1 APPENDIX. 135
2 mised, and no demand of tribute or of contribution of any
3 kind made, to de&ay the charges incurred by the obligation
4 to afford it. The recency of their experience of the rapacity
5 of a Sikh army, and the conviction that there could be no
6 security to themselves, and still less to their families, under
7 a ruler like the chief who had then the ascendant in the
8 Sikh nation, made all the sirdars rejoice that their prayer
9 had been acceded to by the British Government ; and the
10 advance of its force to the Sutlege was looked upon in conse-
11 quence with no jealousy, but as a measure necessary to effect
12 the purpose contemplated.
13 A treaty having been concluded with Runjee^ Singh, it
14 became necessary to iix, somewhat more specifically than
15 had been hitherto done, the relations that were to subsist
16 henceforward between the protecting power and its pro-
17 tected dependants. It was determined to give the desired
18 explanation of the views of the British Grovemment on this
19 subject, by a general proclamation, rather than by the
20 entering into any separate engagement with the numerous
21 chiefs affected by the measure. Accordingly on the 6th
22 May 1809, an Itakmama, or general declaration, was circu-
23 lated to the sirdars, intimating to them as follows : —
24 First, — That the territories of Sirhind and Malooa (the
25 designation assumed by the Sikhs of Futeeala, Naba,
26 Jheend, and Kythul), had been taken under British pro-
27 tection, and Rimjeet Singh had bound himself by treaty to
28 exercise in future no interference therein.
29 Second, — That it was not the intention of the British
30 Government to demand any tribute from the chiefs and
31 sirdars benefiting by this arrangement.
32 Third, — That the chiefs and sirdars would be permitted
33 to exercise, and were for the future secured in, the rights
34 and authorities they possessed in their respective territories
35 prior to, and at the time of the declaration of protection by
36 the British Grovemment.
37 Fourth.'^ThaX the chiefs and sirdars should be bound to