1 A. D. 1773. SIKH LORDSHIPS. 33
2 "When the Misnls acquired their territorial posses-
3 sions, it became the first duty of the chiefs to partition
4 out the lands, towns, and villages amongst those who
5 considered themselves as having made the conquest,
6 Shamil, or in common. Every Surkunda, or leader of
7 the smallest party of horse that fought under the stand-
8 ard of the Misnl, demanded his share, in proportion to
9 the degree in which he had contributed to the acquisition,
10 and, as they received no pay from the chief, and he had
11 no other recompense to offer for their services, there was
12 no resource but to adopt this mode of satisfying them.
13 The sirdaree or chief's portion being first divided off,
14 the remainder was separated into Puttees or parcels for
15 each Surkunda, and these were again subdivided and
16 parcelled out to inferior leaders, according to the number
17 of horse they brought into the field. Each took his portion
18 as a co-sharer, and held it in absolute independence.
19 It was impossible that this state of things should subsist
20 long in the Punjab, any more than it had done in England,
21 France, and other countries of Europe, when they similar-
22 ly fell a prey to hordes of associated warriors, who
23 acknowledged no systematic general authority or govern- .
24 ment. When the link of a common enemy and common / »
25 danger was removed, and the chiefs were converted from \ I
26 needy adventurers to lords of domains^ discords and mutual \
27 plunderings commenced, as temper, ambition, or avarice, 1
28 excited^To' contention. Cause of quarrel was never J
29 wanting in the confusion of the coparcenary system. The
30 disputes and divisions which subsisted in each lordship,
31 favoured the designs of the aspiring from without, whose
32 aid being solicited by one of the parties, an opening was
33 frequently found to ejectboth. In cases of frontier disputes,
34 orof injury, or wrong of any kind sustained or fancied, the
35 E