1 A. D. 18-25. IXTRIGUES AND SEQUESTRATIONS. 143
2 exag;gerated reports were spread at first of the suc-
3 cesses of the Burmese, and there were not wanting
4 counsellors to instil into the ear of the Lahor ruler,
5 that the time was approaching, when the field would
6 be open to him to the east. It was at this period,
7 that Mr. Moorcroft forwarded to Calcutta, a let-
8 ter of Prince Neselrode, the Russian Minister for
9 Foreign Affairs, addressed to Runjeet Singh, purport-
10 ing to introduce an agent named Agha Mehdee. The
11 agent it seems was endeavouring to make his way by the
12 difiicult route of Tibet, and either died, or was murdered,
13 some few stages from Ludak. There Mr. Moorcroft
14 obtained his papers, and amongst them this letter, which
15 he procured to be translated afterwards by 31. Ksoma
16 de Koros, with whom he fell in on his travels. The
17 letter, except as introductory of the agent, was merely one
18 of compliment, with assurances of protection to any
19 merchants of the Punjab, who might penetrate to the
20 Russian dominions.
21 No Military enterprize was undertaken in the season
22 1824-1825: but, towards April 1825, sequestration was
23 made of all the Jageers and possessions formerly assign-
24 ed to Dewan Mohkum Chund, and now managed for
25 MoTEfiCHUNDby Kripa Ram, the Dewan's grandson.
26 The bad management of the Jageers, and the inefficient
27 contingent kept up by this agent, were the assigned
28 reasons, MoTEE Ram himself being left in his govern-
29 ment of Kashmeer, and subjected to no indignity, or
30 diminution of favor, consequent upon the sequestration.
31 In the Dusseraof 1825, the army was called into the field,
32 with the avowed purpose of an expedition against Sindh.
33 With this view, Runjeet Singh marched the troops to