1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH 405
2 Azim Khan, who surrounded the Sikhs and cut off their supplies. The
3 Dewd4n, at this juncture, acted with resolution, and held his own with such _ the wise policy
4 determination, that Muhammad Azim Khan was compelled to come to fipptel by Dewan
5 terms. He not only allowed hima safe conduct to the Sikh frontier, but,
6 as a sign of homage, sent presents for the Sikh ruler, and, in a written
7 document, admitted the supremacy of the Lahore Darbar.* Thus the
8 whole expedition returned to Lahore, having lost its best officers and men,
9 and being shorn of everyehing that constituted its strength and utility as a
10 military body. The Mahardja lamented that in the campaign he could not
11 avail himself of his aged dewdn’s determination and judgment, as well as of
12 his skill and valour. Everything had come to pass exactly as the old
13 dewén had predicted; and the ruler of Lahore sighed at the political blunder
14 he had committed. But misfortunes never come singly, and the Mahardja,
15 and, indeed, the whole Sikh nation, was about to lose one who was to
16 them a sincere friend, and who combined the qualities of an able
17 counsellor and brave general. Mohkam Chand never recovered from
18 the illness which’ had prevented his accompanying his master on the
19 Kashmir expedition. Soon after the return ofthe Maharajd, the dewdn
20 grew worse, and he died at Phillour ¢ on 15th Kartik, 1871 Samvat (October , Death of Dewin
21 1814), much to the regret of the whole Sikh community, and the sorrow chia
22 of the Mahardj4, who owed so much of his success to his skill, valour
23 and fidelity. His military skill wasas great as his administrative genius,
24 andin him the Mahardj& lost his most devoted and loyal servant. In his
25 private character, the dewan was upright, liberal and high-minded. He
26 was most popular among the troops and evjoyed the confidence of all
27 the sardars of the nation. On his death, the Mahardjdé appointed Moti yi; pam niscon,
28 Ram Dewan in his father’s place, conferring on him also the governor-~ :
29 ship of the Jalandar Doab, and the charge of the fort of Phillour. Ram
30 Dayal, the grandson of the deceased, who had already distinguished himself pam Dayal nisgrand-
31 for bravery in the Kdshmir expedition, was made commander-in-chief of s™
32 the Sikh army.
33 The Mahardjd, after resting for a few days at Shaldmdr, repaired to
34 Amritsar, to meet Abdul Nabi Khan, the vakil of the British Government, arrival of British
35 who had come from Ludhiand, with Rai Nand Singh, bringing friendly Agent at Ammitsar.
36 letters from the Governor-General of India and General Sir David Ochter-
37 lony. -The agent was received with due honours, and presented, on his
38 departure, with a costly dress of honour, consisting of valuable shawls, and
39 a, thousand rupees in cash.
40 Returning to Lahore, the Mahardjé turned his attention to the con-
41 struction of a moat around the city, and the repair of the city wall. About Repairs of the city
42 the same time, Phula Singh, the Nihang Akdlia, raised the standard of Mor
43 revolt in the Malwa country across the Sutlej. He was assisted in his _ Rovoit of Phula
44 mischievous designs by Néhal Singh, the Attari chief. Dewdn Moti Ram Ssh Akéll.
45 was ordered from Phillour to repair to Malwa at the head of troops, and both
46 ee chiefs, having been captured at Kot Kapura, were brought
47 o Lahore. ‘
48 * Cunningtem here says that the advanced detachment was spared by Muhammad Azim
49 Khan, out of regard for Mohkam Chand, the grandfather of its commander. Murray seems to
50 hold the same view. This was, however, not at all the case. Dewdn Ram Daydl is admitted
51 on all hands to have acted with such determination, that Muhammad Azim Khan had to
52 remind him of the friendship that existed between him and his siandfather, and, but for that
53 friendship, the dewan was determined to fight to the last. Already two thousand Afghans had
54 been slain in the conflict, and Muhammad Azim Khan had seen the danger of allowing the
55 Sees BY prolong their stay in the valley.—Compare Amar Nath’s History with Panjéb Chiefs,
56 age 536.
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