1 LETTER TO RANJEET SINGH. 141
2 to encamp at Shahdera, on their way to Pesh-
3 awr, and expressing the satisfaction it’gave ; ;
4 but that no account had yet been received of
5 the collection of the Mahomedan contingent
6 of five thousand men, which he was to provide
7 according to the treaty for the assistance of
8 Shah Zada Taimur. It was intimated to his
9 Highness that, as the time was short, and
10 did not’ admit of new levies, it was advisable
11 that he should make a selection of Maho-
12 medans from the whole of his army, and that
13 if the selected number fell short of the five -
14 thousand men, he might issue an order to
15 his officers at Peshawr to complete the defi-
16 ciency by enlisting people in that territory.
17 His Highness was requested that he would
18 send particular injunctions to his Mussulman
19 vassals in that quarter (excluding the Barakzai,
20 who were not perhaps to be implicitly trusted)
21 to assemble at Peshawr, and to entitle them-
22 selves to their rights and claims by serving the
23 three Governments on the present occasion
24 with zeal and fidelity. It was suggested also
25 to the Maharaja to send an order for a part