Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s1.102

c7.s1.102

Mahmūd's left wing was commanded by Taghī Khan, Mīr 'Ali of Uchch⁹² and other officers; while the right wing was under Mu'īnuddīn and Malik Hādī.⁹³ The Sultan himself with Mallū Khan was in the centre.⁹⁴ "The elephants were covered with armour," writes Sharafuddīn, "and sharp poisoned points were fastened firmly on their tusks. Rocket men (*takhsh-afgan*) and grenade throwers (*r'ād andāz*) marched by their sides."⁹⁵ Sultan Mahmūd traditionally relied too much on elephants, the animate tanks of medieval India. "They were trained in war as famous for their power as rank-breakers (*saf-shikan*) and cavalry dispensers."⁹⁶