1 144 FLIGHT OF FUTEH SINGH ALOOWALA. A. D. 1825-26.
2 Pind-Dadur-Khan, but learning there, that the Sindh
3 country was suffering from scarcity and famine, he gave
4 up the design, and returned to Lahor on the 24th Novem-
5 ber. An agent he had sent into Sindh to demand tribute,
6 returned with Vakeels from the ruling Meers, who for
7 some time continued to reside at Labor. It was at this
8 period that RuNJEET Singh's close associate hitberto,
9 and turband brother, Futeh Singh Aloowala, conceiv-
10 ed some suspicions as to the safety of his position at the
11 Lah6r Durbar, and suddenly left that capital to place
12 himself in security within the possessions held by him on
13 the protected side of the Sullej. Runjeet Singh was
14 much vexed at this sudden step of his old ally, and made
15 great efforts to induce the chief to return, and resume
16 Lis place in his Durbar. The British officers, while they
17 confirmed him in the assurance of the inviolability of his
18 territory on the protected side of the Sutlej, advised his
19 not yielding to vague suspicions, as a ground for breaking
20 a friendship of so long standing, as had subsisted between
21 himself and Runjeet. Guided by this advice Futeh
22 Singh some time after, that is, in April 1827, yielded to
23 the invitations of the Labor ruler, and returning to his
24 Durbar was well received, the Maha Raja sending his
25 grandson Nou-NiiiAL, to give him the meeting of honor.
26 He soon, however, became an object of rapacity, being
27 called upon to pay tribute, or take in farm at no easy rent,
28 much of the territory he had hitherto enjoyed free, by the
29 assignment of his turband brother.
30 The year 1826 passed without any military enterprize
31 or event of importance. Sadiq Mohummud Khan,
32 the Nuwab of Bahawulpoor, died in April, and was suc-
33 ceeded by BuiiAWUL Khan, the present Nuwab, who