1854.] A Sketch of the Mahomedan History of Cashmere. 447 



into an army of 40,000 men. Thus backed lie considered himself 

 powerful enough to resist Ahmed Shah to whom he refused to pay 

 any tribute, and being a popular man and a good and just governor, 

 seems to have aimed at rendering his country independent and him- 

 self a king ; but a terrible punishment was in store for the ambitious 

 Eajah. The wrath of Ahmed Shah (A. D. 1754,) had long been 

 kindled against the refractory Cashmeries, but his attention had 

 been distracted by more important matters, until on his return to 

 Lahore in the year 1754 A. D. he was at leisure to turn his eyes 

 towards the rebellious province and deemed it a favourable oppor- 

 tunity of chastising the leader of the insurrection. 



He accordingly entered into an alliance with Eunjeet Dehn of 

 Jummoo, guided by whose advice and aid he despatched an army 

 under Noor-ood-deen Khan to invade Cashmere. Sookh Jewan 

 collected his allies and advanced to meet him at the head of 50,000 

 men ; he was however deserted by his nobles, seized and blinded 

 by the successful Noor-ood-deen, who sent him in chains before 

 the Emperor Ahmed Shah under whose horse and those of his 

 courtiers the unfortunate man was trampled to death. 



In his misfortunes he cried : 



A. D. 1754. — Noor-ood-deen Khan then became governor of 

 Cashmere, over which he ruled with moderation for-more than eight 

 years ; he was then recalled by Ahmed Shah, who replaced him by 

 Bullund Khan Soodozie (A. D. 1762.) He proved a good governor, 

 but endeavoured to restore the exhausted country and remitted all 

 taxes, for which reason falling, like his predecessor, under Ahmed 

 Shah's displeasure, he was recalled after two years, (A. D. 1764,) and 

 the good Noor-ood-deen Khan installed a second time as governor. 

 He, however, after a short time, hearing he was to be shortly 

 superseded, anticipated his orders, and leaving his nephew Jan 

 Mahomed Khan as Naib, proceeded to Kabool to plead his own 

 cause before the Emperor. Nevertheless Ahmed Shah (A. D. 1765,) 

 appointed Kurrum Khan governor, who retained for three months 

 an uncertain tenure of power, his authority being resisted by a 

 certain Lall Khan. Observing this, Faqueer Khunt attacked 



