1854] A Sketch of the Mahomedan History of Cashmere. 411 



Thibet, being forced to fly his country, appeared in Cashmere, and 

 attempted to gain over to his cause Eamchund the hereditary 

 commander-in-chief of the army of Cashmere, which chief assigued 

 to him his fort of Koknigera for his residence. It will be seen 

 that these three worthies either iu their own persons or in those 

 of their descendants played conspicuous parts in the history of 

 the country. 



Towards the close of Eaja Sudeo's reimi a Turk, Zoolkudr 

 Khan, invaded Cashmere with an army of 70,000 horse from 

 Kashmurra by the Baramoola pass,upon which the cowardly Sudeo 

 immediately fled to Kishtewar. The Turks then sacked the country, 

 where they luxuriated in plenty for six months ; after which, provi- 

 sions failing, they attempted to return, but perished to a man in the 

 snow above the Deosir Pergunnah : previous to this their numbers 

 had been reduced by war and luxury to 50,000. On their departure, 

 anarchy ensued in Cashmere for a time ; parties of robbers and in- 

 dependent zemindars infested the country. 



On the flight of the king to Kishtewar, Ramchund, the com- 

 mander-in-chief, had retreated to his fort of Koknigera, where he 

 held his own during the subjugation of the country by the Turks. 



The Eaja of Thibet, Eanjpoee, deeming this a favourable oppor- 

 tunity of gaining possession of the throne, introduced himself with 

 a few followers in the disguise of merchants into Koknigera, and 

 slew Eamchund, whose daughter Kotereen he married. He then 

 seized the vacant throne of Cashmere, and made Eawanchund, his 

 wife's brother, commander-in-chief, and despatched him to Thibet as 

 viceroy of that country. The fugitive king Sudeo, seeing tins 

 state of things, now attempted to return, but, meeting with no 

 encouragement from his former subjects, again fled to Kishtewar and 

 finally vacated his throne after a reign of nineteen years, three 

 months and twenty-five days. 



A. D. 1323. — Eanjpoee or Einshan Shah being now established 

 on the throne, made the prince Shahmir minister, and, although he 

 had raised himself to the dignity of king by an act of violence, 

 seems, when once his power was secure, to have ruled with wisdom 

 and justice, and many acts in which these qualities were exhibited 

 are recorded of him. He appears also to have been troubled with 



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