1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 491
2 having Shikdérpur, and he, therefore, hinted at his being allowed to re-
3 tain Jalldldbdd as his share of the spoils. Shah Shujé, on his part, agreed
4 to pay him a subsidy of two lakhs of rupees per annum in consideration of
5 his stationing a force of not less than 5,000 Muhammadan cavalry and
6 infantry within the limits of the Peshawar territory for the support of the
7 Shah. The Shah also agréed to send to the Mahardjé an annual present of
8 55 high-bred horses of approved colour and breed, 11 Persian scimitars, 7 Per-
9 sian poignards, 25 mules, and a variety of fruits and other produce of Af-
10 ghanistdn.
11 Towards the close of November, 1888, the British armies assembled at
12 Ferozepur. This was the celelerated “ Army of the Indus,” as Lord Auck-
13 land called it, and it was commanded by Sir Willoughby Cotton. Further isa
14 ecldé was given to the opening of this memorable campaign by a meeting
15 which had been in the meanwhile arranged between the Governor-General
16 and the Mahardjd, and which took place at Ferozepur on 30th November.
17 The Mahardjé had recently been attacked with a severe and dangerous ill-
18 ness,’ and was in a very enfeebled state of health; yet he took the most
19 lively interest in the object of the meeting, and displayed his wonted spirit
20 and acuteness and perspicacity on the occasion. In the champ de drap
21 Wor of Ferozepur, His Excellency Lord Auckland make his appearance with
22 the pomp and magnificence of an Indian potentate. The appearance of
23 His Lordship’s camp was imposing and picturesque, and, though the jewels
24 and chain armour of the Sikh chiefs and sardars eclipsed the plain uniforms
25 of the viceregal staff, the immense retinue of the British chief and his
26 escort of 15,000 men at once showed to the acutely observing Sikh ruler
27 the solid strength and the unassuming character of the great British na-
28 tion. An interchange of ceremonious visits had given ecldt to the occasion,
29 while the splendid illuminations of the great mosque and of the city of
30 Ferozepur were remarkable for their attractiveness and magnificence. Various
31 reviews of the troops of the two nations were held, but none made so superb
32 a display as the body guard of the Mahardjd. They were dressed in yellow
33 satin, with gold scarves and shawls; some were clad in cloth of gold, scarlet,
34 purple or yellow; their beards were enveloped in a drapery of gold or silver
35 tissue, to protect them from the dust, and their arms were all of gold.
36 Amidst all this display of grandeur and interchange of magnificent hos-
37 pitalities, an unfortunate circumstance happened, which was looked upon
38 by the Sikhs as an unpropitious omen. While the Mahardjé was proceed-
39 ing to inspect the highly-finished guns, which were part of the presents to
40 be made to him, he stumbled and fell flat on his face before them, He was
41 not hurt; but the omen was nevertheless considered an unlucky one.
42 A contingent was raised by Shah Shujd, more for form than for use,
43 and this was united to the British force. In the beginning of December {
44 the Bengal army, 9,500 strong, was ready to proceed without delay
45 to Sindh. A reserved division, 4,250 strong, was at the same time
46 located at Ferozepur, under Major-General Duncan. Thé Maharaja had
47 engaged to maintain an army of observation of 15,000 men. A Sikh
48 contingent, about 6,000 strong, was placed under.the orders of Lieutenant-
49 Colonel Wade, and marched from Léhore in January, 1839, accompanied
50 by Shahzdda Timdr. This force was joined at Peshdwar by another
51 Sikh contingent, under Prince Nau Nehal Singh, the Mahardja’s grandson.
52 Shah Shuj4 was himself to march by way of Shikdrpur and Quetta,
53 He entered Kandahar at the head of troops, and, the Barakzai Sardars
54 having fled on his approach, he was formally enthroned on 8th May,
55 1839. On this occasion the whole of the British army, numbering
56 Ranjit Singh hints
57 at retaining Jallalabéd
58 as his share of the
59 spoil,
60 The rendezvous of
61 the British armies at
62 Ferozepur, November,
63 The « Army of the
64 Indus.”
65 Meeting between
66 Lord Auckland and
67 Maharajé Ranjit Singh
68 at Ferozepur, 30th
69 Noyember, 1838.
70 Reviews of troops,
71 An accident thonght
72 to be unlucky.
73 The Indian army
74 marches for Afghanis-
75 an.
76 Kandahar occupied,
77 25th April, 1839.
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