100 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
the Jagatay rising above the timid suggestions of 
superstition, by which he was too often actuated, 
and feeling satisfied that his success depended upon 
the promptness and vigour of his measures, he de- 
termined to turn a deaf ear to the language of the 
stars, and be guided by the better intimations of his 
own discernment. 
The King of Delhi, accompanied by his minister 
Mulloo Yekbal Khan and the chief nobles of his court, 
issued from his capital to meet the invaders. His 
army consisted of ten thousand horse and forty thou- 
sand infantry. Before these were marshalled a hundred 
and twenty elephants covered with armour, their tusks 
being armed with long poisoned daggers. Upon their 
backs were wooden towers filled with archers. Beside 
the elephants rode persons employed to fling fire and 
melted pitch upon the adverse squadrons as they ad- 
vanced. They were furnished also with rockets at- 
tached to a heavy iron rod, which, on being discharged, 
struck with such force as frequently to break the legs 
of those with whom they came in contact. 
At the first onset, the drivers of the elephants being 
dismounted by the enemy, who had been ordered to 
direct their assault against these men, those huge ani- 
mals, finding themselves released from all restraint, 
dispersed over the field, and flying to the rear, pro- 
duced a universal confusion among the Indian troops. 
Timur, instantly taking advantage of the panic caused 
by this unexpected event, attacked the foe with such 
energy before order could be restored among their 
broken lines, that immediate rout followed, and they 
were pursued with terrible destruction to the gates 
