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70 THE TUKKS IN DELHI conspicuous example is found in India in the slaves of Mohammad Ghori. When some one condoled with him on his lack of male offspring to carry on his line, he replied, " Have I not thousands of children in my Turkish slaves? ' Four of his mamluks rose to high command: Yildiz in the Afghan mountains, Kubacha on the Indus, Bakhtiyar in Bengal, and Aybek at Delhi. Of these Kutb-ad-din Aybek was the chief. Brought as a child, like so many slaves of the period, from Tur- kistan to Khorasan, he was well- educated by his owner, the chief kadi of Naishapur, and when grown up he was sent in a mer- chant 's caravan to Ghazni, where he was purchased by Mohammad Ghori. His brave and generous character soon won him favour, and rising step by step to be master of the horse, he accompanied the Sultan in his campaigns, was taken prisoner in Khwarizm and fortunately recaptured; and after the defeat of Prithivi Raja of Ajmir the govern- ment of India was confided to the successful slave. Aybek 's chief exploits were achieved during his vice- royalty. Hansi, Mirat, Delhi (1191), Rantambhor, and Koil fell before his assault, and he led the vanguard of the Ghorian army in 1194 when it conquered Benares. When the Sultan returned to Ghazni after this crowning triumph, it was Aybek who subdued the ill-timed revolt of the vassal raja of Ajmir. Master and slave humbled the pride of Gwalior, that " pearl of the necklace of the castles of Hind," and compelled the raja Solankhpal