Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/267

TIMUR WITHDRAWS FROM INDIA 221 INTERIOR OF TIMUR'S TOMB AT SAMARKAND. of Sayyids, lawyers, shaikhs, and other principal Mus- sulmans, together with the inhabitants of their parts of the city, to whom they had been a protection and defence. I called them to my pres- ence, consoled them, treated them with every respect, and bestowed upon them many presents and honours. I also ap- pointed an officer to protect their quar- ter of the city, and guard them against annoyance, after which I remounted and returned to my quarters. After spending fifteen days at Delhi, passing my time in pleasure and enjoyment, and in holding royal courts and giving great feasts, I reflected that I had come to Hindustan to war against infidels, and that my enterprise had been so blessed that wherever I had gone I had been victorious. I had triumphed over my adversaries, I had put to death hundreds of thou- sands of infidels and idolaters, I had dyed my proselyt- ing sword with the blood of the enemies of the Faith, and now that I had gained this crowning victory, I felt that I ought not to indulge in ease, but rather to exert myself still further in warring against the infidels of Hindustan. Having made these reflections, on the twenty-second of Rabi'-al-akhir, 800 A. H. (Jan.