152 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.  {April, 1908. 
year he died (p. 383). Thirdly, the statement that when Muham- 
mad-i Bakht-yar captured the Fort of Bihar, Rai Lakhmaniah of 
Bengal “‘ had been on the throne for eighty years ” (pp. 554, 5D)), 
helps us in fixing the date. ‘I'he year evidently refers to the era 
Date : 596 H. of Laksmanasena, which began on 7th 
; October, 1119 A.D, As the expedition to 
Nidiah took place “the year following that” (p. 557), its date falls 
in La. Samvat 81 or A.D. 1199-1200 (596 H.).! The expedition 
took place probably in winter, the best time for horsemen and 
Against this seiehiaids there is one serious objection, viz., a 
statement in the Tajul Madsir of Hasan 
izami,* a work more pps Soest 
having been begun about 602 H. with the history carried down to 
626 H. After narrating the capture of Kalinjar on 20th Rajab, 
599 H., and Kutb-ud-din’s march to Budain, it goes on to say :— 
« Shortly afterwards Ikhtiyar-ud-din Muhammad Bakht-yar, 
ne of the chief supports of the ~~ the splendour of Islam, and 
: i oaletiioted throughout Hind for religious wars, joined the 
Objection. 
‘‘ kinds of jewels and moneys. He was received with ro kind 
“ness and beneficence, and he was exalted above the leaders of the 
“time ; and when he took his audience of leave, the blessed com- 
es mands, wae: him with authority. were renewed and augment- 
“ed, a tent, a naubat, a drum, a standard, and magnificent robe 
* of pears a horse and trappings, a waistband, sword, and a vest 
“ from the private wardrobe were conferred upon him.’ 
A similar event is narrated in the Tubakat-i Nasivi just after 
the capture of Bihar Fort, and before the expedition to Nidiah 
(pp. 552-4). Joining the two, t the capture of Bihar would then fall 
in 599 H. and of Nadiah in 600 H., both the dates thus differing 
from those deduced above. It is, ‘however, just possible that the 
offering of the presents might refer to the despatching of a large 
portion of the booty after the sack = Nidiah (p. 560). Tabakat-7 
is silent as to whether Muhamma akht-yar himself came to 
Dilhi this oe If he oe = 600 = would not be inconsistent. 
and between the immediately preceding date (13th Rabi I, 693 H.) 
and this one the gap is rather suspiciously long. On the present 
state of facts, therefore, the probability les in ae of 596 H. 
The nature of Mubammad-i Bakht-yar’s conquest appears to 
ve been much exaggerated. The expe- 
hav 
Conquest in Bengal. dition to Nidiah is only an inroad, a dash 

1 See this Pe: discussed in my article, J.A.S.B., 1905, pp. 47, 4 
2 Elliot, IT, Adwand is a correction for « Oudh and” pai rty, 
App. D., p xx xvi), ae: is acennile a corruption of Danda-bhikti, the old 
sence of Bi ihar. 
8 Translation, Appendix D, p. xxiii; for four, see also App. A, p. v. 

