Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c29.s1.16

v2.c29.s1.16

Leaving Ismailabad on 17th March, 1767, Abdali marched back through Sarhind and Machhiwara to the northern foot hills of the Jalandar Doab, carrying Najib in his train. "He set himself earnestly to root out and destroy the Sikhs. His vanguard used to march two or three days' journey ahead. The Sikhs in terror of his troops fled far away like crows. Whenever he got a chance, he used to seize the Sikhs who had taken refuge in places hard of access . . . His own soldiers, accompanied by a contingent of Najib's Ruhelas under Afzal Khan, penetrated into the Mani Majra hills, and brought away large numbers of captive men and women from the region, but the Sikh leader escaped. Much plundered property was sold cheap in the Durrani camp, and captives also." [Nur. 110b.] On 11th May, Abdali from the bank of the Satlaj gave Najib leave to return to Delhi. Some days before news had reached his army that the Sikh raiders had slipped past the Durrani camp, and after fording the Jamuna at Buria-ghat had poured into Najib's jagirs in the upper Doab, and sacked Nanouta and Mirat. On account of Najib's attendance in the Abdali camp, with his brothers, sons and troops, this region had been left entirely defenceless, and Najib in bewilderment appealed to the Shah to save him, and the latter promised a considered reply at night.* "The Shah, overcome by the jackal-tricks of the Sikhs, himself stopped there. When three hours of the night had passed, suddenly the noise of horses' hoofs and the tramp of soldiery was heard in the Ruhela camp. It was ascertained that sardar Jahān Khan had arrived, with 8,000 troopers by hard riding. Entering the tent of Najib, he said, ‘The Shah has ordered me to take one of your sons or brothers with me and make a lightning raid into your estates. Tell me where the Sikhs are.’ Najib immediately deputed Zabita Khan to accompany him. The sardar said to Zabita, ‘Your head and body seem to be very soft. You have been habitually used to sitting in *palkis* and on carpets ; how will you be able to keep pace with us?’ Zabita replied, ‘I too am an Afghan’s son’ . . . Jahān Khan asked him, ‘Why are you taking an elephant with you?’ He answered, ‘Wherever there is a river on the way, the sardar will cross it on this elephant’s back. At midnight Jahān Khan started from that place with 5,000 horse of Zabita Khan, and in three days reached the Mirat pargana, 120 *kos* away. The Sikhs got news of it four *gharis* beforehand and decamped across the Jamuna. Those that remained behind were all slaughtered [9,000 men, according to Miskin, who was present], and much plunder was also taken. The chief of the Sikhs was slain and Baghel Singh wounded. The party returned to Abdali’s halting place (on the west bank of the Satlaj) in the course of seven days.” [Nur. 111-112 ; Miskin, 268.]