Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c29.s1.4

v2.c29.s1.4

Its Durrani governor Khwājah Abid was slain in battle, his deputy Kābuli Mal conducted the defence of the capital. The besieging Sikh army howled for the surrender of all the cow-killing butchers of Lahor to put them to death. The governor hesitated, the Sikhs broke the Delhi Gate and entered the city plundering, and then Kabuli Mal secured peace by cutting off the noses and ears of some of the butchers and turning them out of the city and also paying a large contribution to the Sikhs. This happened in February 1764, for we find Ahmad Shah back in Lahor in March next. But he could stop there for a fortnight only, and had to return to his own country in consequence of a civil war there, mutiny among his own troops, and dearth of grain. Kābuli Mal marched out for some distance to see his master off. Immediately after he had started, the three Sikh leaders Lehna Singh, Gujar Singh and Sobha Singh attacked Lahor. The masterless city capitulated on the promise of life and property being spared; the gates were thrown open. Some amount of plunder, however, took place on the first day, but the three chiefs divided the city between them and each ruled over and administered his portion as its master. Thus, peace at last returned to Lahor, but not prosperity. The city continued in desolation and misery till its revival under Ranjit Singh.