1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 351 ©
2 allowed to leave the town unmolested, and provided with a suitable allow-
3 auce for the subsistence of himself and his family. These terms being gladly
4 acceded to by Ranjit Singh, the fallen chief withdrew from the fort.
5 Ranjit Singh treated him with every mark of consideration, and granted
6 him a large village as jagir. Under express orders from him, the city and
7 citizens were to be treated with the greatest consideration by the con-
8 querors, aud any acts of plunder and ill-usage on the part of his troops
9 were to be severely dealt with. Notwithstanding these orders, the wealth-
10 iest of the citizens closed their places of business and retired to their
11 respective homes, Ranjit, however, soon convinced them that his inten-
12 tions were honest towards them, and they were induced to re-open their
13 shops and resume business.
14 An order was issued giving protection to all subjects, and promising them
15 shelter from all outside aggression and internal disorder. As an induce-
16 ment for the artizans to renew their work, a large number of unserviceable
17 guns and military stores that were accumulated in the citadel, were made
18 over to them for repairs, for which they were paid handsomely. These
19 " measures had the desired effect. The people were reassured, and in a few
20 days the town became as busy as ever.
21 The political situation of the Panjdb about this time may here be
22 briefly described. Kastir, a considerable town, 25 kos south-east of
23 Lahore, peopled chiefly by Pathan emigrants, was ruled by Nizdm-ud-din
24 Khan, a powerful Mahomedan chief. Chak-Guru, now known as Amritsar,
25 ~was in the hands of the Bhangis, under Golab Singh; Multd4n was governed
26 by Muzaffar Khan, Saddozai, son of Shuj4 Khan, who claimed common
27 descent with the Abdali King, Ahmad Shah, and whose ancestors, coming
28 from Kandahar, occupied Multén in the disturbances following the accession
29 of Nadir Shah to the Kdbul throne. Daera was occupied by Abdul Samad
30 Khan ; Mankera, Hot, Banna, and the neighbouring country, by Mohamed
31 Shahnawdz Khan Moin-ud-doula, the successor of Naw&b Mahomad Khan,
32 and Tank by Sarwar Khan Katti Khel. These were all Afghan usurpers
33 who, originally governors of the Kédbul Government of the Panjab,
34 had become independent rulers of the countries under their charge,
35 owing to the enfeebled state of the Durrdni Government. Dera Ghazi
36 Khan, including Bahawalpur, and a tract of country adjoining Multan, was
37 ruled by the Daudpotra, Bahdwal Khan; Jhang by the Sial, Ahmad Khan ;
38 Peshawar by Fatteh Khan, Barakzai, the nominal vassal of Mahmtid Shah,
39 and Kashmir by his brother, Azim Khan. The fort of Attock was in posses-
40 sion of the Wazir Khels, under Jahéndad Khan; the Kangrd, hills were under
41 Raj4 Sansar Chand; Chamba was under Rajé Charat Singh, and the country
42 from Hoshiarpur to Kapdrthalla under Fatteh Singh, Ahluwalia, afterwards
43 the turban brother of Ranjit Singh. The territories Trans and Cis-Sutlej
44 were governed by independent Sikh sardars, and their confederacies, called
45 misls, and other independent chiefs, and so were Wazirdbad, Dhanni,
46 Khoshab and Pékpattan, the seat of the great shrine of Bawa Farid, in
47 whose honour it is said—
48 oR ly Sl Olt ob = od 2 gt oy A 5513
49 — ye Sh3 0255] 9b gr yeh we Reg, ales
50 ** As long as the earth and the world endure,
51 So long may the country of Pakpathan flourish ;
52 For in its environs, which resemble paradise,
53 Rests the Saint Sheikh Bawa Farid.’
54 Firmly established in Ld&hore, Ranjit Singh occupied himself in
55 consolidating his dominions, and, making arrangments ecure hi
56 Sat fetip = ann
57 Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh rary
58 But subsequently
59 surrenders to the
60 victor,
61 Mild measures of
62 Ranjit Singh towards
63 the citizens of Lahore.
64 Political situation of
65 the Panjab at this
66 time,
67 t his
68 amdhariElibrary@ gmail.com