1 MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE BRITISH. 575
2 sion of war to adopt that of agriculture, was indicative of the wholesome effect
3 - produced by the British power, and the satisfaction with which the measures
4 of that Government had been received by the people. All the forts, except
5 those required for military purposes at principal stations, were dismantled,
6 and such as were retained were repaired or rebuilt upon scientific principles.
7 A general disarmament of that part of the province lying between the Indus
8 and the Sutlej was ordered and carried out quietly and systematically. Two
9 distinct bodies of police, the military and the civil, were organised: the former
10 body, 8,100 strong, under the control of military officers, being charged with
11 the duty of furnishing guards, patrolling the country,.preventing crime and
12 apprehending offenders ; while to the latter, under civil officers, were entrusted
13 the duties of watch and ward in towns and villages and the preservation
14 of internal peace. A special force, called the Panj&b Frontier Force, was
15 raised for service on the frontier and placed under the immediate control of
16 the Board. Along the whole frontier line a chain of fortified posts was
17 established, parallel to a military road. One of the earliest works undertaken
18 was the construction ofa Grand Trunk Road between Léhore and Peshéwar,
19 while cross-roads were commenced in all directions. The Bari Dodb Canal
20 was commenced, and many other works of public utility were undertaken.
21 The entire British system and its institutions were introduced. The erection
22 of public buildings at all the principal stations was taken in hand. The
23 wooded wilds of the central dodbs, the haunts of thieves and plunderers, were
24 cleared and intersected by roads protected by police stations. Public schools,
25 charitable dispensaries and jails were established in each district; all taxes
26 weighing heavily on trade were remitted, and a system of regular settle-
27 ments with land-owners and agriculturists as to the land revenue payable
28 by them to the Government for the future was introduced. In the manage-
29 ment of the land revenue, the maintenance of the village communities
30 and the demarcation of boundaries, the rules then in force in the North-
31 Western Provinces were observed. The resources of the country were
32 developed ; trade, agriculture and commerce fostered and river navigation
33 promoted. In February, 1853, the Board of Administration was abolished,
34 and Sir John Lawrence was appointed the first Chief Commissioner of the
35 Panjab. He corresponded directly with the Supreme Government and
36 was the recognised chief functionary in carrying out its orders and the
37 head of the local executive administration in all civil and political departments.
38 Subordinate to him were appointed a Judicial Commissioner, the chief
39 authority in the Judicial Department, and a Financial Commissioner, the
40 head of the Revenue branch. The supervision of police, education and
41 local and Municipal funds devolved on the Judicial Commissioner. The
42 principal measures adopted by the Chief Commissioner were the abolition
43 of the house tax, with the full preference of the people, and the substitution
44 in lieu thereof of octroi duties in towns and large villages, the introduction of
45 tea, cultivation in the Kangra hills, and of extensive operations in arboricul-
46 ture throughout the province, and the virtual extermination of thuggi.
47 The British Government did all it consistently could to mitigate the
48 reverses of the feudal nobility of the defunct Sikh realm. They received
49 handsome pensions, their hereditary claims were recogaised, and they were
50 treated with consideration and regard by the’ officers of Government.
51 Their retinue, still enormous, swelled public processions, though their city
52 residences were less'gay with gaudy equipages and visitors. Their retainers:
53 similarly enjoyed the bounty of Government. The numerous dependents
54 of the late regime were also ‘bountifully provided for; not only were hand-
55 some allowance granted to the royal widows, and their attendants cared
56 General disarmament
57 of the population.
58 The Military Police
59 and the Civil Police.
60 The constitution of
61 the Panjab Frontier
62 Force.
63 Measures of improve~
64 ment introduced,
65 The abolition of
66 the Board of Adminis-
67 tration and the estab-
68 lishment of Chief
69 Commisaionership,
70 1853,
71 The appointment of
72 Judicial aud Financial
73 Cowmissionerz.
74 Their respective
75 functions.
76 What the Govern-
77 ment did for the Sikh
78 aristocracy.
79 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com