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

but not wishing to embroil himself with the chief of Balti while the campaign in
Ladák was still before him, he contented himself with giving promises of future
assistance to the Balti prince. After a time the prince returned to his father; but the
reconciliation could not have been very cordial, for early in 1840 the prince fled to Lé,
and sought refuge with the Gyalpo, whom he believed to be a puppet of the Dogra
chief. The real authority was not, however, in the Gyalpo's hands, but in those of
his two ministers, the Káhlon of Banka and the Káhlon of Bazgo; and as they were
anxious to have Ahmed Shah on their side during their intended outbreak against the
Dogra authority, they suggested to him the propriety of sending a party to seize his
son to which no resistance would be offered. Ahmed Shah at once agreed to this
proposal, and a small party of fifty men was allowed to carry off the Balti prince
to Lé.

When Zoráwar Sing arrived in Zanskar (Zaṅs-dkar) and heard of the flight of
Muhammed Shah, he sent strict orders that the prince should be treated with kindness
and respect, intending, perhaps, to use him as a tool for the furtherance of his master's
view upon Balti. But shortly after, when he heard of the prince's seizure by a party of
Balti troops, he determined at once upon the conquest and annexation of that
principality. A letter was, however, first addressed to Ahmed Shah, informing him that
his son, who had sought the Maharaja's protection, had been forcibly carried off by a
party who had invaded the Ladák territory, and that, unless the prince was sent back
again, the Dogra troops would enter Balti and force his release. To this letter Ahmed
Shah deigned no reply.

Accordingly, in the end of the year 1840, the Vazir assembled an army of 15,000 men,
and a large body of Ladákis for the conquest of Balti. Ahmed Shah also prepared himself
for the struggle, and was joined by a large party of discontented Ladákis, who, after
crossing the Indus, destroyed the bridge, to delay the advance of the Dogras. Zoráwar
Sing was obliged, therefore, to march down the right bank of the river, which he followed
steadily for twenty-five days, receiving the submission of the chiefs of Khatakchau
(Mkhar-maṅ or Parkuda) and Khapolor (Kha-pu-lu), but without finding any place
where the army could be crossed. He then detached Mia Nidhán Sing, with a body of
5,000 men, by way of Shigar (Si-dkar), to look for a road, and to collect provisions, which
had now become very scarce in the Dogra camp. But the Baltis kept a good look-out,
and had early intelligence of this movement. Mia Nidhán Sing was allowed to advance
unmolested for about fifteen miles, when his party was surrounded and attacked by
thousands, and he himself was cut off with nearly the whole of his detachment.

About 400 men only managed to find their way back to the Dogra camp with the
tale of their defeat. At the same time the winter set in with a heavy fall of snow, and as
provisions were extremely scarce, the Dogra troops became so much dispirited, that their
discipline was seriously affected. With an impassable river in their front, and certain
starvation both from cold and hunger, whether they retreated or remained in their
present position, the majority of the troops paid no attention to orders, and of the few
who still obeyed, none did so with alacrity.