1854.] A Sketch of the Mahomedan History of Cashmere. 415 



saint such as Syud Allie seems to have been hailed with enthusiasm, 

 and proselytism to have commenced in real earnest. Meantime 

 Kootub-ood-deen died after a reign of near sixteen and half years, 

 A. D. 1393, and was succeeded by his son Sultan Sikunder, during 

 whose reign a constant succession of learned doctors appeared in 

 Cashmere, attracted doubtless by the fame of a new Mahomedan 

 acquisition, A. D. 1397. At this time also (H. 800,) Timoor Lung 

 invaded India, and presents passed between him and Sikunder. 

 Preliminaries were arranged between their respective vakeels for a 

 meeting near Attock, and Sikunder had actually set out, but 

 Timoor had already passed on to Samarkand, taking with him a 

 son of Sikunder as a hostage. Partly by the influence of Timoor 

 and partly no doubt urged by the fanatic Moslems who had lately 

 appeared in his country, Sikunder was about this period instigated to 

 religious persecution ; he began to throw down the Hindoo temples 

 and images " by fire," and to force his subjects to abjure idolatry : 

 he thereby acquired the surname of "Bhutshikan" or "Iconoclastes." 

 It seems probable that he employed the agency of gunpowder, A. D. 

 1393, in his destruction of the temples, a present of which, it 

 has been suggested by an author upon Cashmere Antiquities 

 (Cunningham), he might have acquired from Timoor, as it appears 

 established that the use of that explosive was known to the nations 

 of central Asia in the 14th century. Sikunder died after a reign of 

 twenty-five years, nine months, leaving the throne to his son Sultan 

 Allie Shah, (1417) who inheriting to the full his father's fanaticism, 

 but being without his energy and talents, after reigning six years 

 and nine months, left the government in the hands of his brother 

 Zein-ul-ab-ood-deen and set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca. On his 

 arrival however at Jummoo, he was dissuaded by his father-in-law, 

 the Eajah of that place, from proceeding further and accordingly 

 commenced his return to Cashmere by way of Pukli, A. D. 1423, 

 but his brother refused to surrender the government, and a severe 

 battle ensued in which the king was taken prisoner, confined, and 

 soon after died, perhaps from poison. 



A. D. 1423. — Zein-ul-ab-ood-deen or " Boodshah" now mounted 

 the throne, and soon after invaded Kashgar and Thibet with an 

 army of 100,000 foot and 20,000 horse. 



