1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 357
2 The Maharaj had scarcely returned from Chiniot, when intelligence
3 reached him of a fresh disturbance raised by Nizdm-ud-din Khan of Kastr.
4 The Pathdn chief had collected a large force of the Afghdns and pillaged
5 two villages within the boundary of the Lahore territory, and was preparing _ Third invasion of
6 to do further mischief. The Mahardjé, much enraged, wrote to Fatteh ®t 18?
7 Singh, Ahluwalia, to repair to Kasur with all haste, bringing with him
8 as many troops as he could collect, as the Mahomedan chief had repeat-
9 edly broken his engagements, and he (the Maharaja) had determined to
10 punish him severely for his breach of treaty. Ranjit Singh himself followed
11 at the head of his chosen troops. The Pathdn, who was well prepared, met
12 the confederate army of the Sikhs, and a severe battle was the result, in
13 which both the youthful Ranjit and his ally distinguished themselves by
14 acts of great personal valour. The Pathdns, finding themselves unable to
15 cope with the enemy in the open field, retired to the fort. After great
16 slaughter on both sides, the fort was taken, and the remnants of the garrison
17 were put to the sword. As the majority of the buildings of Kasur were in the city tsconquered
18 blocks, or groups, the invaders had little difficulty in reducing each dbadi. pusgecn'P
19 The city was completely plundered, and a large number of the inhabitants,
20 consisting of men, women and children, were made prisoners of war,
21 Nizdm-ud-din Khan, seeing that his cause was helpless, presented himself
22 before the victor with every sign of humility, and was reinstated, on
23 promise of future submission, and payment of a large nazrdnd, together — Batis finally res-
24 with the expenses ofthe war. After this victory, the Mahardjd returned to trd to its chet,
25 Lahore and distributed large sums of money as alms among the poor, as a
26 thanksgiving offering for the victories gained by him at Chiniot and
27 Kasur.
28 The Mahardjé soon after marched into the Jalandar Dodb, plundering
29 and making annexations as he went along. During this march he heard _ Ranjit wrests Phag-
30 that the rich widow of a Hindu Chwéri, named Chuhar Mal, was in posses- Wis frome Hindu
31 sion of the town of Phagwara,and aspired to independence. Ranjit Singh
32 marched into the town, seized Phagwdra, and compelled Chubar Mal’s
33 widow to retire to Hardowar. All-her property, which was considerable,
34 was confiscated, and given to Sardar Fatteh Singh, together with the whole
35 of the Phagwara territory. On his return from this expedition, the
36 Maharaja, at the express request of Fatteh Singh, visited Kapdarthalla for
37 recreation and amusement, and spent a few days in hunting in the jungles
38 of Sulténpur. News having reached this place of the fresh descent of
39 Raja Sansdér Chand, of Kot Kangra, into the plains of Jalandar, where he , Fresh troubles with
40 had possessed himself of Bijwdéra and Hoshidrpur, the Mahardjé imme- Kangra.”
41 diately set out for the place, and, expelling the hill chief from both these Military post
42 towns, established military posts in them. Sansdr Chand fled to Kangrd, “ana Hoshiarpur,
43 and Ranjit Singh seized many villages below the hills, and, in a long
44 tour which he made, exacted tribute, or exorted presents in money, from ee er
45 old Sikh chiefs and sardars, among them being Tard Singh, Gheba, Dharm ~~
46 Singh, of Amritsar, and Budh Singh, of Fyzullapur. In the meantime,
47 Sardar Bhag Singh, Bhugga, having died, all his estates, by the order
48 of the Mahardj4, lapsed to Rani Sada Kour. The forfeitures and resump-
49 tions with which Ranjit Singh systematically visited the family of each
50 chief who died, filled the Sikh sardars with great alarm ; yet they were so
51 divided and jealous of each other, that they could devise no means of
52 relieving themselves from his arbitrary exactions.
53 The return to Lahore was marked by gaieties and festivities, in which | The Maharaja mar-
54 the Mahardj4 indulged to excess. He fell in love with a beautiful dam- damed, 1802,
55 sel, named Moran, and his passion for her was so irresistible, that for a
56 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com