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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[NOVEMBER, 1887.
marched ostensibly for the purpose of hunting force destined to punish the miscreants. The to the Dåman-i-Kôh, but when he arrived at prince besieged the fort, but was soon obliged Pathankot he found that the officer who to write to his father that its garrison was commanded that fort for Sansar Chand had defending it obstinately, thereon Ranjit Singh locked the gates ; accordingly he attacked and himself arrived with siege guns, reduced the took it. Then Ranjit Singh crossed the Ravi fort, incorporated the troops with his own army, and marched to Jasrota, the Râjâ of which, and bestowed the district as a jáger upon the who professed to be a Råjpût, met him young prince, whose mother was to reside in the and promised to pay tribute. The Raja of fort. Lastly the Maharajê returned to LAhôr. Chamba was equally compliant, and submit- 23. It was now brought to the notice of ted as soon as the sovereign of the Pañjâb the English that Ranjit Singh had made himappronched. After having for some time self master of the whole Pañjáb, and the indulged in the pastime of hunting, roamed Government desired to be on friendly terms about, and secured the allegiance of various with him. Mr. Metcalfe was accordingly sent chiefs, Ranjit Singh determined to subdue two from Dehli as an ambassador to the capital of more of them who had kept aloof and not the Psõjab with credentials, and a number of cared to wait upon him. He intended to presents from the Governor-General to the punish them for this, and at once marched to Maharaja, who being pleased with these Sialkot whose chief, Jiwan Singh, had accu- cordial advances, entertained the ambassador mulated a great deal of money, but whose hospitably, but delayed replying to the letter force consisted of not more than one thousand he had brought, and meanwhile assigned to men. Jiwan Singh locked the gates of his fort, him Amritsar for his residence. Whilst there, which was taken after a short siege, and the Mr. Metcalfe became witness of a strange garrison having fled Ranjit Singh annexed disturbance, which was however easily quelthe district to his dominions. When the Mahl- led by the strong hand of Ranjit Singh. The râjâ approached the town of Gujrat which cause of this was that the ambassador had is at the same distance from the Chinab as arrived with a large escort, which was in Sialkot, but on the right side, sahib Singh reality a small army, ready for combat. The Bhangt, its governor, trembled with fear, and month of Muharram happened just to begin immodiately sent a number of presents, one when this escort was quartered about the town, of them being a cannon formerly belonging and as it consisted of Muslims, the tenth of the to Ahmad Shah Darrânî, the like of which in month, on which the Imam Hussain was slain, size could not be found in the whole of the became a day of ostentatious wailing and Panjab, and the report of which resembled lamentation to the whole party. At last even thander. These gifts were accepted and propi- the tähbút was paraded with the same noisy tiated Ranjit Singh. Nidhan Singh the chief demonstrations of sorrow as in the rest of of Daskha likewise approached the Mahârî jê India, and the procession file passed near the with presents, as soon as he heard of his Akalt troops, who were excitable and most arrival, and Alam Khan, the chief of fanatical Sikhs, considering themselves to be the Akhnor did the same, whereon he was like special disciples of Guru Gobind, and always wise received into favour.
ready to fight and to plunder. When they perThus Ranjit Singh progressed onwards to the ceived the Muslims thus plunged in grief, their plains, collecting tribute and receiving homage, religious enthusiasm was inflamed, and they and at last reached Lahôr, where he in- attacked them sword in hand, tore their flags, augurated great festivities; but whilst en- and destroyed their táhodt; whereon the Enggaged in these, the information arrived from lish forces, apprized of what was taking place, Shokhupura that two freebooters, the Birdars came out and fired upon the Akalis with Albol Singh and Amir Singh, had taken military precision and destroyed many lives. possession of that place and were, with their At that moment the Mahårâjâ also made followers, plundering the surrounding country. his appearance, and expressing his disapproThe Mahârâjâ accordingly appointed his own val at the fanaticism of the Akalis, reconciled son Kanwar Kharak Singh to command the the English troops by giving them presents.
