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OCTOBER, 1887.)
ZAFARNAMA-I-RANJIT SINGH.
311
Singh now continued his march towards Multân, for the purpose of subduing the Nawab of and was not more than fifteen miles distant Multan, who had become insolent, and had from it, when a courier arrived in great haste sheltered Ahmad Khân, the fugitive chief of from the Paõjab with the information that Jhang. Meanwhile the Raj& of Patiala had Sindhia and Hulkar, Mahârâjâs of Indôr and sent & message that the chiefs of Nâbhâ and Ujjain, had arrived as guests in Amritsar with Kaithal had made common cause against an army of many thousand men, to ask for the him and attacked him, because Naru'nnissa, aid of Ranjit Singh against the English, who the widow of Ilias Rao being pardanishin had defeated them, and that they had crossed and unable to carry on the management of the Satlaj and come to Amritsar pursued her estate, had sold it to them; and lastly by the victorious Lord Lake. The courier that the Raja of Jînd had likewise allied also added that the population was in great himself to the two just mentioned chiefs. The terror of the foreign army, and apprehensive above message being accompanied by a most that it might indulge in plander. Ranjit valuable necklace of precious stones as a Singh, who had been amusing himself with nagarána from the Raja of Patiala to Ranjit the chase, immediately detached a portion of Singh, he lent a more willing ear to the request his forces, and leaving a trustworthy man, for aid than he would otherwise have done, Dal Singh by name, to govern the conquered and accordingly marched from Lahôr. After district of Mahtam, hurried to Lahor. He crossing the Biyås, he was joined by Fath was met before entering the city by an envoy of Singh, the chief of Kapurthala, and they the Mahârâjâ Jaswant Singh Hulkar) who sent went together to the fort of Jalandhar. a number of valuable presents, and requested Buddhå Singh, its commander, locked the gates, his aid against the English, who had driven but on receiving a friendly letter, including him from his country. .Ranjit Singh answered a threat of punishment in case of refusal that he would be unable to concentrate all his to wait apon Ranjit Singh, he collected a forces in less than two months, whereas those of round sum of money from the inhabitants as & the English were already at the heels of the nazarana for the Mahârâjâ, who then accepted Mahârâjâ Jaswant; and then marched to his allegiance and invested him with & robe Amritsar, where he met the latter and enter- of honour. After this the Maharajâ went to tained him in a royal manner, feasting unin- Nakodar, but amused himself a few days terruptedly during four days and nights. Mean- with hunting before he pitched his camp near while a courier arrived with the information that the town. The inhabitants were frightened a 'groat English army had crossed the Satluj and locked the gates, and refused to supply and encamped on the Pañjâb side, whilst the the army with provisions, which thereon commander was yet on the other, but would plundered and burnt their dwellings. When soon follow. To the request of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh was informed of this state Jaswant for advice, Ranjit Singh replied that of affairs, he immediately left his hunting he had no quarrel with the English, that they ground, hastened to the spot, and reproving had become the masters of Hindustan, and that his soldiers, put an end to their depredations. for fear of losing his kingdom the Mahârâjâ When the Mahårija approached Phillaur ought likewise to seek their friendship and to Dlrarm Singh the Sardár of that locality came sue for peace; it being as useless to attempt to meet him with a handsome nazardna and hostilities against them as to threaten the sun afterwards hospitably entertained him. When with one's fist. This advice the Maharaja he crossed the Satlaj and arrived in Lodiana Jaswant accepted, concluded peace with the he found that the chief of that locality had fled. English, and departed.
He abstained however from plundering it and When Ranjit Singh returned from Amritsar marched to Jhagrawan. Here he levied tribute to Lahor, he set about augmenting his army and was waited upon by various chiefs, among to twice its previous strength, and provided it whom were also the two distinguished lords of with the necessary artillery and ammunition, Nabha and of Jînd, all bringing nagdranas.
Tila Rao had been j>rdar during the Mughal government, but his ancestors having been Hindus, he retained the title of Blo.
