1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 471
2 them with all honour to his own camp, and eventually sent them to Michni,
3 there to await the Mahardja’s orders.
4 Dost Muhammad Khan now resolved on an orderly retreat ; but the greater ,{etagias move
5 part of his army Bazdr was plundered by the Ghdazi’s. Late in the evening, :
6 he reached the heights of Chaghdri in the defiles of the Khaibar, when he
7 heard the reports of the Sikh salves discharged in triumph at the flight of
8 the Kdbul troops. The Amir, however, consoled himself with the thought
9 that he had outwitted the Sikhs in the matter of the arrest of Fakir Aziz-
10 ud-din and Mr. Harlan, whom he believed to be stillin the custody of
11 Sardar Sultén Muhammad Khan. In the meanwhile, he continued his
12 retrograde movement to Shekhdn, but was told at Jahdrghi that his scheme
13 for the capture of the envoys had failed, and that they were far beyond
14 his reach. The Amir and his confidential minister, the: Mirza, were
15 much mortified and chagrined at having been duped by Sultén Muhammad
16 Khan, in addition to the utter failure of their scheme. He ordered his
17 forces to be concentrated at Jalldlébaéd, a few battalions being sent in advance
18 to Surkh P4l, where his soldiers took the guard by surprise and plundered it
19 of its horses, arms, and ammunition. The Amir was unable to restore order
20 among his troops, and retraced his steps to Kébul during the night. He , He retraces hissteps
21 shut himself up, through shame, in the Bald Hissar Fort for three or four vee
22 days, and admitted no one tohis presence. His Wazir, Mirza Sami Khan,
23 likewise secluded himself in his house, and,in a fit of rage and remorse,
24 broke to pieces his kalamddu, or writing case, and reviled the Amir for not
25 following his advice in matters of war and politics.
26 On the retreat of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan to Kabul, the Mahardjd | The Maharijé builds
27 ordered a fortress of considerable strength to be constructed on the site of *~ ;
28 the old citadel. This order was carried into execution with great zeal by
29 Sardar Hari Singh, Ndlwd4, and Rajds Guldb Singh and Suchet Singh.
30 Other forts were also constructed by the Sikhs to protect the country. The
31 Sikhs consolidated their power at Peshawar, and where, in the level country The Sikh power
32 of Ddéman, west of the Indus, their agents only had resided, they now Sottwesterm
33 actually oceupied the territory, extending their influence to the ex- *ontie:
34 treme limit of Banni. The Mahardjd remained at Peshawar for several
35 weeks. Here Abdul Ghias Khan, son of Nawdb Jabbar Khan, and other {en er
36 chief residents of the town, paid their respects to him. His Highness tie aeqiyocodatea
37 placed R4j&é Guldéb Singh at the head of the financial affairs of the °"""™
38 country, while General Ventura was made head of the Military Department.
39 Rajé Guléb Singh subsequently falling ill, General Avitabile was appointed
40 in his place. After making these arrangements, the Mahardjdé returned to
41 Léhore. A jdgir of a lakh of rupees was conferred upon Prince Nau Nehal
42 Singh, in recognition of his services at Peshawar.
43 During the year, 1834, the Mahardj4 introduced the system of branding _ The system of brand-
44 horses and camels in the military-service, and, in accordance with an order ineodueeh i388
45 passed, all such animals were branded. The presents for the King of
46 England being now ready for despatch, Sardar Gujar Singh and Bhai
47 Govind Jas were sent on a mission to Calcutta, in September, 1834, with ,,4,{riendis mission
48 letters for the King and the Governor-General. This was only a friendly mis- as
49 sion, and had no reference to political affairs. A large number of shawls
50 and Kashmir cloaks, the property of Sheikh Ghulém Mohi-ud-din, were found
51 in the possession of the sons of Kazi Kamdl-ud-din of Sodhra* and confiscated
52 tothe State. After the Dasahra Darbar, which was held with the usual pomp ,,Tourin Batila,
53 _* A town built by Malik Azaz, the favourite slave of Sultin Mahmid Ghazni. He had
54 built a sarai at this place, called Sad-dara, from its haying one hundred doors. Sodhra or
55 Sadhora is a corruption of this name,
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