1 The Maharaja retires
2 on receiving a nazrdnd.
3 Bahawalpur threa-
4 tened, but terms agreed
5 to,
6 Ranjit’s encroach-
7 ments on the posses-
8 sions of sada Kour
9 below the Kangra hills,
10 He is again invited
11 to Patiala, 1807.
12 Crosses the Sutlej a
13 second time, 1807.
14 Appears before
15 Patiala, September,
16 807,
17 Acts as an arbitra-
18 Ors
19 But accepts a large
20 bribe from the Rant,
21 The dispute settled.
22 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary
23 368 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
24 (half of which was raised by the nawéb from the inhabitants), and retired
25 with credit. Having now crossed the river, the Sikh monarch made his
26 sudden appearance in the territory of Nawdb Bhdwal Khan, who was much
27 alarmed at the approach of this devourer of small states. The nawdb sent his
28 confidential agents to the Mahardjé, and, terms having soon been arranged,
29 the Sikh retraced his steps to Lithore, which he reached in May. Fakir
30 Aziz-ud-din, secretary to the Mahardjd, was then sent to Bdéhdwalpur, on his
31 behalf with a rich khilat for Nawéb Bhéwal Khan. Before the rains,
32 Ranjit Singh sent a detachment of troops to reduce Adinanagar, the city
33 of the famous Adina Beg Khan, at the foot of the hills, and exacted tribute
34 and vazrdénds from all the Sikh sardars bordering on the Kangrd mountains,
35 thus giving the first cause of annoyance to that talented lady, Saddé Kour,
36 his mother-in-law, who had so materially aided him in attaining the enviable
37 position which he then held, and to whom all these territories belonged,
38 being dependencies of the Kanhia misl. This uncalled for interference on
39 the part of the Maharaja was the beginning of a series of plots and counter-
40 plots between the lady and her son-in-law, which eventually fed to her ruin.
41 It is now recessary to return again to the affairs of the states on the
42 other side of the Sutlej. The departure of Ranjit Singh from the scene of
43 action was the signal for the contending parties, especially RAja Sahib Singh,
44 of Patidld, and his wife Réni Aus Kour (neither of whom had gained any-
45 thing by their appeal to his arbitration) to renew their domestic feuds, which,
46 as usual, they determined to decide by force of arms. The chiefs who
47 had obtained the largest share of the prey on the last occasion of their
48 quarrelling, again asked the assistance of Ranjit Singh, who was more will-
49 ing to give, than they to solicit, his aid. Accordingly, in conjunction with
50 the Patidld, Jhind, and Nabhd, rdjds, he crossed the Sutlej at Harikd Pattan,
51 its juncture with the Bids, at the head of a large army, accompanied by his
52 famous general, Mokham Chand, Fatteh Singh, Ahluwalia, and Ghirba Singh.
53 He first visited Kot Kapurd, which he had reduced in the previous year,
54 and then Bhador, from the chief of which he extorted a nazrdénd. Then,
55 after visiting Nabhd, he appeared before Patidld in September 1807. The
56 Raja of Patidlé had at this time invited a large number of sardars to his
57 capital, among them being Sardar Bhanga Singh of Thanesar, and had collect-
58 ed a body of 15,000 troops there. All the chiefs had accepted his invitation,
59 including Rajé Sahib Singh, and they received the Mahardja outside the town
60 with great ceremony. The work of arbitration was now begun. The intriguing
61 Rani bribed the arbitrator, presenting him with a large sum of money, and,
62 in addition, with a necklace of diamonds worth Rs. 70,000, and a brazen cannon
63 belonging to the family, and known as the Kdérdé Khan, which was subse-
64 quently taken by the English in the Sutlej campaign. The arbitrator, pleased
65 with these rich presents, settled upon the Rani and her regent son a jagir
66 worth Rs. 50,000 per annum. From all accounts, however, it appears that the
67 influence exercised by the Rajds of Jhind and Nabhé4, Sardar Bhanga Singh of
68 Thanesar, and Bhdéi Lal Singh of Kythal, contributed materially to bringing
69 about this compromise between the Réjé and his Rani. The rajé did not much
70 relish the idea of parting with his gun and necklace, and would have evaded
71 the delivery of them to Ranjft, had not the latter coolly informed him that
72 he would prove his claim to them by recourse to arms. Sahib Singh now
73 perceived that it would be advisable for him to yield with a good grace,
74 which he accordingly did.* After settling the affair of Patidld, Ranjit Singh
75 proceeded to Ambdla.
76 * Rai Kanhia Lal here narrates the ridiculous stor .
77 ae aN € y that, wl F Inded
78 between Raja Sahib Singh and his Réni, Maboréié anit Singh tone the lit tle child, Kara a
79 amdhariclibrary@ gmail.com