Tempo:
CHAP. VI
ATTEMPT ON MULTAN
137
quitted Ranjit Singh's city, and became a wanderer for 1811-12. a time in Central Asia.^ In the- following year the families of the two ex-kings took up their abode at The famiij oi shah Lahore, and as the Maharaja was preparing to bring ^huja^ with power, his under Kashmir of south the hill chiefs ^^ a view to the reduction of the valley itself, and as he l^^^^J always endeavoured to make success more complete 1812. or more easy by appearing to labour in the cause of others, he professed to the wife of Shah Shuja that he would release her husband and replace Kashmir under the Shah's sway; but he hoped the gratitude of the Ranjit smgh "ses the distressed lady would make the great diamond, Koh-ithey nur, the reward of his chivalrous labours when f^^^^^l'^J^ should be crowned with success. His principal ob- ^7 h^'own ject was doubtless the possession of the Shah's person, and when, after his preliminary successes against the hill chiefs, including the capture of Jammu by his newly married son, Kharak Singh, he heard, towards the end of 1812, that Fateh Khan the Kabul Wazir had Ranjit singh rateii crossed the Indus with the design of marching against meets *^^ Kashmir, he sought an interview with him, and said he ^^^[|j rebel, w-ould assist in bringing to punishment both the wazir. 1812; who detained the king's brother, and likewise the Governor of Multan, who had refused obedience to Mahmud. Fateh Khan had been equally desirous of an interview, for he felt that he could not take Kash- and a joint mir if opposed by Ranjit Singh, and he readily pro- enterprise mised anything to facilitate his immediate object. The ^^^^^^^ Maharaja and the Wazir each hoped to use the other j-^soived on. as a tool, yet the success of neither was complete. Kashmir was occupied in February 1813; but Fateh Fateh Khan Khan outstripped the Sikhs under Mohkam Chand, outstrips the and he maintained that as he alone had achieved the ^jjj^g^^"^ conquest, the Maharaja could not sRare in the spoils. ^^^^^^ ^^j. The only advantage which accrued to Ranjit Singh Mahmud. was the possession of Shah Shuja's person, for the ill- isis. fated king was allowed by Fateh Khan to go whither shah shuja he pleased, and he preferred joining the Sikh army, Jo.ns Ranjit which he accompanied to Lahore, to becoming singh who acquires Attock;
1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, p. 87. The visit of the prince was considered very embarrassing with reference to Ranjit Singh: for Shah Shuja might follow, and he was one who claimed British aid under the treaty of 1809. It was regretted that the 'obligations of political necessity should supersede the dictates of compassion'; it was argued that the treaty referred to defence against the French, and not against a brother: and the loyalhearted Sir David Ochterldny was chidden for the reception he gave to the distressed Shahzada. (Government to Sir D. Ochterlonv: 19th Jan., 1811, and the correspondence generally of Dec 1810 and Jan. 1811.)
ATTEMPT ON MULTAN
137
quitted Ranjit Singh's city, and became a wanderer for 1811-12. a time in Central Asia.^ In the- following year the families of the two ex-kings took up their abode at The famiij oi shah Lahore, and as the Maharaja was preparing to bring ^huja^ with power, his under Kashmir of south the hill chiefs ^^ a view to the reduction of the valley itself, and as he l^^^^J always endeavoured to make success more complete 1812. or more easy by appearing to labour in the cause of others, he professed to the wife of Shah Shuja that he would release her husband and replace Kashmir under the Shah's sway; but he hoped the gratitude of the Ranjit smgh "ses the distressed lady would make the great diamond, Koh-ithey nur, the reward of his chivalrous labours when f^^^^^l'^J^ should be crowned with success. His principal ob- ^7 h^'own ject was doubtless the possession of the Shah's person, and when, after his preliminary successes against the hill chiefs, including the capture of Jammu by his newly married son, Kharak Singh, he heard, towards the end of 1812, that Fateh Khan the Kabul Wazir had Ranjit singh rateii crossed the Indus with the design of marching against meets *^^ Kashmir, he sought an interview with him, and said he ^^^[|j rebel, w-ould assist in bringing to punishment both the wazir. 1812; who detained the king's brother, and likewise the Governor of Multan, who had refused obedience to Mahmud. Fateh Khan had been equally desirous of an interview, for he felt that he could not take Kash- and a joint mir if opposed by Ranjit Singh, and he readily pro- enterprise mised anything to facilitate his immediate object. The ^^^^^^^ Maharaja and the Wazir each hoped to use the other j-^soived on. as a tool, yet the success of neither was complete. Kashmir was occupied in February 1813; but Fateh Fateh Khan Khan outstripped the Sikhs under Mohkam Chand, outstrips the and he maintained that as he alone had achieved the ^jjj^g^^"^ conquest, the Maharaja could not sRare in the spoils. ^^^^^^ ^^j. The only advantage which accrued to Ranjit Singh Mahmud. was the possession of Shah Shuja's person, for the ill- isis. fated king was allowed by Fateh Khan to go whither shah shuja he pleased, and he preferred joining the Sikh army, Jo.ns Ranjit which he accompanied to Lahore, to becoming singh who acquires Attock;
1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, p. 87. The visit of the prince was considered very embarrassing with reference to Ranjit Singh: for Shah Shuja might follow, and he was one who claimed British aid under the treaty of 1809. It was regretted that the 'obligations of political necessity should supersede the dictates of compassion'; it was argued that the treaty referred to defence against the French, and not against a brother: and the loyalhearted Sir David Ochterldny was chidden for the reception he gave to the distressed Shahzada. (Government to Sir D. Ochterlonv: 19th Jan., 1811, and the correspondence generally of Dec 1810 and Jan. 1811.)
©
2026
Lehal.net