1 x MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 347
2 personal observation and ocular testimony. Early one morning a confiden-
3 tia] servant informed him of Laik Missar’s presence in his mother’s bed-
4 chamber. On hearing this, Ranjit immediately entered the apartment,
5 and there found that his informant’s report was only too true. Without
6 uttering a word, he hurried into an adjoining room to provide himself
7 with a sword, with the avowed object of despatching both his mother and
8 her paramour: He returned immediately, sword in hand, but the Missar,
9 hearing some noise, had fled, before the youthful avenger entered the
10 chamber. The Mai was sitting upon her bed, half naked, with her
11 - hair dishevelled. The fugitive, in the hurry of the moment, had left his
12 shoes and a portion of his dress in the lady’s bed-room. This redoubled
13 the rage of the assailant, who tauntingly asked the lady where her para-
14 mour was. She replied with a torrent of abuse, and cursed her son for
15 being so disloyal and shameless as to cast upon an elderly woman like
16 herself, his own mother, an unmerited slur, declaring at the same time that her
17 conduct was as pure as he or anybody could expect. The altercation
18 lasted for some time, till at length the fiery youth, driven to madness by the
19 reproaches of his mother, struck her with his drawn sword. She now,
20 with clasped hands, craved for mercy, but it was too late to suppress
21 the bloody passion with which her shameful conduct and subsequent
22 behaviour had inflamed the youth, and she paid the penalty of her offence
23 with her life. Ranjit Singh, performed the funeral ceremonies of his
24 mother with all the pomp and grandeur expected from a sardar of his
25 standing, but he never showed any sorrow for what he had done, and
26 whenever mention was made of Mai Malwain’s death, he merely remarked
27 that she had received her just and proper punishment for her wickedness,
28 and that he was rejoiced that his mother’s life was cut short, for, had
29 she lived longer, her sins would have increased, and death was by all means
30 to be preferred to a life of guilt and shame. Ldik Missar managed to
31 effect his escape to Amritsar and threw himself on the mercy and protection
32 of Sadé Kour, Ranjit’s mother-in-law, but was‘treacherously made over
33 to Ranjit by that artful lady, and despatched by him.
34 About this time the Panjab was frequently invaded by the Durrdni
35 King, Shah Zaman, grandson of the Abdali Ahmad Shah, who cherished the
36 idle hope of founding an Indian Empire. Five times had the king made his
37 preparations for an invasion of India, and as many times, had the exposed
38 state of his western dominions rendered his departure from the couatry
39 an imperative necessity. Twice had the Shah occupied the capital of
40 the Panjab, without meeting any opposition, but each time he was com-
41 pelled to retrace his steps to his hereditary dominions, west of the Indus,
42 without making any arrangement for the permanent occupation of the
43 country. The Sikhs at this period, though powerful as a nation, were
44 strangers to the art of disciplined warfare, and, moreover, the successes
45 of the Abdali king, Ahmad Shah, which were still fresh in their memory,
46 had made the Afghan name a terror to the people. As already mentioned,
47 the Sikhs concealed themselves in hills or jungles, and fled to countries
48 beyond the reach of the invaders, when the Afghan King approached, and
49 reappeared in large numbers as soon as he had withdrawn. ;
50 Among those who retired before the Durrani invader, was Ranjit Singh.
51 ‘He formed a coalition with other misls, circumstanced like his own, and
52 while the Shah was-busy with his Lahore affairs, he availed himself of the
53 opportunity to cross the Sutlej, reduciug to subjection the districts through
54 which he passed, and exacting tribute from the people. Upon the Shah’s
55 Laik Missar,
56 Shah Zaman, the
57 Durrani king,
58 Condition of the
59 Sikhs at this time,
60 Ranjit’s power
61 gradually developed.
62 retirement, t ‘ity..@f Ranjit, Si sr 5 gmai
63 atoment he ah ie BRR) Dod eredoly asa HEM malcom