1886.] Ghaznavis m Mdivard-un-Nahr and part of Khurdsdn. 107 
temporary, for no sooner had Mahmud proceeded on one of his expeditions 
to India, to where he had gone the same year, (396), than flak seized 
the opportunity for invasion, sending Sub’ashitigin* with a large force 
to occupy the country Cis-Oxus, and a general, Ja’fartigin, to invest 
Balkh. Sub’ashitigin advancing as far as Hirat, Arslan-i-Jazib the 
Princef of Tus, who had been established there by Mahmud, fell back 
to G^aznin in accordance with the previous instructions left him. 
Mahmud who at the time was at Multan, which city he had just 
taken, no sooner received the news than he hastened back to Ghaznin. 
arriving, says one chronicler, in 40 days, beat off Ja’fartigin from 
Balkh, and sending Arsian with 10,000 cavalry in advance, pressed Sub’- 
ashitiginso hard, the latter had to abandon the most of his baggage, entrust 
a subsequent instalment to the Shah of Khwarazm, and save himself by 
flight across the desert. “ So hot was the pursuit there was not even 
an opportunity for bathing” says A1 l/tbi. flak who was himself 
trans-Oxus made an unsuccessful attempt to divert Mahmiid by sending a 
further force of 6,000 cavalry under Ja’afartigin. This was in 397 H, 
Flak now prepared for a fresh struggle, allying himself mth Kadr Khan 
the ruler of Khutan, a city to the east of Yarkand, who may possibly 
have been his brother, and moved on Balkh with a large army, includ¬ 
ing 40,000 cavalry. The preparations of Mahmiid were also on a large 
scale, for in addition to his Afghan, Turkish, and Hindu troops, was a 
contingent of the Grhuzz (Turkomans). The armies met near Balkh and 
the order of battle was arranged with great care on both sides. Mah- 
miid assigned the centre to his brother Kasr, Abu Kasr Farighiini, and 
Abii ’Abdullah Tai, with a force of Kurds ; the Hajib Altuutash com¬ 
manding the right and Prince Arsalan Jazib the left ; himself holding 
a force of 500 elephants in reserve. Flak placed Kadr Khan with the 
Khutan army on the right and Ja’afartigin on the left, himself taking 
the centre with a picked force of Turkish troops, who appear to have 
done great execution, and for some time the fortune of the day was doubt¬ 
ful, but Mahmiid finally heading a charge with the elephants on Flak’s 
centre, turned the scale, and gained the victory. Flak was now finally 
driven back to Mawara-un-Kahr, many prisoners being taken, and num¬ 
bers of his followers drowned in the Oxus. Khondamir asserts with con¬ 
fidence that this was in 397 H. but the date generally accepted is the 22nd 
Kubi al Akhir 398 H. Mahmud next turned his attention to certain of 
his provincial governors who had been unfaithful to their trust, including 
Khalaf bin Ahmad of Sijistan, who for the second time had been found 
* Khondamir says “ Siashitigm.” 
f A petty chief. 
J Some accounts put his contingent at 30,000 men. 
