1 MAIIARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 355
2 against the ruler of Léhore, who now moved to Gujrat with all his avail-
3 able troops. Sahib Singh met him two miles from the city, and a severe
4 fight took place between the two forces, lasting from night till late in
5 the evening. Great numbers were killed on both sides, and the battle
6 was continued pertinaciously on the second and third day. On the fourth
7 day, Sahib Singh shut himself up in the fort, which Ranjit Singh subjected
8 to a heavy cannonade. At length the venerable patriarch, Sahib Singh,
9 Bedi, again effectually exercised his influence in bringing about a compro-
10 mise. A peaceful settlement was arranged, and the siege raised, on Sahib
11 Singh’s agreeing to pay a large nazrdnd to the invader, together with a war Compromise effected.
12 indemnity. Another condition of the peace was that Dal Singh of
13 Akdlgarh should be set at liberty. Ranjit, with his troops, returned to Dal Singh released.
14 Lahore, and his first act,in pursuance of the terms of the treaty, was
15 to liberate Dal Singh. The old chief, however, had scarcely reached
16 Akalgarh when he expired. Ranjit showed not the smallest regard for Dic.
17 treaties and promises. He entered into them, or violated them, as best
18 suited his schemes, Forgetting the conditions of peace, so recently entered Rany ¢ Sangh takes
19 into, he coveted the deceased sardar’s possessions, and lost no time in Wine
20 marching to Akdélgarh. When he arrived within four miles of the place, he
21 sent his agents to Dal Singh’s widow, informing her that he had been deep-
22 ly affected by the death of her lamented husband, and his own valued
23 friend, and that, in consideration of the relations of amity that existed
24 between his father and the late sardar, and more especially to give proof of
25 his own sincerity after the late treaty, he had come to condole with her in
26 her recent bereavement (as it would have been opposed to all the known
27 rules of the etiquette, so strictly enjoimed by the custom of the Khdlsd,
28 which was composed of one brotherhood, if all the other sardars had
29 come to condole with her in her present misfortune, and the Sukerchakia
30 chief had not), The Rani was at first alarmed on hearing of Ranjit Singh’s
31 approach, but when she had heard the agents of the Mahardjé at full
32 length, all her suspicions were removed, and she said to her people:
33 “The venerable Bedi, the descendant of our great Guru, is between me
34 and the Sukerchakia chief. Let him, then, come and sit on the floor of
35 mourning where others sit.” When Ranjit Singh heard this, he was
36 exceedingly pleased. He entered the city with all his troops, and his first
37 act was to put the unfortunate Rani in close confinement, and her children
38 and relations under a strong guard. Consternation rapidly spread through
39 the whole of the army, on their hearing of her arrest, anda general stampede
40 followed, in which every one looked to his own safety. Ranjit Singh
41 then took possession of the treasures and military stores of the deceased
42 sardar, which were stated to be enormous. Two villages were given to
43 aa Singh’s widow for her maintenance. Ranjit Singh then returned to
44 ore,
45 Intelligence having about this time been received from Batdla, of an
46 attack on Rani Sadd Kour’s territory by Sansdr Chand, Rajé of Kangra, who _ Bnerorchments on
47 had descended into the plains and plundered some of the Ré&ni’s villages, Sona rere aad
48 Ranjit Singh despatched his troops thither, with instructions to Sardar Sines “ety
49 Fatteh Singh, Ahluwalia, to join the troops at Batdla. The Mahardjé him-
50 self followed. The rdjd’s kdrddvs on hearing of the Mahardjé’s approach
51 fled, and the Rani obtained possession of all the territory that had been
52 wrested from her. The Maharaja seized Noushera, a portion of the Kangra
53 Raja's dominions, and gave it to Sadd Kour, with all its revenues. He then
54 marched te Nurpur, which he subdued, the hill Rajé, Sansdr Chand, having
55 fled to the Kangra, hills on hearing of his approach.
56 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary Namdharigibrary@ gmail.com
57 Nurpur reduced,
58 18vl,