1 364 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 Shi vist Tn Bysakh (April) 1806, he proceeded to bathe in the holy tank in Katds,
3 hae on the banks of the Indus, and reduced the zeminddrs in the vicinity of
4 that river to subjection. On his return from this journey, he was seized
5 with a violent illness, brought on by his own indiscretion, and was com-
6 pelled to break his journey at Midni, on the Jhelum, until he had recovered
7 his health. The rainy season was spent at Lahore in carrying out local
8 Repair of the Shali- improvements and inaugurating financial measures. The Shaldmdr gardens
9 AE epson es were repaired, and the canal of Ali Mardén Khan, which watered them,
10 was re-opened. This measure was productive of a twofold benefit, first, by
11 restoring the splendid gardens, and, secondly, by improving the adjoining
12 lands, which soon yielded an increased revenue.
13 In the same year, 1806, Ranjit Singh, appreciating the talents of a Chhatra
14 Dewan Mohkam named Mohkam Chand, formerly in the employ of Sahib Singh, of Gujrdt,
15 Chand appointed chiet_ made him the chief of his army, much to the annoyance of the Sikh sardars.
16 1806, He proved an able general, and fully justified the confidence reposed in him
17 by his new master. Ranjit’s success throughout the most eventful period of
18 his life was, to a great extent, due to the choice he made of his servants of
19 State, as his subsequent career abundantly shows. The same year, having
20 crossed the Sntlej at the head of an army, he seized Zird, expelling the
21 Capture of Zird, widow of Sardar Mohar Singh, Nishanwalé, who held the place against the
22 Muktesar, Kot Kapur’, invader for some time. Being then assisted by the traitor, Sodhi Jawahr Singh,
23 1806. father of Guru Goldéb Singh, of Manawar, he captured Muktesar and: Kot
24 Kapura, possessions of Sardar Jagat Singh, Buria. He then fell on Dharm-
25 kot, which he reduced; subdued Mari, expelling Hari Singh and Arbel
26 Singh, brother-in-law of Téré Singh, Gheba, and then marched to Faridkot,
27 the chief of which place averted the danger of an attack by the timely
28 payment of a handsome tribute.
29 as A violent dispute arose about this time between Rdjé Sahib Singh
30 Raye Sahib Singh ot Of Patidld, and his wife, R&ni Aus Kour, the mother of the regent prince,
31 Patialé and bis wife Karm Singh. She was an ambitious and intriguing woman, and was devis-
32 ing plans to set aside her husband in favour of her minor son, or to secure
33 for herself a separate territory. She was greatly encouraged in her designs
34 by the Mahratta chief, Jaswant Rao, during his stay at Patidld, as the latter
35 wanted to make his own fortune out of the struggle. The approach of Lord
36 Lake, however, compelled the Mahratta to cross the Sutlej, and leave
37 ; matters to be settled between the husband and the wife. It, however,
38 jaa ton tent, ei happened that the Patidld rajd was, about this time, also at enmity with
39 the chief of Nabhd, the subject of the dispute being a village named Dola-
40 dhi, twenty miles north of Patidld and two miles west of Nabhd, which
41 the raj4 of the latter place claimed. With the connivance of Jaswant
42 Singh, R4jé of Nabhd, Bhai Tar& Singh, the Patidldé official in charge of
43 Doladhi, was murdered. Raja Bhdg Singh, of Jhind, embraced the side of the
44 Nabha chief, and sardar Bhanga Singh of Thanesar, his nephew, Sardar
45 Mahtab Singh, and Bhai Lal Singh of Kythal, that of Sahib Singh, the
46 Patidld raja.
47 Various skirmishes took place during a period of two months between the
48 contending parties, attended with much bloodshed, till, at length, in one of
49 these fights, Sardar Mahtdb Singh of Thanesar was killed. On hearing
50 this news, the Patidla rdjd was greatly incensed, and it ultimately led to a
51 severe fight between him and the Nabhd Rdjd, at Nirwand, six miles
52 Natny eh the Raid of from Nabhaé, in which Rdjd Jaswant Singh, being defeated, fled to Nabha.
53 The contending One hundred and fifty men were killed on both sides in this engage-
54 Singh as thar acbitew rae ane eee ee era rats to decide their aici
55 ar, at wi ief, was only too é i
56 Sri Satgurujagiit Singh ji eLibrary °° & *fyamananenbrary@Gntan. oR ey
57 Farfdkot overrun,