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MINOR CHRONICLES : XIX. TSHE-BRTAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE DOGRA WARS 253

Then a call to arms was issued to all the Ladakhis to carry war to Sbal-ti-yul. The

Ladakhis were sent from Gyu-ru in the upper direction, their general being Ga-ga

Ban-kha-pa. They marched across the Chos-hbad pass of Ha-nu. On the following

day the Sin-pa army was sent off together with a man called Ma-di-na-Sa. Zo-ra-war,

leading an army of Pu-rig people and an army from Hjam-hbu which had arrived

only recently, marched by way of Dkar-gyil-lo and reached a place called Tse-tse-tsan.

There they met with the army of Sbal-ti-yul, a battle ensued, and several Si-pas were

killed. A general called Ne-zam-din of Dkar-gyil-lo also died there. Later on the

Wa-zir Zo-ra-war himself fought a battle, and all the Sbal-tis fled at once. Then

the [other] army of the Sin-pas and that of the Ladakhis arrived at the castle of

Skar-rdo, without ever having fired a single bullet. There they all gathered and

made a camp. Both sides remained without fighting for twelve days. 'Ag-mad-Sa,

the chief of Skar-rdo, remained hidden in the castle. After twelve days had elapsed,

the chief 'Ag-mad-Sa came down from his castle for no particular reason, and bowed his

head before Zo-ra-war. The Wa-zir was pleased and said to the chieftain : ` Where is

Ra-yim-Khan, the chief of Cig-tan ? You must seize and bring him [here] ! ' The

Chief 'Ag-mad-Sa-Khan answered : ` Who knows ? I have no news [about him] ! '

The Wa-zir said : ` If you do not bring him [here], I will make it unpleasant for you ! '

If you ask why the chief Ra-yim-Khan was looked for, [we answer] that, before Zo-ra-war

had come from Kashmir, [Ra-yim-Khan] had issued a call to arms to all the Ladakhis.

For that reason a strict inquiry was made for Ra-yim-Khan. Later on the Chief

'Ag-mad-Khan sent scouts over the whole country. They seized and brought Ra-yim_

Khan [to Skar-rdo]. When he arrived before Zo-ra-war, Zo-ra-war issued an order

He assembled the whole armies of the Sin-pas and Ladakhis, of the Pu-rig-pas, and of

Sbal-ti-yul, men and women, old and young, blind and deaf, all at a time. In the

middle of the town was a large field of lucerne, and all men were taken there. Tents

were put up for both Zo-ra-war and the father-king. Then the whole army was drawn

up in order, and Ra-yim-Khan was seized by seven soldiers and escorted there. He

was admonished to eat much opium, which made him intoxicated. It was to save

him much pain, they said. He was placed in the middle of the whole army. One

man brought an armful of wood, another a small kettle filled with a ba-ti (four

pounds) of butter. Then [three] hearthstones were put up, and the small kettle was

placed on them ; a fire was lit, and the butter was boiled. A ` man-killing executioner '

appeared and seized Ra-yim-Khan. At first he cut off his hand and smeared the hot

butter over the wound. Then he cut off his tongue. When he had cut off his ears,

he showed him to the whole army. Then he pushed him into the middle of the crowd.

There was also a man from Pas-kyum, called Hu-sen of [the house] Bon-pho, who had

rebelled against the Sin-pas. His right hand and tongue were also cut off. Then

they let him go. He did not die. Ra-yim-Khan cried for about two days ; then he

died. Thus the Sin-pas were victorious, and everything went as they could wish.

Several Sin-pas were stationed at Skar-rdo. 'Ag-mad-Khan, the chief of Skar-rdo,

and all the [other] chieftains were carried off, and the army returned to La-dvags.