1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 281
2 by the unsuspecting Mussulman in broad day, and
3 close to the city of Loodianah. The result was»
4 that all the shops were closed, and the owners
5 resolutely refused to sell grain or any other com-
6 modity to the soldiers cantoned there. This farce
7 was being enacted for the space of two days, when A simple
8 the circumstance was brought to the notice of the opening them.
9 author of this work,* by the commanding officer,
10 with an appeal to the effect, that if grain was not
11 obtained the Sipahees must starve! The remedy
12 for such an evil being extremely simple, an order
13 was issued to the kotwal, or chief Native magis-
14 trate, to proclaim, that “if in a certain space of
15 time the shops were not opened, the owners would
16 be expelled from the bazaars, and their property
17 confiscated.” This proceeding had speedily the
18 desired effect, and the shops were opened.
19 This powerful prejudice regarding the cow led The slaughter
20 of cows and
21 the authorities at Lahore, during the stay of the bullocks for-
22 E , jidden at
23 army of the Sutlej, to forbid the slaughter of cows Lahore:—
24 or bullocks for the supply of beef to the European pd wierd
25 troops. How’far the order was carried into effect
26 in the commissariat department, we are unable to
27 say with any degree of certainty ; but this we can
28 vouch for, that at private messes the beef never
29 appeared in better order, and was never more re-
30 lished. For an army to be thus dictated to by its
31 prostrate foe, appears somewhat absurd. Had the
32 British been at Lahore on a visit of ceremony, such
33 * He was officiating for the political agent, during the temporary
34 absence of that functionary,