“When the beautiful Canopus arose, and the vanguard of winter put the centre of the army of summer to flight,” it entered into the royal determination “to destroy some tribe of the accursed infidels, or to move the auspicious standards for the purpose of capturing some city in the land of Hind.” “In the midst of these reflections, messengers arrived frequently from Táju-d dín, who had admitted into his brain the wind of pride and the arrogance of dominion,” charged with the delivery of ridiculous propositions, which the Sultán was incensed to listen to. Shamsu-d dín resolved to oppose his pretensions by force, and advanced with a large army to Sámánd, which he reached on Monday, the 3rd of Shawwál, 612 H. (Jan., 1216), and on his arrival was attacked by the advanced guard of Malik Táju-d dín. During the action, the enemy suddenly came up towards the left wing of the auxiliaries of the faith, and desired to raise up a disturbance with their “watered blades, and to practice their deceits after the manner of of foxes playing with lions, and with the absurd idea that they could thus take the countries of Hind and Sind.”—Then follows a description of the battle, which is described in terms peculiar to chess, with the introduction of hyperboles upon swords, dirks, maces, war-nooses, horsemen, horse-archers, arrows, spears, elements, justice, and stars.—Táju-d dín was wounded by an arrow shot by Muwaiyidu-l Mulk, and was subsequently taken prisoner and brought before Shamsu-d dín.
“After some time, the great lord Muwaiyidu-l Mulk Muhammad Junaidí was appointed Wazír.”—Encomium on his merits.—It was represented to his Majesty, that Malik Násiru-d dín “had placed his former engagements under the water of forgetfulness,” “and that in the receipts and disbursements of the account of his tribute he had incurred debt and balance,” “and that all the excellent advice that was offered to him was valued as so much dirt.” His Majesty accordingly, in a fortunate moment, marched in the beginning of Jumáda-l ákhir from Dehli, “may God protect it! (for its water and soil have always been mild and favourable to various temperaments, and its fire and wind have at all times been suitable and agreeable to the disposition of everybody.”) He marched with a large army towards the country of Lohúr, of which when the enemy became aware “they began to be greatly agitated like fish upon dry land, and like water-fowl sought protection from the waters of the Biyáh,” “on the banks of which stream they encamped with an army innumerable as ants and locusts.”
“On the fourteenth of the month of Shawwál, the victorious standards advanced with the whole army in battle array, from the borders of Lorúh to the ford at the village of Chamba.” “Wind-footed they swam across the river, in comparison of which the Oxus and Jaxartes looked like a fountain.”
When Násiru-d dín “saw the victorious army cross that foaming stream without the aid and means of boats,” he fled in alarm, “turning his face from the battle and slaughter” towards Lohúr, whither he was pursued by the victorious army” which could not see a trace of the dust raised by their swift-flying horses.”—His standards, drums, and camp equipage, besides immense booty, fell into the hands of the Royalists. The defeated general afterwards continued his flight “by the road of Úch.”
Shamsu-d dín arrived at Lohúr, “which is among the mothers of the countries of religion, and among the chiefs of the provinces of Islám, and the abode and repose of the excellent and pious, and which for some days, on account of a number of calamities, and changes of governors, and the sedition of rebels, had been distracted by the flames of turbulence and opposition, and was now again reduced to order by the breath of the zephyr of his justice.” The captives who were taken in battle were pardoned, and after writing accounts of the victory and despatching them in various directions, Shamsu-d dín returned to Dehli.
In the beginning of 614 H. (1217 A.D.), the government of Lohúr was committed to the king's son, Násiru-d dín Mahmúd, and the advice which was given to him as to the mode of conducting his administration is given at length.—Description of festivities, with a repetition of rhetorical flourishes about beauties, cups, goblets, stars, locks, mouths, singers, companions, horses, hawks, dogs, tigers, horses, arrows, forts, and the game of chaugán, at which the king recreates himself.
This portion of the work opens with praise of God and king, upon whom Almighty favours are showered, as is testified by his conquest of Kálewar (Gwalior), Rantanbhor, and Mandúr,* Kanauj, Behár, and Bárah, and his subjection of powerful Ráís, and by his spreading the knowledge of Islám as far as the ocean; and amongst other arrangements made by which good government was secured, “an account of the proceedings of the king was written according to dates so as to form a model for the kings and Sultáns.” The forts of Úch Multán “which were stronger than the wall of Alexander” were also taken “in a manner which astonished the world,” and while he was engaged in these conquests, it was reported to the king that Malik Násiru-d dín Kubácha, who was proud and arrogant, and “who regarded in his cruelty and unkindness the people of God as less than rubbish,” “and out of his own pleasure and drunkenness would roast even hearts and draw tears of blood from the eyes,” had fortified himself within the strong fort of Bhakkar, “the eye of the forts and the face of the kingdom of Hind,” “and which had not been taken by any Khusrú,” and in which were deposited immense treasures.
Upon receiving this information, Shamsu-d dín despatched his minister Khwája-i Jahán Nizámu-l Mulk Muhammad Junaidí with a large army to Bhakkar, in the very height of the hot weather. Part of the army marched by land “a difficult road through the jungles,” and part went by water. After the fort was invested, and the enemy was reduced to extremities, Násiru-d dín despatched his son 'Aláu-d dín Muhammad to Shamsu-d dín with an hundred lacs of Dehliwáls,* and thousands of suits of clothes. The Sultán received him kindly, but would not allow him to return, in consequence of which, Násiru-d dín became much alarmed and ill, “and his head was bowed down to his knees like a violet, with his eyes of expectation open like a narcissus,” and he “wailed like Jacob for the absence of Joseph.”
Násiru-d dín shortly after died of grief, “and the boat of his life was drowned in the whirlpool of death,” “though he left behind him nearly a thousand boats” which could render no service to him.* The result of his death was that “more than five hundred lacs of Dehliwáls, various kinds of inlaid articles and jewels, and pearls exceeding white, and costly garments were deposited in the royal treasury of Shamsu-d dín,” and possession was also taken of “twelve celebrated forts, which had never been before captured,” “and Siwistán and Lúk (Lakkí) as far as the shores of the sea;” “and the coinage was struck, and the prayers read in his auspicious name throughout all the countries of Hindústán and the provinces of Kusdár and Makrán.” He returned to Dehli on the 14th of Rabí'u-l awwal, 624 H.
After some time a dress of honour was received from the Imám Mustansirbi-llah by the Sultán at Dehli, accompanied by a diploma confirming him in the kingdom of Hindústán, with the title of the great Sultán. He received the diploma with deep respect, and appointed the following day, namely the 23rd Rabí'u-l awwal, 626 H. (Feb. 1229 A.D.) for a general assembly, in which the farmán was read out in the presence of the King, the princes, and nobles. It declared that he was confirmed in the possession “of all the land and sea which he had conquered.” Robes were bestowed upon the ambassadors, the chiefs, and nobles, in honour of the event, and great joy prevailed upon the occasion throughout the capital.