■
Chap. III.] REIGN OF ALA-U-DIN. 79
generals, by demanding a fifth of the spoil in addition to the shares which ad. 1207. they had already obtained, caused a wide-spread mutiny, especially among the Mogul mercenaries. Aluf Khan narrowly escaped with his life. His nephew, who was sleeping in his tent, was mistaken for him by the mutineers, and murdered. When the army reached Delhi, Ala-u-din gratified his passion by taking into his harem Kowla Devy, one of the captive wives of the Rajah of Gujerat, so celebrated for beauty, wit, and accomplishments, that she was styled the "Flower of India" — and his blood-thirsty revenge, by an indiscriminate massacre of all the families of those who had been concerned in the late mutiny.
About this time, another great invasion of the Moguls took place, under Mogul inva- Kootloogh Khan, son of the Ameer Dawood, who had led the former expedition. Kootwgh Their army consisted of 200,000 horse, and contemplated nothing less than the '^'""* entire comiuest of Hindoostan. Kootloogh Khan, after cro.ssing the Indus, pro- ceeded direct for Delhi, and encamped, without opposition, on the banks of the Jumna. Zuffur Khan, the chief secretary and governor of the adjoining pro- vinces, gradually retired as the Moguls advanced. The inhabitants, fieeing in dismay, crowded into the capital ; and the supply of provisions being cut off, while the consumption was immensely increased, famine began to rage. Dismay and despair were painted on every countenance. In this emergency, Ala-u-din called a council of nobles, but, on finding them opposed to action, took his own way, and determined to attack the enemy. With this view, he marched out by the Budaoon gate with 300,000 horse and 2700 elephants, and, proceeding into the plains beyond the suburbs, drew up in order of battle. Here, too, Kootloogh Khan drew up to receive him. Two such armies had not mustered in Hindoostan since the Mahometans appeared in it.
The right wing of the Delhi army was commanded by Zufi'ur Khan, considered Pitched the greatest general of the age, and the left by Aluf Kiian. Ala-u-din took |)ost in the centre, with 12,000 volunteers, mostly of noble family, and headed by the vizier, Noosroot Khan. The choicest of the elephants occupied a line in front, and a body of chosen cavalry guarded the rear. Zuffur Khan began the battle by impetuously charging the enemy's left, which he l)ore away before him, breaking up the line by his elephants, and thus committing dreadful slaughter. The enemy's left flank, thus turned back, was di'iven upon his centre, and considerable confusion ensued. Ala-u-din, seeing this, ordered Aluf Khan to advance, but he, dissatisfied because the place of honour had been given to Zufi'ur Khan, of whose fame he was envious, meanly kept aloof, and left his rival to follow up his advantage as he could. This he did almost heedlessly, contimiing the pureuit for many mile.s. A Mogul chief, whose toman, or division of 10,000 horse, had not been engaged, seeing Zuffur Khan un.supported, resolved to attack him ; and, at the same time, sent information to Kootloogh Khan, who hastened forward with another toman. Zuffur Khan was con.sequently attacked in front and rear. Thus placed, he .saw his danger; but as it was too
