1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 383
2 of the sacred temple. Having received nazrdénds from the hill chiefs of
3 Mandi, Suket and Kali, he returned to the Jalandar Dodb, where he wrested
4 Haridnd from the widow of Bhagel Singh, who had recently died. At an
5 interview which took place, about the same time, between Bhap Singh,
6 Fyzulpuria, and the Maharaja, the latter treacherously seized his person and
7 confiscated all his possessions, The Mahardjé then returned to Amritsar,
8 where he celebrated the Holi festival with all the usual excesses.
9 ; It was about this time that the Mahardjd, for the first time, introduced
10 the European system of drill into his army, and formed regular battalions
11 after the British model. Preference was given to Purbids, or natives of the
12 Gaugetic provinces, and the Cis-Sutlej Sikhs, bodies of whom were instruct-
13 ed by deserters from the English army, who received high wages under the
14 Mahardjdé and were put in command of both infantry and artillery. ;
15 Towards the close of the same year, Jodh Singh, of Wazirdbdd, died
16 of dropsy. The Mahardjé hastened in that direction to confiscate his
17 estates, but Gandd Singh, the son of the deceased sardar, tendered his
18 submission, and paid a lakh of rupees as nazrdénd to the Mahardjd, and
19 his cupidity having thus been satisfied, he refrained from ‘annexing the
20 sardar’s tetritory, and returned, after conferring a rich shawl and a turban
21 of investiture on the representative of the deceased chief. Hearing next
22 of a dispute between Sahib Singh, Bhangi, of Gujrat, and his son, Ranjit
23 Singh crossed the Chin&b, to profit by the quarrel. Sahib Singh, who
24 was-at Islfmgarh, hearing of the Mahardjd’s approach, fled to Jalalpur;
25 aud the fort of the former place was taken possession of by Ranjit Singh.
26 The -fort of Mahawdr was then vacated by Goldb Singh, Bhangi, and
27 occupied by the officers of the Mahardjat. The Mahardjé then proceeded
28 to Jaldlpur, in pursuit of Sahib Singh. The fort of Jalalpur was occupied
29 without opposition, and Sahib Singh fled to Mangia, between Rohtds and
30 the town of Mirpur Chonmukhia, and strengthened the Mangla fort against
31 an attack. About the same time, Fakir Aziz-ud-din, the Maharaja's able and
32 trusted secretary, occupied the town of Gujrat without encountering any
33 resistance. The humane Fakir prohibited the Sikh soldiers, who were greedy
34 of plunder, from committing any ravages on the inhabitants, and great
35 discontent, in consequence, prevailed among the troops that had assisted in
36 the capture. Fakir Aviz-ud-din thereunon-levieda moderare--contribution
37 from the townspeople, 'ax4Bave the money to the soldiers, who werd 24S
38 pacified. All the treasure, valuables and other property belonging to Sahib
39 Singh were confiscated to the State by the Fakir, who laid the spoils before
40 his royal master at Jaldlpur and congratulated him on the success of his
41 arms, The Muahardjd was greatly pleased, and showed his appreciation of the
42 excellent services rendered by his secretary, by conferring on him a
43 valuable khilat, Nwr-ud-din, the Fakir’s younger brother, was appointed
44 governor of Gujrat. The Maharaja then resolved to reduce the fort of
45 Mangla, but, on.the earnest representations of Sahib Singh’s wife, who was
46 related to Ranjit Singh on his father’s side, abandoned his resolve. About
47 the same time, Dewan Bhawdni Dds was deputed for the conquest of Jammu,
48 at the head of an army, and, in a month’s time, Jamma was conquered for
49 the Mahardjé, the Dogrd chief, Dedu, who had obtained the ascendancy
50 there, being expelled. ‘The Mahardjé next entered the country west of the
51 Jhelum, as far as Khushhdb, which he reduced, after worsting the sardars
52 and chiefs, who were rendered tributary.
53 In the midst of these operations, the Mahardj4 was informed, in the
54 beginning of February, 1810, that Shah Shujd-ui-Mulk, with whom Mr.
55 Elphinstone had just concluded a treaty against France, had been driven
56 Hariana taken, 1809.
57 The possession of the
58 Fyzul purias captured.
59 a
60 Introduction of the
61 European sj steut of
62 drill into the Panjab
63 army, 1809.
64 The Maharaja
65 receives a nazrdna
66 from the heir of
67 Wazirdbad, 1809.
68 Conquers Isldmgarh
69 and Jalalpur,
70 Fakir Aziz-ud-din
71 captures Giijrat, 1609,
72 Nur-ud-din is
73 appointed governor of
74 Gujrat.
75 Bhawani Dis
76 conquers Jammu, 1809.
77 The country west of
78 Jhehum reduced,
79 Shah Shuja expelled
80 from Atghanistan,
81 1809-10,
82 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com