1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 481
2 pleased to see the practice, and, on going home, sent a purse of 1,200 rupees
3 as a present to the artillerymen. For each of the officers who had point-
4 ed the guns, a shawl and gold bangles were sent. After this, the Court
5 jewels were exhibited forthe inspection of the Commander-in-Chief; and
6 some of these are described as the finest in the world, There were a variety
7 of swords, armlets, necklaces, bangles and other ornaments and jewels.
8 Many of the swords were of very great value, their blades alone, in some
9 instances, being valued at 10,000 rupees, and the gold and jewels upon their
10 hilts and scabbards at five times that amount. Many of these belonged to the
11 Durréni Emperors, who probably squeezed them out of the Emperor of Dehli,
12 or his ministers and grandees, Ranjit in his turn, had extorted them from
13 Shah Shujd-ul-Mulk.
14 In the evening of 19th March, a grand entertainment was<given by the
15 Mahardjd at the palace in honour of the English ladies. On the afternoon
16 of the 20th, the ladies went to see Ranjit’s wives. The entire edifice of the
17 Summan Burj had been most superbly decorated for the occasion with gar-
18 lands and wreaths of flowers. Mahardni Nakdin, the mother of Prince
19 Kharak Singh, with other Rdnfsand members of the Royal seraglio, canie
20 to the gate of the fort to receive their honourable guests, every male
21 (except the Mahardjé) having been carefully excluded from the scene. The
22 Grand Signior, the old Lion, was found seated in the midst of his wives, who
23 received the English ladies with great distinction. The meeting lasted
24 for some time, after which the Sikh ladies presented their English sisters
25 with some very handsome aud most valuable presents. .
26 On the 22nd the Mahardjd celebrated the Holi festival with great
27 magnificence. Here, too, Sir Henry Fane was present, and the scene was
28 interesting when the Mahardjd, with his own hand, poured the red powder
29 and yellow saffron over Sir Henry’s head, the Prime Minister at the same
30 time rubbing the General all over with gold and silver leaf mixed with red
31 powder. All the sardars and chiefs sat on chairs with baskets of red powder,
32 and little balls filled with saffron. These they freely threw at one another,
33 perfectly regardless of the result. Many were the long beards that were
34 dyed and many the eyes temporarily blinded with the red dust. Among
35 the guests there happened tobe an Afghan ambassador, Gul Muhammad
36 Khan, an orthodox Mahomedan, who had just arrived from Kandahar. He
37 had not the faintest idea of what would happen to him, but in a few,
38 moments his beautiful garments were coloured from head to feet, and his
39 beard, which he had nicely combed, was turned to a bright saffron colour,
40 while red dust was literally thrown in his eyes. The gallant, but abashed
41 Khan, cast looks of astonishment all round, but, finding no attention paid
42 to him from any quarter, since etiquette was for the nonce thrown to the
43 winds, he took to his heels amidst roars of laughter from the whole assem-
44 bly. Ranjit’s favourite guard of Amazons, the dancing-girls, some thirty or
45 forty in number, many of whom are described as being very pretty, were
46 “present all the time that the battle raged, and took no insignificant part
47 in the combat,
48 The Commander-in-Chief paid his farewell visit to the Mahardja, in his
49 garden-house, on the 27th. His Highness was seated on a masnad, attended,
50 as usual, by his Court, with tame pigeons feeding on the carpet before him.
51 After half an hour’s complimentary speeches, farewell presents were
52 brought for the General and his staff Those for His Excellency com-
53 prised most magnificent shawls, a beautiful sabre, an elephant with ‘a
54 silver howdah and horses. On his departure, the Mahardjd bade adieu to the
55 British Chief, and gave him and his Military Secretary the new order which
56 Display of the
57 Court jewels.
58 Reception of English
59 ladies by Ranjit Singh's
60 wives,
61 The Holi Festival
62 The Commander-in-
63 Chietf’s farewell visit.
64 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com