1 384 FEELING OF THE TROOPS.
2 than to see it meet with a reverse. Necessity
3 alone compelled Ranjeet Singh to sign the tri-
4 partite treaty; but having done so, it is but
5 justice to his memory to add, that as far as he
6 was concerned, or when his health would allow
7 him to attend to public business, the engage-
8 ments entered into were observed. Strong,
9 however, as the Khalsas’ dislike is to us, I
10 believe their hatred to the Khaibaris to be
11 tenfold more bitter; and therefore we have at
12 least the passions to work on our side, if we
13 have not their will. Of the Afghan levies it is
14 more difficult to speak. Some amongst them
15 have no doubt been led to espouse the Shah
16 Zada’s side out of love to his cause; but the
17 majority, it is to be feared, have done so purely
18 from the desire of gain. Many also are secretly
19 of. Dost Mahomed’s party, and these, in their
20 quarrels with the Hindustanis, have, on more
21 than one occasion, been heard to express their
22 intentions of paying us off when once within
23 the limits of the Khaibar Pass. Such indivwi-
24 duals can only be willing to serve us so long
25 -as we continue paramount in power, and they