MINOR CHRONICLES : XIX. TSHE-BRTAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE DOGRA WARS 251
arms ' was issued in Ron-chu-rgyud, Ldum-ra, Sbal-ti-yul, La-dva.gs, Pu-rig, and all [the other provinces]. Then [the armies] were led towards Pu-rig, and at San-ku of Pu-rig the army of the Sin-pas was met, and a battle was fought. The Sin-pas were victorious, the Ladakhis were beaten, and fled during the night across the Rus-si pass. They came out [of the defile] at Ser-go-la (Sar-sgo-la) ; and the whole army of the Sin-pas remained at Lan-dkar-tse for about one month. There they threw up trenches and remained for the whole of the tenth month. On the first day of the eleventh month all the Sin-pas arrived at the village of Pa-skyum. After having remained at Pa-skyum for fifteen days, the Sin-pas went back again to Lan-dkar-tse. There they remained till the end of the eleventh month. On the first of the twelfth month the whole Ladakhi army held a council [as follows] : ` It is winter now, and much snow has fallen. As the Sin-pas have not [sufficient] clothing, they will catch cold and not be able to fight. Then we Ladakhis will be victorious.' Thus saying, they went to fight with the Sin-pas. The number of the Ladakhi soldiers was about 9,000. They all went after' the Sin-pas. When the Ladakhis arrived at Skyid-mar-tse, they fought a great battle with the Sin-pas, and the Ladakhis were beaten. If you ask why the Ladakhis were beaten, [we answer] that the Ladakhis had to carry [on their own backs] their food, clothing, and a carpet, which filled a litter. On the top of that was placed the musket. As they had to carry so much, the Ladakhis could not fight and were beaten. The Sin-pas were victorious. Being hit by the muskets and swords of the Sin-pas, about 300 Ladakhis died there. The chief commander, the minister of Tog, died there also. Several of the Ladakhis were seized and carried off by the Sin-pas. Then they fled in all directions. The treasurer Rnam-rgyal of Kram-bis acted as guide to the Sin-pas and Zo-ra-war, and [thus] they arrived at Mkhar-bu. When the people of Gyu-ru and Wan-la heard that the army of the Sin-pas had arrived at Mkhar-bu they became afraid, and, to welcome the Sin-pas, they brought a horse and some money. They all went to Mkhar-bu and, bowing their heads before the Sin-pa army, greeted them. Then Zo-ra-war and the Sin-pas became very much pleased. He said to the people of Gyu-ru and Wan-la : ` I will not allow any harm to be done to your villages ! ', and gave them one soldier (si-pa) each to guard them. When [Zo-ra-war] arrived at Gyu-ru, the people of Lte-ba and Tin-mo-sgan became frightened, and one man from each village went to Gyu-ru, leading two horses and carrying some money. They welcomed the Sin-pas, who were highly pleased. The people of Lte-ba and Tin-mo-sgan also received one soldier each to guard [their villages]. Then the soldiers arrived at Myur-la, and the people of Sne-mo, Ba-sgo, A-lci, Sa-spo-la, and Li-kyir, carrying some treasure each, went to meet the Sin-pas, and came to Myur-la. The Sin-pas liked that, and gave one soldier to each village as a guard. Then the whole army of the Sin-pas arrived at Sne-mo, and the following rumour was spread : ` If some money is given, the whole army of the Sin-pas will go back ! ' When the king of La-dvags heard of it, he took much money and many [silver] ingots out of the Slel castle, went to Sne-mo, and arrived before the Sin-pas. The Sin-pas were pleased, took all the treasures and the money, and said : ` We shall go back ! Only just now
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