________________
NOTICE OF THE GULABNAMA.
OCTOBER, 1890.]
Diwan Amir Chand, collected 1,000 men, marched to the place, dug trenches round it, and commenced to regularly besiege it. As, however, time dragged on, Gulâb Singh determined to take it by storm and made preparations for filling in the ditch with felled trees. He also procured scaling ladders. Meanwhile a message was sent to the garrison, that it would fare very badly indeed, if it delayed surrendering the fort and waited for the actual storm. This admonition proved so effective, that the garrison promised to pay the money demanded and to surrender the fort, if their lives and property were spared. These conditions were agreed to by Gulab Singh, who took possession of the fort, appointed Miân Bishnâ as thánadár, and marched back to Jammún. When this victory had been reported to Ranjit Singh, he sent Dilârâm Singh to take possession of the fort, but afterwards gave it to Suchêt Singh in addition to Râmnagar with Râmkôt and Saniâ.
The Sardar Buddh Singh Sindhanwalia obtained information that the Mahârâjâ Ranjit Singh was dangerously ill and conceived the disloyal idea of taking possession of the fort of Gobindgarh, and presenting himself with his retainers at the gate one night, ordered the keepers to open it for the Mahârâja's troops. He was foiled in his attempt by the reply that they had peremptory orders never to do so before sunrise. So he had to withdraw. However, being in need of his assistance, the Mahârâjâ pardoned him, and ordered him at once to march in the direction of Pêshawar to repel the Afghâns, who had become troublesome. When he arrived in the disturbed province he found numerous Afghân forces ready to oppose him, and commanded by Sayyid Ahmad, the Sardar's Yâr Muhammad Khân, Sulțân Muḥammad Khân, and Pir Muhammad Khân, and therefore did not think it prudent to advance further, reporting the matter to the Lâhôr government. Ranjit Singh then ordered Gulâb Singh who was at Jammûn to march in all haste to the relief of the Sardar Buddh Singh, and the forces at Jhêlam under the command of the Dîwân Amir Chand joined him as soon as he arrived there. Meanwhile the Afghans had occupied Hasan Abdal. Suchêt Singh and the Ațârîwâlâ Sardârs also, by order of the Mahârâja, reinforced Buddh Singh, who had in the interval been on the defensive. When all the Sikh forces had arrived and united, they defeated the Afghans in several engagements, and at last altogether routed them in the battle of Saida which took place on the 14th of the month Phagan in St. 1882,33 and was the last in which Gulab Singh distinguished himself by his bravery.
The administration of Pind Dadan Khân, Bahirâ, Miânî, Qâdirâbâd, Dangi, Mandi, and specially in the whole district of the Salt Range along the right bank of the Jhêlam, having fallen into great disorder, through the dishonesty of the officials entrusted therewith, the Maharaja appointed Gulab Singh in St. 188794 to take charge of it. He found it infested by robbers, of whom he slew and imprisoned many, and thus established security of life and property among the population, whose welfare he had much at heart and sought to promote. He also endeavoured to bring again under cultivation the many estates which had been abandoned. In St. 189035 the Mahârâjâ presented him with the districts of Jhêlam and Rohtas, and in St. 189336 the district of Gujrat also came under the administration of Gulab Singh.
38 A. D. 1835.
295
In St. 1891,97 Ranjit Singh was informed that Dost Muḥammad Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan, had determined to conquer the district of Pêshawar, which was governed by the Sardar Hari Singh. The Mahârâjâ accordingly marched to encounter him, and when he had arrived at Gujar Khân, the chief Sardars, such as Gulab Singh, Hari Singh, Suchêt Singh, the Sindhanwâliâs and others, left the fort of Pêshawar and went to meet him at a distance of a quarter of a farsang, but found that the enemy had thrown a dam across the river and diverted its course for the purpose of depriving the Sikh troops of water. The forces of the Maharaja now searched in all directions for water, and at last found the dam in question, and pitched their camp near it, not far from the forces of Dôst Muhammad Khân. The Maharajâ then issued orders to the Sardars to join him, and when they had done so, he reviewed them ostentatiously every day, so 37 A. D. 1834.
34 A. D. 1880.
36 A. D. 1883.
36 A. D. 1836.
