1 A, D. 1819. THE VALLEY PENETRATED. 128
2 advance. A second army was formed to support this
3 officer, and placed under the command of KooNWUR
4 Khuruk Singh; while Runjeet Singh kept with
5 himself a reserve to be employed as occasion might require'
6 in expediting stores and supplies.
7 By the beginning of June, Misur Dew AN Chund
8 Lad occupied Rajaoree and Poonch, and all the hills
9 and passes, south of the Peer-Punjal range. The sup-
10 porting division was accordingly advanced to Rajaoree,
11 to keep open the communications. The Chief of this
12 last place was in rebellion, and acting with the Raja of
13 Poonch in the defence of the Peer-Punjal passes. Rln-
14 JEET Singh, however, had given liberty to Sooltan
15 Khan of Bhimbnr, after a conBnemeut of seven years,
16 and had secured the aid of his advice and co-operation,
17 by holding out hopes of extensive benefit to result to him
18 from the success of the enterprize. On the 23d June,
19 the Misur attacked the Rajaoree and Poonch Rajas in
20 their position at the Dhakee Deo and Maja passes, and
21 carried them, thus securing to himself a road over the
22 Peer-Punjal. Khuruk Singh with his division advanc-
23 ed now to Surdee Thana, and Runjeet Singh with his
24 reserves came up as far as Bhimbur, while Misur
25 Dewan Chund, crossing the barrier mountains, descend-
26 ed into the valley, and took up a position at Suraee Ulee
27 on the road to Soopyn.
28 JuBUR Khan, who had been left by Mohummud
29 UzEEM, Governor in Kashmeer, was at Soopyn with
30 five thousand men, to make his stand for the possession
31 of the valley. The troops he had were however raw, and
32 hastily raised, and unable to compete with the disciplined
33 Q 2