In A.D. 1000, Mahmud entered Hindustan, but in the course of eight years he made no farther progress than Multan. The people of Multan, who were the Malli and Catheri (that is the Khetry or Rajpnt tribe) of Alexander, must have preserved their ancient spirit, to be able to oppose, for so long a time, such formidable armies, beaded by so furious an enthusiast. In 1008 we find the confederate Hindus defeated ; and Mahmud's first essay towards effecting the downfall of their re ligion was the destruction of the famous temple of Nagarkot, in the mountains bordering on the Pan jab country. His next expedition, being the sixth, was in 1009, when Tannasar, a more celebrated place of Hindu worship on the west of Dehli, experienced a like fate with Nagarkot ; and the city of Dehli itself was taken at the same time. In 1018 he took Kanouj, and also destroyed the temples of Matra or Matura (the Methora of Pliny). His twelfth expedition, in 1024, was fatal to the celebrated temple of Somuat, in the peninsula of Gujerat, adjoining to the town of Puttan, on the sea-coast, and not far from the island of Diu, now in the hands of the Portuguese. The Khatri of the Panjab is, however, said by some authorities to be dissimilar to the Kshatriya of the Rajput. In the Panjab their avocations
are looked upon as effeminate ; but these writers and traders are not much inferior in courage and firmness to the ruder tribes, while they are supe rior in civilisation, refinement, and capacity for affairs. The Khatri and Urora of their cities and towns are enterprising as merchants and frugal as tradesmen. They are the principal financiers and accountants of the country. And even yet the ancient military spirit frequently reappears amongst the once royal Kshatri, and they become able governors of provinces and skilful leaders of armies. The Kathri of Berar claim to be Rajput, and to ho of the ancient Kshatriya, though many of them aro weavers of nakki, kor, and kinarn. In reality the Khatrl of India are a fragmentary people, from some ancient stock now untraceable, but spread all through India, and actively engaged in peaceful avocations. In the I'anjab they are designated Kirar.—Rentielra Memoir, pp. 123 133 ; Records of Government of India, No. 2 : Cunningham's Sikhs, p. 22 ; IVi/sott's Hindu Drama.