1 A. D. 1791. FURTHER PROJECTS. 47
2 or command eqnal means if called upon for an exertion.
3 The result was favorable to the prosperity of the country,
4 and the Punjab for several years during this chiefs
5 ascendancy, enjoyed a repose and tranquillity to which it
6 had long been a stranger.
7 Until 1791 M AH A Singh continued to administer in
8 peace the territory he had acquired, and to exercise his
9 influence for the benefit of those connected with him.
10 In that year Gooji R Singh, the Sikh chief of Goojrat,
11 died, and Saheb Singh, his son, succeeded to the Sir-
12 daree. The sister of Maha Singh had been given
13 in marriage to Saheb Singh by Churut Singh,
14 but the ties of affinity had little influence in restrain-
15 ing ambitious views, and the desire of aggrandizement
16 ^^hich filled the mind of Maha Singh, was not to be so
17 checked. He deemed the moment favorable for asserting
18 superiority over Goojrat, and for claming tribute. Saheb
19 Singh evaded compliance, alleging that his father was an
20 adherent of the Bhungee Misul, and had never fought
21 under the standard of the Sookurchukeea, to whom he
22 acknowledged no dependance. Maha Singh marched
23 on receiving this reply and besieged Saheb Singh in his
24 fort of Soodhurp. The Goojrateea chief applied in
25 his distress to the Bhungee Sikhs, and KuRUM Singh
26 DooLOO came with the strength of that Misul to interrupt
27 the siege. Though not strong enough to enter the field
28 with Maha Singh, they hovered about his camp, and
29 put him to considerable inconvenience for supplies ; a
30 detachment of the Sookurchukeeas however succeeded
31 after a time in beating up the quarters and plundering (he
32 camp of the Bhungees, after which the siege proceeded.
33 Maha Singh had been three months before the place.