Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/85

MAHMUD'S NEW EXPEDITION TO HIND 57 which had inflicted ruin on his country and his subjects in consequence of his contests with Mahmud, and saw their effects far and near, he became satisfied that he could not war against him. He accordingly sent some of his relatives and chiefs to the Sultan, imploring him not to invade India again and offering him money to abstain from that purpose. The envoys were told to yield a tribute of fifty elephants, each equal to two ordinary ones in size and strength, laden with the products and rarities of the country. The King of Hind promised to send this tribute every year, accompanied by two thousand men for service at the court of the Sultan. Mahmud accepted his proposal, since Islam was pro- moted by the humility of his submission and by the payment of tribute, and sent an envoy to see that these conditions were carried into effect. The ruler of Hind fulfilled them strictly and despatched one of his vassals with the elephants to see that they were duly pre- sented to the Sultan. Thus peace was established and tribute was paid, and caravans travelled in full security between Khorasan and Hind. When the Sultan had purified Hind from idolatry and had raised mosques therein, he determined to invade the capital of the land, that he might punish those who kept idols and refused to acknowledge the unity of God. After collecting his warriors and dis- tributing money among them, he set forth with a large army in the year 404 A. H. (1013 A. D.), choosing the close of autumn for his expedition on account of the