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36
surrendered. Abdal, in despair at the
progress made by the invaders, and at the loss of his wives and
children, opened negotiations and surrendered the fort of
Kaharphucha. Zafar Khan was apprehensive that the snow would fall
and close the passes and that at the instigation of Abdal, he might
be attacked from the side of Kashmir. So, without making any
settlement of the country, and without searching after Abdal’s
property, he set out on his return, taking with him Abdal, his
family and some of the leading men of the enemy. He left Muhammad
Murad, Abdal’s Vakil, in charge of the country”. Elliot and Dowson
have not mentioned the events after the conquest of Kharpochu which
Zakaullae has described. He writes “The Emperor received this
tiding. In the meanwhile Mir Fakhruddin returned along with the
family of Abdal and two lacs of rupees which had been saved from
being looted. The wives and children of Habib Chak and Ahmad Chak
who had fled to Skardu from Kashmir as a consequence of their
instigation to revolt during the governorship of Itiqad Khan were
also taken prisoners by Zafar Khan. During these days Abdal had sent
them to Kashmir to organize a revolt (against the Moghals) so that
the Imperial army might become disconcerted and discouraged. And,
moreover, Habib Chak who had taken refuge in Tibet during Mirza Ali
Beg’s governorship presented himself before Zafar Khan. Zafar Khan
after provisionally entrusting the administration of Tibet to
Mohammad Murad, the Vakil of Abdal, returned along with the
insersions, lest the passes should close due to snow fall or lest
insurrection should break out (in Kashmir) at the instigation of
trouble makers deputed by Abdal. He neither made any settlement of
the country nor searched for the property of Abdal. When the Emperor
learnt of his return, he sent a Farman to Zafar Khan to the effect
that it was not prudent to entrust the country to Abdal’s Vakil
without ascertaining his loyalty after the country had been invested
and fort captured as well as the Marzbans of the land and the
insurgents had been subdued and without making arrangements for the
settlement of the country and the people.”
The Emperor did not approve of the
arrangements made at Skardu and bestowed the kingdom on Adam Khan.
The latter appointed on Mirza Khan of Kharmang as his deputy to run
the administration on his behalf and he himself preferred to pass
his days in Kashmir and Delhi as he held a ‘Mansab’ at the Imperial
Court.
Bernier (1663)
also refers to the quarrel for succession between the sons of Anchan
when he says: “Since some year since there have been disputes
between the families of the king of Little Tibet. One of the
pretenders to the crown did secretly call for the assistance of
Kachomire who
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