History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c9.65

Language: English

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What was the purpose of the expedition? Barani tells us that it was intended as a preliminary step to the conquest of Khorasan and Transoxiana so that the passage for troops and horses might be rendered easier.²⁹ Barani's knowledge of the geography of the countries with which he had no direct concern was limited like that of many other mediaeval scholars. Being a man of the class of 'Ulama who had never taken part in any campaign, he had no idea of the position of countries outside India. It is not clear why the Sultan should bring under his sway as a preparatory measure for the conquest of Khorasan and Transoxiana the Qarājal mountain, for there is no Qarājal mountain inhabited by the infidels along the route to these countries unless he chose to traverse through inhospitable and highly difficult regions. Further, why should he who was well-acquainted with history, abandon the traditional known route through the passes in the Hindu Kush which had been followed by India's invaders from time immemorial? The Mughals had come through these passes, and it was a fact known to the Sultan. If the Sultan had wished to conquer China or Western Tibet, this statement of Barani might have been intelligible, for the Qarājal is a barrier between these countries and Hindustan.

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Sir Wolseley Haig is inclined to think that the expedition was a disastrous attempt to conquer Western Tibet, but no contemporary writer mentions the conquest of China or Tibet as the object of this campaign.³⁰ Besides, the Sultan would not be so foolish as to attempt to cross the impassable barrier of the Himalayas. Ibn Batūtah who was then in India and an eye-witness of the disastrous expedition clearly says that it was some Hindu hill chieftain who was compelled to pay tribute to the Sultan. Yahya bin Ahmad who is Barani's immediate successor simply states that the Sultan made an attempt to bring under his control the mountain of Qarājal.³¹ He does not entirely depend upon Barani for information, and therefore his omission to say that the expedition was intended as a preparatory step to the conquest of Khorasan and Transoxiana is significant. Probably the other authorities on which he relied suggested to him this omission. Hajji-ad-Dabīr who follows Barani writes that the mountain of Qarajil, situated between Hind and China, was an obstacle to easy march to Khorasan.³² He mentions an additional motive, not mentioned by any other historian which he borrows from Husām Khan that the Sultan was desirous of admitting into his haram by means of marriage ( نکاح ) the women of Qarachal, who were noted for their beauty and other womanly accomplishments.³³ We would have was hailed with delight at Dihli, and the troops were ordered to stay in the hills to consolidate their success.

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But unfortunately the rainy season set in; sickness broke out in the royal camp, and death took a dreadful toll of life. The troops were completely demoralised, and it became difficult to obtain supplies of provisions from Dihli. The hill tribes took advantage of the difficulties of the imperialists, and when the latter retreated through the narrow and difficult passes with their numbers thinned by disease and famine, the wily mountaineers out-flanked the wings of the army, and attacked it. The royal baggage was plundered, and the infuriated Hindus felled trees from the mountain tops so that the soldiers of the royal force were flung head-long into the abyss under their crushing weight, and many lives were lost. For seven days the army suffered heavily owing to the want of provisions. All communication posts were dismantled, and the garrison was driven away by the enemy. Only ten horsemen, according to Barani and three according to Ibn Batūṭah, survived to tell the story of that gruesome tragedy, which was largely due to miscalculation and defective strategy.³⁶ When the royal forces reached the low country, they found it inundated by rain, and men and beasts alike had to suffer great privations, particularly because no succour was available from any quarter. The retreat was disastrous, and seriously affected the military strength of the Sultan, for he was never afterwards able to collect such a large force to fight against his foes.

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At last, he made peace with the mountain chief who agreed to pay tribute, when he saw that it was impossible for his subjects to cultivate the low lands at the foot of the hills without acknowledging the authority of the Sultan of Dihli. The object of the expedition was achieved through a tremendous sacrifice. The military strength of the empire suffered considerably, and revolts and disturbances occurred throughout the vast dominions of the Sultan.