Conquest of Mansúra.

After the capture of Somnát, Mahmúd received intelligence that Bhím the chief of Anhalwára had gone to the fort of Kandahat, which is situated about forty parasangs from Somnát between that place and the desert. He marched thither, and when he came in front of the place he questioned some men who were hunting, as to the tide. From them he learned that there was a practicable ford, but that if the wind blew a little, he might be submerged. Mahmúd prayed to the Almighty and then entered the water. He and his forces passed over safely, and drove the enemy out of the place. From thence he returned, intending to proceed against Mansúra, the ruler of which was an apostate Muhammadan. When the news of Mahmúd's ap­proach reached this chief, he fled into the date-palm forests. Mahmúd proceeded against him, and surrounding him and his adherents, many of them were slain, many drowned, and but few escaped. Mahmúd then went to Bhátía, and after reducing the inhabitants to obedience, he returned to Ghazní, where he arrived on the 10th Safar 417 H.

Revolt and Death of Ahmad Níáltigín.

In the year (4)25 (1034 A.D.), Mas'úd, son of Mahmúd, returned to Hind to destroy the Turks (al ghuzz); and Ahmad Níál-tigín again exerting himself to excite rebellion in the provinces of Hind, proceeded with all his assembled forces to the territories (bilád) of Bálází. Mas'úd sent a numerous army against him, and the chiefs of Hind being averse to his entering into their territories, closed the roads against him. Before the army reached the passage he attacked it, and retreated fighting towards Multán. Several of the Indian chiefs proceeded to Bhátía. He had with him a considerable unbroken force, and the chief of the place not having strength to arrest his progress, Ahmad demanded boats to enable him to cross the river Indus, and these were supplied. In the midst of the stream there was an island, which Ahmad and his adherents perceived, and close by in another direction lay the desert. They did not know that the water was deep there. The Indian chief directed the owners of the boats to transport the fugitives to the island and to return. Ahmad and his adherents remained there, and they had no food but what they had brought with them. They stayed there nine days, and their provisions were consumed. Having even de­voured their animals they were reduced to extremity, and resolved to pass through the water; but they had no sooner entered it than they discovered its depth, and, besides this, a great impediment in the mud. The Indian sent over his soldiers against them in boats, who attacked them while they were in that plight, and killed many of them. The sons of Ahmad were taken prisoners, and when Ahmad himself fell into their hands they killed him. His companions also were all either slain, taken prisoners, or drowned.

War between Shahábu-d dín and the King of Benares.

Shahábu-d dín Ghorí, king of Ghazní, sent his slave, Kutbu-d dín, to make war against the provinces of Hind, and this general made an incursion in which he killed many, and returned home with prisoners and booty. The king of Benares was the greatest king in India, and possessed the largest territory, extending lengthwise from the borders of China to the province of Maláwa (Málwá), and in breadth from the sea to within ten days' journey of Lahore. When he was informed of this inroad, he collected his forces, and in the year 590 (1194 A.D.), he entered the territories of the Muhammadans. Shahábu-d dín Ghorí marched forth to oppose him, and the two armies met on the river Jumna,* which is a river about as large as the Tigris at Músal. The Hindu prince had seven hundred elephants, and his men were said to amount to a million. There were many nobles in his army. There were Mussulmáns in that country since the days of Mahmúd bin Subuktigín, who continued faithful to the law of Islám, and constant in prayer and good works. When the two armies met there was great carnage; the infidels were sustained by their numbers, the Musulmáns by their courage, but in the end the infidels fled, and the faithful were victorious. The slaughter of the Hindus was immense; none were spared except women and children, and the carnage of the men went on until the earth was weary. Ninety elephants were captured, and of the rest some were killed, and some escaped. The Hindu king was slain, and no one would have recognized his corpse but for the fact of his teeth, which were weak at their roots, being fastened in with golden wire. After the flight of the Hindus Shabábu-d dín entered Benares, and carried off its treasures upon fourteen hundred camels. He then returned to Ghazní. Among the elephants which were captured there was a white one, A person who saw it told me that when the elephants were brought before Shahábu-d dín, and were ordered to salute, they all saluted except the white one. No one should be surprised at what I have said about the elephants, for they understand what is said to them. I myself saw one at Músal with his keeper, which did whatever his keeper told him.