1 AHMAD sian. 223
2 to either. ‘The whole countiy between the Ravi and the Chindb was
3 devastated by the Durranis. At length the invaders suddenly broke up their
4 camp and proceeded to invest Lahore, having crossed the river at a ford
5 higher up on the east. Ahmad Shah encamped at the Shaldmdr gardens,
6 the favourite pleasure ground of kings and conquerors. Mir Manni marched
7 back to the city in alarm, barricaded the streets, and, having strengthened’
8 the interior posts, took up a strong intrenched position under the walls of
9 the city, and remained strictly on the defensive. Skirmishes took place
10 every day, and for four months did the gallant Mir Manni maintain his
11 position, baffling all attempts of the invading army to conquer it. The
12 Durranis subjected the intrenched posts of Mannu to a strict blockade,
13 cutting off all communications from without. Famine now prevailed in the
14 Lahore camp to such an extent that the only fodder for horses and cattle
15 consisted of chopped straw from the roofs of thatched houses, while the pro-
16 visions for the men were completely exhausted. A council of war was now
17 convened, consisting of Rajdé Koura Mal, Adina Beg Khan and other
18 Omerahs, They unanimously agreed that a sortie was imperatively necessary,
19 and that it would be impossible for the troops to hold out much longer in a
20 state of starvation. Rdja Koura Mal differed from this view, on the ground
21 that the Indian troops were no match in the field for the hardy Afghans,
22 and that it would be mad to run the risk of such an unequal combat. The
23 hot weather, he urged, was.setting in, and in a fortnight more the hill
24 veterans of the Shah would find it trying for them to stand the scorching
25 heat of the sun, and would either raise the siege, or attack the besieged
26 in their intrenched posts, to their own disadvantage. The surrounding
27 country had been devastated and scarcity of forage and provisions would
28 as seriously’ affect the Durrdni camp as the Indian. On the whole,
29 urged the rajdé, the foreigners will be placed at a considerable disad-
30 vantage if the beseiged continued quietly to hold their own under their
31 present trying circumstances. This was, of course, the best policy that could,
32 under the circumstances, be adopted, but the patience of all was exhausted,
33 and the prudent counsel of the experienced Hindu was not heeded.
34 Preparations were made for an attack on the enemy’s position, and early on
35 the morning of 12th April, 1752, the impetuous Man‘néa sallied out with his
36 right and left wings, and took up his position on the elevation of an old
37 brick kiln near the village of Mahmud Buti. The Abddli king made im-
38 mediate preparations for an advance with his cavalry. His artillery moved
39 into action, and a heavy cannonade was kept up till midday on both sides,
40 The battle was a desperate one, and the result seemed at first doubtful, when
41 some confusion taking place among the Indian troops, the Shah ordered an
42 immediate charge of his Durrdéni horse. So impetuous was the attack that
43 , the Indians gave way, and the tide of victory at once turned in favour of the
44 Afghans. Mir Manni was compelled to fall back within his own lines in
45 the intrenchments, Rdjé Koura Mal, at the head of a chosen body of
46 cavalry, came to the rescue of his master, and so determined were his
47 followers that the scale would have once more‘inclined the other way, had
48 not an unfortunate incident happened which cost the life of the gallant
49 raja. The elephant on which he rode accidentally trod on an old grave, the
50 earth of which sank under the feet of the huge animal, which fell down
51 with its rider. Before the animal could be extricated by the driver, the
52 raj& was overtaken by a Durrdni horseman, who at once severed his head
53 from his body, and carried it as a trophy to the Abdéli Shah. The death of
54 this brave general spread consternation throughout the whole of his troops
55 who fled in dismay. Adina Beg Khan also withdrew, and such was the
56 And lays siege to
57 Lahore.
58 Protracted war
59 operations,
60 Distress in the
61 Lahore camp,
62 A council of war
63 convened,
64 Manni sillies ont of
65 his intrenched position,
66 But is deferted and
67 compelled to fall back.
68 Raja Koura Mal
69 killed in the action,
70 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com