1 A. D. 1813. MARCH FOR THE RELIEF OF ATTUK. 99
2 Shah Shooja after a time pnrchased bis release by a
3 payment of 20,000 ropees.
4 FuTEH Khan Vuzeer after bis return from Kashmeer,
5 bad sat down before Attak, and pending tbe negociation
6 at Labor, upon his demand for its surrender, closely
7 blockaded tbe fort Dewan Mohkum Chund had been
8 sent to tbe vicinity, to act as occasion might require, and
9 in tbe beginning of July, intelligence was received from
10 bim, that the garrison was reduced to such straight for
11 supplies, that, unless very shortly relieved, they must
12 surrender. Runjeet Singh held a council upon this,
13 and it was determined to relieve the fort, even at the
14 risk of tbe attempt producing hostilities with the Vuzeer:
15 Orders to this effect were accordingly sent immediately
16 to tbe Dewan, who being encamped at Boorban, march-
17 ed at break of day on the 12th July 1813, to execute
18 them. On that day he made a short march to an outpost
19 on a rivulet, held by a piquet of tbe Vuzeers army, which
20 retired in tbe night. The Dewan marched again next
21 morning leisurely along the rivulet, that his men might
22 drink, and be always fresh for action, tbe weather being
23 extremely hot. At ten in the morning, he came to the
24 Indus, at about five miles from tbe fort. The Kabool
25 army was here drawn up to oppose his further advance,
26 its van being composed of a body of Moolkea Moosul-
27 mans, supported by a body of cavalry under Dost
28 MoHUMMED Khan. Tbe Dewan took up bis ground,
29 forming bis cavalry in four divisions, and tbe only battalion
30 of infantry that had yet come up, in square. Tbe Mool-
31 keas immediately made a resolute charge on the batta-
32 lion, but were received with so heavy a rolling fire as to be
33 driven back with severe loss. The Dewan ordered up for
34 N 2