1854.] A Sketch of the Mahomedan History of Cashmere. 429 



refused to allow him to leave the country, although he himself, 

 alarmed at the near proximity of the Emperor, expressed his readi- 

 ness to comply, and even went so far as to imprison his son Yakoob 

 Khan. Seeing this state of things, the Emperor despatched an 

 army of 50,000 men under Bugwan Dass to enforce compliance. 

 That leader experienced a check near Attok, but Yoosuf Shah, 

 fearing the ultimate consequences, secretly withdrew from his own 

 army and delivered himself up to Akbar's general, who sent him 

 under an escort to Lahore, where Akbar delivered him over to the 

 custody of his police minister Todar Mull, who kept him under 

 surveillance at that city for upwards of two years, (A. D. 1585,) 

 after which he was sent in command of 500 horse in company with 

 Bajah Maun Sing to Bengal, where he died of grief and despair 

 (1587). On the flight of Yoosuf Sbah his army called upon his 

 son Yakoob Khan to lead them. A second battle ensued, in 

 which the Emperor's army was defeated with the loss of 3,000 men, 

 and was afterwards reduced to such stress amongst the mountains 

 of Hoozara, from cold and want of food, that they are said only to 

 have sustained life by slaughtering their elephants and sleeping 

 within their still warm bodies. The imperial army being thus 

 repulsed, Yakoob Shah (A. D. 1585,) ascended the throne of 

 Cashmere over which he reigned one and half years. Although of a 

 bravery approaching to recklessness (a quality which usually com- 

 mands the respect of men) this prince was possessed but of little 

 judgment and unlit to rule. He was also of the Shiah sect of 

 Mahomedans, the Soonee sect being the predominant one in Cash- 

 mere, which circumstances combined to render him obnoxious to 

 his nobles, a party of whom headed by Shums-ood-deen Chukk, 

 Alumgire, Magrey, Allie Dar, and Hussan Mullick broke into open 

 revolt and a struggle, which lasted seven (7) days, ensued in the 

 capital city of Srinug^er, but neither party being victorious, a con- 

 ference took place and the Kamraj was guaranteed to the nobles. 

 The truce was however soon broken through, owing to the insolence 

 of the Shiah priests, and hostilities recommenced, which ended in 

 the rebel nobles being forced to retreat to the mountains of the 

 Kohihama. The Shiah priests, who seem to have possessed great 

 influence over the king's mind, now instigated Yakoob Shah to still 



