1 He collects troops
2 and makes an attempt
3 on Kashmir, but fails,
4 Settles in Ludhiandé,
5 with, his brother Sauk
6 Zaman,
7 The Mahar4jé pro-
8 ceceds to Ad:nanagar,
9 Third expedition to
10 Kashmir, 1814.
11 sk Maharaja
12 marches in t
13 Késhmir,
14 402 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB. -
15 prevent detection, as Ranjit Singh’s suspicion would have naturally fallen on
16 Ludhiana as the probable place of the Shah’sasylum. The Mahardjd, on be-
17 ing informed of the Shah’s escape, disgraced the artillery guard who were on
18 duty on the Shah’s residence in the Mubarak Haveli, and offered a reward for
19 the recovery of the royal prisoner. Sawars were sent out in every direction,
20 but no trace of the escaped prisoner could be found. Jamadar Khushhdl Singh
21 was then appointed to make enquiry as to how the Shah had offected his
22 escape, and what persons were responsible for his flight from the Sikh capital.
23 The result of the inquiry was that Shadi Khan and Eusuf Khan, keepers of the
24 City Gate, were banished to Amritsar, where they were put in confinement,
25 while the old guards on the city gates were removed and new Sikh guards ap-
26 pointed in their stead. The Shah proceeded to Gujrdnwald in a bullock
27 cart, which he hired, and from thence to Jammu, vid Sidikot. From Jammt
28 he repaired to Kistwar, where he was well received by the chief of that
29 place, and joined by some Sikhs who were discontented with Ranjit Singh.
30 Having, with the help of the Kistwar chief, collected a body of three thousand
31 men, the Shah, in the winter of 1815, once more tried his fortune in the
32 direction of Kashmir. The cold, however, prevented his crossing the Pir
33 Panjadl Range, and his attempt to penetrate into the valley having failed,
34 his troops dispersed, and he was compelled to retreat. After this reverse, he
35 resided forsome time, with his zealous mountain host,and then marched
36 through the Kullé mountains, and, by a long and circuitous route, and after
37 experiencing great hardships, reached Ludhiana, in September, 1816, where
38 he rejoined his family, and placed himself under the protection of the British
39 Government, The Shah was treated by the British authorities with becom-
40 ing respect and consideration, and the annual sum of Rs, 18,000 which had
41 been assigned for the maintenance of his family was, on his arrival, raised
42 to Rs. 50,000, while a separate pension of Rs. 24,000 was allowed by the
43 Government for his blind brother, Shah Zamdan,
44 The misfortunes of the exiled Kabul princes having been described
45 connectedly, it is now necessary to revert to our narrative of the events
46 subsequent to 18138. .
47 The Holi having been celebrated with the usual pomp and magnificence,
48 the Mahardjd bathed in the sacred tank at Amritsar, and, in April 1814, moved
49 his army in the direction of Adinanagar, below the hills, to enforce the
50 payment of tribute from the hill rdjas about Kangrd. Towards the middle
51 of the year, he determined on making a complete conquest of Kashmir, and
52 military operations were accordingly commenced. All the hill chiefs, as
53 well as those of the plains, were summoned to Sialkot, and the Maharajé
54 having himself repaired thither in person, a grand review of the Sikh troops
55 took place. The experienced Dewan, Mohkam Chand, remonstrated against
56 this expedition, urging that the season was not propitious; that sufficient
57 supplies had not been collected on the route; that it would be extremely
58 desirable, if not absolutely necessary, to construct large depéts of provisions
59 at Bhimbar and Rajauri, so as to provide against the possibility of a deter-
60 mined opposition being offered, and that the hill chiefs were hostile. These
61 warnings were, however, unheeded, and the Dewan, seeing that the Maha-
62 raja was determined on an advance, asked leave to accompany the invading
63 army. Sickness, however, detained him at the capital, and he was left
64 there to preserve order during the Mahardja’s absence. His grandson, Ram
65 Dayal, then only twenty-two years of age, who had already distinguished
66 himself by his ability and bravery, accompanied the Mahardjd, and was
67 entrusted with the command of a division of the army. The troops moved
68 ’ to Bhi r early, in June, i :
69 Sy Satguru agiteing ef ly. in ane and, aOR Slowly. heaty that @iace, reached