The chief city of India is called Delhi, and here Timur Beg fought a battle with the lord of India. The Indian collected a great force, and had fifty armed elephants; and in the first battle the lord of India defeated Timur Beg, by means of his elephants. On the following day they renewed the contest, and Timur took many camels, and loaded them with dry grass, placing them in front of the elephants. When the battle began, he caused the grass to be set on fire, and when the elephants saw the burning straw upon the camels, they fled. They say that the elephants are much afraid of fire, because they have small eyes; and thus the lord of India was defeated. Timur Beg conquered all the plain country from this lord, which bordered on the empire of Samarkand; but most of the land is rugged and mountainous. They say that there are many great towns and cities, and that the country is very rich and populous. When the lord of India was defeated, he fled to the mountains, and collected another force, but he did not venture to attack his enemy. The plain country which was then conquered, is governed by this grandson of Timur Beg, from the great and rich city of Hormes; but the greater part of India is still held by the former lord. This battle took place about twelve years ago, and since that time, neither Timur Beg, nor his grandson, have attempted to advance further into India. The people and the lord of India are Christians, of the Greek faith; but, among them, there are some who are distinguished by a brand in their faces, and who are despised by the others; and Moors and Jews live amongst them, but they are subject to the Christians {Perhaps Clavijo's Muslim informants looked upon Christianity and Brahminism as much the same thing}.
