1 46 4s HISTORY OF THE PANJARB.
2 made fresh attempts to raise an army, with a view to another invasion of
3 Kandahar; but his General, Samandar Khan, fell suddenly ill and: died,
4 wage tarelste Hyderi- ‘The Shah then went to Hyderdbdd in Sindh; but, seeing that the wind
5 blew unfavourably for him in every quarter, he at last concluded that he
6 But eventually re could do no better than return to Ludhidnd, his old asylum in the - Panjab.
7 turns to Ludhiana,
8 1835. He therefore returned to that place, divested of his army, but bringing
9 with him two lakhs and fifty thousand rupees in cash and valuables.
10 Mulot imposed on In the beginning of 18338, Sheodial, a rich Khatri of Amritsar, having
11 art nian 1333. died, Commandant Sham Singh was deputed to confiscate all the property
12 of the deceased. The three sons of the deceased, Rém Dds, Kishen Chand
13 and Nardin Dds, who made some demur, were sent in chains to Ldhore,
14 where a lakh of rupees having been exacted from them, they were set at
15 mite Maharéié, 453, liberty. The Mahardjdé having taken a fancy to Gul Bahdr,* one of the
16 " demi-monde of Amritsar, married her with great pomp and splendour in
17 the course of this year. The marriage procession, headed by the bride-
18 groom, who wore on his head the bridal chaplet, or wreath of flowers, went -
19 to the bride’s house. Here Mamola, sister of Moran, a woman of the same
20 class, who had been previously married to the Mahardjd, adorned the
21 bridegroom’s neck with a necklace of pearls and sprinkled saffron water
22 on his clothes. The ceremonies closed amid great rejoicings; and for many
23 days Léhore and Amritsar were the scene of merriment and festivities.
24 About this time Prince Kharak Singh was sent to Sanghar at the head of
25 an army, for the complete subjugation of the country about the Sulemdéa
26 Range of hills. Asad Khan, the chief, on hearing of the approach of the
27 Complete subjugation Sikh troops, fled to the hills to form a union with the Afghans of the moun-
28 of the coumyamnge, tains. The Mahardjd, hearing of this, issued orders for Dewdn Sanwan Mal,
29 Aah the Governor of Multén, to send reinforcements to Sanghar. The country
30 was soon after occupied by the Sikhs and farmed to General Ventura for
31 the sum of Res. 1,50,000 annually, besides a nazardndé of a number of horses.
32 Reports having been received of the mismanagement of Kashmir by
33 Administration of § Dewdn Baisdékha Singh, under Prince Sher Singh, who had been sent there
34 Ease as Governor, some time previously, the Dewan was sent to Lahore in chains
35 and a mulct of five lakhs of rupees was imposed upon him. Jamadar Khushal
36 Singh, Bhai Gurmukh Singh and Sheikh Ghuldém Mohi-ud-din were sent to
37 Kashmir to examine the accounts of revenue and expenditure and to assist
38 Prince Sher Singh in the administration of the country, in place of the
39 deposed Dewan.
40 Kdshmir was about this time visited by so severe a famine that thousands
41 Famine in Kishmir, of people fled from the country in different directions, and hundreds died
42 ee from starvation and hunger. The shawl manufacture, which was so thriving
43 in the time of Dewdén Moti Rém and Kirpa Ré4m, had come to a standstill
44 under the governorship of Prince Sher Singh, who spent all his time in
45 drinking and debauchery, leaving his subordinates to act for him. Jamadar
46 -Khushal Singh, who had shortly before been sent to Kashmir, made matters
47 worse, and many were the complaints against his oppression. Large firms
48 had become bankrupt, and thousands of people who derived their income
49 Suppression of the from the shawl trade had no business to pursue. This, combined with a
50 shawl trade. severe drought, completed the ruin of the people. The streets of Lahore
51 and Amritsar swarmed with bands of starving Kashmiris, who went about.
52 the streets and lanes crying for bread. Khuda Bakhsh, the Kotwal, or chief
53 police officer of Lahore, reported daily to the Mahardj& the number of
54 * She was called Réni Gul Begam.. She died at LAhore in 1863, and was in receipt of 2 pen-
55 Sri Satgurut agit Sighs BERBPA AP! ber death. \amdhariElibrary@ gmail.com