Twilight of the Sultanate c19.s3.58

c19.s3.58

⁴⁴ *Ni'āmatulla's History of the Afghans*, 14. N. B. Roy doubts the veracity of this statement (n. 1, 14) because according to the *Mulfūzāt-i-Tīmūrī*, Tīmūr is said to have punished the Afghans. There is nothing wrong with Ni'āmatulla's statement. The invaders used to force the Afghans into submission first, as was done by Mahmūd of Ghaznī, and then ask them to provide contingents. Bābur who also enrolled Afghan levies, gives an interesting picture of how the Afghans, always difficult to deal with, made their submission when forced into it. Tribesmen made captive and suing for mercy appeared with grass in their teeth, exclaiming "I am your ox". (Caroe, 156). Raverty gives another explanation of the ox. He says that the "bulls" refer to the Afghans' hairy face and the long curly hair hanging down their back. Tab. Nas., English Trs., 852 n.