1 A. D. 1812. BHIMBUR AND RAJAOREE REDUCED. 93
2 procure his liberation, and to obtain that province for
3 him. He was then preparing an expedition against
4 Bbimbar, in the Peer-Punjal range of mountains, and
5 the wife of SliAH Shooja was led by these profes-
6 sions to believe, and to represent to her husband, that
7 he would find a friend in the ruler of Labor. The
8 Shah made his escape from confinement during the
9 operations subsequently undertaken against the valley by
10 FuTEH Khan Vuzeer, and was led by these hopes to
11 direct his (light towards Labor. He made good his way
12 out of Kashmeer, by seeking the Peer-Punjid mountains ;
13 where, finding an opportunity to join the force under
14 MoHKUM CfiUND, he came down with him to Labor,
15 there to experience only new persecutions, excited by the
16 desire kindled in the breast of Runjeet, to obtain
17 possession of the famous diamond the Koh-i-Noor, and
18 other rich jewels ascertained to be still in this Prince's
19 possession. The relation, however, of the means by which
20 these were extorted, belongs to a later period.
21 After the Dussera, at the close of the rains, the Sikh
22 army was assembled, and led entire by Runjeet Singh
23 in person, against the Moosulman Chiefs of Bhimbur
24 and Rajaoree, who, though pressed by the expeditions
25 before directed against them, made head again, imme-
26 diately the force was withdrawn, and were now assisted
27 by a confederacy of Chiefs and Jageerdars of their faith,
28 and by succour from the Governor of Kashmeer. The
29 possessions of these Chiefs commanded the approaches
30 to the Peer-Punjal mountains, and there is reason to
31 believe that Runjeet Singh had even at this time, an
32 eye to the conquest eventually of the valley of Kashmeer,
33 to which the occupation of both Bhimbur and Rajaoree