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CHAPTER X

Later Conquests

A brief sketch must now be given of the principal victories of the Mahárájá over Muhammadan rivals and enemies; the subjugation of the Mussulman tribes in the north and central districts, and the acquisition of Múltán, Kashmír, Pesháwar, and the Deraját[1].

The ancient city and district of Múltán were ruled by an Afghán family of the royal blood, who were appointed Nawábs in 1738, at the time of Nadír Sháh's invasion, when the Mughal Government was anxious to strengthen its outlying provinces by a system of decentralization which it was too weak to control. Between 1771 and 1779, the city was held, with some intervals, by the Bhangi Sirdárs, but they were finally ousted by King Timúr, and in the last-named year, Muzaffar Khán was appointed governor. He was a brave and energetic man, and held his own

  1. The full account of the Mahárájá's Múltán campaigns is to be found in the biographies of the Saddozni Chiefs of Múltán and Diwán Sáwan Mall, at pp. 475-489 and 272-285 of the Punjab Chiefs, and the Kashmír campaign in the biography of Diwán Mokham Chand, pp. 551-560.