1 Ranjit Singh mar-
2 ches on Guirat,
3 And secures the sub-
4 mission of Sahib Singh,
5 Bhangi, 18)1.
6 The success of a
7 fresh expelition to
8 Kasur, 1801,
9 Ranjit imprisons Dal
10 Singh of Akalgarh by
11 a stratagem,
12 And lays siege to
13 Akalgarh,
14 But is compelled to
15 raise the siege,
16 Fresh invasion
17 Gujrat. me
18 ‘it secures the
19 ation of Jodh
20 354 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
21 The Bhangi chief, Sahib Singh, and the Kasur Pathan, Nizdém-nd-din
22 Khan, again raised the standard of revolt. Ranjit Singh deputed Sardar
23 Fatteh Singh, Kaliwdla, to take the command at TKastr, and marched in
24 person to reduce Sahib Singh. On the approach of the Maharaja's troops,
25 Sahib Singh shut himself up in the fort of Gujrat, which was closely be-
26 sieged by the Léhore troops. There was heavy firing on both sides, and
27 several breaches were made in the wall of the fort. At length, Sahih
28 Singh, finding himself no match for the sovereign of Lahore, entered into
29 negotiations for peace, which was agreed to on condition of the Bhangi
30 chief paying a large nasrdnd to Ranjit Sing. This nasrand having been
31 paid, and assurances of future submission aud good behaviour given, the
32 Maharaja returned to Lahore. ;
33 Nizam-ud-din Khan, against whom an expedition had been sent under
34 Sardar Fatteh Sing, Kaliwala, was compelled to submit to the terms pro-
35 posed to him. He repented of his rashness, and, acknowledging himself a
36 feudatory of the Lahore ruler, sent his brother, Kutb-ud-din Khan, to pay
37 his respects to the Maharaja. The Pathan chief further bound himself to
38 furnish a quota of troops under his brother, to follow the sovereign of
39 Lahore, and, as security for carrying out these stipulations, two Pathan
40 chiefs, Haji Khan and Wasal Khan, were sent to Lahore as hostages.
41 Kutb-ud-din Khan was then dismissed with a present of an elephant and
42 a horse from the Maharaja. ‘
43 News reached Lahore that Sardar Dal Singh (the associate of Sardar
44 Maha Singh, father of Ranjit Singh) had allied himself with Sahib Singh,
45 Bhangi, of Gujrat, and that both sardars were again collecting troops to
46 advance on Léhore. Ranjit Singh sent a friendly letter to Dal Singh, in
47 which he reminded the latter of the cordiality which had existed between
48 him and his father, and assured him that, on that account, he held the old
49 sardar in great esteem, and that the world would laugh at the idea of
50 friends fighting as enemies. He, therefore, with every show of sincerity and
51 goodwill, proposed to the Sardar to come to Léhore, in order that they
52 might conjointly start on conquering expeditions aud marauding excursions,
53 as in the good old days of Maha Singh, and divide the fruits of their com-
54 bined labours, equally between them. The sardar, being assured of the
55 sincerity of Ranjit’s proposal, gave up the Bhangi chief’s cause, and
56 repaired to Lahore. Ranjit Singh received him with the honours due to
57 his rank, and furnished him with a spacious house in the fort. During the
58 night, however, he placed a strong guard over the residence of the sardar
59 and put him in confinement. Soon afterwards, the Maharaj4 marched to
60 Akdlgarh, at the head of his troops, to take possession of the captive
61 sardar’s territory, but was opposed by Tehju, the sardar’s Rani, a brave
62 and sagacious woman, who came out in person with her forces to give
63 him battle. Several skirmishes took place with no decisive result.
64 Information was, in the meanwhile, given to Ranjit Singh that the Réui had
65 opened communications with Sahib Singh of Gujrat, and Jodh Singh
66 Wazirdbadia, and that she was about to be joined by their troops. Ranjit
67 Singh, seeing that all his attempts to conquer the Rani were fruitless, and
68 that his prolongation of the contest would be prejudicial to’ his interests,
69 deemed it advisable to withdraw, but not without first attempting to
70 impair the power of Sahib Singh. A friendly letter to Jodh Singh of
71 Wazirdbad, reminding him of all the favours that had been conferred on
72 him by the late Mahd4 Singh, and promising his own cordial support iu
73 furthering the sardar’s views of aggrandizement, was a sufficient induce-
74 aig hSatg URS Pape Shy Meee ibrapysardar to desig dradhtrliigrary® gitlailSehb Singh