History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

44 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP, I.

The Mahomedan general, with thirty thousand men, arrived before Sanjan, and the Hindu ruler, conscious of his insufficient resources to enable him to cope with the hardy soldiers of the enemy, trembled for his crown and country. He solicited the assistance of the Parsis, and summoning them to his presence addressed them as follows :—“< My ancestors exalted you and lavished favours upon your people, and it behoves you in this my difficulty to show your gratitude and to exert yourself on my behalf, and lead the way in battle.” The Parsis were not unmindful of their obligations to the former rulers of Sanjan, and at once undertook to defend the country which had so hospitably welcomed their forefathers to its shores. They replied to the address of the chief, “ Fear not, O Prince, on account of this army: all of us are ready to scatter the heads of thy foes, and we will fight as long as a drop of blood remains in our veins. In battle we never give way ; not one man of us will turn his back though a millstone be dashed at his leaves little doubt that Sanjan fell to his arms. The conqueror might, possibly, though much. less likely, be Muhammad Shah Tughlik, who reconquered Gujarat and the Thana coast in 1348. It cannot be Mahmud Begada, as authorities agree that, after long wanderings, the Sanjan fire was brought to Navsari early in the fifteenth century (1419). Alp Khan may be Ulugh Khan, Ala-ud-din’s brother, who is sometimes by mistake called Alp Khan, or he may be Alp Khan, Ala-ud-din’s brother-in-law. Ulugh Khan conquered Gujarat (12951297), and Alp Khan governed Gujarat (1300-1320). The Alp

Khan of the text was probably Ulugh Khan (Elliot, iii. 157, 163).Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency.