1 90 RUNJEET SINGH ACQUIRES ATTUK. A. D. 1813.
2 self to Labor, left a detachment under Dya Singh, in
3 the vicinity of the Indus, to be ready to occupy that
4 important fortress, whenever it should be given up. In
5 March, 1813, Runjeet Singh heard that his officer had
6 been admitted, and that the place was held and adminis-
7 tered in his name. He accordingly lost no time in re-
8 inforcing' the detachment, with a strong convoy, containing
9 every thing necessary to place the fort in a complete state
10 of defence, and DeveeD AS andHuKEEM Uzeez-ood-
11 Deen were sent as commissioners to settle the country
12 surrounding, which formed the dependency of Attuk.
13 Futeh Khan Vuzeer cried out against this usurpation,
14 and deeming himself absolved by it, from the conditions
15 upon which he had obtained the co-operation of the Sikhs
16 under the Dewan, he dismissed them without any share
17 of the booty obtained; and then nominating his brother,
18 Uzeem Kuan, governor in Kashmeer, he marched to
19 Attuk, and made upon Runjeet a demand for its surren-
20 der. This was spun out into a negociation — and, of course,
21 evaded by the Sikh. With the Dewan Mohkum Chund,
22 Shah Shoo j a came to Labor, where a demand was
23 immediately made upon him, and upon his principal wife, to
24 surrender the Koh-i-noor diamond, a Jageer being pro-
25 raised with a fort as the condition of compliance. The
26 Shah denied that he had it, and the VuFA Begum
27 declared, it had been placed in pawn with a Muhajuu to
28 obtain supplies for the Shah in his distresses. Runjeet
29 Singh disbelieving these assertions, placed guards round
30 the Shah's residence, and allowed no access or egress
31 without strict search. The exiled family, however, being
32 proof against the severity of mere restraint, the prohibi-
33 tion of food was added, and for two days the Shah,
34 with his wives, family, and servants, sufl'ered absolute