TIMUR BEG. 
103 
Ferozabad, where he entered a mosque and offered 
up a thanksgiving for his recent success. Here he 
was presented by Bahadur Nahir of Mewat with two 
white parrots,, as a token of submission. These birds 
were considered great curiosities: they had been fa- 
vourites of Toghluk Shah, and for years enjoyed a 
distinguished place in the palace of that emperor. 
Timur now encamped before Paniput, whence he 
sent a strong detachment of his army to besiege Merut; 
but his general finding the place too strong to render 
an assault practicable, and being defied from the walls, 
the sovereign marched in person, stormed the place 
with his usual celerity and success, and put every soul 
to the sword. His route was one scene of unmitigated 
carnage. Wherever he came, he conquered, and the 
sword of victory reeked with the blood of the van- 
quished. Proceeding up the Ganges, he was obliged to 
halt for some short time in consequence of an impost- 
hume in his arm. Nevertheless, he despatched fifty 
thousand men against the infidels, who had occupied 
the river in forty-eight large flat-bottomed boats. The 
Jagatays spurred their horses into the water, assault- 
ed the boats, of which they soon became masters, and 
slew their defenders. 
Timur being informed that the Hindoos had assem- 
bled in considerable force at a defile in the moun- 
tains to the east of the Ganges, hastened thither 
in person with five hundred cavalry. Though the 
enemy had taken up a strong position in the hills, 
they were soon routed. The conqueror, however, be- 
ing left with only a hundred troopers, was suddenly 
attacked by an officer of the idolaters with a much 
