DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15173#0091
CHAP. III.
FIELDS OF BATTLE.
73
words, that the salt-range was as valuable a portion
of his territory as the valley of Cashmeer; but I do
not believe that his Highness stood in need of
much counsel, as the measures which we had seen
at the mines practically proved.
On our road to Acora, we passed a field of battle,
at the small village of Sydoo, where, it is said,
8000 Seiks had defended themselves against an
enraged population of 150,000 Mahommedans.
Bood Sing, their commander, threw up a small
breastwork of loose stones, and extricated himself
from his dilemma, so as to secure the praise even
of his enemies. We now saw the place, and the
bleaching bones of the horses which had fallen on
the occasion. On the next march we passed the
more celebrated field of Noushero, to which our
attention had been directed by Runjeet Sing him-
self. He here encountered the Afghans for the
last time ; but their chief, Azeem Khan, was sepa-
rated from the greater part of his army by the river
of Cabool. The Seiks defeated the divisions on the
opposite side, mainly through the personal courage
of Runjeet Sing, who carried a hillock with his
guards, from which his other troops had three
times retreated. Azeem Khan, of Cabool, fled
without encountering the successful army, which
had partly crossed the river to oppose him. It is
believed, that he feared the capture of his treasure,
which would have fallen into Runjeet's power if
he had advanced; but it is also said, that he was
terrified by the shouts of the Seiks on the night
of their victory. He attributed their exclamations
FIELDS OF BATTLE.
73
words, that the salt-range was as valuable a portion
of his territory as the valley of Cashmeer; but I do
not believe that his Highness stood in need of
much counsel, as the measures which we had seen
at the mines practically proved.
On our road to Acora, we passed a field of battle,
at the small village of Sydoo, where, it is said,
8000 Seiks had defended themselves against an
enraged population of 150,000 Mahommedans.
Bood Sing, their commander, threw up a small
breastwork of loose stones, and extricated himself
from his dilemma, so as to secure the praise even
of his enemies. We now saw the place, and the
bleaching bones of the horses which had fallen on
the occasion. On the next march we passed the
more celebrated field of Noushero, to which our
attention had been directed by Runjeet Sing him-
self. He here encountered the Afghans for the
last time ; but their chief, Azeem Khan, was sepa-
rated from the greater part of his army by the river
of Cabool. The Seiks defeated the divisions on the
opposite side, mainly through the personal courage
of Runjeet Sing, who carried a hillock with his
guards, from which his other troops had three
times retreated. Azeem Khan, of Cabool, fled
without encountering the successful army, which
had partly crossed the river to oppose him. It is
believed, that he feared the capture of his treasure,
which would have fallen into Runjeet's power if
he had advanced; but it is also said, that he was
terrified by the shouts of the Seiks on the night
of their victory. He attributed their exclamations