Defeat of the Imperial Forces.—Death of Rájá Bírbal.

[Text, vol. iii. p. 494.] When Kokaltásh (Zain Khán) marched to effect the subjugation of Swád (Swát) and Bajaur, he first subdued Bajaur, in which he found 30,000 houses of the Yúsufzáí tribe. * * He then marched against Swát, in which mountain region there were 40,000 houses of the same tribe. On reaching the banks of the river, the natives made a strenuous resistance, and the advanced guard was checked for a time; but the braves of the altamsh went to their support, and the sight of their gallantry so encouraged the rest, that they fought bravely, and put the enemy to flight. Kokaltásh built a fort at Jag-dara, in the midst of the country, and then applied himself to the chastisement of the enemy. Twenty-three times he was victorious, and he destroyed seven armies. All the country was brought under his hand, except the hills of Karágar and the country of Bunír. But his army was worn out with ascend­ing mountains and continual fighting; he was in consequence compelled to ask for reinforcements. The Emperor sent Rájá Bírbal, Hakím Abú-l Fath, and other officers to support him. They had no sooner arrived, than dissensions arose among them. Hard words and fierce looks were exchanged between Kokaltásh and the Rájá. The Rájá and the Hakím were also on ill terms with each other. * * When they reached the hills of Malkand, Kokaltásh endeavoured to reconcile them, and they held a long debate as to the distribution of the various forces. Hakím Abú-l Fath hastened off with some forces to the fort of Jag-dara. The Rájá was incensed at this separation, and nursed his angry feelings.

In the morning they met at the fort. Kokaltásh prepared a feast, and invited his colleagues. But the Rájá refused to attend, and sent to say, that the best thing to be done was for experienced men to meet and determine on the course to be pursued. Kokal-tásh repressed his anger, and went to the Rájá. Other chiefs also went with him, and represented that it would be best to recognize Kokaltásh as chief, and meet to consult at his abode. At this council the Rájá and the Hakím spoke hotly, and then abused each other; but by the conciliatory conduct of Kokaltásh, they were appeased. * * He then proposed that a force should be left to hold the fort, while the rest of the army marched against the enemy. He thought that the fresh forces might undertake this work, while he remained with the old force to protect the centre of the country; or if they preferred, they might remain at Jag-dara, while he went to chastise the moun­taineers. The Rájá and the Hakím rejected both propositions, and said it was the Emperor's desire, not that they should occupy the country, but that they should inflict chastisement on the enemy, and hasten back to Court. Kokaltásh remonstrated that it was inexpedient to abandon a country which had been acquired with such difficulty; that the attempt to return through the defiles of the mountains would be rash: if they would not agree to either course he had proposed, and were determined to return, the best plan would be to proceed by the way they had come, for that was practicable for an army, and the enemy could not stop them. They adhered to their own proposition, and Kokaltásh weakly put aside his duties as a general, lest his associates should convey their complaints to the Emperor, and excite his dis­pleasure. They were afraid that if they marched separately, their attempts would fail, and they would incur disgrace; so fate had its way, and the word was given for the march of the whole army, and the Rájá and the Hakím received the command of the right and left wing. * *