The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.532

v3.c20.532

Tīmūr had left Samarqand in April, but had been delayed on his way to India by an expedition in Kāfiristān, by the construction of fortresses on the road which he followed, and by the business of his vast empire. He left Kābul on August 15, crossed the Indus on September 24, and two days later reached the Jhelum, where he was delayed by the contumacy of a local ruler, Shihāb-ud-dīn Mubārak, styling himself Shāh, who, having submitted to Pīr Muhammad, had changed his policy when that prince appeared to be in difficulties and ventured to oppose Tīmūr, who drove him from his island fortress on the Jhelum. Mubārak and his whole family perished in the river and Tīmūr crossed the Jhelum and the Rāvī and on October 13 encamped before Talamba. He agreed to spare the ancient town in consideration of a ransom, but differences regarding its assessment or undue harshness in levying it provoked resistance and furnished him with a pretext for a massacre.