74

THE TURKS IN DELHI It was a stormy advent. Yildiz indeed, ruling at Ghazni, saw the wisdom of conciliation, and sent him the sceptre and umbrella of state; but Kubacha refused THE GREAT MOSQUE OF AJMIR, WITH INSCRIPTION OF ALTAMISH. to surrender Lahore, and it was not till 1217 that Alta- mish obtained possession of the Northern Pan jab by the defeat of his rival. These contests were as nothing com- pared with the tumult to come. A new and incalculable danger threatened all Asia. The hordes of Chingiz Khan, " the Scourge of God," had begun to overflow