1 42 BIRTH OF RUNJEET SINGH. A. D. 1780.
2 of arms, so much so, that many iudependent Sirdars,
3 who had hitherto attached themselves to the Bhungee
4 Misul, transferred their services and preferred to follow
5 his leading in war, and to live under his countenance
6 and protection.
7 Two years after this event, on the 2d November 1780,
8 a son was born to Ma HA Singh, by his wife, of the Jeend
9 family, and named Runjeet Singh. The child was
10 attacked by the small-pox at a very early age, and the
11 disease taking an unfavorable turn, his life was endanger-
12 ed, whereupon the father, according to Asiatic custom,
13 made large donations to the poor in charity, fed multi-
14 tudes of Brahmins and holy men to secure their prayers,
15 and sent gifts to the sacred temples at Kangra and
16 Juwala-Mookhee. The boy recovered, but with the
17 loss of one of his eyes, whence he is termed Kana, or
18 the one-eyed ; and his face in other respects is marked
19 with the disease. Ma HA Singh wps engaged at this
20 period in settling the territory he had inherited or acquir-
21 ed, and in extending his influence and connexions. The
22 Bhungees lost their principal Sirdars, and having aimed
23 to establish themselves in Mooltan, brought down on
24 themselves an Afghan army, which retook the city from
25 them, and further ejected them from Buhawulpoor and
26 Munkera. The consequence was, that the power of the
27 Misul was effectually broken, and the rising fortune and
28 reputation of Maha Singh enabled him to extend his
29 relations and strengthen himself from its ruin. He was
30 cautious, however, of engaging in any direct hostility with
31 his Sikh brethren, well knowing that to follow such means
32 of aggrandizement, would breed ill will, audlead probably
33 to a confederacy, and gathering' for his destruction.