1 68 NEGOCIATIONS. A.D. 1809.
2 power he never thought himself capable of seriously
3 opposing in the field. His resolutions were hastened by
4 an event that occurred in his camp. The Mohurrum, the
5 first and sacred month of the Mohummedaus, commenced
6 in 1809 towards the end of February, and the followers
7 of this faith, in the suite of the envoy, prepared to cele-
8 brate the deaths of HusuN and HooSEiN, the two sons
9 of Ulee, with the usual ceremonies. The Akalees, or
10 fanatic priests of the Sikhs, took umbrage at this per-
11 formance of Mooslim rites in the Sikh camp, and at
12 Umritsur; and collecting in a body, headed by Phoola
13 Singh, a bigot of notorious turbulence, they opened a
14 fire of matchlocks, and attacked the envoy's camp. The
15 escort was called out, and though composed of two compa-
16 nies of Native Infantry and sixteen troopers only, this small
17 body charged and routed their party, after which, the biers
18 were buried with the usual forms. Runjeet himself
19 came up at the close of the fight ; and immediately
20 it was over, advanced in person to make apologies to the
21 envoy, expressing his admiration of the discipline and
22 order displayed by the British detachment, and promis-
23 ing his best exertions to prevent any repetition of such
24 disorders. The circumstance made an impression on his
25 mind as to the unfitness of his own troops to cope with
26 those under European discipline, and determined him to
27 secure peace and friendship at the sacrifices demanded.
28 The British Government were sensible, that, having
29 interfered to impose restraints on (he ambition of
30 Runjeet Singh, it had little to expect from his friend-
31 ship in case of any necessity arising to arm against inva-
32 sion from the west. Had danger, indeed, from that quar-
33 ter been more imminent, it would probably have been