DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3909#0213
( 90 )
name Bussunfc Singh and Sujahn Singh, they were annoyed day and night by repeated and persever-
ing assaults and attacks by different parties of Chylassees, who, from favorable positions on impassable
crags on either side of the road, opened such a fire of matchlocks as frequently to obstruct the whole force
in their line of march, for hours at a time. Nightly they were harassed by bold and desperate attacks,
sword in hand, by different bauds and parties of Chylassees, well accustomed to such hand to hand desperate
conflicts, especially under the shades of night, when, as the Seikhs themselves acknowledged, the hardy
Chylassees seemed to be quite in their element.
To add to the misfortunes of the force since it left Chardoo until it reached the small Chylas,
outpo3t and Fort of Tekka, these was one incessant downpour of autumn rains; they were without any tents
or bodily covering, but their Cumlies and Pattoos. The hardships made the Coolies desert the force in
numbers.
After leaving Chardoo. the force reached the Fort of Tekka with the loss of half their Coolies, and
what was worse, half their provisions, and also leaving behind them some 200 or more of their own men dead
on the road, killed in the different skirmishes with the enemy. They now found themselves opposed by the
garrison of Tekka, some 7 or 800 in number. The only existing road then led through the body of the fort#
A rumour reached the Chylassees that two other large bodies of Seikh Troops were approaching by the Boonjee
and Ashowrah or Astor roads, and that the force now confronting them was but the vanguard of a large Seikh
army on its direct route from Cashmere. This induced them to fall back on their main fort of Chylass, after
a bold and spirited resistance of two or three days, covering this movement by a desperate night attack. The
rumour which caused them to retire, was but a well got up ruse of the Seikhs. However, the Seikhs followed
them, and soon appeared before the walls of Chylass. There, after an ineffectual attack continued for several
days, assisted by 30 or 40 Zambooraks or Camel guns, carrying frcm 3 to 6 ounce balls, and at last both ammuni-
tion and provision of the besiegers threatening to fail, they were obliged to patch up a kind of compromise on
which they might be enabled to return unmolested to Cashmere ; the Chylassees on their part promising future
good conduct and a yearly small present of gold-dust to be sent by them to Cashmere. This piece of patch- ,
work was with great difficulty effected, for, in fact, the whole of the Chylassees were unwilling to enter into any
compromise whatever, with the exception of one old man by name Mussoo, and uncle to the then Chief of
Chylass. Begarding thi3 personage a few words may be said, perhaps, by way of digression, in illustration of
the character of both the Chylassees and Seikhs in those times. During the attack on the fort, the Chylassees
were accustomed to make repeated night sallies on their wearied>out and half-slumbering enemies outside. In
one of these this old man Mussoo, the leader, was wounded and taken prisoner. His bold and jocular manner
so won the hearts of the Seikhs, that they not only spared his life, but kept him unfettered and treated him in
every way according to his rank and.position. He soon ingratiated himself so far in their esteem as to be
somewhat of a pet in the Seikh lines. Every kind of scheme was put down to his charge and he freely and
boldly acknowledged himself as being the promoter and main-spring of all the opposition to the Seikh power.
When taunted with treachery he used to snap his ringers and defy his opponents. However, one day he was
taken to the front where the firing seemed briskest, and there shown to his friends and relations inside.
Swords were drawn over him and cocked pistols presented at hia head.
He was ordered to advise them to that effect, instead of which old Musssoo vociferated away at the
top of his voice, but in a half jocular way of his own. " Sons and brothers, fight away—never submit. Take
steady aim, &c. &c." That very night he gained possession of a sword by stealth, with which he cut down
the slumbering sentry aud escaped into the fort; and then notwithstanding this last feat, he, in a few days,
name Bussunfc Singh and Sujahn Singh, they were annoyed day and night by repeated and persever-
ing assaults and attacks by different parties of Chylassees, who, from favorable positions on impassable
crags on either side of the road, opened such a fire of matchlocks as frequently to obstruct the whole force
in their line of march, for hours at a time. Nightly they were harassed by bold and desperate attacks,
sword in hand, by different bauds and parties of Chylassees, well accustomed to such hand to hand desperate
conflicts, especially under the shades of night, when, as the Seikhs themselves acknowledged, the hardy
Chylassees seemed to be quite in their element.
To add to the misfortunes of the force since it left Chardoo until it reached the small Chylas,
outpo3t and Fort of Tekka, these was one incessant downpour of autumn rains; they were without any tents
or bodily covering, but their Cumlies and Pattoos. The hardships made the Coolies desert the force in
numbers.
After leaving Chardoo. the force reached the Fort of Tekka with the loss of half their Coolies, and
what was worse, half their provisions, and also leaving behind them some 200 or more of their own men dead
on the road, killed in the different skirmishes with the enemy. They now found themselves opposed by the
garrison of Tekka, some 7 or 800 in number. The only existing road then led through the body of the fort#
A rumour reached the Chylassees that two other large bodies of Seikh Troops were approaching by the Boonjee
and Ashowrah or Astor roads, and that the force now confronting them was but the vanguard of a large Seikh
army on its direct route from Cashmere. This induced them to fall back on their main fort of Chylass, after
a bold and spirited resistance of two or three days, covering this movement by a desperate night attack. The
rumour which caused them to retire, was but a well got up ruse of the Seikhs. However, the Seikhs followed
them, and soon appeared before the walls of Chylass. There, after an ineffectual attack continued for several
days, assisted by 30 or 40 Zambooraks or Camel guns, carrying frcm 3 to 6 ounce balls, and at last both ammuni-
tion and provision of the besiegers threatening to fail, they were obliged to patch up a kind of compromise on
which they might be enabled to return unmolested to Cashmere ; the Chylassees on their part promising future
good conduct and a yearly small present of gold-dust to be sent by them to Cashmere. This piece of patch- ,
work was with great difficulty effected, for, in fact, the whole of the Chylassees were unwilling to enter into any
compromise whatever, with the exception of one old man by name Mussoo, and uncle to the then Chief of
Chylass. Begarding thi3 personage a few words may be said, perhaps, by way of digression, in illustration of
the character of both the Chylassees and Seikhs in those times. During the attack on the fort, the Chylassees
were accustomed to make repeated night sallies on their wearied>out and half-slumbering enemies outside. In
one of these this old man Mussoo, the leader, was wounded and taken prisoner. His bold and jocular manner
so won the hearts of the Seikhs, that they not only spared his life, but kept him unfettered and treated him in
every way according to his rank and.position. He soon ingratiated himself so far in their esteem as to be
somewhat of a pet in the Seikh lines. Every kind of scheme was put down to his charge and he freely and
boldly acknowledged himself as being the promoter and main-spring of all the opposition to the Seikh power.
When taunted with treachery he used to snap his ringers and defy his opponents. However, one day he was
taken to the front where the firing seemed briskest, and there shown to his friends and relations inside.
Swords were drawn over him and cocked pistols presented at hia head.
He was ordered to advise them to that effect, instead of which old Musssoo vociferated away at the
top of his voice, but in a half jocular way of his own. " Sons and brothers, fight away—never submit. Take
steady aim, &c. &c." That very night he gained possession of a sword by stealth, with which he cut down
the slumbering sentry aud escaped into the fort; and then notwithstanding this last feat, he, in a few days,