On the 9th of Rabí'u-l awwal the Sháh's camp was at Kalúwál, a village on the banks of the Chináb, the largest river of the Panjáb. A heavy fall of rain, such as is usual in the rainy season, had occurred the previous night, and the bridge had been broken, some of the boats being swamped, and others knocked to pieces. The river's width had so increased that it was impossible to reconstruct a bridge at this point, but a narrower part was found near the village of Akhánúr, where a bridge was formed by means of iron cables. On the 11th the Názim received fresh proofs of the Sháh's generosity.
The Persian camp broke up from Kalúwál on the 14th, and commenced crossing the river at Akhánúr. A portion of the army had effected its passage, when the force of the swollen and pent-up stream carried away the bridge with a deafening roar, and hurled two thousand Kazalbáshís into a watery grave. But as the Sháh was anxious to cross the river, he proceeded himself, mounted on Mahá-sundar, the powerful elephant that had been bestowed on the Nawáb Názim, in scarch of a ford, or some spot suited to the formation of a bridge. However, it is vain to struggle against destiny, and His Majesty failed in the object of his search; and it was consequently decided that the army should be ferried over in boats at Kalúwál. The camp was therefore moved on the 25th, and the passage was commenced. By the 2nd Rabí'u-s sání, three quarters of the army and baggage had been landed on the opposite bank, and on the following day the Názim was permitted to depart, his own sword being returned to him, and his elephant to Hayátu-llah. The Názim and his son reached Síálkot the same day. The Persian Emperor, who entertained a great affection for the Nawáb Názim, directed an epistle to be prepared and forwarded to the ruler of Hind, desiring His Majesty to increase the allowances and the body of horse of this chieftain from seven to eight thousand. The districts of Gujarát, Síálkot, Púrsarúr, and Aurangábád, from which was derived the expenditure of Kábul and Pesháwar; also Dángalí and other places, producing about four krors of dáms, and constituting the jágír of Násir Khán, Názim of Kábul; some districts forming the zamíndárís of Khudá-yár Khán 'Abbásí, and of Ghází Khán Dudahí, zamíndár of Multán, all of which are east of the Attock river, and had been for three years made over to Nádir Sháh, these were now placed under the charge of the Názim, subject to a yearly payment of twenty lacs of rupees. The Názim was at first loath to enter into this arrangement, but several considerations induced him. The chief of these was that if this matter were not thus settled, the Sháh would leave an army in the country, which would be the cause of numerous evils. On the 7th of the month the Sháh himself crossed the river, and encamped on the right bank, the move being made known to all by discharges of cannon.
The Sháh felt the greatest anxiety to reach Khurásán, where
his presence was urgently required to put a stop to disturbances
that had broken out in Bukhárá and Khwárizm, for the rulers of
these countries, blinded with pride and ignorance, had withdrawn
their necks from the yoke of subjection. Proceeding without a
halt, the Sháh crossed the river Attock on the 21st of Jumáda-s
sání, and on the 25th of Sha'bán cast his shadow over the
country of Kábul. Hence he marched by way of Darah Isma'íl
Hút to correct Khudá-yár Khán 'Abbásí, zamíndár of Khud-
Before leaving Kábul, the Nawáb Sáhib A'azzu-d daula and Hayátu-llah Khán Bahádur, who governed the province of Multán as his father's deputy, had been directed to join the Sháh whenever his army should enter the territories of Khudá-yár Khán, and to assist in settling the affairs of that district. Hayátu-llah Khán lost no time in joining the Sháh and the Názim, starting on the 26th of Shawwál from the fortress of Jamún, which had fallen to his arms only a few days before, passed one night at Láhore. On the 23rd of Zí-l hijja he left Multán to proceed towards the Persian camp by water.
To the exalted and most noble of Kháns, the illustrious Zakariyá Khán, Názim of the provinces of Láhore and Multán, with assurances of our warmest friendship, be it known that, whereas His Majesty has resolved to make a tour this year through the country of Sind, in order to chastise certain rebellious chieftains in those parts, and whereas it is deemed probable that one or more of these chiefs may attempt to fly towards Multán, which would render it necessary for the conquering army to cross the river Sind, to pursue and capture the fugitives; and whereas between this powerful government and that of Hindústán there exists perfect concord, it is necessary that the illustrious Názim should be prepared to move from Láhore towards Multán on receiving an order to this effect, and with his troops guard the approaches to this city, that those who may cross the river may be punished, and such energy displayed for this purpose as may render unnecessary the co-operation of the royal forces. In addition the Khán may rest assured of the kindly feelings of the Emperor of Emperors towards him, and may expect everything from his generosity. Written on the 21st of Jumáda-s sání, A.H. 1152.
Of all the frontier-chiefs none equalled Khudá-yár Khán in the extent of their possessions, the number of their soldiers, and the fertility of their resources. When first Nádir Sháh arrived under the walls of Kandahár, this chieftain formed vain schemes of checking the advance of the victorious army and holding the passes, thus, as if impelled by fatality, making an enemy to himself of a monarch favoured by fortune, whose sword, like the orb of light, had flashed over the world from east to west. Now, that the tidings of the Sháh's advance broke upon his dream of fancied security, he left his son in command of his troops, and himself, with his women and wealth, withdrew into the fortress of Amarkot, a strong place, surrounded on two sides by water and on the other two by sand-hills.
When the Sháh's army drew near, the son gave up all idea of fighting, and prepared to do homage to the Emperor on condition that his father should not be required to appear; but these terms were not acceded to, and the foolish youth was kept prisoner. The Sháh again moved rapidly forward to lay siege to Amarkot, and the news of this advance shook, as if with the shock of an earthquake, the warlike resolve of Khudá-yár Khán. He immediately sent away his women and his property to the sandy country, but stayed behind himself to make arrangements for the removal of twenty-two lacs of rupees, for which carriage had not been procurable, and determined to follow on the morrow.
But the morrow brought forth unexpected events, for the Sháh, learning that the game might still be secured by a bold cast of the net, pushed forward from Ládgáon, distant from A markot thirty farsakhs, on the evening of the 28th of Zí-l ka'da, and suddenly surrounded the fort about daybreak on the following morning. Immediately the soldiery commenced the work of destruction. Khudá-yár Khán, seeing no path open to escape, came forth with cries for mercy, and did homage; and this course, which he should have before adopted, proved his salvation. The Sháh, mindful of the maxim that there are more joys in forgiving than in punishing, received him with kindness, and forgave his faults. The twenty-two lacs found in the fort and some jewels were seized by the Emperor's officers, and the Sháh returned to Ládgáon, where the camp equipage had been left, and where were discussed the affairs of Khudá-yár Khán, who had accompanied His Majesty since his surrender.
About two hours before the close of day His Majesty received A'azzu-d daula in the royal audience tent. This nobleman was treated with even more than former courtesy, and the Emperor graciously observed that he must have been put to much inconvenience in so long a journey. On the 7th the Nawáb Názim received tokens of the esteem in which he was held by the Sháh. * *
Khudá-yár Khán 'Abbásí, since his submission, had remained in the royal camp. The monarch now, with kingly munificence, raised him from the dust and re-established him in possession of his zamíndárí, with the title of Sháh Kulí Khán, and the government of the province of Thattá. The conditions of this arrangement were an annual payment of ten lacs of rupees and the furnishing to the Persian monarch of a contingent of two thousand horse under one of the Khán's sons. The Khán, who might have expected a very different treatment as the result of his conduct, was dismissed with the present of a horse to his home on the 15th of Muharram, A.H. 1152 (12th April, 1739 A.D.).
Nádir Sháh, having finally settled the affairs of Hindústán, resolved to set his face towards the country of Khurásán, where frequent disturbances occurred, acting as a thorn in his side.