Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/66

40 THE HOLY WARS OF ISLAM advance. He at last determined to fight once more and satisfy his revenge. Thereupon he collected troops to the number of more than one hundred thousand, and when Amir Sabuktagin heard of this, he again advanced to fight him, and ascended a lofty hill, from which he could see the whole army of the infidels, which resembled scattered ants and locusts. He urged the Mussulmans against the infidels, and they willingly obeyed his or- ders. He made detachments of five hundred attack the enemy with their maces in hand, and relieve each other when one party became tired, so that fresh men and horses were constantly engaged, till the accursed enemy complained of the heat which arose from that iron oven. These detached parties then made one united charge to exterminate their numerous opponents. Officers and men mingled in close conflict, and all weapons were useless except the sword. The dust which arose pre- vented the eyes from seeing; swords could not be dis- tinguished from spears, men from elephants, or heroes from cowards. It was only when the dust was allayed that it was found that the infidels had fled, leaving behind them their property, utensils, arms, provisions, elephants, and horses. The jungles were filled with the carcasses of the infidels, some wounded by the sword, and others fallen dead through fright. The Hindus were like frightened curs, and the raja was glad to offer the best things in his most distant provinces to the conqueror, on condition that the hair on the crowns of their heads should not be shaved off. The country in that neighbourhood thus became clear