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OCTOBER, 1890.]
NOTICE OF THE GULABNAMA.
291
arrived in Jammûn. The heir to the masnad, Siparadêv, being at that time only one year old, the administration remained in charge of Mian Mota. The boy died in his eleventh year, and the lineage of Bhøjrajdêv having thus come to an end, Raja Ajit Singh, the son of Dal Siugh, was placed on the masnad.16
After a while disagreements took place between Ajft Singh, Rani Bundral and Mián Môţa, upon whom, as already mentioned, the administration of the country had devolved, so he departed to Parmandal, while Zérâwar Singh took up his residence in his jágír of Day&wan, Raja Ajit Singh was a blockhead, and enjoyed no authority. Every one acted as he listed, and Ranf Bundral openly usurped the government. Such being the case, Bhải Hukmå Singh, who governed several ta'luqas in the vicinity of Jammûn on behalf of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was by his sovereign ordered to attack that town, but Miân Môtâ offered battle with a number of Rajpûts to the invaders at a distance of a few miles from the town, and succeeded in repelling them. This was the first action in which Gulab Singh participated, and he distinguished bimself by slaying several of the enemy with his own hands during the fight, contrary to the wish of his grandfather who did not wish him to leave his side. This was in St. 186516 when he had not yet completed the 16th year of his age, and the author states that long afterwards, when he had become Mahârâjâ, Galab Singh several times in conversation alluded to the fact of his having been unable in this action to reach the heads of his antagonists with his sword, and of having had to jump up from the ground every time he struck, as he was a youth of short stature. At this period he indulged in roaming about and hunting. One day he saddled a horse without the knowledge of his grandfather, and a few days afterwards it became known that he had injured it; whereon Zôråwar Singh upbraided him, telling him that he would know the value of a horse only after being able to procure one for himself, but now that he had one for nothing, he could not appreciate it. The youth was sensitive, and being unable to bear the reproach, obtained some ornaments from his mother and fled in the direction of Peshwar, intending to proceed with some retainers who accompanied him even as far as Kabul, because he had heard that Shah Shuja's was enlisting troops. When, however, he reached the banks of the Indus his retainers, who were Hindus, refused to go to Peshawar and pretended to be afraid of the wrath of Mfan Motâ Şahib shonld they do so. Accordingly he retraced his steps, and went to the Diwan Khushwakht Rai who governed the pargana of Sûkhů, a jágir of Sardar Nihal Singh Atariwale, and also enlisted troops. The Diwan received Gulab Singh with pleasure, and the latter afterwards told the anthor that his friendly reception was due to a jam'adár, who had formerly been in the service of his grandfather, and had informed the Diwan about his family. At that time a ramindár near the fort of Sang had revolted against the Diwain and defeated him, but Gulab Singh with the small force at his disposal succeeded in driving the zamindar into the fort, whereby he rose in the favour of his employer. Meanwhile the bravery displayed by Gulab Singh in the defence of Jammun, having been brought to the notice of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, ruler of the Pañjab, he ordered Mian Mota Singh to send for Gulab Singh. When the Diwân Khush. wakht Rai was communicated with on this matter, he presented Gulab Singh with a horse, and the latter having purchased another, proceeded with all speed to Jammun, whence Mộta Singh took him to the headquarters of Ranjit Singh's army, which was at that time encamped at Daska, situated ten leós to the south of Sialkot. This took place in St. 1867,17 according to our author, who then narrates - without saying a word of what Gulb Singh did during the next two years - that in St. 186918 Raja Dhyan Singh, who was then in the vicinity of Rohtâs and bad heard of the bravery of Gulab Singh, granted him a monthly salary of sixty rupees, and at the same time took his father Miên şahib Keswar Singh into the service of Mahârâjâ Ranjit Singh, with three other troopers, each of whom was paid one rupee per day.
15 The author now takes us into well-known Sikh history, and his remarks are chiefly interesting 48 giving the local view of the events that happened at this period. - R.C.T.) 16 A. D. 1808. 11 A. D. 1810.
15 A. D. 1812.
