1 A. D. 1814. EXPEDITION AGAINST KASHMEER 105
2 preparatory to the passage of tbe famoas Peer-Punjal
3 range. An attempt had been made to gain the Poonch
4 Kaja, RooH-ooLLAH Kfjan, to the Sikh cause, but he
5 pleaded engagements with Kashraeer, and the presence
6 of his son as a hostage with Uzeem Khan, the governor.
7 After a consultation of the principal officers however, it
8 was determined, nevertheless, that the main army, com-
9 manded by Rlnjelt Singh in person, should pursue the
10 Poonch route, and endeavour to penetrate by the Toshu
11 Mydan pass, while a strong diversion should be made by
12 Buhramgulla towards Soopyn in the valley.
13 The cavalry being dismounted, and every man furnish-
14 ed with provisions for three days, a detachment was
15 formed, and sent forward on the loth June, under
16 Ram Dyal, a grandson of MoHKUM Chl'ND Dewan,
17 with whom were DuL Singh and other Jageerdars.
18 They appeared before the post at Buhramgulla on the
19 18th, and after a little negociation, obtained possession
20 of the pass, on payment to the defenders of the arrears
21 due to them by the Poonch Raja. Heavy rain set
22 in on the 20th June, and the Sikh army beginning to
23 suffer from the wet and cold, and the supplies already
24 running short, the march of the main body was delay-
25 ed until the 26lh. On the 28th, however, Runjeet
26 Singh reached Poonch, and found it evacuated ; the
27 Raja having given orders to his people to attempt no
28 resistance in arms, but to desert their towns and vil-
29 lages, to bury or remove the grain, and to hover in
30 small parties on the flanks of the invaders. The
31 consequences of this system had already begun to be felt,
32 and compelled a halt at Poonch for further supplies,
33 until the 13th July. Thence advancing by Mundee,
34 o