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Behar, especially as we read in the Tabaqat (p. lo7), that at t e same time he sent a detachment under Muhammad Shiran to invade Jajna* gar (Orissa). Those who nro given to awaaement at the present numerics 65 tains of Bengal. Gnulcd l>y one of the fliipls of Koch, named •Ali Mich, who had been converted to Mnhammadnn faith by Muhammad Bakhtiar, he reached towards those mountains. ‘Ali Mich led Bakhtiur’s forces to a country, the town whereof is called Abardhan. 1 and also Barahmangadi. It is said that this town was founded by Emperor Garshasp. 8 Facing that town, flows a river called Namakdi,- which in its depth and breadth, is thrice as much as the river Ganges. Since that river was tumultous, broad, and deep, and fordable with difficulty, marching along the banks of the river for ten days,* be reached a place where existed a largo bridge* made of stone, and extending over twenty-nine arches, erected by the ancients. It is said that Emperor Garshasp, at the time of invading Hindustan, constructed that bridge, and came to the country of Kiimrftp. In short, strength of Mnsalmnn population in Bengal, anil are at pains to evolve theo¬ ries to account for it, might as well bear in mind these elementary farts of history. 1 In Tabaqat-i-Xa<iri p. 152 “ Rfnrdhan-Koto ’* and “ Bardhan-Kote ; ” m Bitdaoni, p. 53, Vol. 1, " Brahman.” The ruins of ‘ Birdhnn-Kotc ’ lie -north of Bogra close to Gobindgunje, on tlie Karatya river, not far from Ghoraghat, and this is the place meant according to Professor Blochmann. 2 A. King of Turin or Turkistan or Tartary or Scythia; but in .Vmn/i- i-Khiisruan, p. 7, he is described as the last sovereign of the Peshdadian dynasty of Persia. In Feri shta it is stated that wheu Garshasp mado an inclusion into Hindustan from TnrkisWn. he founded the city of Paidhan." Sin Tabaqat-i-Na?iri p. 152, ' Bagmnti ’ and ' Bakmadi ’; in Bndaoni, p. 58, Vol. I, “ Brahmanputr” and “ Brahmkadi.” The river referred to has been identified by Professor Blochmann to be the Karatya, which formed for a long time the boundary between ancient Muhammadan Bengal and Kamrup. * This ten days’ march extended northward along the banks of the Karatya and the Teesta, which latter before 1781 flowed west of the Karatya, joined the Atrar, and fell into tho Pudma, and of oil Bengal rivers extended farthest into Tibbat. This march then was along the frontier between ancient Mnaalman Bengal and the territory of the Rajah of Kamrup. Bakhtiar’s Tibbatan expedition must hove oommenced in the latter part of 005 A.H. (1209 A.C.) or beginning of 606 A.H. (1210 A.C.) 6 This bridge must hare been in the neighbourhood of Paralleling (or Dnr jeeling) which in those daya appears to have been the boundary separating tho Mechcs from the kill-tribes. The author of tho Tabaqat-i-Xnsiri (Pers. text, p. 152), in this collection mentiona the following three tribes ns then inhabit¬ ing Northern Bengal, vis., (1) Koch, (2) Mech, and (0) Tharo; rule J<*o Dalton’s Ethuology of Bengal. 9 8G Muhammad Bakhtiar sending across his forces by that bridge, and posting two commandants for its protection, planned to advance. The Rajah of Kanmip, dissuading him from an advance, said that if he (Muhammad Bakhtiar) would postpone his march to Tibbat that year, and next year collecting an adequate force would ndvauco towards it in full strength “ I too would be the pioneer of the Moslem force, and would tighten up the waist of self-sacri¬ fice." Muhammad Bakhtiar absolutely unheeding this advice, advanced, and after sixteen days, 1 reached the country of Tibbat. The battle commenced with an attack on a fort which had been built by king Garshasp, and was very strong. Many of the Moslem force tasted the lotion of death, and nothing was gained. And from the people of that place who had been taken prisoners, it was ascertained that at a distance of five farsung from that fold, was a large and populous city. 2 Fifty thousand Mongolian cavalry thirsty for blood and archers were assembled in that city. Every day in tho market of that city, nearly a thousand or five hundred Mongolian horses sold, and were sent thence to Lakhnauti. 8 And they said “yon have an impracticable scheme in your head with this small force." Muhammad Bakhtiar, becoming apprised of this state of affairs, became ashamed of bis plan, and, without attaining his end, retreated. And sincetheinhabitantsoftho.se environs, setting lire to the fodder and food-grains, had removed their chattels to the ambuscades of the rocks, at the time of this retreat,* for fifteen days, the soldiers did not see a handful of food-grains, nor did the cattle see one bushel of fodder. 1 lu the Tabaqnt.i-Na?u-i (Pers. text, p. 153), this march .a thua rented: • \fter leaving a Turkish officer and a Khilji officer with a large body of troops to cmard tho bridge.Muhammad Bakhtiar Khilji with his army or fifteen aw”, marched neross high hills and low defiles, and on the ..tteenth day fton, hi, march from tho bridge) descended into the open plain of T.obat and passed many populous villages..and after some eight hoars hard fighting, entrenched himself in a fort theie. 2 The Tabaqat-i-Nasiri names the city Karmbntan. Bakhtiar Khilji s march r, om the bridge was northward for sixteen days. attracts The fnir at Nik-mardan, 40 miles north-west of hna pur, attr.c every year a large number of hill-ponies, which go thence to other place. K.mnip. According to Major Karerty, from the hdls of Derjeding. Bskhtiar Khilj. had silenced throngh Sikkim into Tibba- towards the Snngpn. Neither human beings saw any bread except the circular di*o of the sun. Nor did the cattle see any fodder except the rainbow ! From excessive hunger the soldiers devoured Hesh of horses and horses preferring death to life placed their necks under their daggers. In short, in this straitened condition, they reached the bridge. Since those two comiupndants quarrelling with each other had deserted their posts at the head of the bridge, the people of that country had destroyed the bridge. At the sight of this des¬ truction, the heart of the high and the low suddenly broke, liko the Chinese cup. Muhammad Bajchtiar engulphed in the sea of confusion and perplexity, despaired of every resource. Ai'ter much striving, lie got news that in the neighbourhood there was a very large temple, 1 and that idols of gold and silver were placed there iu great pomp. It is said that there was an idol in the temple whieli weighed a thousand mannds. In short, Muhammad Bakljtiar with his force took refuge iu this temple, and was busy improvising means for crossing the river. • The Rajah of Kam- rup* had ordered all his troops aud subjects of that country to commit depredations. The people of that country, sending out force after force, engaged iu besieging the temple, and from all sides posting in the ground bamboo-made lances, and tying one to the other, turned them into the shape of walls. Muhammad fiakhtiar saw that all chance of escape was slipping out of his hands, and that the knife was reaching the bone, so at once with his force issuing out of the temple and making a sortie , he broke through the stockade of bamboos, aud cutting through his way, rescued himself from the hard-pressed siege. The infidels of that country pursued him to the banks of the river, aud stretched their hands to pluuder aud slaughter, so that some by the sharpness of the sword and others by the inundation of water, were engulphed in the sea of destruction. The Musalman soldiers on reaching the river-banks stood perplexed. Suddenly, one of the soldiers plunged with his horse into the river, and went about one arrow- shot, when another soldier seeing this, plunged^similarly into the river. As the river had a sandy bed, with a little movement, all 1 Very likely, the temple of M&hutu&ni u Karnrup district. * It would appear that the Kijah of Kimrup who had offered Ais eeprq-es to Bakhtiar Khilji, iu the eud turned out treacherous.. 63 were drowned. Only Muhaiumnd BnMiiiav with one thousand cavalry (and accord ini' to another accv .mt, with three hundred cavalry) succeeded in crossing over ; 1 the rest met with a watery grave. After Muhammad lJaHitiar had crossed safely over the tumultous river with a small force, from excessive rage and humiliation, iu that the females and the children of the slaughtered and the drowned from alley* and terraces abused and cursed him, he got an attack of consumption, and reaching Deokot 2 died. And according to other accounts, ‘Ali Martian Khilji, who was one of his ottieers, during that illness, slew Bakhtiar, and raised the staudard of sovereignty over the kingdom of Laklmauti. lhe period of Malik Ikhtiaru-d-din Muhammad Bakhtiar’s rule over Bengal was twelve years. When Muhammad Bakhtiar passed o y i For a discussion of the route of Uakhtiir Khilji’* expedition into Tibbat, aud of bis retreat therefrom, see llaverty’s notes in his translation of lubaqat- i-Na>iri, and Blochuiami’s Contributions to History and Geography of Bengal, J.A.S. for 1875, No. 3, lart I, |>. 283. Tub:tqat-i.Na*iri (Pcrs. printed text, p. 156} >tatos that Bakhtiar Khdji successfully swain across the river with only one hundred troopeis, \>hil>t all the rest of his army were drowned. 8 Deokot or Dumdamah, near tfangarumpur, south of Diuajpur, was the northern Musnlmun Military outpost iu the time of Bakhtiar Khdji, who hud set out for Tibbat cither from Deokot or Lakhnauti. 3 Ali Mardan assassinated Muhammad Bakhtiar Khilji in 1306 A.H. (1210 A.C.) at Deokot. This date is arrived at if Bengal was conquered >• 504 A. 11. or 1198 A.C. hy B-Miliar Khilji, as the best accounts would indicate, aud also if he reigned for 12 years over Bengal. Professor Blochnianu men¬ tions <302 A.H.