The History of Shāhjahān (ʿInāyat Khān) 28: Campaign in Sirmor.
Sháh Jahán-náma, of 'Ináyat Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 28
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Campaign in Sirmor.
28.1
Among the incidents of the past year, the appointment and despatch of Khalilu-lla Khan during the return from Ajmir, with 8000 men, for the purpose of coercing the Zamindar of Srinagar, and capturing the Dun, have been already detailed by the historic pen. The particulars of his advance and return are as follows. When the Khan in question set out with the royal forces, the Zamindar of Sirmor, who had never felt disposed to ally himself with the servants of the crown, came under the guidance of good fortune and joined them. He was then rendered conspicuous among his compeers by the promulgation of an edict from the threshold of empire and sovereignty, investing him with the title of Raja Sabhak Prakas.
28.2
Sirmor is a mountainous tract to the north of the new metropolis, measuring thirty kos in length, and twenty-five in breadth, in which ice-houses had been established for His Majesty's private use ; whence, from the beginning of the month of Isfandiar (February) till the end of Mihr (September), an abundant supply of ice was constantly reaching the metropolis during the time that the royal standards were planted there. From these emporia porters used to carry loads of snow and ice on their backs as far as Dhamras, the name of a place situated on the bank of the river Jumna at a distance of sixteen kos, but the road to which is extremely difficult. There it was packed in boxes, and sent down the stream on rafts to Daryapur, one of the dependencies of pargana Khizrabad, which is also sixteen kos off from Dhamras. From that point it was transported to the metropolis on board of boats in the course of three days and nights. Khalilu-lla Khan, in company with the aforesaid Raja and some other zamindárs of those parts, having reached the Dun, which is a strip of country lying outside of Srinagar, twenty kos long and five broad, one extremity of its length being bounded by the river Jumna, and the other by the Ganges, which possesses many flourishing towns in various quarters, laid the foundation of a fieldwork close to Kilaghar, and completed it in the course of a week.
28.3
He then deputed one of the mansabdárs to keep guard there with 200 matchlockmen, and set out in advance with the whole of his comrades. On reaching Bahadur Khanpur, which is a place belonging to the Dun, and lies between the rivers Jumna and Ganges, in consequence of the peasantry that dwelt in that neighbourhood having taken refuge in the hills and forests and defiles, and obstinately refusing to return, he despatched the ever-triumphant troops from every side to coerce them, who succeeded in inflicting suitable chastisement. A number of the rebels therefore fell by the sword of vengeance, and many more were taken prisoners ; after which the remainder tendered their allegiance, and innumerable herds of cattle fell into the hands of the soldiery. Here, likewise, he threw up a fortified post, and left a confidential person with some mansabdárs, and 500 infantry and matchlockmen, to garrison it, so that the passage of travellers to and fro might remain uninterrupted. Having then set out himself from thence, he approached the town of Basantpur, which is also a dependency of the Dun, and halted half-way up the hill. Opposite the above town, he constructed another redoubt, in which he posted one of the mansabdárs with 250 infantry matchlockmen. From thence he moved to Sahijpur, a place abounding in streams and fountains, and clothed with flowers and verdure;
28.4
where he erected a fort on the top of an embankment, measuring 1,000 yards in circumference, and fifteen in height, that had in former times been crowned by a stronghold, inasmuch as some traces of the ancient works were still visible; and he deputed a trusty individual to hold the post, backed by 250 musketeers. On reaching the banks of the Ganges, after crossing which one enters the hill-country, he sent a detachment with the royal artillery to the other side of the stream, with a view to their taking possession of the thána of Chandi, which is one of the dependencies of Srinagar, but lies outside the Dun of Kilaghar.
28.5
Meanwhile, Bahadur Chand, Zamindar of Kumayun (Kumaon), under the guidance of a fortunate destiny, espoused the royal cause, and came and joined the above-mentioned Khán. As soon as this fact was conveyed to the Imperial ear, the repository of all good, through the representations of Khalilu-lla Khan, a conciliatory farmán and a khil'at set with jewels were forwarded to him. As the season for prosecuting military operations in that region and the fitting period for an invasion of the hill-country had passed away, the rains being now at hand, and the Dun having been taken possession of, a mandate was issued to Khalilu-lla Khán, to defer the campaign in the hills for the present; and after delivering up the Dun to Chatur Bhuj, who had expressed an ardent desire for it, and confiding the thána of Chandi to Nagar Das, the chief of Hardwar, to set out for Court. The Khan accordingly, having set his mind at rest by fulfilling these instructions, started for the presence.