Indian Antiquary Vol 17

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

Page 95

MARCH, 1888.]
ZAFARNAMA-I-RANJIT SINGH.
85
months undisputed, but the military party was Sher Singh, was slain in a dastardly manner dissatisfied, and believed that a woman could by the Sardar Lahna Singh, Sindhanwalia. not possess the valour, the knowledge, and the The turbulent faction then marched into tact required for governing, although a solitary LÂ hôr, and Raja Dhyan Singh the waxir, was example in which these qualities are united, is slain in the fort by the abovenamed Ajit Singh, existing in the world, in Queen Victoria, who who fired at him, whilst defending himself is, however, guided by the wise counsels of her on horseback against the invading crowd. ministry! Shor Singh, having accordingly When the conspirators had gained supremacy, been invited to assume the reins of Govern- they indulged for several days in revelling, and ment, marched with his forces from Vatâlâ, the population, dreading worse consequences, but on arriving at the gates of Lâhôr, found trembled with fear. The Raja Hira Singh, them closed. He then occupied the town and who was at that time with the army, and had laid siege to the garrison, which he attacked heard what had taken place, appealed to the and compelled to surrender three days after Khalsas troops to aid him to avenge the wards, chiefly through the instrumentality of murder of his father Dhyan Singh, as well as that the Maharaja Gulab Singh, who had returned of the Mahârâjâ Shêr Singh, and to place upon just in time from Jammun, and brought the the throne Dallp Singh, a son of the Maharaja negotiations to a satisfactory issue.
Ranjit Singh. This appeal having been eagerly 42. When Sher Singh attained the supreme responded to, the troops marched to the fort power, the opposing Sindhanwalia faction and opened a cannonade opon it which lasted was dismayed, and its chiefs forthwith sought the whole day, and the enemies having no refuge in the British territory. Meanwhile the ammunition began to evacuate the fort during new sovereign was endeavouring by the aid of the night, but it was surrounded by the troops, his faithful wazir Dhyan Singh, to restore who succeeded in capturing, among others, security, to regulate the administration, and to three of the chief miscreants, namely, Ajît promote the welfare of his subjects, and trying Singh, who had killed the Maharaja, Lahna also, by dispensing justice and by a liberal dis- Singh who had murdered the son of the latter, tribution of presents, to gain their affections. and Misr Ghasita, a close ally of the Sindhán. After two years bad elapsed in this manner a wâliâ Sardárs. These three men were at serious estrangement arose between Shêr Singh once executed, their bodies dragged by ropes and his wasîr, the breach being widened by through the bázárs and streets of the city, and malevolent persons who suggested new causes then left to be devoured by beasts and birds. for disagreement to both. The chief cause 43. When the Raja Hira Singh had wreaked appears to have been the anxiety of the Maha- vengeance upon his foes, by making free use rájå for reconciliation with the Sindhâti waliâs of the sword, the prince Dalip Singh was which the wazir disapproved of, and as placed upon the throne. Hîra Singh went to the will appear further on, rightly so, because it | darbár, and was considered worthy to remain cost both of them their lives. Nevertheless wazir, but his counsellor the Pandit Jalla, an the Maharajâ invited many of the said faction honest intelligent Brahman and a good administo return to the Pañjâb, appointed them to trator, made use of severity in the execution of high stations, bestowed upon them jágirs, and his duties, in which he pressed so hard upon songht to please them in every way. Out- the amirs by extorting money from them, wardly they were thankful and friendly, but that he exasperated them. Moreover Jawahir that all this loyalty was feigned, appeared Singh, one of their number, who relied upon plainly when the Sardar Ajit Singh, Sindhan. his position as maternal uncle of the Maharaja wali, took aim at Sher Singh as he sat in Dalip Singh, and was the first to rebel against darbár, at Shahdara near Labor, and shot him the haughty counsellor, was thrown into prison dead. On the same occasion also Kanwar by the waxir. Incensed at the presumption of his Partab Singh, the little son of the Maharaja thus summarily dealing with her brother, the
* Literally meaning "puro, seloot," because those troops consisted only of Sikhs. The word is of Arabic origin but is used in all the Muhammadan languages.
[If the above abstract correctly represents the tort this is a new version of these well-known eventu-Eul