The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.497

v3.c20.497

The enforced retreat from Sind and the insolence of the Sindīs had rankled in the memory of Fīrūz ever since his accession, and in 1362 he set out for that country with an army of 90,000 horse and 480 elephants. He collected on the Indus a large fleet of boats, which accompanied the army down-stream to Tattah, the capital of the Jāms of Sind, which was situated on both banks of the river. The ruler was now Jām Mālī, son of Jām Unnar, and he was assisted in the government by his brother’s son, Bābaniya. Both were resolute in defending the city, and the royal army was exposed to the *sorties* of the garrison and suffered from a severe famine and from an epizootic disease which carried off or disabled three-quarters of the horses of the cavalry. The garrison, observing their plight, sallied forth and attacked them in force, and though they were driven back within the walls Fīrūz, who was humiliated at the same time by the capture of his entire fleet, decided to retreat for a time to Gujarāt, where his troops might recruit their strength and replace their horses.