DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3909#0172
stationed handing the gourd in and out and taking care that nobody got more than
his share. Often we went without food for two days. The Chilasi women cooked
and cast bullets—the other women chiefly fought. The besiegers diverted the stream from the
fort into the valley. We then drank the water of the reservoirs. This lasted for a month.
We only lost in killed about three or four a day, as we fought behind cover. The enemy lost
from 80 to 120 a day as they were in the open plain. When their provisions failed and supplies
did not reach them, they retired with the loss of a third of their army, their treasury and goods.
(300 women were appointed for the purpose of working and casting bullets all day.)
In the day time we used to exchange shots—at night we would attack their camp, when they
were tired or asleep. The walls were loopholed for the guns, and altogether the management
of the affair was very good. We looted 100 mule-loads of powder; as much of lead, 40 tents—
100 beds (charpoys), 2 boxes filled with money (chilkis)-—50 sound muskets and 150 injured
muskets,—120 brass kettles—50 brass jugs—200 sheets and 400 brass gharras (pitchers)—100
shawls, good and bad)—200 Chaplis (sandals—) 20 chairs—5 loads of sticks—200 lances—200
bayonets—a heap of 100 swords—20 daggers—20 iron hammers, 130 tent pegs of iron and 800
of wood—2 big guns—3 field guns, and miscellaneous property too numerous and various
to detail. Two days after the flight of the Dogras the people assembled and began to
divide the spoil. We began by giving 10 Chilkis to each man, but it did not last for
all; so, whoever got no money, took a gun, lance, tent, &c. The big guns were put into the fort'
I was shot in the leg in that siege. We used to bury our dead in their clothes within two or
three days of their death. The Sikhs also used to burn, and the besieging Muslims in their
service to bury, the dead for some time. When, however, the casualties increased, the
besiegers gave up attending to the dead. It was in the midst of summer; so the stench was
very great and disease also spread in the Sikh camp. Seven days after the flight of the
enemy, the tribes who had come to help left for their own places. The following is the
list of the Sirdars killed in the siege:—
Deyuri Khan, a Shin, one-eyed, Sirdar of Chilas.
Hashm Shah, a Shin, of Chilas.
Nasr Ali Khan, a Yashkunn, of Chilas.
Malik Eaulad, a Yashkunn, of Harbenn,
The following Sirdars survived:—
Bahmat Ulla, Shit, Chilasi.
Akbari, SMn, Lamberdar of Takk.
Murad Shah, Yashkunn of Tbrr.
Adam Shah, Yashkunn of Tbrr.
Bahadur (Baghdur) Shin of Harbann.
Naik Numa, a Kamln, Harbann.
Faizulla Khan, Shin, Harbann.
his share. Often we went without food for two days. The Chilasi women cooked
and cast bullets—the other women chiefly fought. The besiegers diverted the stream from the
fort into the valley. We then drank the water of the reservoirs. This lasted for a month.
We only lost in killed about three or four a day, as we fought behind cover. The enemy lost
from 80 to 120 a day as they were in the open plain. When their provisions failed and supplies
did not reach them, they retired with the loss of a third of their army, their treasury and goods.
(300 women were appointed for the purpose of working and casting bullets all day.)
In the day time we used to exchange shots—at night we would attack their camp, when they
were tired or asleep. The walls were loopholed for the guns, and altogether the management
of the affair was very good. We looted 100 mule-loads of powder; as much of lead, 40 tents—
100 beds (charpoys), 2 boxes filled with money (chilkis)-—50 sound muskets and 150 injured
muskets,—120 brass kettles—50 brass jugs—200 sheets and 400 brass gharras (pitchers)—100
shawls, good and bad)—200 Chaplis (sandals—) 20 chairs—5 loads of sticks—200 lances—200
bayonets—a heap of 100 swords—20 daggers—20 iron hammers, 130 tent pegs of iron and 800
of wood—2 big guns—3 field guns, and miscellaneous property too numerous and various
to detail. Two days after the flight of the Dogras the people assembled and began to
divide the spoil. We began by giving 10 Chilkis to each man, but it did not last for
all; so, whoever got no money, took a gun, lance, tent, &c. The big guns were put into the fort'
I was shot in the leg in that siege. We used to bury our dead in their clothes within two or
three days of their death. The Sikhs also used to burn, and the besieging Muslims in their
service to bury, the dead for some time. When, however, the casualties increased, the
besiegers gave up attending to the dead. It was in the midst of summer; so the stench was
very great and disease also spread in the Sikh camp. Seven days after the flight of the
enemy, the tribes who had come to help left for their own places. The following is the
list of the Sirdars killed in the siege:—
Deyuri Khan, a Shin, one-eyed, Sirdar of Chilas.
Hashm Shah, a Shin, of Chilas.
Nasr Ali Khan, a Yashkunn, of Chilas.
Malik Eaulad, a Yashkunn, of Harbenn,
The following Sirdars survived:—
Bahmat Ulla, Shit, Chilasi.
Akbari, SMn, Lamberdar of Takk.
Murad Shah, Yashkunn of Tbrr.
Adam Shah, Yashkunn of Tbrr.
Bahadur (Baghdur) Shin of Harbann.
Naik Numa, a Kamln, Harbann.
Faizulla Khan, Shin, Harbann.