1871.] 
A History of the GaWhars . 
75 
to make preparations for an expedition to Khata. Muhammad, son 
of ’Ali, wrote in answer that the tribute of the year had been col¬ 
lected and was ready, but that the Gakk’hars and Rasal, who were 
in possession of the hills of Judi, had stopped the communication 
between Lahor and Ghazni in such a manner that no body could 
travel on the road. When this account reached the ears of Shihab- 
uddin he wrote to Qutbuddin, his slave, who was the com¬ 
mander of the army of Hind, to send some person to the Gakk’hars 
and dissuade them from persisting in such evil courses, and to 
inform them that if they repented and came again under allegiance, 
he would pardon their past offences. 
When Qutbuddin Aibag, according to the order of Shihabuddin, 
sent a person to the Gakk’hars desiring them to submit themselves 
to the pleasure of the Sultan, the son of the Gakk’har replied 
that Qutbuddin had no authority to issue such a mandate, that 
Sultan Shihabuddin should have sent a special messenger of his 
own, and further that if he had been really alive, he should have 
sent direct for the tribute when the Gakk’hars would have des¬ 
patched it to him. The ambassador replied, 11 You are not of 
sufficient consequence for Sultan Shihabuddin to send any messenger 
to you; it is great honor to you that he has sent even me, who am 
his slave’s slave.” The son of the Gakk’har replied—“ This is a 
mere fable ; Shihabuddin no longer lives to issue any orders.” The 
ambassador rejoined, tc It may easily be ascertained by your send¬ 
ing any one of your confidential servants who can go and convince his 
own eyes whether Shihabuddin be alive or not.” In short, the son of 
the Gakk’har being determined not to listen to the ambassador, re¬ 
mained firm in his rebellious disposition. When the ambassador of 
Qutbuddin returned and gave an account of what he had seen and 
heard, Qutbuddin related the circumstances to Sultan Shihab¬ 
uddin who ordered him to collect tho several armies of Hindu¬ 
stan, to proceed against the Gakk’hars and exterminate them 
from the face of the earth. When this mandate reached Qutb¬ 
uddin, he was already making preparations to march against that 
nation. In the meantime Shihabuddin deferred his expedition 
to Khatd and caused his army to return, as complaints of the vio¬ 
lence and oppression of the Gakk’hars were frequently coming in 
