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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1887.
after the last expedition, which had lasted homage, and he proceeded to perform his several months, the army stood in need of rest. devotions in the temple of Râm Dâs, as well as When Ranjit Singh had reached the vicinity his ablutions in the sacred tank, bestowing on of Multân, he perceived that he would meet latter occasion abundant alms upon the needy. with resistance, and accordingly indited a Thence he departed to the fort of the friendly letter to Mugaffar Khan, the Nawab Bhangts and being received with a shower of that province.
of bullets, some of his men fell. On this 17. The letter to the Nawab informed him the Mahârâjâ ordered Fath Singh to aid him that Ranjit Singh, who had attained great in the assault of the fort, and they succeeded power, had nevertheless come as a friend and in taking it. This great victory, in consenot to wage war, but he required the allegiance quence of which the power of Ranjit Singh of the Nawab, and desired admission to the fort increased considerably, took place in St. of Multân as his guest, and threatened him 1867 (A.D. 1810), and he commemorated it with hostilities in case of refusal.
with great rejoicings as well as largesses on 18. The Nawab replied with many polite his return to Lahôr. expressions, but advised Ranjit Singh to re- 20. After having rested from his expedimain content with the possession of the Paõjab, tion to Amritsar, Ranjit Singh was informed and not to covet his small territory, which he that Ahmad Khan the governor of Jhang, would, in spite of his weakness, defend to the had collected troops and was aspiring to inntmost if need be.
dependence. Accordingly the Mahârâjâ sent 19. The Maharaja, displeased with the him a letter of admonition, which, proving of no Nawab's answer, attacked him and drove him avail, he marched in person towards Jhang, into the fort of Multân, and the Sikhs plan- and received on the road all who were inclined dered the town most thoroughly, whereon the to pay him homage. The governor, however, Nawab pleaded for mercy, and promised alle- being still ready for hostilities was attacked giance. In the end he paid a large sum of money, and driven into his fort, which yielded after and Ranjit Singh marched back to Lâhôr, where a siege of only three days. He was deserted he spent four months in pleasure, and eele- by his adherente, except Nagrat Khân, who firmly brated the Hôli festival with great rejoicings. stood by him. At last however both fled and Whilst thus engaged, the Mahârâjâ suddenly when the Mahârâjà entered the fort, he found received a message that the perverse and envious not a living sonl in it. All the treasure, faction of the Bhangts 'had rebelled and artillery, ammunition and horses fell into the determined to march from Amritsar on the day possession of Ranjit Singh, who appointed a of the Baisâ khi feast" to Lâhör and to overthrow new governor to the district, and sending all his government. This information being of the treasure to Lâhôr to be out of danger, congreatest importance, Ranjit Singh communi- tinued his march, intending to pursue Ahmad cated it to no one, but waited till his guests at Khan as far as Multân, where he was supposed the Holi banquet had all dispersed, and none re- to have taken refuge, and to capture him mained, except Fath Singh, whom he consulted. there. He soon crossed the river at the Then be prepared his army and desiring to celebrated Trimmûn Ferry and arriving near crush the insurrection in the bud, hastened Oohh sent a message to Naga Sultan, the with the entire force to Amritsar, the gates of governor of that place, that, being a Sayyid which were immediately locked by order of and a faqir, he ought to abandon the pursuit Gurdas Singh, the successor of Gulab Singh. of worldly affairs and of wealth, by retiring He had, however, with his three hundred from his post and adopting a religious adherents been defeated before retiring within life. Någa Sultan being too weak to offer the walls, nor could the place long resist the resistance, humbly waited upon the Maharaja Mahârâj, so that he marched in after the to whom he yielded all his wealth, and proLungadh Gate had been broken in by his mised to pay tribute annually, whereon he was troops. The population then paid him confirmed in his post of governor. Ranjit
* The first of the month Baisakh, April-May, when multitude of Sikha congregato, for ablution, in the mized tank of Amritsar.
