DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3909#0180
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receive some pay from the Maharaja. The Sirdars then returned each to his own village. This
arrangement is still in force. ( For a more chronological account of the conquest of Chilas
vide Historical Appendix No. I.)
II.—WAR WITH GOUHAR AMAN FOR THE POSSESSION OP GILGIT.
A year later, the same Sikh General was despatched with 3,000 horse and foot
to Astor and fixed a tribute of one-third of the produce on all. He also established a
Thanna at Sogar, a village close to Astor. At the Thanna he laid in ammunition, &c.
Next year he went down, with his troops along the river of Astor to the Indus and established a
Thanna at Bunji, which is on this side of the Indus and opposite to Sai. Duru was at that
time Governor of Bunji on behalf of Gouhar Aman, the ruler of Yasin and Gilgit. He also
crossed the Indus at Sai and arranged for a Thanna at Jalkot, but the Sai country was
subject to Gouhar Aman who was residing at Gilgit. When he heard of the encroachments of
Kashmir he sent off men to Dareyl and Tangir, asking? these tribes to come down on the Sikhs
by the mountain paths near Bunji, whilst he would take the road along the Indus and attack Sai.
He stated that as he and they were Sunnis, a jihad [religious war] on the Sikhs became their
common duty. 5,000 young, men from Dareyl and Tangir at once collected and came down to
Bunji in 10 days. Gouhar Aman with 8,000 Gilgiti horse and 2,000 coolies, fell on Sai at
2 o'clock in the afternoon of the day on which the mountaineers reached in the morning. The
following Yaghistani Chiefs came :
From Dareyl : Kalashmir, Lala Khan Izzetti, Bira Khan
Muhammad Khan, Shaithing, Jaldar
From Tangir : Khairulla, Mansur, Bustami, Nayun.
The only son of Gouhar Aman who came was Mulk Aman—Gouhar Aman himself
being detained at Min&r by illness. The following also came: From Nomal 200 men, from Bhagrofc
2,000 (!!) from Sakwal 100, and from Minor 200. These men carried loads of provisions and ammu-
nition. They reached the Niludar rang-e on.that day, one kos from the Sai District Thence prepara-
tions were made for an attack—the Sikhs having 8,000 men—the battle began at Chakark6t which
is three kos from the Indus. There is a field there under cultivation where the fight began. It was
summer. The Sikhs had got into the Chakarkofc Fort which was surrounded by the Gilgitis.
•Mulk Aman dashed into it with his horsemen. The Chakarkoti villagers facilitated their entry
and opened the gates for him. The fight lasted all day and night within and without the Fort.
The Sikhs were defeated; most were killed fighting and some jumped off the walls and were
dashed to pieces. 100 only escaped crossing the river [Indus] back to Bunji. Gouhar Aman only
lost 60 horsemen and 40 Dareylis and Tangiris, also Sirdar Muhammad Khan, a Shin of Darel.
Mulk Aman did not cross over to Bunji and dismissed the mountaineers, telling them, however,
to be in readiness for renewed fighting. He then .returned to Gilgit. A curious circumstance
occurred with two Sikhs who were taken away as prisoners by the Dareylis. In taking them
receive some pay from the Maharaja. The Sirdars then returned each to his own village. This
arrangement is still in force. ( For a more chronological account of the conquest of Chilas
vide Historical Appendix No. I.)
II.—WAR WITH GOUHAR AMAN FOR THE POSSESSION OP GILGIT.
A year later, the same Sikh General was despatched with 3,000 horse and foot
to Astor and fixed a tribute of one-third of the produce on all. He also established a
Thanna at Sogar, a village close to Astor. At the Thanna he laid in ammunition, &c.
Next year he went down, with his troops along the river of Astor to the Indus and established a
Thanna at Bunji, which is on this side of the Indus and opposite to Sai. Duru was at that
time Governor of Bunji on behalf of Gouhar Aman, the ruler of Yasin and Gilgit. He also
crossed the Indus at Sai and arranged for a Thanna at Jalkot, but the Sai country was
subject to Gouhar Aman who was residing at Gilgit. When he heard of the encroachments of
Kashmir he sent off men to Dareyl and Tangir, asking? these tribes to come down on the Sikhs
by the mountain paths near Bunji, whilst he would take the road along the Indus and attack Sai.
He stated that as he and they were Sunnis, a jihad [religious war] on the Sikhs became their
common duty. 5,000 young, men from Dareyl and Tangir at once collected and came down to
Bunji in 10 days. Gouhar Aman with 8,000 Gilgiti horse and 2,000 coolies, fell on Sai at
2 o'clock in the afternoon of the day on which the mountaineers reached in the morning. The
following Yaghistani Chiefs came :
From Dareyl : Kalashmir, Lala Khan Izzetti, Bira Khan
Muhammad Khan, Shaithing, Jaldar
From Tangir : Khairulla, Mansur, Bustami, Nayun.
The only son of Gouhar Aman who came was Mulk Aman—Gouhar Aman himself
being detained at Min&r by illness. The following also came: From Nomal 200 men, from Bhagrofc
2,000 (!!) from Sakwal 100, and from Minor 200. These men carried loads of provisions and ammu-
nition. They reached the Niludar rang-e on.that day, one kos from the Sai District Thence prepara-
tions were made for an attack—the Sikhs having 8,000 men—the battle began at Chakark6t which
is three kos from the Indus. There is a field there under cultivation where the fight began. It was
summer. The Sikhs had got into the Chakarkofc Fort which was surrounded by the Gilgitis.
•Mulk Aman dashed into it with his horsemen. The Chakarkoti villagers facilitated their entry
and opened the gates for him. The fight lasted all day and night within and without the Fort.
The Sikhs were defeated; most were killed fighting and some jumped off the walls and were
dashed to pieces. 100 only escaped crossing the river [Indus] back to Bunji. Gouhar Aman only
lost 60 horsemen and 40 Dareylis and Tangiris, also Sirdar Muhammad Khan, a Shin of Darel.
Mulk Aman did not cross over to Bunji and dismissed the mountaineers, telling them, however,
to be in readiness for renewed fighting. He then .returned to Gilgit. A curious circumstance
occurred with two Sikhs who were taken away as prisoners by the Dareylis. In taking them