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and fled towards Peshawar with a handful of loyal followers. Travelling at breakneck speed he reached the fort of Ashik Khan Shinwari, one of his staunch adherents, on the way. The King, in spite of the advice and entreaties of his followers, decided to pass a night there. But this Ashik turned out to be a traitor. He received the King and his retinue with outward courtesy, but contrary to the Afghan principles of hospitality and "ninawatay" (asylum), detained the honourable guests and sent a swift messenger to Mahmud informing him of Shah's confinement.
Fateh Khan, without losing time, sent Asad Khan, one of his younger brothers, to secure Zaman Shah and his party. The Minister and his master fell prisoners into the hand of their enemy. Wafadar Khan, with his brothers, were put to death, while the poor King was deprived of his eye-sight. The blinded Zaman was taken to Kabul and cast into prison at Bala Hissar, where he remained until the end of Mahmud's reign.
Thus fell one of the greatest of Afghan kings, who for many years had been a "ghastly
Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.