1 842 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 the Chindb, laid siege to Gujrdét. After a brief and feeble resistance on
3 the part of Sahib Singh, Gujar Singh took possession of the town. Sahib
4 Singh, now in open revolt, shut himself up in Islamgarh, but at length
5 sought his father’s forgiveness and was pardoned.
6 Cantare of -Kotlt Mahé Singh next invaded Kotli, in the neighbourhood of Sidlkot, well
7 known for the manufacture of matchlocks, and compelled the inhabitants
8 to pay a heavy indemnity. During his stay here, he performed one of those
9 acts of barbarous treachery which ever after made his name a terror to all
10 Maha Singh pre-emi- the chiefs and sardars of the province. Under pretence of holding an
11 nent among the Sikhs; important consultation, he invited a very large number of sardars; and
12 upon their complying with his invitation, he seized and imprisoned twenty-
13 two of the principal chiefs among them. Charat Singh, Kalalwdld, Dia
14 Singh, nephew of Sahib Singh, Dhannd Singh and Mihan Singh, Wadalia
15 were of the number thus apprehended. These sardars obtained their
16 release only on payment of heavy nuzrdénds according to their rank and
17 wealth. He preyed remorselessly upon the country in which he lived, hum-
18 bled many powerful sardars and reduced to subjection many towns and
19 cities. His power was so much dreaded that none dared oppose him. He
20 now discovered, in another quarter, a very tempting and savoury banquet -
21 upon which to gorge his insatiable avarice.
22 Ranjit Deo, the rdjé, of Jammu, was dead, and his son Brij Raj Deo, who
23 He picksaquarrel succeeded him, was unable to hold the reins of government, being more fond
24 with Brij Raj Deo of of debauchery than of attending to affairs of State. Upon ascending the
25 gadi, he closely imprisoned his younger brother Mian Dalel Singh. His
26 courtiers and his subjects in general were very discontented, and this
27 encouraged the aspiring Sukerchakia chief to pick a quarrel with him.
28 Another cause for interfering with Jammu affairs was the following:
29 Another causefor the Bhangis had taken possession of some of the territory belonging
30 ESRD to the Jammu raja. Brij Raj Deo, on ascending the gad?, wished to
31 win back this last territory, and applied to Jay Singh and Hakikat
32 Singh, Kanhias, for aid. Karianwala was recovered for the Jammu réjé,
33 after a pitched battle, and the Kanhias deserted their ally, and went
34 over to the Bhangis. The Sikhs not only succeeded in recovering Karian-
35 wald, but invaded Jammu under Hakikat Singh, Gujar Singh and Bhég
36 Singh, Ahluwalia. The Jammu raja called to his assistance Mahé Singh,
37 Sukerchakia, but was signally defeated, and agreed to pay a tribute of
38 30,000 rupees to Hakikat Singh. Six months after the above agreement
39 had been entered into, Hakikat Singh (in consequence of the money not
40 having yet been paid) concluded that Brij Raj Deo intended to evade the
41 payment thereof; he therefore proposed to Mahé Singh to join him in an
42 attack upon Jammu. The Sukerchakia chief, forgetting his promise of per-
43 petual friendshipwith the Jammu rdjd, readily agreed to the proposal of
44 en eae Hakikat Singh. He marched to Chapral, while Hakikat Singh took the
45 the Kanluas. Zaffarwal road. No declaration of hostilities was made against the rdjé of.
46 Jammu by the turban brother. ;
47 Jammu was at this time noted for its prosperity and wealth. The state
48 of anarchy which prevailed in the Panjdéb rendered it very unsafe for
49 merchants and traders to carry on their business there; they, therefore,
50 Prosperous condition Moved to the Jammu hills, where they were able to carry on their business
51 Jammu at this tume. in peace and safety. Consequently, Jammu had become the most flourish-
52 h ing State north of the Panjab. Mahd Singh, having organized his troops,
53 Singism marched to Jammu, and Brij R4j Deo, the effeminate rdja, having heard of
54 assembly his movement, fled to the Trikoté Devi mountains, leaving his country at
55 we7ae mercy of the invader. The principal residents of Jammu came out to
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