Ahwal-i Dina Beg Khan 1

1

In the third year of Ahmad Sháh's reign, corresponding with A.H. 1160, Ahmad Sháh Durrání, with the renewed intention of conquering Hindustán, arrived in the neighbourhood of Sodra, and Mír Mu'ínu-l Mulk, alias Mír Mannú, left Lahore with an army for the purpose of expelling him; but, being unable to take the field against him, he intrenched himself. The nobles and mírzás of Dehlí hoped that Mír Mannú might be destroyed, and after this desirable event they would take measures against the Abdálí. They would thus extirpate the thorn which the race of the Túránís had planted in their side. The Mír requested assistance from the Emperor of Dehlí and his minister for four months, but all in vain. He was consequently obliged to sue for peace, and he persuaded the Durrání to return to Kandahár by assigning to him four maháls, viz. Siálkot, Parsarúr, Gujarát, and Aurangábád, which had belonged to Kábul from the time of 'Álamgír. The Durrání, having reached Kandahár, collected a large force, and returned with the intention of conquering Hindustán.
In 1164 A.H. (1750-1 A.D.) Ahmad came by forced marches to Lahore, and began to devastate the country. In the month of Rabi'u-l awwal he crossed the Chinab, and encamped between Sodra and Wazirabad. Mu'inu-l Mulk also, at the head of a formidable army, crossed the Ravi, which flows under the city of Lahore, and pitched his tents in front of the invader. For some time there was continued firing with guns and matchlocks, and the whole country between the Ravi and Chinab was desolated by the ravages and massacres committed by the Durranis. In those days the writer of these leaves was engaged in learning the Kuran by heart. In the end, neither party gained any perceptible advantage. The Durranis suddenly broke up their quarters, with the intention of crossing the Ravi, and plundering the district and city of Lahore. Mir Mannu marched back in alarm to the city, barricaded all the streets, and strengthened the interior defences. Every day there were skirmishes, till at last the supply of provisions was closed on all sides. There was such a dearth of corn and grass that with the utmost difficulty two sirs of wheat flour could be had for a rupee, to say nothing of rice. To procure for horses other forage than rushes or house-thatch was next to an impossibility. This obliged Mir Mannu and his army to take the field. He sallied out with his right and left wings, and fanned the embers of war into a flame. The chief agent of Mir Mannu was a man named Kora Mal, who had been a corn-chandler, and could scarcely earn his bread, but had now become master of immense riches, and had obtained kettle-drums and flags, with the governorship of Multan. With him, Adina Beg Khan Bahram Jang had for certain reasons taken some cause of offence, and retired to his own government in the (Jalandhar) Doab. Adina Beg now reluctantly joined Mu'inu-l Mulk against the Durranis, and, availing himself of his opportunity in the midst of battle, instructed one of the Afghans of Kasur to put an end to the existence of that unworthy wretch Kora Mal by a musket-ball. In consequence of his death, the army of Mir Mannu suffered a complete defeat, and he was obliged to send for his horse, and, advancing with some of his personal attendants, proceeded to kiss the threshold of the Durrani, who honoured him with the grant of a valuable khil'at and the title of Farzand Khan.