1 NASIR-UD-DIN MUITAMMAD SITAH. 193
2 mosque at the head of a grand throng, deposed the imperial governor and
3 proclaimed himself ruler of Kashmir with the title of Dindér Khan. News
4 of the outbreak in Kashmir having reached Delhi, Momin Khan was deputed
5 to restore order in that country. Mohtawi Khan repented, but it was now too
6 late. The bellies of his two young children, who always accompanied him, were
7 ripped open before his eyes, and he was himself subsequently killed with all
8 the tortures which resentment could prompt. The followers of Mobiawi Khan
9 avenged the death of their leader in a fearful way. They hacked to pieces
10 about three thousand of the inhabitants in the Shié quarters of the city,
11 blinded many, seized and carried away a vast number of women and chil-
12 dren, and plundered property amounting to several lakhs of rupees. Among
13 the slain were a large number of Moghal travellers, who fell with their wives
14 and families. They then proceeded to the house of the Kazi and Shah
15 Nawéz Khan, the Bakshi general of the Moghal army. The latter remain-
16 ed concealed in his house, but the Kazi, having changed his dress, made his
17 escape. The infuriated mob razed the Kazi’s house to the ground, leaving
18 not a brick on the spot. It was only after great exertions and much blood-
19 shed that the Imperialists were able to restore order in Kashmir,
20 Abdul Samad Khan died at Lébore in June, 1737. The emperor, on
21 hearing of his death, bestowed a khilat of condolence on his brother, the
22 Wazir Kamr-ud-din Khan, Other robes of condolence from his majesty
23 were received by the family of the deceased at Ldéhore. Zakaria Khan, the
24 eldest son of the deceased, who received the title of Khan Bahddur, as a
25 distinction, was appointed to the governments of Lahore and Multdn. The
26 new governor ruled the Panjab with vigour and conferred the appointment of
27 prime minister on Lakhpat Rai, Khatri, of Léhore, who had been the
28 trusted dewdn of his father. His brother, Jaspat Rai, acted as secretary and
29 counsellor.- The title of rdj&é was conferred on both brothers, but, out of
30 modesty, they never assumed the appellation. Zakaria Khan took active
31 measures for the repopulation of the towns and villages which had been
32 devastated by the ravages of the Sikhs, and made takdvé advances to the agri-
33 cultural classes to induce them to resume the cultivation of the land. He
34 seut detachments of troops to guard the highways and protect travellers
35 from the predatory incursions of the Sikhs. Munificent rewards were offer-
36 ed for the arrest of notorious Sikh robbers and plunderers, and they were
37 daily brought in chains and executed in the streets of Lahore. These vigor-
38 ous measures had the desired effect. Peace and tranquillity reigned in the
39 Panjab, the Sikhs were completely vanquished, and were not to be seen even
40 in Mdnjha, the country chiefly inhabited by them, and the Panjab enjoyed
41 lege twenty-one years preceding the invasion of India by Nadir Shah
42 in 3738,
43 Khan Bahddur exercised absolute authority in the Panjdb, and the
44 weakness of the court at Delhi raised him to the rank of satrap. He con-
45 structed spacious palaces for his private residence, and also a fine mosque at
46 Begumpura, three miles from the modern Léhore, where he passed his days
47 In ease as an indifferent spectator of the concerns of the court of Delhi and
48 of the progress and rise of the Mahrattas.
49 The grandees of foremost rank about the court at this time were Saddat
50 Khan, a Persian adventurer, viceroy of Oudh, and Chin Kilich Khan, a
51 Turkish noble, viceroy of the Dekktan, who afterwards laid the foundations
52 of independent monarchies in their respective provinces, but who now resided
53 at the court. Saddat Khan was a Shid, and Chin Kilich Khan, a Sunni.
54 Their mutual rivalry gave rise to party spirit among the Omerahs of the
55 court, and this materially affected the government of the country, which was
56 Sri Satguru | agjiSingh | eLibrary Namdharietib
57 Mohtawi Khan pio-
58 claims himself rule of
59 Kashmir.
60 He is defeated and
61 slain.
62 His death is
63 revenged.
64 Shocking barbari-
65 ties,
66 Peace restored in
67 Kashmir.
68 Death of Abdul
69 Samad Khan, 1787.
70 Zakaria Khan, Khan
71 Bahadur, appointed
72 governor of Lahore
73 and Multan,
74 ”
75 The brothers Lakh-
76 pat Rai and Jaspat
77 Rai,
78 Active measures af
79 Zakaria Khan.
80 The Panjab at peace.
81 The Panjab Viceroy
82 assumes the position of
83 a satrap.
84 Party factions ercat-
85 ed at court.
86 Saddat Khan.
87 Chin Kalich Khan.
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