Indian Antiquary Vol 17

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 28

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1888.
with his guns, in the company of the prince Mahârâjâ he was much vexed, but his relaSher Singh, to march to the rebellions district, tions with the lady being of so delicate a nature, whilst the Dewan Ramdial was to proceed in he said nothing of any intention to punish her. the same direction with the forces of the govern- Meanwhile several months elapsed. The Rani ment. When the Sikhs arrived in the Hazara Sada Kanwar threw to the winds her loyalty country they met with great opposition, but and assumed a hostile attitude, besides placing as soon as their artillery begun to play upon herself under the protection of the English by the enemy they gave way and disappeared, surrendering to them her ansestral qasba whereon the Sikhs unmercifolly plundered the Badhani, where she herself intended to take up district. As soon as the high officials had begun her residence after crossing the Satluj. At this to regulate the administration, Sada Kanwar, news the Maharaja immediately summoned the mother of Sher Singh, also arrived with the lady to his presence, and reproached her her forces, and, being a lady of great re- for being in her old age yet attached to the sources and much tact (for she was respected world, and for having injured the interests of as if she had been a man), proposed that her son, who was also his own, by offering her posthe people of Rahtia, a tribe on Mount sessions to the English, and threatened to abase Darband, shonld be attacked, and hostilities her to the dust if she refused to give a share renewed for the purpose of subduing them, of everything she possessed to Sher Singh. because in her opinion they would otherwise At these words Sadâ Kanwar heaved a dee sigh, again canse disturbances. Accordingly the shed a flood of tears, and said never & word, Prince Shør Singh marched to annihilate bat determined, in order to save her honour, them with sword and gun, but they resisted secretly to depart to the English. She executed most valiantly, and being very numerous, her design, but, being overtaken by troops sent surrounded the Sikhs, who were relieved in pursuit, she was captured, brought back, and only after the Diwan Ramdial had come to put in chains. Moreover, foroes were sent to their rescue, and after putting the rebels her district to take possession of all her movto flight pursued them to their strongholdable property, money and jewellery, to expel of Rahtia. But whilst on the march, some her officials from every locality, and to take of the brigands rushed from an ambush to forcible possession of her favourite residence, attack him, and although the Diwan fought the fort of Mukért. The forces reached the bravely, prostrating a number of his assail- said fort, but were received with a shower of ants, they slew him at last. When the Prince bullets, and, having no siege artillery at their Sher Singh was informed of what had befallen disposal, were unable to take it, whereon the the Diwan, he swore to avenge him by exter- Maharaja sent reinforcements and a sufficient minating every one of the rebels, and in number of guns in command of Davichand, doing so he burnt all their habitations likewise. whom the Maharani Sada Kanwar was comWhen this information reached the Mahârâjâ pelled to accompany, and to order to devastate he was so pleased with the exploit of his son, the country. At Vatala, the first locality that he wrote to Sadâ Kanwar to be proud of of note which this commander reached, he her boy, and to surrender to Shør Singh caused rivers of blood to flow, but afterwards all her estates, appointing him her successor. endeavoured to console the inhabitants by The lady, incensed at the proposal, sent back establisliing a regular administration. Then & message to the effect that she was amazed he made raids on all sides and devastated at Ranjit Singh's greed after wealth, as she everything till he reached the Biyâs, which he had given him everything she was possessed of : crossed, and hastened to Mukôrî, commencing that when she took LÂhôr with an army from forthwith to distress it by his artillery ; but a foe, she had surrendered it to him, protected its defenders, faithful to the last, averred him, raised him to the throne, and even made they would rather sacrifice their lives than him her husband; and that having now become surrender the fort without a written command decrepit and old, she was by no means willing to that effect from Sada Kanwar, whom alone to part with her wealth and means of subsist- they obeyed. Accordingly Devichand requested ence. When these words were repeated to the the lady to give the needful orders, but she