106 Karl Marx —History of Ladakh. [No. 2, 
the princess conceived. He afterwards married yet another lady, the 
T’sun-mo Pal-Kyid of Pal-kyum, and yet a third, Zora-k’a-t’nn. It was 
in the Water-horse year (1822) that he took these three wives, and it 
was in the same Water-horse year also, that the king of Jammu’s, 
Gulab Singh’s Wazir, Zorawar, with some Ra-ya-si-yi, arrived in Kar-t’se. 
The Ladakh captain and army were sent. At Kar-tse they met and 
three engagements ensued, in which many sipoys were killed. Im¬ 
mediately a report was sent in (giving an account) of how matters 
stood, but the king and dowager-queen only replied : “ If you don’t do 
your best, you will be censured ! ” (or : If you do your best, you will not 
be censured !) kind words they gave none (“ We will be gracious,” they 
could not prevail upon themselves to say). Now as there was much 
snow in Pu-rig, and the Indians not accustomed to the cold, the Wazir 
changed his mind and sent a messenger to the captain to say : “ If you 
will give to the Maharaja Gulab Singh a present of about 10,000 
Rupees, we will make peace and go back.” Upon this the Ladakh 
Lon-po and captain of the army took council and they sent in a petition 
worded thus : “ If the king should be kind enough to give this money, 
then his kindness really would betray true solicitude for his people. 
If not, then truly every one of the soldiers, as so many chickens (?) 
are assembled here, and stand praying before him (? and beg) that 
peace be made.” The king also received (this message) graciously. 
He gave command that the sum should be paid from the Ka-wa-chu-pa 
treasury ; but the queen’s influence being the greater (the queen’s counsel 
prevailing over his), it was impossible. He instead sent a rescript say¬ 
ing : “We do not see fit to give the money, and unless you bring Zora- 
war’s head, neither head, nor life, nor fields, houses, property, or food 
will be left to you ! ” (When) the captains and soldiers (heard this mes¬ 
sage), their courage fell (heart failed them). Although they continued 
to fight, yet it was only a half-hearted sort of business. The captains 
also did no longer agree. When the next engagement came off, the 
Ya-ra- ?-nu with 500 sipoys attacked the right wing of the Ladakh 
army. On the left wing the Ladakh men felt dejected and did not 
stir. A surprise force suddenly appeared on the scene and broke into 
their ranks. So the soldiers of all fled in confusion. The Stok Ka-lon, 
18 years of age, who was at the head of the army, was shot by an 
unlooked-for arrow and died. The other head-captain Gyur-med and 
the Lonpo of Nubra survived. Now also the Leli-Lonpo Ngos-dub-stan- 
dzin, who commanded the right wing, gave way. After this, those of 
the nobility who had formerly been kept in prison by the king turned 
traitors. Showing the Wazir the way they reached Basgo. The king 
also went there and they met. Although the Wazir made it conditional 
