1 A. D. 1748. AHMED SHAH RETURNS. 9
2 rise of the Sikhs, whose depredations were for the
3 interval unchecked, and who again showed themselves
4 by day, and ventured even to satisfy their religious pre-
5 judices by stolen visits to the shrines of their faith at
6 Umritsur. The new Governor of Labor, Meei^ Munoo, >
7 confirmed Kaon R A Ml l in the oflBce of Dewan, and
8 found the disorders created by these associations, and by
9 fanatics of the sect who sprung up in numbers, to be one
10 of the first objects requiring his attention. A small party
11 of Sikhs had the audacity to throw up a mud work which
12 they called Ram-Rounee, (but which having been since
13 enlarged is now called Ramgurh) in the district and im-
14 mediate vicinity of Umritsur, and Sikh plunderers
15 scoured the country in all directions. Meer Munoo
16 surrounded and captured Ram-Rounee, and stationed de-
17 tachments to preserve the peace of the country, who had
18 orders to detain all Sikhs, and to shave their heads and
19 beards. By these energetic measures the public confi-
20 dence was restored: the Sikhs were again compelled to
21 fly the country or hide their heads, and proselytes to
22 their faith and habits became more rare.
23 Ahmed Shah Abdalee had retired only to recruit his
24 strength, and was by no means inclined to relinquish his
25 designs on Hindoostan, In the following season from
26 that of his first invasion, that is, after the close of the
27 rains of 1748, he again crossed the Indus, and inter-
28 rupted all Meer Munoo's plans for establishing himself
29 in his government and better ordering its administration.
30 Being apprehensive that his force was too weak to resist
31 the invader, he applied to Dehlee for reinforcements, and
32 in order to gain time sent a mission to the Abdalee camp
33 to offer terms of compromise and negociate for the Shah's
34 B