1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 211
2 quiescing in the call was the approach of the British
3 army to the capital of the Punjab.
4 On the 20th February 1846, the Commander-in- The British
5 chief with the army of the Sutlej, was encamped at Tare the
6 Meean Meer, in front of the military cantonments Son Rebraaey.
7 of Lahore, and the tents actually occupying the
8 parade ground, on which the Khalsa troops had
9 assembled, previous to invading the British territo-
10 ries. What a change had a few months produced!
11 Then, inflated with pride and confidence, they
12 looked upon their success on the left bank of the
13 Sutlej as certain; with the glittering prospect
14 before them of the possession of Hindostan ! They
15 would listen to no advice, nor consider for an in-
16 stant the danger of the steps they were about to
17 take. Their army was numerous, their guns of a
18 calibre and numerical extent to render the Khalsa
19 troops capable of routing any foe who might oppose
20 them. No persuasion could induce them to believe Assad Cons
21 that they were not a match for the British. Where condition of
22 were the Khalsa troops now? The miserable“? =*"*
23 remnant of them dared not visit the place they so
24 lately paraded with such confidence. Where were
25 the guns, almost innumerable, which they looked
26 upon as a bulwark against all enemies? Out of the
27 whole number they had now only about thirty
28 remaining, all the rest, amounting to upwards of 200,
29 had been wrested from them, and were now safely
30 lodged in a fortress belonging to the British, and
31 within a few days’ march of their own capital.