1 Seizure of the Ram-
2 garhia estates, 1816,
3 The Sikh troops
4 worsted at Multén,
5 1817,
6 The expedition to
7 Hazara, 1817,
8 Muhammad Khan,
9 the Hazara chief, is
10 slain
11 Treaty with the
12 Nawab of Mankeria,
13 1817.
14 Preparations for a
15 fresh expedition to
16 Multan, 1817,
17 The army marche3
18 from Lahore, 1818.
19 Release of Ah
20 Khan, SiaL irs
21 410 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
22 of the Maharaja. The entire possessions of the Ramgarhia mis/, which were
23 seized by Ranjit Singh, were estimated to yield a yearly revenue of five
24 lakhs of rupees. ‘The Maharaja having returned to Amritsar on the 18th of
25 December, the city was illuminated in honour of the occasion. The return of
26 the sovereign to his capital was marked by the celebration of the Holi.
27 In the beginning of 1817, Fakir Nur-ud-din was sent to settle the
28 Ramgarhia territory, and in Magh (January) of the same year, Dewdn Moti
29 Ram, Bhawéni Das, Peshawaria, Hari Singh, Nalwa, and other sardars, were
30 sent against Multan, witha large force, to enforce the payment oftribute. Misr
31 Dewan Chand, commandant of the artillery, followed witha large number of
32 guns. The Sikh army besieged the fort, but Muzaffar Khan made a gallant
33 defence and compelled the invaders to raise the siege and retire. When the
34 army reached Lahore, the Maharaja placed Bhawdni Das, who had conducted
35 the siege, in confinement, besides imposing on him a fine of Rs. 10,000.
36 Troops were then sent, under Prince Sher Singh and Tard Singh,
37 against Muhammad Khan, of Hazdéra, who had given trouble to Hukm Singh,
38 Chimni, the Sikh governor of Atak. Thousands of people from the sur-
39 rounding country flocked to the standard of Muhammad Khan, and a battle
40 was fought which ended in the total rout of the Mahomedans, who dis-
41 persed in all directions. Muhammad Khan himself was killed in the battle
42 and was succeeded by his son, Sayd Ahmad Khan. As a punishment,
43 the amount of his tribute was raised from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000, and
44 the Sikh troops were withdrawn. ‘The same year, a treaty was concluded
45 with the nawdb of Mdénkera, through Raizdda Pindi Das, binding the nawéb
46 to pay an annual tribute of Rs. 80,000 and to supply a number of horses
47 and camels and a contingent of troops for service in Multdn in case of war.
48 During the latter part of the year, the Mahardjd’s attention was wholly
49 absorbed in making military preparations for an expedition against Multan.
50 A life devoted to toil and debauchery, each excessive in its turn, had
51 seriously impaired the Mahardja’s health, and he was obliged to subject
52 himself to a course of regimen, prescribed by the hékims, which Jasted for
53 forty days. He was, however, not wanting in energy, and, as soon as his
54 complaint was partially cured, he resumed his personal supervision of all
55 the preparations, including the transport and commissariat arrangements.
56 It was resolved to convey the provisions and war material by the Ravi and
57 Chinab, and all the boats on these rivers were put under requisition, A
58 large number of bullocks were procured to convey the heavy artillery
59 to the intended seat of war. -Zamzama, the famous gun, had been moved
60 from Amritsar, and all the sardars of State were busy in collecting supplies
61 and men from every quarter.
62 In January 1818, an army of 25,000 Sikhs marched from Lahore to the
63 south-west frontier. The chief command of the expedition was given to
64 Prince Kharak Singh, assisted by Misr Dewan Chand, who had risen from
65 a low position to that of commandant of the artillery on account of his
66 talents and activity, and who held the real command. He was also honoured
67 with the title of Zafar Jang. Repeated excursions and continued exactions,
68 the number of which had, each season, been enormously increased, had so
69 strained the resources.of the country, and spread such devastation over it,
70 that the Maharaja saw the time had come when this long-coveted possession
71 could be secured without any considerable difficulty. Yet he pre-
72 pared himself for all possible contingencies, and was fully alive to the
73 danger of a Musalman combination in the cause of their faith, against the
74 people of his own religion, an apprehension, the correctness of which future
75 Sri Satgurul] Adit SidGAY Fetiranpfore undertaking. hinermedatine dmarleanad Abmad