1 A.D. 1810. THE SIEGE FAILS. 81
2 supply of grain had been laid in, and the fort contained
3 an abundance of fresh water. The little impression made
4 on the walls by the Sikh artillery confirmed the courage
5 of the defenders. The great Bhungee gun, which dis-
6 charged a ball of two and a half maunds kuchha, had
7 been brought down for the siege, but the materials for
8 such an operation were so defective in the Sikh army,
9 and the necessary science and experience were so want-
10 ing, that RuNJEET Singh having suffered the loss of
11 many valuable men and officers, and particularly of Atar
12 Singh, a favorite and confidential companion, who was
13 blown up in a mine, was compelled to grant terms to
14 MozuFFUR Khan, and retired on receiving payment of
15 a lakh and 80,000 rupees. On the 25th of April, he
16 returned to Labor, mortified greatly by his ill success, and
17 throwing the blame on his officers and Jageerdars. He
18 now devoted himself to increase the number of his regular
19 battalions, and formed a corps of Sikhs, called, " Orderly
20 Khas,'^ or select orderlies, to whom he gave superior pay,
21 and the advantage of carrying his diistuks, or orders, to
22 chiefs, and districts, on whom they were thus billeted at
23 high rates. A horse artillery was likewise formed, and
24 improvements were set on foot in every branch of the ser-
25 vice, which were all closely superintended by Runjeet
26 in person.
27 GuNDHA Singh, who in January preceding, had
28 secured by the sacrifice of his father's treasures, a tem-
29 porary confirmation of his estates, did not long enjoy
30 what he purchased so dearly. In June 1810, a strong
31 detachment was sent to Vuzeerabad, and the entire
32 possessions of the late Jo dh Singh were sequestered, a
33 few villages only being left to afford subsistence to the
34 L.