1 202 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.
2 conquest however, lie owed less to his military skill or prowess
3 than to the exercise of bribery, and to the disunion existing
4 among* the members of Ahmed Shah's family. After plunder-
5 ing the country which thus fell under his power, Zoroveroo
6 returned by his old route, and sent the spoils of his late
7 campaign to his master at Jummoo. At the same time he
8 informed the Rajah, that if he were reinforced to some extent
9 he would, in another campaign, overrun the whole Champa
10 country, and plunder the holy places of the Lamas, whose
11 shrines, as he told the Rajah, were of solid gold and silver.
12 He also informed his master, that not far to the eastward of
13 Ladakh, there wTas a gold mine worked by the Chinese Tartars,
14 which he should be able to secure for his patron. Dazzled
15 by the splendour of these prospects of unbounded wealth,
16 the covetuous Rajah directed his Wuzeer to hasten to his
17 presence, when they could discuss the arrangements for a
18 campaign of so much risk and so much hope, more con-
19 veniently. Goolaub had so much confidence in the skill,
20 courage, and prudence of his Minister, that he doubted not
21 for a moment his ability to execute the bold plan which he
22 had formed. It was therefore only for the purpose of arranging
23 as to the means and manner of the expedition that he requested
24 the attendance of Zoroveroo at his capital. Thither the Wuzeer
25 hastened at his patron's call, and it was not long ere the
26 plan and arrangements for the campaign were settled in
27 consultation betwixt him and his master. The force destined
28 for the service, was to consist of five hundred Meeans or
29 Rajpoots, and eight hundred Rohillas, with nine thousand hill-
30 men to be collected from the provinces under the Wuzeer's
31 government; while a battalion of infantry, with two guns,
32 was to go by the Cashmere road to Ladakh, there to join the
33 main body under Zoroveroo. The Wuzeer would proceed by
34 his former route to Ladakh, and thence towards the Champa
35 country and the lakes of Manserawara.