Dehly; and it is related in the Taj-ool-Maasir, a work de­dicated to Kootb-ood-Deen, that he wrote to the King a particular account of his conquests, which so pleased his sovereign, Mahomed Ghoory, that he ordered his attendance at Ghizny, for which place he set out, and was received with every de­monstration of joy and respect. Kootb-ood-Deen, some time after, having obtained permission to return to his government, espoused the daughter of Taj-ood-Deen Yeldooz, governor of Kirman in Pishawur, and celebrated the marriage-festival with great splendour after his arrival at Dehly. He soon after engaged in the siege of the fort of Byana; but hearing that the King his master had taken the route of Hindoostan, Kootb-ood-Deen went as far as Hansy to meet him. Both now re­turned to Byana; which place was taken. Ma-homed Ghoory gave charge of it to Baha-ood-Deen Toghrul, one of his trusty slaves, and then proceeded to Gualiar, where the Raja, having agreed to pay tribute, purchased the forbearance of the King for the time with a considerable sum of money and jewels.