1 Prince Nau Nehal
2 Singh is sent in that
3 direction at the head
4 of a force.
5 Confusion in Pesha-
6 war,
7 March of the Sikh
8 troops to the city,
9 The Sikhs occupy
10 the town of Peshawar
11 and the citadel, 6th
12 May 1934,
13 The Maharajé con-
14 centrates his troops on
15 the frontier, and him-
16 468 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
17 forces from the Eusafzai hills to Peshdwar, and there act as lieutenant to
18 Prince Nau Nehal Singh, who was in the meantime sent from Léhore in
19 that direction, accompanied by Generals Ventura and Court and a large
20 body of troops. The force crossed the Indus at the end of April, and, on
21 arriving in the vicinity of Peshawar, an increased tribute in horses, rice,
22 swords, &c., was demanded. The horses, &c., which were offered were rejected
23 as unsuitable, the object of the Sikhs being to gain time. The Barakzai
24 Sardars in possession of Peshawar, apprehensive of the designs of the Sikhs,
25 had already sent their families to Michni, north of the Kdbul river, with
26 their guns and other property. They themselves remained in Peshdwar
27 with their horses ready to be saddled at a moment’s notice. “It was
28 ridiculous,” writes an eye-witness, “about twice or thrice a day, to see the
29 servants running out with the saddles on their heads and returning when
30 they discovered that the alarm which had been given was a false one.”
31 Everything which was portable had been carried away, even to the doors
32 and windows of their houses. This had, indeed, always been the custom
33 at Peshdwar whenever there was a reporb of the Sikhs approaching its
34 vicinity. The remnants of the old Ghuldm Khana of Peshawar who, on
35 account, of their being Shids, were dissatisfied with the rule of the Barakzai
36 brothers, opened a clandestine correspondence with Hari Singh, and so did the
37 principal Hindu dewdns of the country. Hari Singh, finding everything
38 in his favour, sent a message to the Barakzai Sardars, Sultdn Muhammad
39 Khan, his brother, Pir Muhammad Khan, and his nephew, Abdul Ghias
40 Khan, the son of Nawab Jabbar Khan, and Ndib Haji Khan, to evacuate
41 the city and retire to the garden of Ali Murddn Khan, as the Shahzddé
42 Nau Nehal Singh desired to see the city. The Sikh force was, in the
43 meantime, in motion, and Sultd4n Muhammad Khan, observing this
44 with a spy-glass which he had always in his hand, made immediate prepara-
45 tions for flight. The horses were saddled and mounted in atrice. The
46 houses were evacuated, as if by magic, and all fled to the adjoining hills, except
47 Abdul Ghias Khan and his party. The Sikhs moved forward in regular order,
48 The van was led by the young Shahzada, seated on an elephant and followed
49 by Hari Singh and a host of other sardars. Behind them came detachments
50 of cavalry, and, last of all, the battalions of General Court, advancing in
51 column in quick time. Some Afghans who had concealed themselves among the
52 trees, were soon cleared out. ‘The advance of the Sikhs was checked by Haji
53 Khan’s men, and a skirmish ensued, in which Khan Muhammad Khan, the
54 brother of Haji Khan, was badly wounded and borne off the field. A smart
55 fire was kept up on both sides, and instances of individual bravery were not
56 wanting among the Afghans. One gallant fellow cut down six of his ad-
57 versaries. The Sikhs, having now completed the circuit of the city, entered
58 and occupied the Bala Hissdr, and, simultaneously with it, the town was
59 occupied, on 6th May 18384. The discomfited sardars fled to Takkdl and
60 Shekhdn, at the foot of the hills, Pfr Muhammad Khan was afterwards
61 reported to have retired to Kohdb with treasure amounting to three lakhs
62 of rupees, which he carried away from Peshdwar. Thus did the Sikhs make
63 themselves masters of an important and productive country. There is no
64 doubt that, had Sultén Muhammad Khan made the least attempt to defend
65 the country, it would not have fallen so easy a prey to them as it did. As
66 it was, however, the sardar had sentaway the best part of his troops, and
67 prohibited the town and country people from defending the city.
68 Peshawar was taken, but Ranjit Singh’s mind was not at rest, and he
69 concentrated his whole attention on frontier affairs. Troops were daily sent
70 self marched to HS alguna adestien jiGapraay Kdéshmiva Sieghdivarietbtabp@sdatailatorhe head