Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c29.22

v2.c29.22

As early as May 1762, the Sikhs reappeared in the Sarhind district. In June, Zain Khan made peace by paying them Rs.50,000, and the raiders set out on their return. But when they had marched away about 10 *kos*, Zain Khan's troops treacherously looted their rearguard. The main Sikh army then turned back, attacked him, plundered him as well as his diwan Lachhmi Narayan, and drove them to fight a pitched battle at Harnul-garh, 15 *kos* from Sarhind. [Raj. vi. 384.] During the earlier part of this year, "the roads again became open on all sides, the danger of robbery and fear of highwaymen disappeared, because Ahmad Shah was staying in Lahor.” But the province was in a miserable condition ; the Jalandar Doab had been repeatedly plundered and devastated by the Shah’s troops and the country on all sides of Lahor was a “lampless” solitude. [Miskin, 244-247.]