1 The fort of Govind-
2 garh founded at
3 Aunritsar, 1808,
4 Levy of tribute from
5 Multan.
6 The country about
7 Anandpur Makhowal
8 subdued, 1808,
9 Bhow&ni Das is
10 appointed head of pay
11 office and finance office,
12 1808,
13 Karam Chand is
14 appointed Lord of
15 Privy seal, 1808.
16 The Cis-Sutlej Sikhs
17 ash British protection,
18 1808.
19 372 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
20 In the course of the same year, the fort of Gujar Singh, Bhangi, at
21 Amritsar, having been rebuilt under the superintendence of Imém-ud-din,
22 brother of Aziz-ud-din, the Secretary of the Léhore Darbédr, the Maharaj
23 ave it the name of Govindgarh, It was made the repository of the
24 Mahardja’s treasures, and was garrisoned by 2,000 troops, and had twenty
25 guns of large calibre mounted upon its:ramparts. The Nawdb of Multdn
26 having made some delay in remitting the promised tribute, orders were
27 issued to Bébi Baéj Singh, Jassa Singh; Bhangi, and Kutb-ud-din Khan
28 of Mamdot (late of Kastr) to proceed to Multdn forthwith at the head of
29 5,000 cavalry to levy the tribute due from the nawdb, and the zemindars of
30 that territory who had made their submission to the new Lahore Govern-
31 ment, The expedition returned after three’ months, having collected the
32 whole of the tributes, and Dew4n Mohkam Chand arrived with a nazrénd
33 of six lakhs of rupees from the Dodb country. The campaign had been
34 carried on during the rainy season, and the: dewdn succeeded ‘in conquer-
35 ing the whole country from Anandpur Makhowél downwards, formerly ruled
36 by Bhagel Singh and Tard Singh, Gheba. The Mahardjd was well pleased
37 with the dewdn’s distinguished services. ;
38 In the same year, 1808, Bhowdni Das, a revenue officer of high standing
39 under Shah Shujd, son of Thakur Das, the privy councillor, first of the
40 celebrated Ahmad Shah, and then of Shah Zamén, having left the K4bul
41 Court in disgust, came to Léhore, where he was well received by the
42 Mahardjé. He was an eminent financier. The revenue of the State of
43 Lahore, at that time, was about thirty lakhs of rupees, and no system of
44 treasury or State accounts existed. Revenue transactions were conducted
45 by Ramd Nand, the Amritsar banker, to whom where also leased the Pind
46 Dddan Khan salt mines. Bhowédni Das-was made head of the Finance Depart-
47 ment, and he, for the first time, introduced a system of accounts for the Civil
48 and Military Departments. The following year he was joined by his brother
49 Devi Das, the dewdn of Wazir Sher Mohamed, son of Shah Wali Khan,
50 chief minister of the celebrated Abdéli King. The seal of the Maharaja
51 was, the same year, 1808, given into the custody of Karam Chand (formerly
52 in the employ of Bishan Singh, Kaldl), father of Rattan Chand, Darhiwdlé,
53 of Lé&hore.
54 The systematic aggressions and usurpations of Ranjit Singh, and the
55 warlike measures adopted by him, showed clearly that the king of all * the
56 Sikhs, as he now called himself, was anxious to establish a Sikh monarchy
57 extending from the Indus tothe Jamna. The Sikhs of Malwa and Sirhind
58 were filled with alarm, as they clearly foresaw their own ruin in the aggres-
59 sive policy of the Ldhore ruler. The alternatives left them were only two;
60 either to submit to the yoke of the Lébore conqueror, or to seek the protection
61 of the paramount power of Hindostdén (a power before whom even the new
62 Lord of the Sikhs trembled). At a meeting of the Sikh chiefs of Patidlé,
63 Jhind, and Nabhd, convened at Samduaf for the purpose of considering
64 which of these alternatives it would be better to adopt, it was unanimously
65 resolved to choose the latter. Accordingly, a formal deputation, ‘consisting
66 of Raja Bhag Singh of Jhind, Bhdi Lal Smgh of Kythal, Sardar Chen Singh,
67 dewdn of Patidlé, and Mir Ghol4m Husain, the confidential agent of
68 Nabhd, proceeded to Delhi, in March, 1808, to wait upon the British
69 » Ranjit Singh preferred to be called Khdlsaji, signifying the whole body of the Sikhs, and in
70 all public documents this word had the same signification as that of the Mahardid or Sarkar.
71 The fact is that eat Ss great successes had led that monarch to entertain notions that he was
72 the Lord of the whole Sikh nation. . : - ;
73 In Patiala.
74 + :
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