1 879.] or a History of Hamir, prince of Ranthambor. 205 



If he come off a loser after his best endeavours, then all is over with him. 

 The Chohans are in no way inferior to the Musalmans in martial bravery. 

 The warlike Prithviraj defeated Muhammad Ghori and drove him back 

 to the mountains of Ghor. The bold Bisaldev committed great havoc 

 among the Muhammadan ranks and obliged them to retrace their steps 

 from the very gates of Ajmir. Do not expose yourself and your subjects 

 to the risks of a war. It seems to me wise to make the figure of the exile 

 of lace and behead it, proclaiming his execution." 



The emperor became greatly incensed at these words of the Vazir. 

 War was proclaimed. Egypt, Kabul, Ghazni, Kandahar, Khorasan, 

 Rum, Arabia, Kashmir, Iran, Turan and Habesh (Abyssinia) poured 

 forth each its quota of soldiers. There was a vast sea of spears, swords, 

 muskets, shields, bows and arrows, all glittering in the sun on the broad 

 plain of Dehli. The emperor could not help laughing at the rashness of 

 Hamir, seeing before him, as far as his eyesight could reach, the unending 

 line of the soldiers who were drawn up in battle-array, with streaming ban- 

 ners, at the call of the muster-rolls. There stood before him, bending their 

 heads, Lodis, Pathans, Gohans, Burdwans, Sarunis, Khorasanis, Khayam 

 Khamis, Syads, Mughals, Adamkhoris, Chustis and Scindhis, all num- 

 bering 4,510,000 troops, horse, foot, artillery and archers. 



" How foolish is Hamir," exclaimed Ala-udclin, casting his eyes from 

 one flank to the other, " how foolish is he to persist in his unwise resolu- 

 tion. He, the butterfly of a day, flitters about the strongest of fires and 

 knows not that after a few minutes he is to fall on it with his wings sing- 

 ed, his beauty gone, his pride crushed, and above all his life sacrificed to 

 imprudence. Independently of the troops of my allies, so numerous in 

 number and obedient to my call, my tributary and dependent chiefs of 

 Surat, Girinagar and of all the provinces to the south and east of my wide 

 dominions are ready to give up their lives and interests for the sake of me, 

 their sole monarch. 13,088 Omraos come from all parts of my empire 

 to the imperial court, twice a year, once on Chandtij (a festival) of Bha- 

 dun (August) and once in Chait (March). They prostrate themselves at 

 my feet and remain in that position, till I bid them hold up their heads. 

 My power is acknowledged far and wide, my authority undisputed, my 

 heroism unparalleled, my pride and glory unbroken, and courage almost 

 divine. I will, first of all, break down the ten walls of the fort of Ran- 

 thambor, make defence impossible, and then burn Hamir with his wives and 

 children in the very fire which his obstinacy alone has kindled to such an 

 extent." 



Ala-uddin set out with his immense army in the month of Chait. 

 Thick columns of dust rose high up in the air and hid the sun. "When his 

 C c 



