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by Raja Ahmad Ali Shah Jagirdar of Kharmang. The description of the conquest of Baltistan will not be complete without its complete translation which is at Appendix “C”.

Mehta Basti Ram was one of the principal Officers of Wazir Zorawar Singh during his campaign of Baltistan. He was governor of Leh, when Cunningham visited Ladakh. At his request, Mehta Basti Ram dictated to him the events of the expedition. It seems necessary to reproduce that account in full, which is at Appendix “E”

When Ahmad Shah surrendered to Wazir Zorawar Singh and the enemy started plundering Kharfocho, the foster mother of Amir Haider, son of Raja Ahmad Shah, said the following elegy called “AMIR HAIDER”.

BALTI

1.                  dene chine famze song zulum shakhmet kun thone le cho amir haider.

2.                  YARI BALANA CHHOKHFA YUD NA GHONINO ANO SKORI LE CHO AMIR HAIDER.

3.                  YARI BURGEY NA LUNGBING DUSHMAN KONI HARMAQSA KHEONED LE CHO AMIR HAIDER.

4.                  YARI AZANA CHHOKFA YUD NA GHONI NO ANO SKORI LE CHO AMIR HAIDER.

5.                  YARI GHODI GHANGRI KHA YAQGO PONI HARTASKOR TANED LE CHO AMIR HAIDER.

6.                  YARI BONG PE THOQNA CHHOKFA YUD NA GHONI NO ANO SKORI LE CHO AMIR HAIDER.

7.                  YARI KHARFOCHEY AIWANING KHARMANG PONG DAM SE THONED LE CHO AMIR HAIDER.

8.                  YARI BALA NA CHHOKFA YUD NA GHONI NO ANO SKORI LE CHO AMIR HAIDER.

9.                  YARI SHAMDUM SHAGHARANING KHAPOLO PONG DAM SE THONED LE CHO.