Tadhkirah i Anand-Ram “Mukhlish” 1.6

1.6

On the 4th of Shawwal the Persian army crossed the Attock river on a bridge of boats. On the 8th the Emperor reached the left bank of the Chinab river, and on the 9th encamped close to the bridge of Shah-daula. But how to relate the ruin and desolation that overwhelmed this beautiful country! Wazirabad, Imanabad, and Gujarat, towns which, for population, might almost be called cities, were levelled with the earth. Nothing was respected, no sort of violence remained unpractised; property of all kinds became the spoil of the plunderer, and women the prey of the ravisher. On the 10th of Shawwal the Shah and his army crossed the bridge of Shah-daula; then, leaving far to the left the artillery of the Nazim, which was in position along the opposite bank of the Ravi, they forded the river and advanced to the Shalamar gardens, which are on the high road to Shah-Jahanabad. All that day, from morn till night, the contest was maintained against the army of the Nazim, who repeatedly tried to force his way back to the town. The bravest warriors put forth their strength and many of the Kazalbashis fell. Yahya Khan, the eldest son of the Nazim, cut his way through with a few followers, and proceeding towards Shah-Jahanabad by forced marches, reached the camp of Nawab Sahib Waziru-l Mamalik Bahadur in the vicinity of Panipat. The fighting was renewed on the 11th, and the plain was strewed with the slain.