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SEPTEMBER, 1887.)
THE REIGN OF AHMAD SHAH DURRANI.
269
the direction of Farrukhabad and the per- Jahan Khan to Farrukhab&d, likewise now petration of a general massacre of Hindus at made use of the occasion and called for Mathura—to his presence for the purpose of assistance from the Şubah of the Dakhan and private conversation ; sending in his stead the other southern provinces, which was given by Wazir Shah Wali Khân to Mathura, who was the şübahdar Malhar, by Tatpál the generalislikewise honoured by being called to his presence simo of Janaki Rao, and by Suraj Mall Ját, who after he had arranged the affairs of that town. arrived with numerous troops. The Nawab
Ahmad Shah Durrani, having espoused the ['Imádu'l-mulk] Ghâzîu'l-mulk being thus reindaughter of Muhammad Shah Gârgânî by forced, marched to the conquest of Dehli, and name Hazrat Begam Sahiba, and given to his after defeating Najîbu'ddaula beleaguered him; Bon Timur Shah Durrani, the daughter of but after the siege had been protracted for some Alamgir II. and celebrated the two weddings, time, the latter fled to Saharanpur, whereon surrendered the government of Dehli to the 'Imadu'l-mulk obtained possession of the city. latter," bestowed the office of Wazîr upon | Adina Beg Khan marched upon Lahôr, Nizamu'ddaula, son of Qamaruddin Khan whereon the Sardar Jahân Khân, and the Wazir, and that of Amîr apon Nawab Najib- Shabzada Timûr, considering that their forces u'ddaula, and departed victoriously with per- were slender, and those of their opponent fect satisfaction to Afghanistan.
numerous, abandoned Lahôr, retreated to On his arrival at Sarhand he exalted Abdu's- Charmahal and Zinâbâd, where they consamad Khan Muhammadzai Hashtnagari by structed a strong sangar, around their enmaking him governor of that district, and then campment, and waited for the arrival of Ahmad went to LÂhôr, and finding the Shekhs [Sikhs) Shah. After Adina Beg had obtained possesai Amritsar; at present kenown as Amarsir, to sion of LAhôr, he appointed one Khwaja Mirza be generally tarbulent, he ordered them to be Jan to be governor, and marched his army against slain. After they had been massacred and Sarfaraz Khan, the Afghan, who was the their sacred) tank filled up, he appointed his şabahdir of the Doaba on behalf of Ahmad Shah Bon, Timûr, to the governorship of Lâhôr, between the Satluj and the Biyâs. After a hard with the Sardâr Jahân Khân Popalzai for his struggle he utterly defeated the Şubahdâr and lieutenant, and Buland Khân Sadozai, to be occupied his district. Adina Bêg also induced Şübahdâr of Kashmir and Jamû, through which the Maratha army to join him, and with them he marched by way of Peshâwar back to marched to Sarhand to attack Samad Khan Qandahår.
Hashtnagari. The bravery and enmity of He had not been there long, when it was this leader prompted him, despite of the small. brought to his notice that dissensions badness of his forces, to meet his antagonists, arisen in India among the Sardårs of that who defeated and captured him, not howcountry. For when the Rajas of India and the ever without hard fighting and slaying of Sardars of the Pañjáb had, after the departure infidels,-most of his soldiers having attained of Ahmad Shah, lost all apprehensions of inter- martyrdom. After devastating the district of ference in their affairs on his part, they became Sarband the whole army entered Lahor, more bold; and Adina Bog, who had during whence it marched to Chármahal for the his presence in India remained in conceal- purpose of vanquishing the Shahzâda Timur, ment among the Siwâlik Hills, watched his who however fought valiantly, as well as the opportunity, and now boldly sallied forth with | Sardir Jahấn Khan, Bat the Afghan troops numerous forces he had collected to conquer were few, and those of the Indians numerous Lahôr. Also the Sikhs of Amarsir, favouring beyond belief: wherefore the said ShAhzâda, his cause, came to his assistance and fought apprehending that he might be captured and valiantly in several engagements against Timur thus fall into another calamity, caused his Shah, in every one of which they were suc- Afghan trops to get ready on the pretext of cessful. In Hindustân 'Imadu'lmulk Ghazi- desiring to make a night-attack; and sallying u'ddin Khan, who had fled from the Sardár forth at bedtime, rode and never stopped in any
The name of "the latter having before ascending son of Muhammad 'Aalumgir." the throne been 'Asts-uddin, his full name is above given 15 For the explanation of this word see ante, Vol. IX. A "Axls-uddin Muhammad, son of Muhammad Shah, p. 264, footnote 10.
