1 The advance of the
2 army into the mnterlor
3 of the valley,
4 The battle of Sup{n.
5 Defeat of the
6 Afghans.
7 The Sikhs occupy
8 Kashmir, 1819,
9 Dew ae Mota Ram ig
10 appointed first govern:
11 of Kashnur, . os
12 418 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
13 the gates of that stronghold, refused to attend before the Sikh general
14 and offered resistance. Raja Sultan Khan, whose knowledge of the country
15 was of great value, was ordered to reduce the fort. The rdjdé, with the
16 men under him, scaled the rampart, and a fight ensued, in which large
17 numbers of the defenders were killed. Zabbar Dast Khan at length sur-
18 rendered, and the fort was occupied by the Sikh troops. The governor of
19 Basdna was prevailed upon by R&ja Rahimullah Khan to swear allegiance
20 to the Mahardjé, and Namdar Khan, an influential zemindar, placed his
21 entire resources at the disposal of the Sikh commander. The passage to the
22 Pir Panjal being thus secured, Mishar Dewan Chand divided the army under
23 him into three divisions, each of which was to reach the valley by a
24 different route. He himself headed the detachment which had to cross
25 the Pir *Panjél, and crossing this barrier, descended into the valley. The
26 Pathans opposed this advanced detachment, and an engagement ensued,
27 which lasted the whole day. Many were killed on both sides, till, at length,
28 the Sikhs charging with the bayonet, the Pathans fled in dismay, leaving
29 their camp, which was plundered. On the 16th of June, the whole army
30 of the Sikhs in the valley, 12,000 strong, took up a position at Serai Ahi,
31 on the road to Supin. The Maharaja then arrived at Shahabdd and saw
32 that his arrangements for supplies and reinforcements were complete.
33 Sardar Jabbar Khan, with 5,000 Afghdns, took his stand on the plains
34 of Supin. The sound of the bugles in the Sikh columns on the morning
35 of -the 5th of July was the sign for the Léhore army to advance, and, the
36 Sikhs coming up, a severe fight took place between the two armies. The
37 Afghdéns fought splendidly, and succeeded at first in repulsing the invaders
38 and capturing two of their guns, Upon this the Sikhs made a rally, and
39 so desperate was their next onset that the Afghans, after a short struggle,
40 gave way before superior numbers, and fled precipitately to Shergarh,
41 leaving the valley to be occupied by the invaders. Many were killed in
42 the action and in the pursuit which followed ; among those killed being
43 Sardar Mihr Dil Khan and Mir Akhor Samad Khan. Sardar Jabbar Khan
44 was wounded, and had a narrow escape. Kashmir was now in possession
45 of the Sikhs, who made a triumphant entry into the city. The following
46 day the troops of the Mahardjé occupied Shergarh. Jabbar Khan, with
47 the remnant of his Afghdns, having crossed the mountains towards the
48 Indus, went to Bhimbar, and eventually reached Peshawar. On entering
49 Kashmir, the Sikhs commenced plundering the inhabitants according to
50 their invariable practice, but they were stopped by Mishar Dewan Chand,
51 and the city was thus saved from the rapacity of the invaders. The Sikhs
52 then reduced Azimgarh, a fort difficult of access, from its being situated
53 on the summit of high hills near Rajduri, and strongly fortified.
54 The Mahardajd, on receiving the news of the conquest of the important
55 and fertile province of Kashmir, made great rejoicings, and, sending Fakir
56 Aziz-ud-din to make enquiries about the climate, and Dewdn Devi Das to
57 take charge of the assessment and revenues, returned to Léhore. As usual
58 with him on such occasions, the Mahardjd spent several days in rejoicings at
59 Lahore in commemoration of the victory won by his troops. The cities of
60 Lahore and Amritsar were illuminated for three nights. The Maharaja visited
61 Amritsar, where he gave his benediction at the Darbdr Sahib, and made
62 a large offering of money at the temple. On his return to Léhore, he recal-
63 led Mishar Dewan Chand, and sent Dewan Moti Ram, son of the late Dewdn
64 Muhkam Chand, as his first governor of Kashmir. Dewdn Moti Ram took
65 with him Bir Dhur Pandit, whose intimate knowledge of the financial affairs
66 Sri Satgureé] &agit Snob evibraey great value Nansdbidtigibrary@'igmaéieonof Kdshmir