1 The sardar is advis-
2 ed to stick to his alli-
3 ance with the Maha-
4 rdja.
5 Confidence between
6 the two chiefs restored.
7 Cordial relations be-
8 tween the Maharaji
9 and Sungat Singh of
10 Thind, 1926,
11 A tour in the bills of
12 Kangra, 1826,
13 AQd HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
14 was, with Naraingarh, and the neighbouring villages, given by the Mahardjé
15 to Fatteh Singh, as a grant,on payment of a nazrénd, and in respect of
16 both these estates the supremacy of the Lahore darbdr was acknowledged
17 by the British Government. He was, however, assured of British protec-
18 tion in his ancestral estates in Sirhind, on the British side of the Sutlej,
19 But the British authorities, while acknowledging his possessions,,or those of
20 his ancestors, held on the left bank of the Sutlej previously to his alliance
21 with the Lahore Maharajé, and recognising even those acquisitions on the
22 same bank of the river which were made at a time when the conquests of
23 the sardar and Ranjit Singh were portioned on a footing of equality, advised
24 the chief not to be influenced by vague suspicions, but to stand by the
25 friendship which had so long subsisted between him and the Lahore ruler.
26 Ranjit Singh, on the other hand, unwilling to permit his old ally to slip into
27 the hands of the British, earnestly endeavoured to allay his fears. Faqir
28 Aziz-ud-din, under the orders of the Mahardja, occupied all the Trans-
29 Sutlej possessions of the Ahlawalia chief, and even expelled his garrison.
30 The Ahliwalia Katra, or quarter, at Amritsar was also seized and occupied
31 by the Mahardjé’s men; but he expressed a great desire for a reconciliation,
32 and promised. to give every assurance for the security of the sardar’s
33 person and possessions, should he return to his capital, Bawa Atar Singh,
34 Sodhi, was selected to conduct negotiations, and he went to Jagréon, with
35 Dewdn Saudagar Mal, and Amir Chand, vakil, to induce the fugitive sardar
36 to return. Fatteh Singh, though he little believed in the professions and
37 assurances of his old ally, thought it politic to return to his territory, which
38 he didin 1827, Immediately on his return, all his possessions were restored,
39 and he was honourably received at the darbdér the same year. On ap-
40 pearing before the Mahardjd, Sardar Fatteh Singh, having unsheathed
41 his sword, laid it before His Highness with tears in his eyes. The Mahardjé
42 embraced him, and, having spoken to him kindly, returned his sword to
43 its scabbard with his own hands, and dismissed him with a Ahilaé of honour,
44 consisting of an elephant with a silver howdah, a necklace of pearls, and |
45 some jewels and pieces of costly cloth. The suspicions of the Ahluwalia
46 chief having been thus allayed, Faqir Nur-ud-din was sent to Kapurthalla to
47 withdraw the Mahardjd’s officials, and replace those of the sardar. As future
48 events showed, the fears of the Ahliwalia Sardar were much exaggerated,
49 he being one of the few men for whom the Maharaja entertained any sincere
50 feeling of regard. :
51 In the early part of 1826, the Court was visited by Raja Sangat Singh
52 of Jhind. The Mahardj& sent some -of his sardars to meet the raja at
53 Amritsar, and they conducted him with all honour to Léhore, where he was
54 received with distinction by the Mahardj4. Tents and shamianas were
55 pitched for him on the plain of the Masti Gate, opposite the palace, and
56 all necessaries were provided. for him and his retainers at the expense of
57 the State. He was present at the Holi festival, and the Mahardjd made
58 his officers pay nazds to his guest. At the desire of the Mahardjd, who
59 seems to have contracted a great liking for Sangat Singh, the chief con-
60 sented to go with him to Jawdldé Mukhi, and waited at Dinanagar for the -
61 Mahardjé’s return. The Maharaja went to Hoshiarpur, and from thence to
62 Una, where he had an interview with Sahib Singh, Bedi, and presented him -
63 with a nazrénd of five thousand rupees. Nadaun was then visited, and Anrodh
64 Chand, son of the deceased Sansar Chand, having paid his respects to the
65 Maharaja, offered a number of fine horses as nazréndé. The Mahardjé then
66 visited Jawala Mukhi, where he offered a chatiar, or canopy of gold, and
67 evinced some interest in making enquiries about the visit of the Emperor
68 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com .