1 MUHAMMAD SHAH. 213
2 On the death of Zakaria Khan, the subedari of Ldhore was conferred on
3 Mir Momin Khan, but, shortly after, Yahya Khan, the eldest son of Zakaria
4 Khan, was appointed governor, through the interest of the wazir, Kamr-ud-
5 din Khan. :
6 The Sikh marauders had now grown so bold that they plundered the
7 dhobts on their way to the Ravi, to wash clothes. An armed band of these
8 ruffians proceeded to levy contributions at Emnabad, a town to the north of
9 Lahore, and captured a large number of flocks and herds in its vicinity.
10 Yahya Khan sent out a small detachment of troops, under Dewdn Jaspat
11 Rai, to disperse the insurgents, but the latter, falling upon the troops with
12 fury, overpowered and repulsed them, killing the leader Dewan Jaspat Ral.
13 The disastrous end of this expedition exasperated the viceroy, who now sent
14 a large force against them under the command of Lakhpat Rai, the prime
15 minister. The dewdn fully avenged his brother’s death by defeating the
16 insurgents with great slaugther, and driving them to the north-eastern corner
17 of the Panjéb. To complete his revenge, he brought with him a thousand
18 Sikhs in irons to Léhore, and having compelled them to.ride on donkeys
19 barebacked, paraded them in the bazars of Lahore. They were then taken
20 to the nakhas khana or horse market, outside the Delhi Gate of the city,
21 and there beheaded one after another, without mercy. The place has since
22 been called by the Sikhs Shahtdganj, or place of martyrdom, in commento-
23 ration of the event. The scene of the execution is marked by a samadh,
24 or shrine, erected in honour of Bhdéi Tard Singh, the chief martyr, and an
25 old companion of Govind Singh, who, though offered a pardon on condition
26 of his renouncing his faith and consenting to have his long hair cut, persis-
27 tently refused, and was thereupon beheaded,* 1746, A.D.
28 The governor, Yahya Khan, now issued a proclamation for a general
29 massacre of all Sikhs, wherever they could be found. Death was to be the
30 punishment of all persons who invoked the name of Guru Govind, and a ;
31 reward was offered for the heads of Sikhs. Thousands were put to death
32 daily and their heads brought before the subaddr of Lahore for the reward.
33 As usual with the votaries of the Guru on such occasions, many had their
34 long hair cut short, and their flowing beards clipped, to avoid detection and
35 consequent death, while others concealed themselves in the jungle or fled
36 across the Sutlej.
37 It was about this time that the-viceroyalty of Lahore was contested
38 between Yahya Khan and his younger brother, Haydtulla Khan, on whom
39 the title of Shahnawaz Khan had been conferred by Nadir Shah, in the expedi-
40 tion against the Afghan N&ér Muhammad Khan Leli. Shahnawdz Khan bore
41 a high character for courage and talent, and his principal business in the Panjab
42 since the invasion of Nadir Shah had been to quiet the districts and in-
43 crease the revenue. He now refused to give his elder brother his share of the
44 vast effects left by Zakaria Khan. Shahnawaz Khan held the governorship
45 of Multan and, at the head of a large number of troops, marched to
46 Léhore and encamped in. the neighbourhood of Shaldmdr, where his
47 father’s tomb now is. Negotiations were carried on through Dewdn
48 Surat Singh. On the day of the Id festival, the brothers attended the
49 Idgdh for divine service. ‘When the service was over, au altercation ensued
50 between the brothers, resulting in a rupture. Yahya Khan’s followers were
51 slain, and he was himself taken prisoner by Shahnawdéz, who, proceeding to
52 Lahore, took possession of all his deceased father’s estates, and proclaimed
53 himself viceroy, without waiting for the orders of the imperial government at
54 * “The hair, the scalp and the skull,” said the old follower of Govind, - ‘‘haye a mutual
55 connection: §y¢ Sehdjisruniag jibiSirig pingLibita tyrepared to yield i pridbiant
56 Yahya Khan appotnt-
57 ed to the governmeut
58 of Lahore.
59 The Sikhs lay
60 Emanbad under con-
61 tribution.
62 They are defeated by
63 Lakhpat Rai, the
64 dewan.
65 Executions at
66 Shahidgany, Lahore,
67 1746.
68 Order to kill all
69 Sikhs found in the
70 Panjab,
71 Reward offered for
72 heir heads,
73 Difference between
74 Yahya Khan and
75 Shahnawaz Khan,
76 The latter march
77 to Lahore at the head
78 of an army,
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