DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3909#0215
( 92 )
miners, tools, and implements, announced the success of the operation. It flowed almost for a whole day, which
was ascertained. It; was hoped that the garrison was without water. Still the garrison bravely fought on for
five or six days, until at last they supplicated the besiegers for a small quantity of water, as they said, for their
wounded and dying comrades. This request was granted, and thirty or forty ghurras handed over, on the promise
that they would consider about surrendering. They fought on as usual, but on the third day after they received
the scanty supply of water, they were descried evacuating the fort in four successive bodies. The first or that
in advance having in its charge all the non-combatants, old men, women and children,with the wounded* the
second, third and fourth, acted as supports to the first, and to each other at respective distances. Thus with their
colours flying and drums beating, did the gallant Chylass garrison evacuate their fort, driven from it solely by
want of water. Ou the first impulse of the moment the Maharajah's troops made a demonstration to follow
and engage them, but they met their match. It was considered more discreet to allow such determined and
desperate men to go in peace. So the troops were recalled. On the next day the Chylassee Chiefs eame and
proffered their submission and allegiance to the Maharajah of Cashmere and Jummoo, who, after receiving
hostages from them (which are now yearly changed at the pleasure of the Chiefs) the Seihk troops returned
to Cashmere. It was stipulated by the Cashmere Government that the fort should not be repaired as a defensive
work. With the fresh hostages of each year the annual nuzzur of gold-dust, &c. is now punctually brought
by the Chiefs themselves to Cashmere or to Jumrnoo, if desired, in September or October. In return, each of
them with their followets receive after a few days' stay at the Maharajah's Court a handsome Khillut of
Pushmeenah shawls, scarfs, turbans, ehogahs, &c. &c. according to the rank of each. As a proof of the present
fealty of the Chylassees, it may be remarked that on the occasion of the late affair of the rebel Kajah, Shere
Ahmed, the Chylassee Chiefs of their own accord came to Cashmere and offered the services of one or two-
thousand of their brethren and clan to the Maharajah. In the t ine of Sheik Golam Maood Deen, Governor
of Cashmere, about 1830 or 1835, the entire Chylassee population was estimated at about 9 to 10,000 souls,,
of which about 4,000 or 4,500 were fit to carry arms. When Goolab Singh took the place, the estimation
Avas put down at 7 to 8,000 souls, of whom about 3,000 to 8,500 were then bearing arms. At the lowest
computation at least 2,200 armed men left the fort, while 12 or 1,300 were in arms- outside* stopping the
supplies from Cashmere, &c. At the present date they are supposed to be reduced about 1,000 in their number
since that period. The Chylassees possess small patches of land and cultivated plots round the fort, in some
parts to the distance of 10,12, and 15 coss; but in no instance did they exceed that or claim any further land
till within the few past years. They are now much more settled down to agricultural pursuits than formerly
when they gained their subsistence chiefly by plunder and marauding. In the hot season they used to live
mostly out on their farms, hamlets or pleasure villas, and congregate with all their families in winter- at the
fort or near it. No snow falls at Chylass, and the climate is considered mild and salubrious, but snow falls-
withiu a radius of lO or 12 coss all round. The roads-to and from Chylass in every direction are considered
difficult and bad. The chief seat of tha Dhardborz is the present Dhur, an independent state or principality.
North of Punch Kora in the Western Euzufzie country, and South East of Chitral. The country inhabited
by the ancient Dhardo is supposed to have stretched from the present Ashoorah or Astor to Bajun j North
of Peshawur j and the Dhangiers from the present Goorash or Gooreish or Gooreize, and Thilail to Dhan gullu,
and Dunnah fort and to Dhunnu gate in the lower Patmarah country. Chylass has long been famous for its
yearly rich produce of goli sand„ regan-i-zer, and so are all the Gilgit Kivers,the Noobra and Changthan.,*
miners, tools, and implements, announced the success of the operation. It flowed almost for a whole day, which
was ascertained. It; was hoped that the garrison was without water. Still the garrison bravely fought on for
five or six days, until at last they supplicated the besiegers for a small quantity of water, as they said, for their
wounded and dying comrades. This request was granted, and thirty or forty ghurras handed over, on the promise
that they would consider about surrendering. They fought on as usual, but on the third day after they received
the scanty supply of water, they were descried evacuating the fort in four successive bodies. The first or that
in advance having in its charge all the non-combatants, old men, women and children,with the wounded* the
second, third and fourth, acted as supports to the first, and to each other at respective distances. Thus with their
colours flying and drums beating, did the gallant Chylass garrison evacuate their fort, driven from it solely by
want of water. Ou the first impulse of the moment the Maharajah's troops made a demonstration to follow
and engage them, but they met their match. It was considered more discreet to allow such determined and
desperate men to go in peace. So the troops were recalled. On the next day the Chylassee Chiefs eame and
proffered their submission and allegiance to the Maharajah of Cashmere and Jummoo, who, after receiving
hostages from them (which are now yearly changed at the pleasure of the Chiefs) the Seihk troops returned
to Cashmere. It was stipulated by the Cashmere Government that the fort should not be repaired as a defensive
work. With the fresh hostages of each year the annual nuzzur of gold-dust, &c. is now punctually brought
by the Chiefs themselves to Cashmere or to Jumrnoo, if desired, in September or October. In return, each of
them with their followets receive after a few days' stay at the Maharajah's Court a handsome Khillut of
Pushmeenah shawls, scarfs, turbans, ehogahs, &c. &c. according to the rank of each. As a proof of the present
fealty of the Chylassees, it may be remarked that on the occasion of the late affair of the rebel Kajah, Shere
Ahmed, the Chylassee Chiefs of their own accord came to Cashmere and offered the services of one or two-
thousand of their brethren and clan to the Maharajah. In the t ine of Sheik Golam Maood Deen, Governor
of Cashmere, about 1830 or 1835, the entire Chylassee population was estimated at about 9 to 10,000 souls,,
of which about 4,000 or 4,500 were fit to carry arms. When Goolab Singh took the place, the estimation
Avas put down at 7 to 8,000 souls, of whom about 3,000 to 8,500 were then bearing arms. At the lowest
computation at least 2,200 armed men left the fort, while 12 or 1,300 were in arms- outside* stopping the
supplies from Cashmere, &c. At the present date they are supposed to be reduced about 1,000 in their number
since that period. The Chylassees possess small patches of land and cultivated plots round the fort, in some
parts to the distance of 10,12, and 15 coss; but in no instance did they exceed that or claim any further land
till within the few past years. They are now much more settled down to agricultural pursuits than formerly
when they gained their subsistence chiefly by plunder and marauding. In the hot season they used to live
mostly out on their farms, hamlets or pleasure villas, and congregate with all their families in winter- at the
fort or near it. No snow falls at Chylass, and the climate is considered mild and salubrious, but snow falls-
withiu a radius of lO or 12 coss all round. The roads-to and from Chylass in every direction are considered
difficult and bad. The chief seat of tha Dhardborz is the present Dhur, an independent state or principality.
North of Punch Kora in the Western Euzufzie country, and South East of Chitral. The country inhabited
by the ancient Dhardo is supposed to have stretched from the present Ashoorah or Astor to Bajun j North
of Peshawur j and the Dhangiers from the present Goorash or Gooreish or Gooreize, and Thilail to Dhan gullu,
and Dunnah fort and to Dhunnu gate in the lower Patmarah country. Chylass has long been famous for its
yearly rich produce of goli sand„ regan-i-zer, and so are all the Gilgit Kivers,the Noobra and Changthan.,*