1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 21
2 The body of Ajeet Singh was treated in the same
3 manner. Uttur Singh, who had heard of Ajeet
4 Singh’s proclamation regarding himself, had ad-
5 vanced about fifteen miles to lend his aid if neces-
6 sary; and, for the purpose of seizing him, Heera
7 Singh dispatched a strong force. When the news
8 of the defeat ‘and death of his brother and nephew
9 reached him, Uttur Singh retreated, and he and Uttur Singh
10 his followers crossed the Sutlej. This Sirdar re- the bull
11 mained some time in Hindostan, but re-crossed
12 the Sutlej, and in conjunction with Cashmeera
13 Singh, a reputed son of Runjeet, engaged the
14 Sikh troops under Heera Singh, who totally
15 routed him, when both he and the prince were ts afterwards:
16 killed. : sin
17 During the reign of Shere Singh on the throne
18 of Lahore, our disasters at Cabul had occurred ;
19 and had he been hostile to the British, the army
20 destined to relieve Jellalabad, under Brigadier
21 Wild, might have met with serious difficulties in
22 traversing the Punjab. Even the better con-
23 structed force under General Pollock, sent to Position of the
24 effect the same purpose, and avenge our injuries ee
25 on Akhbar Khan, could hardly have passed through S*? Sing.
26 the Punjab had its ruler and his people been hostile
27 tous. With the Sikhs as our enemies, it may be
28 safely stated that neither army would have reached
29 Jellalabad in a state to attempt the forcing of the
30 Khyber Pass, in which Brigadier Wild was forced
31 to retreat on Peshawur. Fortunately, the govern-
32 ment of Lahore, under the Maharajah Shere Singh,