DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3909#0183
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horse, pretending that lie saw game in different directions and ran after it. Then
Akbar Aman also got down from his horse. He had scarcely moved about for
a few yards, when a ball, fired by Mulk Aman, struck him dead. Mulk Aman then
returned to govern in peace of mind. This news Isa Bahadur had also heard in Swat. What
with wishing to revenge Akbar and thinking of the confusion which would'be sure to follow the
discord of the brothers of Mulk Aman (Mir Wali, Pahlivan &c.) he and Asmar got ready and
came back—but I don't know whether he came via Kandia [a hitherto unexplored District,
referred to elsewhere] or by what road. Anyhow he appeared at Sai with the 20 followers
whom he had taken with him from Sher Kila' on his flight. There he found Sultan, the ex-
Wazir of Pohordu Shah, a descendant of the Queen Johari (Jowari—vide 1st Song page 19)
who in ancient times was the ruler of Sai and whose descendants had fled from Gauhar
Aman into the hills- When Gauhar Aman died, all these fugitives came back and so
Sultan turned up at Sai. When Isa and Asmat met him they contracted an alliance by
oath and went together to Jamma by way of Astor in order to offer their services to the
Maharajah. Indeed, they offered their allegiance, if he would help them with troops. The Maha-
rajah made them swear on the Korau, because he said, " your religious bigotry may
induce you to turn on me and induce you to be again friends with Mulk Aman. Besides, you
all belong to one family and I alone shall be the loser." Then they all agreed arid he made them
swear on the Koran, after getting them to wash themselves first; " that they would never ally
themselves or be subject to any one but the Maharaja and consult nobody's interests but his."
The three swore most solemnly and assured H. H. that he need not be under any anxiety
in future regarding his army ani their own movements. They then asked leave in order to
avail themselves of the dissensions of the brothers and prevent their becoming friends again.
ThenH. H. sent 6000 infantry and 4 guns (mule-batteries) with Isa, Sultan and Asmat—Es. 200
cash were given to Isa and a dress of honor ; Es. 100 and a gun to Sultan and Es. 120 and
ahorse to Asmat Shah. The Maharaja recommended them always to keep the garrisons
at Astor and Bunji, which were each 5000 strong, at half their strength and to take the
rest in order to prevent surprizes and the loss of places which were difficult to acquire
and to reduce to taxation. He thus allowed them to take 11,000 troops with them in
all— viz. 6000 men whom he sent direct and 5000 from the garrisons of Astor and Bunji. Thus
they started with the General and the Jitan Sahib (Adjutant ?) for Astor. There they remained a
month to see whether the roads ahead were safe. They sent a Kashmiri, called Abdulla,
into Yaghistan, via Sai, Minor, Gil^it, Tasin, Dareyl, Tangir, Hunza, Nagyr, &c. to
enquire what the tribes were doing and going to do. He went to Gilgit and instead of fulfilling
his mission himself, he sent Noroz, a Zemindar and a subject of Mulk Aman, who, of course,
went to Yasin and told Mulk Aman all he had heard from Abdulla and that Isa and his allies were
advancing. On his return he told Abdulla that he had seen the tribes, that they had no
idea that anything was impending and that Isa might advance with safety at once. Abdulla
horse, pretending that lie saw game in different directions and ran after it. Then
Akbar Aman also got down from his horse. He had scarcely moved about for
a few yards, when a ball, fired by Mulk Aman, struck him dead. Mulk Aman then
returned to govern in peace of mind. This news Isa Bahadur had also heard in Swat. What
with wishing to revenge Akbar and thinking of the confusion which would'be sure to follow the
discord of the brothers of Mulk Aman (Mir Wali, Pahlivan &c.) he and Asmar got ready and
came back—but I don't know whether he came via Kandia [a hitherto unexplored District,
referred to elsewhere] or by what road. Anyhow he appeared at Sai with the 20 followers
whom he had taken with him from Sher Kila' on his flight. There he found Sultan, the ex-
Wazir of Pohordu Shah, a descendant of the Queen Johari (Jowari—vide 1st Song page 19)
who in ancient times was the ruler of Sai and whose descendants had fled from Gauhar
Aman into the hills- When Gauhar Aman died, all these fugitives came back and so
Sultan turned up at Sai. When Isa and Asmat met him they contracted an alliance by
oath and went together to Jamma by way of Astor in order to offer their services to the
Maharajah. Indeed, they offered their allegiance, if he would help them with troops. The Maha-
rajah made them swear on the Korau, because he said, " your religious bigotry may
induce you to turn on me and induce you to be again friends with Mulk Aman. Besides, you
all belong to one family and I alone shall be the loser." Then they all agreed arid he made them
swear on the Koran, after getting them to wash themselves first; " that they would never ally
themselves or be subject to any one but the Maharaja and consult nobody's interests but his."
The three swore most solemnly and assured H. H. that he need not be under any anxiety
in future regarding his army ani their own movements. They then asked leave in order to
avail themselves of the dissensions of the brothers and prevent their becoming friends again.
ThenH. H. sent 6000 infantry and 4 guns (mule-batteries) with Isa, Sultan and Asmat—Es. 200
cash were given to Isa and a dress of honor ; Es. 100 and a gun to Sultan and Es. 120 and
ahorse to Asmat Shah. The Maharaja recommended them always to keep the garrisons
at Astor and Bunji, which were each 5000 strong, at half their strength and to take the
rest in order to prevent surprizes and the loss of places which were difficult to acquire
and to reduce to taxation. He thus allowed them to take 11,000 troops with them in
all— viz. 6000 men whom he sent direct and 5000 from the garrisons of Astor and Bunji. Thus
they started with the General and the Jitan Sahib (Adjutant ?) for Astor. There they remained a
month to see whether the roads ahead were safe. They sent a Kashmiri, called Abdulla,
into Yaghistan, via Sai, Minor, Gil^it, Tasin, Dareyl, Tangir, Hunza, Nagyr, &c. to
enquire what the tribes were doing and going to do. He went to Gilgit and instead of fulfilling
his mission himself, he sent Noroz, a Zemindar and a subject of Mulk Aman, who, of course,
went to Yasin and told Mulk Aman all he had heard from Abdulla and that Isa and his allies were
advancing. On his return he told Abdulla that he had seen the tribes, that they had no
idea that anything was impending and that Isa might advance with safety at once. Abdulla