1 f >
2 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 429
3 ithe effect of doubling their zeal. They collected in large numbers on the
4 ‘Teri hills, 18 kos to the west of Atak, and were joined by the Jehadis, or
5 religious warriors, from Swat, Buner, and the country of the Afridis, and the
6 Khattaks. Muhammed Azim Khan was still in Peshdwar, and had issued _ the battle of Nau-
7 proclamations eglling on all the faithful to draw the sword for the faith, “Mut 18%.
8 The Mahardjd, h aving heard of this grand combination, mustered his army at
9 Shahdéra acrosg the Ravi, and, sending Prince Kharak Singh, and Mishar
10 Dewsdn Chandf forward, followed at the head of his troops. Muhammad
11 Azim Khan, fad now reached Naushera, between Peshdwar, and Atak,
12 while the ghans under Dost Muhammad Khan and Jabbar Khan,
13 brother of Azi}m Khan, prepared to meet the Sikhs. The Mahardjd
14 at the head of ¥15,000-horsemen, forded the river on the 18th of March,
15 The guns were carried across on elephants. The stream ran deep
16 in some places, Mand the rash attempt to ford it, which was prompted
17 by the exigency ofthe moment, resulted in no trifling loss to the Mahardjd,
18 as no fewer than ‘Mp thousand men were drowned, among them being
19 Moulavi Mazhar ~*flusain, Hindosténi, who had obtained the farm of
20 Kalanaur. Qa the fourth day Sardar Desa Singh, Majithia,Sardar Fatteh
21 Singh, Abgfuwalia, Amir Singh, Surianwdlé, Rattan Singh, Ghirjagia, Duild
22 Singh, M galwai, Sadé Singh, Nodh, and Sadé Singh, Naherna, crossed the river
23 at gueagr Ghaziwald, at the head of a force, with some loss, The whole army
24 entered Akhora, where Ranjit Singh was joined by Jai Sing, Atariwdld,
25 who showed himself anxious for pardon, and was re-admitted into favour.
26 Twenty thousand mountaineers of the Khatak and Eusafzai tribes, all volun-
27 teers i, Bn a holy war, and brought together by the influence oftheir piradédus, or
28 prieste’B and devotees, assembled on the left bank of the river to fight for their
29 * faith 2 gainst the infidel invaders, while Azim Khan, with the regular Afghan
30 army, % was encamped on the right bank. The Maharajd sent eight bat-
31 talior°Zs and two batteries, under Generals Allard and Ventura, to keep
32 Mub?immed Azim Khan, in check, and with his main strength, fell apon the
33 Ghia Lis, who had taken up their position around the heights near Naushera,
34 or 4 the left bank of the river. A strong detachment of the Sikh forces was
35 posted behind the Teri hills, on which the mountain levies had collected, and
36 this was to move to the rear at 2 moment’s notice. The Sikh forces, under
37 Sat Gur Sahae, and Colonel Mahé Singh, Akdlia, made an advance on the
38 hills, and were met by a body of Afghans under Muhammed Zaman Khan,
39 - nephew of Azim Khan, and Sadiq Khan, son of the deceased Firoz Khan
40 of Khatak.* The latter made a furious assault in overwhelming numbers;
41 and the fire of their matchlocks, coupled with a shower of stones from the
42 hills, which they covered, resulted in much loss to the advancing Sikh
43 columns. In the midst of this struggle, an Afghan, approaching Sat Gur
44 Sahae, shot him in the head, killing him on the spot. Another Afghan
45 mortally wounded Mahd Singh. A large number of Sikhs fell, and the Af.
46 ghans compelled their assailants to retreat down hill. Upon this Phula Singh
47 the Akdli desperado, made a furious charge with some horsemen as fanati-
48 cal as himself. But the Mussalman infantry were equally fired with religious
49 zealand fervour, and were, moreover, advantageously posted. They rushed.
50 upon their assailants with such determination and fury, that the latter were
51 completely routed and their leader slain. Thus fell this wild Akdli leader, pyuasinen axa
52 who had obtained so much celebrity in the Sikh battles by his fanatical billed inthe battle,”
53 and sudden attacks at times when recourse to regular warfare had proved
54 ineffectual.* Exultant at the success of the charge, the Afghans fell upon the
55 ——s
56 ct
57 *The Khatak territory was occupied by the Sikhs during the course of this campaign.
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