242 SKETCH OF THE SIKH^^ 



the Sikhs, whom he encouraged to plunder the territories af AuMEm 



Shah Abda'li, 



The Afghan monarch, resenting this predatory warfare, in which the' 

 governor of Lahore was supported by the eourt of Dehli, determinecf 

 upon invading India. Adina Beg, unable to oppose him, fled; and the 

 Sikhs could only venture to plunder the baggage, and cut off the strag- 

 glers of the Afghan army, by which they so irritated Ahmed Shah, that 

 he threatened them with punishment on his return ; and when he marched 

 to Cdbul, he left his son, Taimur Kha'n, and his Vizir , Jeha'n Kha'n, at 

 Lahore, with orders to take vengeance on the Sikhs for all the excesses 

 which they had committed^ The first expedition of Taimur Kha n was 

 against their capital, Amritsar, which he destroyed, filling up their sacred 

 tank, and polluting all their places of worship ; by which a6lion he pro- 

 voked the whole race, to such a degree, that they all assembled at Lahore, 

 and not only attempted to cut off the communication between the fort and 

 country, but coliefted and divided the revenues of the towns and village^ 

 around it. Taimur Kha'n, enraged at this presumption, made several 

 attacks upon them, but was constantly defeated; and, being at last re- 

 duced to the necessity of evacuating Lahore, and retreating to Cdbut, the 

 Sikhs, under one of their celebrated leaders, called Jasa SiNh Cala'l, 

 immediately took possession of the vacant Subah of Lahore, and ordered 

 rupees to be coined, with an inpression to the following imrport: " coined 

 " by the grace of Khalsah ji, in the country of Ahmed, conquered h^^ 

 " Jasa Sinh Calal/' 



The Sikhs, who were so deeply indebted to the 'forbearance of • Adi'n^ 

 Be'g Kha^n, now considered themselves above ' the power of that .chief, 

 who, in order to regain his government from them and the Afghans y was 



