国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

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MINOR CHRONICLES : VII. AHMAD-SHAH'S CHRONICLES OF BALTISTAN   187

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Ride (pp. 300-2). As regards `Ali-Sher-Khan's conquest of Ladakh, it is attested by the Ladakhi chronicles, where the full history of the war is given (see under H jam-dbyans-rnam-rgyal). The mosque inscription at Leh is said to contain the name of Aurangzib. This is very probable, for the mosque was built at Aurangzib's special request.

As regards the quarrel for the succession under `Ali-Sher-Khan's sons, it is apparently referred to by Bernier (1663), when he says (Ouldinburgh, 1671-2, iv, pp. 122-3) :—` I may further add that some years since, there being a dissension risen between the family of the king of the Little Tibet, . . . one of the pretenders to the crown did secretly call for the assistance of the governor of Kachemire, who by order of Chah-Jehan gave him powerful succours and put to death or flight all the other pretenders, and left this man in possession of the country, on condition of an annual tribute to be paid in crystal, musc, and wool. This petty king could not forbear coming to see Aurang-Zebe, bringing with him a present of those things I just now named.' Thus, instead of Aurangzib, Shah-Jahan should have been mentioned in the chronicle in connexion with the quarrel.

As regards the conquest of Ladakh under Sultan-Murad, it is not mentioned in the Ladakhi chronicles. I conjecture that the word ` conquest ' does not quite suit the case. It was probably only a more or less successful plundering expedition, similar to that of the Ladakhis mentioned under the second `Ali-Sher-Khan.

The chief Ahmad-Shah is described by Vigne as a man of great personal strength. He says (ii, p. 234) :—` Ahmed Shah, though not standing more than 5 ft. 11 in., was one of the tallest men in the country. His personal strength is said to have been very great, and many of his feats are recorded one, I remember, was that he had broken a gun-barrel in half with his hands. He must now be a man between 65 and 70 years of age.' Of his personal appearance and character, he says (ii, pp. 236-7) :` The Gylfo's (Rgyal-po's) eyes were not large, but dark and penetrating, his eyebrows large and black, his nose and mouth well formed, his beard a little silvered, and his expression highly indicative of shrewdness and intelligence ... I never detected him in a falsehood, and from the first day of my arrival, until that of my departure, his behaviour was always kind and respectful.'

Ahmad-Shah's quarrel with his son Muhammad-Shah is also mentioned by Cunningham, who says that it led to the conquest of Baltistan by Zorawar-Singh in 1841 A.D. The La-dvags-rgyal-rabs (supra, p. 131) says that the Dogra army was led through the gorges of Baltistan by the chief of Mkhar-man. This was a chief of the family of Muhammad-Shah's mother. He probably took the side of Muhammad-Shah because his family had been offended by Muhammad-Shah's deposition.

Vigne's book contains (ii, p. 221) interesting portraits of Ahmad-Shah of Baltistan in 1835 and of his son, Ahmad-`Ali-Khan.

The following is an attempt of my own to furnish the Balti chiefs with approximate dates :-

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It is interesting that Muhammad-`A11-Khan was placed on the inauguration stone when he was 13 years of age. Many Tibetan kings have begun to reign at 13 years of age.

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