1 546 AHMED'S FIRST EXPEDITIOK TO INDIA, CApvpmiv,
2 The iate of' i^ersia was as yet unsettled, but the dissejiaioos wliicb bad
3 bffokea oat in' Vfondu't fionily, pronuml to disqualify that empire fiom mo-
4 MngHsndgliiNiiint and rajbieqaeiit experienoe tbeve^* tliit liM iMI of
5 ipenem KhoraMMin took no gnat oonceiv m the wpciBOit of iJm FmiM^
6 but were ready to submit to the power which was most able to distiM^ or
7 to protect th«m» and wtuch ma likdy tonae kt» aaqendency vHk tbe graaleft
8 moderation.
9 Such was the state of ai&irs wheu Ahmed began his conquests. He
10 marched frqm Candahar in the spring of 1748, nith twelve thpusaiul
11 lcomppse4 of Utooftmem, BeU>e]iaa» and others. Be mod iM)tic»4
12 GHitljies, and uppckabed Dowaunee govwaon over tbem on jthe fiigMlV 0(1
13 which ^7 now stand. The goyenuir irfuNii Naiidir had left m Gfau? pee,
14 fled on Ahmed's approadi ; but Naiisser Khaiin, who was govemof of Cau-
15 bul and Peshawer, declared for the s^rtnit Moc:iil. He was, however, driven
16 out of Caubul alter a feeble resistance, aiiil was already pressed by the
17 Aighaun thbes of P^awer, when Ahmed's advanced guards arrived, and
18 Ibiiced hna to cToia the Indna.
19 Aluned* with imi)immiihed cderity, awaoi the Indtub Mpd, ei^dled hup
20 fym Attak anfl Chpcb s lAer whidi he proceeded with pa aiaif. tfnen^tf^
21 hy the Ai^^amaa of Peshawer» to the invasion of Hindostan. Tlie governor
22 of Lahore, awarp of bis intention, called for succours fVoin Delly; but
23 Ahmed p;ave mi time for preparation. He advMtitnl lapiLlly through the
24 Punjaub, deleaied ilic Indian troops in sight ot JLaliore, oud entering that
25 gaty m triumpht prepared to advance ii|ipii Dally, hk the bmmi time If^ i
26 homed Shauh, thoOTpeswof Hindpataaj had seat offapowerffal ai|iy, amier
27 Ua son and llla vixier Cummeroodecn Khanni to oppose the tofajan. fUm
28 army advanced to the 3uUedge, and took post in such a manner as to cover
29 the usual fords. Ahmed, informed of their position, suddenly advanced,
30 crossed the Sutledge at a point higher up the river, and leaving the Jiidj ins
31 in hid rear, iiusteued to Sirliind (wiiere they had deposited their baggage and
32 Stores), and ctytmipd itbcfcge the fmamy oouM move to iti amiUMtce*
33 Tim prinoe and iMr of HiiwW»st<ii immwtiatHy maxehed to 'Siifamd^ to
34 attadc A*""?*^ Shaub 1 but losing courage as they approached, they gave up
35 then: resolution, an4 took post in thB ne^Mxwriwod of that city. Ahmed
36 Shaub attacked them; and in tbe course of a canonade 't^bich lasted sexeral
37 days, the vizier killed, and the actual command of xhc ai iny devolved
38 on his son Meer Munnoo, who conducted himseii witi; so nwch skiil^
39 ta
40 Digitized by Google