Lieut. -Colonel Briggs on tlw Life and Writijigs ofFerishta. 353 



Towards the end of the tenth century, one of the last of the Samanian 

 dynasty of Muhamedan kings reigned over Transoxania, and held his 

 court at Samarkand ; about which pei'iod his lieutenant Subuktugee, 

 taking advantage of the minority of his sovereign, declared himself inde- 

 pendent, and laid the foundation of the kingdom of Ghizni. Subuktugee 

 was the first IMuhamedan sovereign who came into hostile contact with the 

 princes of India. In the year 979, an indecisive battle was fought on the 

 plains of Lurnghau, to the west of the Indus. For twenty years after, peace 

 was maintained with the Hindoos ; while Subuktugee was occupied in 

 strengthening an empire, then only in its infancy, but which was destined 

 eventually to extend over all India. It will be instructive to examine the 

 condition of Europe as we proceed in this historical sketch. Edmund Iron- 

 side filled the throne of England, and Robert I. that of France. Otho III. 

 had just rendered the German empire elective; and Boleslaus, the first king of 

 Poland, was about to ascend the throne. The arithmetical figures now in 

 common use, had lately been introduced into the west by the Muhame- 

 dans ; but paper had not yet been manufactured in Europe. 



It was at this time that Mahmud, the son of Subuktugee, succeeded 

 his father, in the year 998. His reign was one continued course of con- 

 quest and military glory. The historian of the " Decline and Fall of the 

 Roman Empire " observes, " his kingdom was enlarged from Transoxania 

 to the neighbourhood of Ispahan ; from the shores of the Caspian to the 

 mouths of tlie Indus. But the principal source of his fame and riches, was 

 the holy war which he waged against the idolators of India. In this foreign 

 narrative," he observes, " I may not consume a page ; though a volume 

 would scarcely suffice to recapitulate the battles and sieges of his twelve 

 expeditions." 



Of these it may suffice to advert to two in particular : the first is the 

 march of three successive months, which brought Mahmud within sight of 

 Canouj ; the second, the three years which were consumed in his celebrated 

 expedition to Guzerat. It would be wrong to suppose that such campaigns 

 were the mere burst of savage hordes, who, breaking forth on a sudden, 

 devastate the country they occupy, and pass on to others. On the contrary, 

 Ferishta has minutely described the measures taken to provide against the 

 contingencies to which such military operations were liable. Supplies not 

 only of grain and fodder for the use of the army were carried with it, but 

 even of water on some occasions where deserts were to be passed ; and the 



