1 The sympathy of the
2 Khdisd troops for the
3 reputed sons of the
4 great Maharaja.
5 They subject the
6 minister to disgrace.
7 Release of Jawahir
8 Singh,
9 The minister's diffi-
10 culties,
11 Condition of the
12 Panjab at this time,
13 Disaffection of cer-
14 tain chiefs,
15 The state of Peshi-
16 war,
17 The unpopularity of
18 Pandit Jalla, s
19 The Khdlsd troops
20 invite Raja Suchet.
21 Singh to Lahoréy rl S a
22 524 - WISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
23 man whom they universally revered, and that the great Khdlsé were from
24 the first averse to waging war with the reputed sons of the late Mahardjd.
25 The march of a contingent of troops to Sidlkot against Késhmtira Singh and
26 Peshora Singh on two different occasions was quite opposed to the wish
27 of the Khélsd, who, from the moment that the second contingent left Léhore,
28 began to annoy the minister in every conceivable way. They feared that
29 the contingent from Ldhore would not only reduce the fort and the city of
30 Sidlkot, but probably put the reputed sons of the old Mahardjd& to death.
31 This caused a great commotion at Léhore, and the troops watched the
32 movements of Hird Singh with such vigilance that, for three or four days, he
33 was not allowed to come out of his father’s private residence in the city, and
34 was, in fact, kept a prisoner there. The minister was not released until such
35 time as the Khdlsé troops were assured that the lives and property of the
36 two princes were safe, and that the obnoxious Jall4 Pandit would-in future
37 be prevented from taking any part in affairs of the State. A further con-
38 dition was made by the wazir as the price of his ransom, viz., that Jawdhir
39 Singh, the brother of Rani Jindan, should be released from confinement.
40 This was immediately acceded to. Rdj&é Suchet Singh who was checkmat-
41 ed by his nephew, Hird Singh, in the affair of Jawdhir Singh and the Khdlsé
42 troops, which led to the withdrawal of the Rdéjé to the Jammé hills, still
43 aspired to the office of wazir. He placed great confidence in the support of
44 the young queen, Jindén, with whom he was a favourite. He watched with
45 keen interest the affairs of the darbdr and Panjab politics generally, and
46 his emissaries were constantly at work at Ldéhore. The difficulties of Hird
47 ‘Singh were in the meanwhile increasing. The protracted civil wars carried
48 on in the heart of the capital, the unusual expenditure incurred in maintain-
49 ing the troops in order, and other heavy miscellaneous charges, had the effect
50 of not only emptying the public treasury, but exhausting the resources of
51 the kingdom. During the prolonged anarchy and confusion which spread
52 through the country, no revenue could be realized, and the whole country was
53 devastated.
54 In the meantime, Fatteh Khan, a Tiwdnd chief, the trusted and per-
55 sonal follower of Raji Dhidn Singh, who was suspected of being privy to
56 the assassination of his master, and who designedly withdrew while Ajit
57 Singh took the R4jé on one side, fled to Dera Ismail Khan, his native
58 province, and there raised an insurrection. The son of Dewdn Sanwan
59 Mal, the Nazim of Multan, who owed large arrears of revenue to the
60 darbér, became hostile and countenanced the Tiwdna chief, which
61 caused great anxiety in the darbdr. The affairs of Peshdwar were in an
62 equally unsatisfactory state. Some of the troops there wanted an increase
63 of pay, and, as there was no one to give it, rebelled and joined the rebel
64 princes at Sidlkot. Want of money was much felt in the darbdr. The .
65 minister set Pandit Jdllé, his right-hand man, to examine the financial
66 accounts and to ascertain what money was due to the State by the Nazims,
67 Kardars, Jdgirdars, lessees, &c. The accounts having been examined, large
68 sums were found due by the grandees and others, among them being Rajds
69 Guldb Singh and Suchet Singh. Those at or near Lahore were pressed
70 for the money, and this added considerably to the unpopularity of the
71 minister and his favourite Jallé. All the Europeans im the service of the
72 State were dismissed, under the orders of Jallé Pandit, from economical
73 motives. In the meanwhile, the Khdlsé lost all patience with Hird Singh
74 in connection with the rebellion of Kashmira Singh and Peshora Singh, and
75 before his final release some of the battalions, with whom Rd4jé Suchet
76 tourg} agginSsaglids eképcant work, sent MarsakesEtbraly@ Bajdjl.daniting him