History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c6.50

c6.50

Barani and Ibn Batūṭah as well as all later writers speak of two battles between Ghazi Malik and the forces of Dihli—one of which was a preliminary engagement in the plain above referred to and the other near the Hauz Khas,²⁹ in which Khusrau himself led his men. The two armies drew themselves in battle array and each side began to plan dexterous manœuvres to overpower the other. The rickety forces of Khusrau were utterly routed and fled in confusion. Much baggage, elephants and treasure fell into the hands of the victors, and a good many of the vanquished, besides the wounded and the killed, were made prisoners. The raw youths, to whom Khusrau had entrusted the supreme command, fled from the field of battle, panic-stricken, and conveyed to their master the news of the disaster that had befallen them. To all appearance, the cause of the Parwarīs was doomed and they were so frightened that hardly any life was left in their bodies.