Indian Antiquary Vol 20

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

Page 86

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1891.
the sanction of the preceding government. Gulab Singh feigned to comply with the demands of the envoys, but resorted to the stratagem of bribing the Sikh troops stationed at Jasrôtâ by the late Hira Singh for the impending conquest of Chamba, and enlisting them in his own cause. He ordered also Ranbir Siógh,? who resided at that time in Ramnagar as the successor of Suchet Singh, to prepare his forces for a campaign, and many other chiefs received similar instractions. The expected storm soon broke, and when the death of Hîrà Singh became generally known disturbances took place in all directions. Some Khalsa troops invaded the possessions of the Maharaja Gulab Singh, and even besieged Jammui, bat were at last repelled. Negotiations then took place and Gulab Singh indaced them by presenting every man with five rupees to march back with him to Lâhôr. To their commander, General Mêwa Singh, he paid Rs. 25,000 in cash, and preserted him also with a horse and golden saddle. As the army was gradually approacling LÁhôr, several messages arrived from the Bibi şahiba and the Sardar Jawahir Singh, expressing their displeasure, that, contrary to their wishes, the army had allowed Gulab Singh to accompany it. This became an oocasion for quarrelling, and when the Khâlşa army arrived near La hôr at Shahdara it was split into two factions, one of which continued to side with Gulab Singh, and the other spurned all connection with him. Gulib Singh now mounted elephants with some of his friends, intending to enter the city; Lat a letter arrived from the notables of the court with orders to convey him to Lahôr under a strong guard, and not to allow any of his friends to accompany him. The ignorant and simple-minded troopers, eutrusted with the letter, gave it to the uncle of the author, Dîwan Nihal Chand, who read it out to the troops in this fashion :- "The Bibi Şahiba and the Maharaja Dalip Singh strictly enjoin the troops to convey the Maharajá Gulab Singh into the city with demonstrations of honour." When, therefore, Gulab Singh made his entrance into Lâhôr with great pomp, the inhabitants crowded the roofs and doors of their houses, many expressing fervent wishes that nothing untoward might befall him, as he bad already to deplore the loss of many of his relatives. He was taken to the house of the late prince Nau Nihal Singh, where he found a strong guard appointed to watch him. It happened to consist of men from a regiment that had, on a former occasion, been disgracefully routed by his own troops in Kasmir. This guard had onders not to allow any one to approach him except his Diwân. As soon as the party had alighted the Dîwan, who was the author's father, attempted to draw water from a well, and, having been ensuccessful in the attempt, was relieved by a woman who had observed him from a distance. She procured not only water, but also food for the Mahârâjâ Gulab Singh. The Diwin then went in all haste to the court of the Bibi Şahiba, and represented that it was usual to supply even a convicted criminal with food and drink, but that Gulab Singh, who was only under surveillance, had been provided neither with food, nor even with a bed to rest himself upon. Accordingly orders were immediately issued to supply him with all necessaries. The members of the court were unfriendly to Gulab Singh and desired his ruin, but were also apprehensive that a faction of the Khilsa troops might raise disturbances, in case any harm should befall him. His favourite Diwan did the best he could to discover any intrigues which might be carried on, and narrated every evening to Gulab Singh all that he had ascertained during the day. Ove day Ire brought news that the court people intended to put the Diwan and the Wazîr Zôrawar Siugh to torture and force them to reveal where Gulab Singh 'kept his treasure, whereon the latter at once sent his wazir out of the way back to Jamman, and the Diwan promised rather to sacrifice his life than to divnige where the treasures were. On another occasion the court proposed to extort such a confession from Gulab Siügh himself. Their evil intentions were brought to the notice of the Khalsa troops, and they manifested their displeasure, and Ratan Singh advised the Raja Lal Singh to release Gulab Singh somehow, or else they would certainly raise a disturbance. The Diwan Dina Nath reported that they were already threatening to use violent mcasures in case of non-compliance with their wishes. These rumours disquieted the court, and in order to propitiate the army, the Sardar Jawahir Singh next day took the Maharaja
1 His adopted son, the late Maharaja Ranbir Singh, who died in 1885.