1 Nadir leaves for
2 Delhi.
3 Coins money at
4 Lahore.
5 Defeat of the Moghnl
6 amy at Karnal.
7 Camp ofthe emperor
8 blockaded.
9 hi
10 Muhammad Shah
11 determines to resign
12 S$ crown,
13 His meeting with
14 dir,
15 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh
16 202 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
17 Amin-ud-din Khan was at the same time appointed subadar of Kashmir,
18 and sent thither with a considerable number of troops. Having thus settled
19 the affairs of the Panjab, the monarch quitted Lahore for Delhi on 29th
20 December. He struck a gold coin at Lahore on the obverse of which
21 was the inscription wtbliJ} 06 “Nddir, the Sultan,” and on the re-
22 verse &%o SU} sd [lal p92 erbhtpota wy! “ Struck at the capital of
23 Lahore, 1151, May God preserve his reign!” On the bank of the Bias, the
24 tyrant ordered one thousand and seven State prisoners, whom he had kept in
25 close confinement during his journey from Peshawar to Lahore, to be inhu-
26 manly put to death. The order was promptly executed.
27 Nadir Shah continued his march towards Delhi, and on 14th February
28 reached the plains of Karndl. The emperor of Delhi at the head of his
29 troops, had reached the town two days previously, and was joined by Bur-
30 hén-ul-Mulk, Saddat Khan, the viceroy of Oudh, Khan-i-Douraén Khan,
31 the commander-in-chief, Asif Jé4h Nizdm-ul-mulk, the viceroy of the Dekkan,
32 and Kamr-ud-din Khan, the ground wazir. The Moghal and the Persian
33 armies were divided by the canal of Ali Marddn Khan, and the former had
34 thrown up intrenchments, and redoubts mounted with 500 pieces of artillery.
35 The Indian army consisted of 150,000 horse, exclusive of irregular cavalry,
36 and was divided into three divisions which extended to au amazing length.
37 The Indians also brought with them a great many elephants, as a bombastic
38 show to overcome the Persian invader, forgetful of the fact that these huge
39 animals, and the enormous pieces of ordnance, would impede them in their
40 movements, The Persian soldiers, though far inferior in numbers, were
41 trained to arms and thoroughly disciplined, being well accustomed to endure
42 severe hardship under the stern training of their leader. Saddat elected to
43 riskan engagement in the field with the veteran armies of the Persian king, who
44 remained on the defensive. The folly of taking the offensive against an
45 invading army is obvious. The effeminate Indian army soon proved itself
46 quite unable to cope with the valour of the hardy Turkomans, and Saddat
47 was the first to give way, after a scene of havoc and confusion, which lasted
48 for five hours. He was joined in the battle by the Khan-i-Dourdn, who main-
49 tained his ground with great firmness and resolution. The Indians at last
50 gave way. Saddat was taken prisoner by the Persians, and Dourdan, who was
51 wounded in the action, was taken to his camp, where he died. A fresh
52 attack was made on the Persians by Muzafiar, the gallant brother of Dourdan,
53 under whom were Ali, his son, Raja Gagar Mal, and several officers of rank.
54 Muzaffar held his ground firmly, and a desperate fight took place, resulting
55 in the slaughter of ten thousand Indian troops. After this disastrous
56 conflict, the remainder of the Indians retired to their intrenchments. In
57 this battle ten Indian princes of eminent rank, with one hundred nobles
58 and officers of distinction, and thirty thousand soldiers, were slain on the field.
59 The victor now took possession of all the strong posts round the camp of'
60 the Delhi emperor, which he subjected to a strong blockade, thus cutting
61 off all his supplies.
62 The third day after the defeat and rout of the Moghal armies, Muhammad
63 Shah resolved upon resigning his crown to secure the clemency of the
64 conqueror. Having, therefore, previously acquainted Nadir Shah with his
65 intention, he set out on the morning of the twentienth for the Persian
66 camp on his travelling throne, attended by the viceroy of the Dekkan, the
67 grand wazir and other nobles, and a small retinue. The king of Persia,
68 hearing of the approach of the Delhi emperor, sent hisson Nasrulla Mirza to
69 conduct His Majesty to his camp. The, pri ON £ limit
70 lie ibrary P PGR ane RRS OBR eRe ee