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“Conquest of Tibet. The Imperial order was now given that Zafar Khan, governor of Kashmir, should assemble the force under his command, and effect the conquest of that country. Accordingly he collected nearly eight thousand horses and foot, composed of Imperial forces, men of his own, and retainers of the marzbans of his province. He marched by the difficult route of Karchabarh, and in the course of one month he reached the District of Skardu, the first place of importance in Tibet, and on this side of the Nilab (Indus). All Rai, father of Abdal, the present Marzban of Tibet, had built upon the summits of two high mountains two strong forts-the higher of which was called Kaharphucha, and the other Kahchana. Each of them had a road of access “like the neck of a reed, and the curve of a talon”. The road of communication between the two was on the top of the mountain. Abdal shut himself up in the fort of Kaharphucha. He placed his minister and general manager in the fort of Kahchana, and he sent his family and property to the fort of Shakar (Shigar), which stands upon a high mountain on the other side of the Nilab Zafar Khan, after examining the height and strength of the fortresses, was of opinion that it was in-expedient to invest and attack them; but the he saw that the military and the peasantry of Tibet were much distressed by the harsh rule of Abda, and resolved to win them over by kindness. Then he sent a detachment to subdue the fort of Shakar, and to make prisoners of the family of Abdal. The whole time which the army could keep the field in this country was two months; for if it remained longer, it would be snowed up. It was for this reason that he sent Mir Fakhru-d-din with four thousand men, against the fort of Shakar, while he himself watched the fort in which Abdal was. He next sent Hasan, nephew of Abdal, with some other men of Tibet, who had entered into the Imperial service, and some zamindars of Kashmir, who had friendly relations with the people of the country, to endeavor by persuasion and promises to gain over the people. Mir Fakhr passed over the river Nilab, and laid siege to the fort. Daulat, son of Abdal, about fifteen years of age, was in charge of the fort. He sallied out to attach the besiegers, but was driven back with loss. The besiegers then advanced, and opened their trenches against the gate on the Skardu side. The son of Abdal was so frightened by these proceedings, that, regardless of his father’s family (in the fort), he packed up the gold, silver, and what was portable, and escaped in the night by the Kashghar gate. Mir Fakhrud-din, being apprised of his flight, entered the fort. He could not retrain his followers from plundering; but he took charge of Abdal’s family. A force was sent in pursuit of the son, which could not overtake him, but returned with some gold and silver he had thrown away on the road. On hearing of this victory, Zafar Khan pressed on the siege of Kaharpocha and Kahchana. The governor and the garrison of the latter