1 5f
2 8 RETREAT OF AHMED SHAH. A. D. 1748.
3 armies for a month without producing any thing decisive.
4 An event however then occurred that brought about an
5 immediate change in the aspect of things. The Vuzeer
6 was killed whilst at evening prayers by a random shot
7 . from the Dooranee artillery, and from that time forward
8 there ceased to be any commander in chief in the Dehlee
9 camp. The Rajpoot chiefs who had come upon his invi-
10 " tation, and were held together by his influence and repu-
11 tation, feeling confidence in no other leader, began to
12 desert the royal standard, and retired to their respective
13 estates. The Abdalee hearing of this deemed the moment
14 favorable to assume the offensive, and ordered an attack,
15 notwithstanding the inferiority of his numbers. A panic
16 fell on the imperial army and disorder began to spread in
17 the camp. Meer Munoo, however, son of the deceased
18 Vuzeer, seized the critical moment, and bringing a body
19 of fresh troops to the points assailed, led them himself
20 to the charge, and repulsed the Dooranees with consi-
21 derable slaughter ; so much so that Ahmed Shah deemed
22 it necessary to relinquish his designs for the present,
23 and retired precipitately across the Punjab in order to
24 repair his losses. His retreat was unmolested, and he
25 recrossed the Attuk without making any effort to main-
26 tain his footing at Labor. The Punjab was thus reco-
27 vered for the Moghul, and the Government of Labor and
28 iMooltan was conferred by the Dehlee Court on Meer
29 Munoo, with the title of Mooyyunool-Moolk, in re-
30 ward andacknowledgmentof his service on this important
31 occasion.
32 The invasion of the Abdalee, and the occupation of
33 the forces on both sides in the struggle for empire
34 on the plains of Sirhind, were favorable to the further