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SEPTEMBER, 1887.]
THE REIGN OF AHMAD SHAH DURRANI.
267
months with many fair promises, till the win- agree, and having been admitted to the honour ter becamo severe and the coldness of the of making his salám to Ahmad Shah, most air increased. Then Ahmad Shah knew the humbly apologized for his past transgressions ; true purport of the negotiations, and not whereon he was pardoned and given a splendid caring whether he would be called vanquisher robe of honour, whilst the valour of the Bayat or vanquished, broke up his camp and people met with approbation, and a number of returned to Hirit.
them were deported with their families to Kabul The winter was indescribably severe, and it and to Ghaznii, where they are still living at is related that when the army made a halt at the present time. Kafir Qila, which is situated to the west of Ahmad Shâh also restored 'Abbas Quli Hirât, the cold became so intense during the Khân to his former position and himself night as to deprive the people of all endurance, departed to Mashhad-i-pos, but sent the and to cause most of them to rip open the Sardar Jahân Khân Popalzai and Naşr Khân bellies of their camels, in which they ensconced Balach with a portion of the army to remove themselves to escape from its sharpness. A 'Alimardan the Akim of Tan and Tabs, number of men, who had started from the said whereon they committed numerous murders locality to various villages, lost their lives on the boundary of that country. When whilst crossing the water of the Hirat Rad 'Alimardan encountered the invaders at the [Harirud) in search of fire. During that march múza of Kakhuk and Kiâbâd, an obstinate eight hundred men perished from cold, and the action was fought, which was begun with volleys artillery was left behind.
of musketry and archery, continued with Ahmad Shah entered the city of Hirât with swords, and ended with a hand-to-hand contest, the AbdAlt army in the worst of conditions, and in which the troops alighted and wrestled, the having ascertained that Durvesh 'Alt Khân combatants inflicting wounds, or killing each Hazára, the Båglarbêgi of Hirât, intended to other, with poniards. Alimardin, with many revolt, he removed him from his position, and of his people was killed, and those who escaped departed to Qandahår after having appointed the sword became prisoners, whereon the abovethe shAhsada Timor to be governor of Hirat. named Sardár marched victoriously back, and
Next year, 1165 A. H.,0 Ahmad Shah again found Ahmad Shah engaged in besieging sallied forth with his army to subjugate Khu- Mashhad. râsân, but more particularly NishApar. He did Ahmad Shah next sent five thousand picked not, however, take any siege guns, their con- sawárs commanded by Pasand Khan Ishaqsai veyance being too burdensome, but he contrived to devastate the districts of Sabzawar and to load every sandr with one Tabrizi man of Bostân; and the raid proved successful, bemetal to be surrendered on arrival at Nishậpûr.cause it brought in immense booty. On his From this when the camp was pitched in the return march, however, the said Pasand Khai plain near that city, a namber of Faringî and happened to encounter Qajar [Persian] sawárs Hindustani artizans, having prepared a mould, from Astrabad, who attacked and defeated him cast a yery large cannon, which was loaded shamefully; many of his soldiers being slain with a ball weighing twenty Tabrizs mans. or made prisoners, whilst the rest of them who When hostilities began, this cannon was fired fled, reached the camp of Ahmad Shah in a miseragainst the rampart and passing-according able condition. However, he took no notice of to the statement of 'Ali Quli Mirza, sur- this but continued the siege, which having lasted named 'Atazadu's-saltanat-beyond the wall six months, could no longer be endured by ShAh of the fort, across the rampart of the city, and Rukh; who sent to the camp his own sons with a quarter of a farsakh farther, buried itself & number of Sayyids and Shekhs of the town about three cubits deep in the ground. This and induced Ahmad Shah-adjuring him by feat so astonished and disheartened the in the sanctity of the Imâm Raza's tomb, and by habitants of NishApar that they desired to the benefits received from Nadir-to agree surrender the place, to which proposal also to a treaty of posice, and accept a considerable Abbas Quli Khan was ultimately compelled to sum of money for the public treasury. He
10 Began 20th November 1751.
