Khazaʾin al-futuh 13.1

13.1

On the 25th of Jumáda-l awwal, A.H. 709, Malik Náíb Káfúr, the minister, was despatched on an expedition to Tilang, and "accompanied by the royal red canopy, through the kindness of the Sun of Sultans, he departed towards the sea and Ma'bar." "The army marched stage by stage for nine days, when the lucky star of the chief of Wazírs, at a fortunate moment, arrived at Mas'údpur, so called after the son of King Mas'úd. There the army halted for two days, and, on the 6th of the second Jumád, he took his departure with all the chiefs." The difficulties of the road described, through hills and ravines and forests. "The obedient army went through this inhospitable tract, file after file, and regarded this dreadful wilderness as the razor-bridge of hell. "In six days the army crossed five rivers, the Jun, the Chambal, the Kunwari, the Niyds, and Bahuji, which were all crossed by fords, and arrived at Sultanpur, commonly called I'rijpur, where the army halted four days." "After thirteen days, on the first of the month of Rajab, they arrived at Khandhar; in such a wilderness, the month of God advanced to meet the army of Islam." Here they remained fourteen days. "At this fortunate season, all the Imams, Maliks, the pious and celebrated persons in the army, assembled before the royal canopy and offered up prayers for the king.