1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 451
2 troops and thirty pieces of cannon, for the purpose of collecting tribute.
3 The French traveller, after being most hospitably entertained for several
4 days, took his leave on the 18th March, and was honoured with a khilat valued
5 at 5,000 rupees in addition to a purse of 1,100 rupees. The services of horse
6 and foot soldiers were placed at his disposal, to conduct him in safety to the
7 borders of the Sikh dominions,
8 In April, 1831, a Sikh deputation, consisting of Dewdu Moti Ram, son
9 of Mokham Chand, Fakir Aziz-ud-din and Sardar Hari Singh, Nalwa, waited
10 on His Excellency, Lord William Bentinck, Governor-General of India, with
11 presents, to convey to His Lordship the Mahardjd’s complimentary wishes
12 for his own welfare and the prosperity and good of the British Government.
13 The deputation was received with much distinction by the Governor-
14 General, who, observing the very favourable disposition in which the Sikh
15 rulez seemed to be, proposed an interview between His Highness and him-
16 self, ‘fhe rising fortunes of Ranjit Singh and the establishment of his
17 power inis side of the Indus were considerations which led the Governor-
18 General to propose a formal meeting at atime when the probable designs of
19 Russia against Persia, and the further advance of that power towards the
20 East were subjects of warm discussion in political circles, and it was thought
21 fit to give the world an impression that a complete unanimity existed between
22 the two States. On the other hand, Ranjit Singh had considerations of his
23 own in view, in forming an alliance with his British neighbours, for his
24 power, though predominant in the Panjdb' proper, was hardly consolidated
25 in the country beyond the Indus, and he was anxious to lead the public to
26 believe that he was acknowledged as the head of the Khélsé by the para-
27 mount power in India. Accordingly, the deputation of Captain Wade to the
28 Sikh capital to thank His Highness for his attention, and to propose an
29 interview between him and His Lordship, had its desired effect. The
30 Mahardjd, notwithstanding the adverse counsel of some of his courtiers,
31 prominent among whom was the gallant Sardar Hari Singh, Nalwa,
32 agreed to the interview, and Ropar, on the banks of the Sutlej, was
33 fixed as the most convenient spot for the proposed meeting. On the
34 16th October, the Dasahra Darbar was held, with unusal magnificence in the
35 Ram Bagh garden in Amritsar, when all the sardars presented zaza7's, and
36 received khilats from their sovereign. The festivities being over, a murdsila
37 was sent to Rajé Sangat Singh of Jhind, asking him to join the Maharaja
38 at Jalandar, for the Ropar meeting, and the Maharaja, having made his pre-
39 parations, himself marched in that direction, accompanied by his chiefs and
40 sardars, and escorted by 10,000 of his best horse, 6,000 trained infantry, and
41 two batteries of artillery. Everything was done at Ropar by the British
42 authorities to give eclat to the occasion, The deep interest which the Ma-
43 hardjé had always taken in the mode of equipment of the British forces, his
44 attention to European drill and mode of warfare, and his well-known inqui-
45 sitive disposition on such occasions, led the heads of Government to make
46 special arrangements for a display of as great a variety of troops as possible.
47 The troops ordered up to Ropar were two squadrons of European lancers,
48 a European regiment, two battalions of native infantry, two squadrons of
49 Skinner's Irregular Horse, and the mounted band of H. M. 16th Lancers.
50 The Mahardja’s camp was laid out on the opposite bank of the Sutlej, and,
51 immediately on his arrival in the camp, a deputation from the Governor-
52 General, consisting of British officers of rank, among whom were Major-General
53 Ramsay, Mr. Prinsep, Major Colvin and his Lordship’s Chief Secretary, waited
54 on His Highness to enquire after his health. They were received by the
55 Mahardjé under a salute, and presented a purse of 10,000 rupees as Sar-
56 Leaves Lahore, 18th
57 March 1831,
58 A. Sikh deputation
59 waits on Lord Bentinck,
60 the Governor-General,
61 at Simla, April, 1831.
62 His Lordship pro-
63 poses a meeting with
64 the Mahardja.
65 The meeting desired
66 by both parties for
67 considerations of thoir
68 own,
69 The deputation of
70 Captain Wade to
71 Lahore.
72 Ropar fixed as the
73 appropriate spot for
74 meeting.
75 The Maharaja starts,
76 accompanied by a large
77 force.
78 Preparations at
79 Friendly deputations
80 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibary@ gmail.com