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MINOR CHRONICLES : XX. BASTI-RAM'S ACCOUNT OF THE DOGRA WAR   263

2. On hearing this, the Vazir started at once with a body of 3,000 infantry, and in

two months reached the district of Baldé (Padar) ; but owing to the swollen state of the

river he was unable to accomplish anything for two months more. At the end of that

time, when the river had become passable, the Dogras attacked the fort of Chatrgarh,

which they carried by storm with a loss of fifteen men on their own side and of twenty

on that of the enemy. Some twenty or thirty prisoners that were taken, had their ears

and noses cut off, which frightened the people so much that they immediately tendered

their submission.

3. Leaving a garrison in the fort of Chatrgarh, the Vazir again marched

into Zanskar (Zaiis-dkar) over the hills. On this march twenty-five men died from the

severe cold, and ten men lost their feet and hands in the snow. On reaching Zanskar

the Dogras found that the people had fled ; but during a halt of two months every-

thing was arranged satisfactorily. After that Rai Sing and Mia Tota (T. Mi-ya-no-ta),

with about 1,000 men, advanced towards Lé (Sle), on which Moru Tádzi (Duos-grub-

bstan-hdzin), the new Gyalpo (king), who was formerly Káhlon of Banka (no, minister

of Sle, F.), fled with precipitation from the capital. Being closely pursued, he was

nearly overtaken, when, by the resistance of some of the more trustworthy of his

followers, he was enabled to continue his flight. He was at length captured at the village

of Tábo (T. Ta-bo) in Spiti, after a loss of six or seven men on each side ; on which

he was taken back to Lé and imprisoned.

The old Gyalpo, Akabat Mahmud, and the new one, Moru Tádzi (Duos-grub-

bstan-hdzin), were both brought before the Vazir, who deposed the latter, and reinstated

the former, upon the old terms of rs. 23,000 yearly tribute, but with the stipulation

that the expenses of the troops which occupied the country should also be defrayed

by him.

The Vazir then again proceeded to Jammu, where he remained for a whole year,

after which he returned to Ladák (La-dvags) with 5,000 men, for the purpose of

seizing Moru Tádzi (Duos-grub-bstan-hdzin), the Káhlon of Banka (Baas-kha-bkab-

blon), and Chang Nabdan (Tshe-dbaü-rab-brtan), the Káhlon of Bazgo (Bab-sgo-bkah-

blon), both of whom had been plotting against the Gyalpo Mahmud Khan.

End of Basti-Rám's narrative

Beginning of Cunningham's ` Other Information' (p. 345)

They had been in correspondence with Ahmed Shah of Balti (Sbal-ti), whom they

wished to engage in a general rise against the Dogra authority. The Balti chief

imprudently lent too willing an ear to their overtures, and by a subsequent act

furnished the long-looked-for pretext for invasion, which Zoráwar Sing was but too

glad to seize upon. Early in 1835 Ahmed Shah being dissatisfied with his eldest son

Muhammed Shah, had formally disinherited hint by the inauguration of his younger

brother Muhammed Ali. On that occasion Muhammed Shah fled to the camp of

Zoráwar Sing in Suru, and claimed his protection. This the wily Vazir readily granted ;