Indian Antiquary Vol 20

SR No.: 032512
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 486
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 234

218
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JUNE, 1891.
Some time afterwards Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General in India, paid a visit to Lâhôr, and sent Dalip Singh to Karachi. Gulab Singh, having remained in Jammun, had no interview with the Viceroy, but when Lord [sic] Napier, the Commander-in-Chief, arrived, Sir John Lawrence went there and conveyed Gulab Singh to Sialkot, where a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief took place.
Mabáraja Gulab Singh, at the commencement of the year 1907,6 travelled via Râmpur to Kaśmir, and Colonel Sir Henry Lawrence and Lady Montgomery and Captain Hudson entered it by way of Nihâl. The Diwan and Ranbir Singh went to receive the party, And Gulab Singh went in a boat as far as Batwara, and lodged his guests in the Kothi Bagh, where he enjoyed their company till they departed on a tour to Skårdô and Ladakh. About this time the auspicious birth of Mian Partab Singh' took place. It was celebrated with great rejoicings, and when Colonel Lawrence departed from Kasmir, the author's father accompanied him as far as La hôr, and then returned to Jammún. Gulab Singh next proceeded in great state with Ranbir Singh, Jawahir Singh, Móti Singh, and other notables to Wazirâbâd. When the party arrived at Suchêtgarh, Mr. John Inglis, Deputy Commissioner of Wazirâbâd, with Mr. Prinsep, met it, and on reaching the cantonment the English troops fired a salute of artillery. At Shahdara, Colonel Sir Henry Lawrence came to meet Galab Singh with Sir Robert Montgomery, Commissioner of Lâhôr, and Lord Napier (of Magdala) who bore at that time the rank of colonel. When the cavalcade approached the cantonment of Wazirabad, Brigadier-General Horsey and other officers came to meet Gulab Singh, and escorted him to his residence. The regiment of infantry and the rasdla of cavalry stationed there were drawn up, and the artillery fired a salute. Mr. [Sir Henry) Elliot, Chief Secretary, with Colonel Sir Henry Lawrence, then paid a visit to Gulab Singh, but for a day or two no interview could take place between him and Lord Dalhousie, the latter having sent excuses through the Secretary that he was suffering from a boil on the leg. When, however, afterwards Gulab Singh proceeded to the tent of the Governor-General, accompanied by the Brigadier and other officials, the troops were drawn out, and a salute was fired. On Galáb Singh's entering the tent the Viceroy went as far as the edge of the carpet to meet him, shook hands with him cordially, and seated him on his right hand. A salute of artillery having again been fired, the distribu. tion of presents began, and the Viceroy spoke in a friendly manner, especially when he bestowed a robe of honour on Ranbir Singh. Then he said : " Your father has risen to his high station under the sway of the late Maharaja Ranjit Singh, whose image he is said to be still worshipping, and I hope that you will, in your turn, be likewise loyal to Her Majesty the Queen." At the same time he handed him her miniature set in a ring. Raņbir Singh replied, that as he had greatly profited by his father's services to Ragjit Singh, he had himself gained ten-fold more from the graciousness of Her Majesty whom he would loyally serve with body and soul. The Diwan received a robe of honour, and obtained, in addition, at the request of Sir Henry Law. rence, a horse with a golden saddle, the Viceroy observing that they were given to him as a reward for his loyalty to the government. When the robe of honour was bestowed upon the Diwan Hari. Chand, Major-General Sir Walter Gilbert, commanding officer of the forces in the Pañjáb, rose, and, addressing the Governor General, said that when the British forces parsned the rebels and crossed the Bhôt River, they could not have effected the crossing so easily nor obtained the aid of the Maharajá Gulab Singh's army without the help of the Diwan. Accordingly he received further presents. Various other officers also obtained dresses of honour, and among them the author of this book. Next day the Viceroy paid a return visit to the tent of the Maharajá Gulab Singh and was met half-way by the Mahârâja, who distributed on that occasion costly gifts and fleet horses. The next day & grand review of the troops took place, after witnessing which the Maharajá took leave and departed to Jammun.
A.D. 1850. * This is the present Maharają, whose father, the late Maharaja Ranbir Singh, died on the 12th September 1886.