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NOVEMBER, 1887.)
ZAFARNAMA-I-RANJIT SINGH.
339
and afterwards held a darbár in Amritsar, Ata Muhammad and Shah Shaja's became but whilst so engaged, the information arrived prisoners, and Fath Khan, who hated them that Buddha Singh had rebelled, and was un. mortally, believed he had them in his grasp willing to pay tribute, whereon the Mahiraja but was disapppointed by Muhkam Chand, who ordered the Diwan Muhkam Chand to humble took them under his protection. Whereon the him forthwith, by ravaging his district till he Afghan general immediately despatched a submitted, which injunctions were the more courier to Ranjit Singh, with a request to easily carried out as Fath Singh, the Maha- order both these exalted prisoners to be given râjâ of Kapurthall, likewise joined his forces up to him. The question, however, being a to those of the Diwan, but not without knotty one the Mahârâjâ did not wish to devastating the country, and shedding much decide it hastily, and whilst considering what blood in taking the fort Jalandhar. This answer to send a messenger arrived from viotory was commemorated with great rejoic- Talambå with presents from Shah Bêgam, the ings and hospitalities, of which also Sir spouse of Shah Shujata, who had taken up her David Ochterlony partook, and on this occasion residence in that town. The lady expressed too, the wedding of Kharak Singh, the first her anxiety and requested the Mahârâja not born of the Mahârâja, was celebrated.
to surrerder Shah Shuja'a to hiş enemy, Fath 25. At this time Fath Khan, who governed Khải, but to receive him at the court of the district of Pégháwar on behalf of the Låhôr, in which case she promised to present Bovereign of Afghanistan, sent an envoy with Ranjit Singh with the famous diamond, Koh-ipresents to Ranjit Singh to inform him that Nar, which she described as a gem of priceless
Ata Muhammad, governor of Kashmir, had value, and indeed a "mountain of light." cast off his allegiance to the then ruler of The Mahârâja, delighted with the offer, Afghanistân, and had been joined by the fagi- willingly granted the request, and meanwhile tive Shah Shuja'a who hoped to recover his a letter arrived from 'Atå Muhammad, who throne by his aid'; but that the governor of likewise prayed not to be surrendered to Fath Kashmir might at once be reduced to obe-Khân, desired to place his services entirely at dience if the forces of Ranjit Singh were to the disposal of the Mahârâjâ, and offered him co-operate with those of Fath Khan and invade the fort of Atak, which was yet held by Kashmir. Accordingly Ranjit Singh order- Jahåndar Khâů, a commandant whom he had ed his commander-in-chief Diwân Muhkam himself appointed to it. Hereon the Maharaja Chand to march at once to Kashmir; and sent a very complimentary letter to Diwan when the latter reached the frontier Fath Muhkam Chand to thank him for what he had Khân likewise arrived from the direction of done, enjoining him to crush Fath Khâo altoPeshwar. However when they crossed the Pir gether if he should offer further resistance, and Pañjal they found that all the chiefs and Rajasthen to bring Shah Shaja'a to Lahôr with all of the mountains had become unfriendly, and due honour, to treat Ata Mahammad with being unwilling to meet them had gone out of i the greatest consideration, and to make arrangetheir way. When the united forces reached ments with him for taking possession of Atak, Hirapur they first met with resistance, but all of which the Divan promised to effect. defeated. Ata Muhammad, who thereupon re- In due course of time the commander-intreated to the fort of Shërgadh, which they be- chief, Diwan Mahkam Chand arrived with the leaguered, and only took after they had occupied army in Lahor, bringing also Shah Shaja Srinagar and established an Afghan administra- who met with a friendly reception, and obtion. When the fort of Shêrgadh was taken, both tained a provision for his maintenance. Faqir
** The first point across the pass in the Kashmir Valley.
11 This diamond had formerly been on the famous peacock throne, which Aurangzeb constructed, but when Nadir Shsh after his conquest of Dehli, took PORNO sion of the throne, and broke it up, the Koh-i-Nor could not be found. At last, however, the discovery was made through a woman of the harem of the vanquished emperor Muhammad, that he had concealed it in his turban. Accordingly Nadir Shah one day politely
offered him brotherhood by the usual ceremony of exchanging turbans on such an occasion, which the emperor conld not refuse, and thus the dismond fell into the possession of Nadir ShAh. When ShAh Zaman, who had obtained it, was a fugitive, he concealed the diamond in the ghink of a wall, but shAb Shujaa, who had recovered it, was compelled to send it to Ranjit Singh, and in the end it came into the possession of Her Majesty the Queen of England.
