1 MAHARATA RANJIL SINGIL 435
2 Jahdnefr to the hills, and saw the places visited by the Moghal Emperor. At ake expedition to
3 Kangré, having alighted in the Srinagar gardens, he determined on the con- ~
4 quest of Taragarh, a fortress deemed impregnable, on the snowy ranges adjoin-
5 ing Nurpur and Chamba; but Wazir Nathu, having, on the part of the Rajé,
6 paid a nuzrdénd of Rs. 25,000, the idea was abandoned. Jamadar Khushhdl
7 Singh, Dewdn Kirpa-Ram and Sardar Lahna Singh were now sent with troops
8 to reduce the fort of Kotler, and the Mahardjé returned to Adinanagar, hav-
9 ing given orders for the Rajas of Bassoli and Jasrota to co-operate with
10 Khushhal Singh in his expedition against Kotler. Kotler was a strong fort,
11 and from its position well adapted to resist artillery fire or assault. Sardar
12 Dhanné, Singh, Malwdi, was also sent to join Jamadar Khushhal Singh with a
13 detachment of troops. After all the troops had collected, the fort was block-
14 aded, and the stream of water which flowed. into it, having its source in the hills
15 beyond, was stopped. The supply of water being thus cut off, the besieged
16 garrison were put to great straits, and, after several days’ attempts to repulse
17 the invading army, capitulated. The fort was occupied by the Sikhs, and the ,, The fort of Kotier
18 killéddr put in confinement by Jamadar Khushhal Singh; but he was after- “7”
19 wards released at the intercession of the Sodhiof Kartérpur. “The whole
20 territory of Kotler was annexed to the Khélsé, and a jagir of Rs. 12,000
21 per annum allotted to the ex-Raja& Shamsher Singh, for his maintenance. In-
22 telligence was received from Kanwar Kharak Singh from Kala, Bagh that the
23 tribes of Bannu had been all reduced and a nazrdéné levied from them. The
24 operations in Bannt having been brought to a close, the prince was directed to
25 return to Lahore. Generals Ventura and Allard represented to the Maharaja,
26 that a number of Sikh sardars and soldiers had refused to serve under them,
27 .and were ready to oppose their authority with drawn swords. The reason for ,, Tnsubordination to
28 this refractory conduct on the part of the troops was their aversion to serving oa. SP
29 under foreigners. The Mahardjd, at the head of a body of troops and with :
30 some guns, came out of the city to Anarkali,and ordered his tents to be
31 pitched there. Many arrests were > made, officers degraded, and the. ring-
32 leaders fined. These prompt measures restored order among the troops,
33 the Maharaja taking the utmost precaution to allay unfounded fears.
34 In the course of this year, Dewdn Ganga Ram died. He was a man of con- geval of Dewin
35 siderable ability, and the administration of the country about Gujrdt was en- “""S* “1°
36 trusted to him in 1821, and was held by him for two years. He first organised
37 the Abkari system, and made great improvements in the system of military
38 accounts. He was succeeded as keeper of the seal, and in the account office of
39 the Military Department, by Pandit, afterwards Raja, Dind Nath. Panit Ding Nath.
40 ‘ Intelligence having been brought of an insurrection raised by the ze-
41 minddrs of Gandgarh, who had put in confinement Abbds Khan, Khatak, Tho fight at Gand-
42 the Mahardja’s kildlddér and agent at that place, Sardar Hari Singh, Nalwa,
43 and General Ventura were sent with a force in that direction. <A fight took
44 place near Gandgarh, in which several hundreds of zeminddérs were killed
45 and the rest fled. The leaders of the revolt at length made their submis-
46 sion and released Abbds Khan, Khatak. Hari Singh and the French Gene-
47 ral next went to Srikot, the fort of which is situated on the summit of the _ capture of Srikot,
48 "hills in the vicinity of Pukli and Dhamtor. The Sikhs laid siege to the **
49 fort, and the Pathdns offered a vigorous resistance. The siege lasted fifteen
50 days, #t the end of which time the Pathdns, who had gallantly defended
51 this strong citadel, were compelled to surrender, and the fort was occupied
52 by the Sikhs. The Mahardji was much pleased to hear of the capture
53 of Srikot, and directed the French General and Hari Singh to proceed to
54 Peshdéwar and demand tribute from Ydér Muhammad Khan. Keinforce-
55 ments were sent from Lahore, under Prince Sher Singh; and Mishar Sukh -
56 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibary@ gmail.com