The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.149.3

v1.c12.149.3

'Utbī does not tell us the place of the battle, but according to Niẓām-ud-Dīn and Firishta "the two armies met in the neighbourhood of Lamghān." The Hindu army appeared to their enemies "like the boundless ocean and in numbers like the ants and locusts of the wilderness." But though the forces of Islam were fewer in number, the superior generalship of their leader compensated for this. Sabuk-tigīn divided his soldiers into squadrons of 500 men each, which were directed to attack successively one particular point of the Hindu line, so that it might continually have to encounter fresh troops. The Hindus being worse mounted than the cavalry of Sabuk-tigīn, were unable to withstand them, and, wearied out by the manœuvre just mentioned began to give way. Sabuk-tigīn, perceiving their disorder, made a general assault; "the Hindus were everywhere defeated, and fled and were pursued, with great slaughter to the banks of the Nīlab."' ¹ This was the last invasion of Ghazni by Jayapāla and 'Utbī informs us that "from this time the Hindus drew in their tails and sought no more to invade the land." As a result of this war Jayapāla practically lost all territory to the west of the Indus, including Lamghān, and Peshawar.