Indian Antiquary Vol 17

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

Page 97

MARCE, 1888.]
ZAFARNAMA-I-RANJIT SINGH.
87
government, and faithfully kept his promise of had any to make. The amirs of the court presenting the Sikh troops with golden neck. trembled with fear, and arrived themselves, laces, but after one lakh of them had been after consultation, at the conclusion that they distributed the treasury was empty; whereon would confront the danger with Jawahir the troopers plundered all the government Singh, the Mahârâni, and the Maharaja Dalip property they could get hold of. Jawahir Singh Singh, which last was to plead for the life then despatched a force to invade Jamman, but of his uncle, uniting his request to the prayer only one encounter took place, in which the of his mother. When the exalted party arrived Sikh Sardar Fath Singh lost his life. Then in the camp, and the troops perceived Dalip Gulab Singh held out bribes to the troops and Singh, they unanimously saluted him, took marched with them to LÅhôr, where he ful- him down from the elephant, but forthwith cut filled his promise. The prince Peshaura Singh to pieces JawAhir Singh who had remained in a son of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who the haudd. On beholding this scene, Dalip likewise entertained the ambition of becoming Singh wept bitterly, and the Maharani broke master of the Pañjáb, marched with his out in loud wailings, but took charge of her adherents to Atak, and took possession of the brother's corpse, which was conveyed to the fort; whereon Jawahir Singh despatched troops fort, and afterwards received the honours of 4 in command of Chhatar Singh Atariwala | funeral. The army now became so demoralised with other forces from Dörâ Isma'il Khân, that no one any longer kept authority, and and they besieged the prince, who then repre- much disorder ensued. The panch of petty sented to them, that being a son of Ranjit officers, apprehending no coercion, began to Singh equally with Dalip Singh, he ought not plunder in all directions, mulcting the rich and to be treated as a rebel, but should be received frightening the poor. No trace of subordina. into favour after promising to be loyal to the tion and discipline remained, and every common existing government. After this declaration soldier fancied himself an officer, and obeyed had been communicated to Jawahir Singh, he only his own inclination. This state of affairs
rnt that the troops sent against the pretender having become unbearable to the nobles of the were favourable to his claims, and accordingly court, they were most anxious to put an end to devised the stratagem of presenting him with it at any price, and at last arrived at the cona jágír of a lákh of rupees, on condition of his clusion that the only way to rid themselves of surrendering the fort. The prince Péshaura the excesses of the army would be to goad it Singh then opened the gates, and Jawâbir on to wage war against the English, who would Singh having been apprized that he had fallen be sure to vanquish it, though there was no into the trap, at once indited a letter to his other power in existence strong enough to do faithful partizan Fath Khan, who commanded so. Accordingly the ringleaders of the army a portion of the forces, to slay the prince, for were requested to come to the palace, and when fear he might again lay claim to the throne. the crowd of disorderly pańches arrived, the This order no sooner arrived than it was RAJA LAl Singh harangued them, praised executed, and Fath Khan, besides obtaining them as lion-hearted valiant Khalsas—the a large sum of money, was rewarded also epithet most flattering to them-and told them by being appointed governor of the Hazard that the English had taken possession of the district. When it became generally known that qasba of Murân on the banks of the Satluj, the prince had been killed at the instigation of and would, unless checked, be sure to encroach Jawahir Singh, not only his adherents, but upon this side likewise. It was therefore the whole army manifested such exasperation, their duty boldly to wage war against the that the mother of the Mahârâjâ Dalip Singh English, and afterwards it would be their was frightened, and made efforts to propitiate pleasure to enjoy supreme power over the it, but in vain. The general reply was that country, there being no forces in existence he who had encompassed the murder of Ranjit able to cope with the Sikhs. The vanity and Singh's son had thereby forfeited his own life, ambition of the troops having thus been and Jawahir Singh was summoned to present brought into play, and raised to the highest himself before the troops to offer excuses, if he pitch, the proposal was accepted with acclama.