The Nāṣirī Generations 45.4

45.4

From thence, Mahmud advanced to the fortress of [Bahindah], which was the residence of Jai-pal ; and he subdued that territory.” In a history of the Rajahs of Jamu, said by its author, a Hindu, to have been compiled from Hindu annals, [Bathindah] is said to have been Jai-pal’s capital and place of residence, which Mahmud captured. Mirza Mughal Beg, who, about eighty-three years since, made a survey of great part of the North-West Provinces between Dihli and the Sutlaj, the Punjab, and great part of Afghanistan, and the countries on the northern slopes of Hindu-Kush, in his account of the Lakhi jungle, says : “ Bhatindah, which is also called Whatindah is the name of a territory, with a very ancient stronghold bearing the same name, which was the capital of the Chahil tribe. Lakhi, son of Jundharah, of the Bhati tribe, having been converted to the Muhammadan faith, during an invasion by Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznin, itself. In the year 387 H. Mahmud proceeded to Balkh, and received the title of Rana Lakhi, and he and his tribe were removed thither. They found there some three hundred and fifty or sixty towns and villages of considerable size, some with large and fine buildings; and began to make inroads into the tracts adjacent, against the infidels.” According to traditions quoted by this author, which are also to be found in other works, there were formerly two or three considerable rivers in this now sandy tract of country.