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APRIL, 1888.)
ZAFARNAMA-I-RANJIT SINGH.
99
meeting the Maharaja Dalip Singh on the At this time difficulties arose with Malraj, road, entered the town with him. In order the Governor of Multan, who delayed paying to make the Khalsa troops harmless they tribute to the English. Accordingly Sir were disbanded, and there being no money on Frederick Currie, the Resident at Lahôr, dehand to pay the stipulated hundred lákhs of spatched two English gentlemen, Vans Agnew rupees, Kashmir was taken possession of by and Anderson, with Kåņh Singh to collect the the British Government, but forth with again tribute ; but Mulraj, who was foolhardy bestowed upon Gulab Singh with the title of enough to meditate war against the British Maharaja. After this the Governor-General Government, had them killed three days after departed, leaving the troops in Lähôr, to their arrival. The troops of the Sikh darbár remain nine months for the maintenance of as well as of the British Government marched order; but when the said period of time had immediately, and besieged Multân. Among the expired the Maharajá Dalip Singh was still first named, however, the Sardar Sher Singh apprehensive of disturbances, and made a Atariwala proved a traitor, and intended with request to the Governor-General to allow the the forces ander his command to join Mûlraj, troops to stay several years more, till he attained who was, however, either too wary or too proud the age of majority and assumed the govern- to accept the proffered aid. Sher Singh then ment. This was granted. At that time the Baja hastened to Pésháwar to meet his father, Chhatar Lal Singh, being prime-minister, presided in Singh Atari wâlâ, and the English, not mindthe darbúr.
ing his defection, continued the siege of Multan, Gulab Singh now departed to take charge which was, however, not taken till reinforceof his newly-acquired possessions, but on his ments had arrived from Karachi." The reason Arrival the Nawab Shekh Imamu'ddin for the diversion Sher Singh Atari walâ had would not give him admittance, whereon troops taken in his departure soon appeared, because were sent against him from Lâhôr, and this, he devastated the Hazárd and the Pêshwar disbeing a convincing argument, had the desired tricts, joining with his father in extorting money effect. The Nawab immediately waited upon everywhere from the wealthy and distressing the noble Resident at Lâhôr, whom he informed the poor. Great numbers of turbulent and that he had stood his ground in Kashmir by disaffected vagabonds also swelled the army order of the darbár, producing at the same of the rebels to such a degree that they were time a letter to that effect, with the signature enabled to make prisoners of several English and seal of Lal Singh. His duplicity having officers and to besiege Colonel George thus become evident, he was removed from his Lawrence. A considerable force of Afghans post, and thrown into prison by the Resident. had also arrived from Kabul to aid Chhatar Neither did the Maharani Chandan, mother of Singh, who was near the Indus when his son Dalip Singh, fare any better, because she had joined him; and his forces having, in a short manifested displeasure at the deposition of the time, increased to double their number, embold
prime-minister, and had meddled with the ad- ened him to occupy Atak and to present a bold ministration. She was accordingly separated front to the English, but meanwhile he plundered from her son and removed to Shekhupura, where the country. The British forces encountered she determined to avenge herself for the injury Chhatar Singh at Râmnagar, where a great she had sustained, and succeeded in inducing a battle took place, in which many thousands of respectable inhabitant of that town, Ganga Ram Sikhs lost their lives : but General Cureton by name, to tamper with the khánsúman or was also killed. The second action was fought chief butler of the English mess-house, who was at Sa'du'llah and the third at ChiliAnwala, in bribed to poison all the officers through their both of which the Sikhs were defeated, and in food. The plot, however, having been revealed the fourth, which took place at Gujrat, they by a confidant of the messman before it could abandoned to the English forces 65 pieces of be executed, the Maharani was exiled to Benares, artillery, and threw away also all their muskets but her two accomplices, namely, Gaugå Ram in the flight. The rebels, having thus been and Kaph Singh, suffered capital punishment. Ivanqaished and dispersed, were no longer in a
* Multán fell in 1848 after a stout resistance.
