1 The country of
2 Mankera ravaged,
3 1816.
4 The Mahardjé pro-
5 ceeds to Jhaug.
6 Imprisons the
7 Nawab.
8 ‘Makes arrangements
9 of the country, 1816.
10 Capture of Uch and
11 Kot Mahar4j4 on the
12 Chindb, 1816,
13 The proceedings of
14 Wazir Fattech Khan in
15 the hills adjoining
16 Kashmir.
17 The reorganization
18 of the nikka country
19 and the dismissal of
20 Bhai Ram Singh from
21 office of tutor to
22 Prince Kharak Singh,
23 408 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
24 cession devolved on Sher Muhammad Khan, with the consent of Khud4
25 Ydr Khan, younger brother of the deceased nawdb, and Hafiz Ahmad
26 Khan, his son-in-law. Negotiations for a nazrdénd were opened by the
27 Maharaja, through his agent Sujan Rai, the agents on behalf of the nawab
28 being Raizada Pindi Das, Sundar Singh and Mohan Lal. The Mahardjd
29 made a demand for Rs. 1,25,000, while the nawab offered only Rs. 20,000.
30 The Mahardjd, considering himself affronted, ordered the Mankera country
31 to be devastated with fire and sword. ‘The forts of Mahmud Kot, Khan-
32 garh and Muhammadpur, were closely besieged and subjected to a heavy
33 cannonade. Phula Singh, the notorious Akdli fanatic, committed the
34 grossest atrocities on the Mussalmdn population, and the garrisons, on com-
35 ing out of the blockaded forts, were subjected to insults of a revolting
36 description, notwithstanding the solemn pledges given that they would be
37 secure from maltreatment. At length, Rai Pindi Das having arranged to
38 pay fifty thousand rupees in cash, through Jamadar Khushhdl Singh, and
39 the heat of the weather being severely felt, the Sikh forces withdrew,
40 leaving Sher Muhammad Khan to govern the country.
41 The Maharajé now proceeded to Jhang, where Ahmad Khan, the Sial
42 chief, was summoned to his presence, and called upon to pay forthwith a
43 large nazrdénd. He pleaded his inability to do so, on which he was seized
44 and sent a prisoner to Léhore, together with Jawdydé Ram, his dewdn,
45 under a strong guard. The whole country, yielding 4 revenue of four lakhs
46 of rupees, was confiscated and farmed to Sukh Dayal for Rs. 1,60,000, the
47 civil government being entrusted to Sujan Rai. Sardar Fateh Singh,
48 Ahluwalia, was in the meantime sent to Uch, on the Chinéb, and Kot
49 Maharaja, which he seized, evicting the Sayads of Uch, whose possessions had
50 hitherto been held by them, on account of their religious sanctity, and who
51 were now provided with a jdgir. Rajab Ali Khan, the chief of. Kot Maharaja,
52 was seized and sent a prisoner to the Sikh capital. At this time, Abdus
53 Samad Khan, son of Naw4b Shah Muhammad Khan, of Ddera Din Pandh,
54 having suffered great oppression at the hands of Hafiz Muzaffar Khan
55 of Multdn, fled, with Nawab Muzaffar Khan, Saddozai, to Lahore, where
56 they were received with consideration by the Maharaja.
57 The Maharajé, having finished his tour in the south, returned to his
58 capital on the 20th of May. Here he was informed that Wazir Fatteh Khan,
59 having crossed the Indus at Atak, had employed the season in marching
60 across the Pakhli and Damtour hills. He had established his own authority
61 in the valley, having defeated his brother Muhammad Azim Khan, and was
62 returning by the same route. Dewdn Ram Dayal was, about this time,
63 engaged in quelling a disturbance raised by Muhammad Khan, zemindar
64 of Dheri, and in settling the country round Atak. The Maharajé sent the
65 dewdn orders to remain at Kélé ki Sarae, until Fatteh Khan should leave
66 Kashmir and re-cross the Indus.
67 Domestic troubles now occupied the attention of the Mahardjé. Bhai
68 Ram Singh, the guardian of the heir-apparent, Kanwar Kharak Singh,
69 had mismanaged the nikka country held in jégir by the prince, and grievous-
70 ly oppressed the people, Loud complaints reached the Mahardjd’s ears
71 of the Bhdi’s misbehaviour and excesses, He had formed a close intimacy
72 with the Kanwar’s mother, the Mahardjd’s second wife, and his influence
73 over that lady, as well as over the prince, was so great, that his will.
74 prevailed in all matters, public and private. The Mahardjd gave the prinoe,
75 who had reached the ageof discretion, time for amendment and reform ;
76 but the active interference of the Bhai made anything like improvement
77 Sri Satgura agit RAAT be plabardis wasy at deusEh, comaeliadil Eniakce more