Tempo:
138 1813-14.
while
Moh-
Kam Chand defeats the
Kabul Wazir in a
pitched
battle.
Ranjit
Singh ob-
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
CHAP. VI
virtually a prisoner in Kabul. ^ But the Maharaja's expedients did not entirely fail him, and as the rebel Governor of Attock was alarmed by the success of Shah Mahmud's party in Kashmir, he was easily persuaded to yield the fort to Ranjit Singh. This unlooked-for stroke incensed Fateh Khan, who accused the Maharaja of barefaced treachery, and endeavoured further to intimidate him by pretending to make overtures to Shah Shuja; but the Maharaja felt confident of his strength, and a battle was fought on the 13th July, 1813, near Attock, in which the Kabul Wazir, and his brother Dost Muhammad Khan, were defeated by Mohkam Chand and the Sikhs.Ranjit Singh was equally desirous of detaining Shah Shuja in Lahore, and of securing the great dia-
tains the
mond which had adorned the throne of the Mughais.
Koh-i-nur diamond.
The king evaded a compliance with all demands for
1813-14:
and promises aid to
Shah
Shuja.
Makes a movement towards the Indus.
Siiah Shuja's distresses.
a time, and rejected even the actual offer of moderate sums of money; but at last the Maharaja visited the Shah in person, mutual friendship was declared, an exchange of turbans took place, the diamond was surrendered,^ and the king received the assignment of a jagir in the Punjab for his maintenance, and a pro-
mise of aid in recovering Kabul.
Ranjit Singh then
moved towards the Indus to watch the proceedings of Fateh Khan, who was gradually consolidating the power of Mahmud, and he required Shah Shuja to some design of making an attempt on Kashmir; but Fateh Khan was likewise watchful, the season was advanced, and the Maharaja suddenly returned. Shah Shuja followed slowly, and on the way he was plundered of many valuables, by ordinary robbers, as the Sikhs said, but by the Sikhs themselves, as the Shah believed. The inferior agents of Ranjit Singh may not have been very scrupulous, but the Shah had traitors in his own household, and the high officer who had been sent to conduct Mr. Elphinstone to Peshawar, embezzled much of the join him, pertjaps with
1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 92, 95; Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 4th March, 1813; and Shah Shuja's 'Autobiogra-
phy', chap. XXV. 2 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 95, 100; Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 1st July, 1813. 3 Murray, Ranjit Singh, p. 96, &c.: Shah Shuja's 'Autobiography', chap. XX v; Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 16th and 23rd April, 1813, and to the Resident at Delhi, 15th Oct., 1813. The Shah's own account of the methods practised to get possession of the diamond is more favourable than Capt. Murray's The Shah wanted a jagir of 100,000 rupees, to Ranjit Singh. and one of 50,000 was assigned to him; but effect to the assignment was never given, nor perhaps expected.
while
Moh-
Kam Chand defeats the
Kabul Wazir in a
pitched
battle.
Ranjit
Singh ob-
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
CHAP. VI
virtually a prisoner in Kabul. ^ But the Maharaja's expedients did not entirely fail him, and as the rebel Governor of Attock was alarmed by the success of Shah Mahmud's party in Kashmir, he was easily persuaded to yield the fort to Ranjit Singh. This unlooked-for stroke incensed Fateh Khan, who accused the Maharaja of barefaced treachery, and endeavoured further to intimidate him by pretending to make overtures to Shah Shuja; but the Maharaja felt confident of his strength, and a battle was fought on the 13th July, 1813, near Attock, in which the Kabul Wazir, and his brother Dost Muhammad Khan, were defeated by Mohkam Chand and the Sikhs.Ranjit Singh was equally desirous of detaining Shah Shuja in Lahore, and of securing the great dia-
tains the
mond which had adorned the throne of the Mughais.
Koh-i-nur diamond.
The king evaded a compliance with all demands for
1813-14:
and promises aid to
Shah
Shuja.
Makes a movement towards the Indus.
Siiah Shuja's distresses.
a time, and rejected even the actual offer of moderate sums of money; but at last the Maharaja visited the Shah in person, mutual friendship was declared, an exchange of turbans took place, the diamond was surrendered,^ and the king received the assignment of a jagir in the Punjab for his maintenance, and a pro-
mise of aid in recovering Kabul.
Ranjit Singh then
moved towards the Indus to watch the proceedings of Fateh Khan, who was gradually consolidating the power of Mahmud, and he required Shah Shuja to some design of making an attempt on Kashmir; but Fateh Khan was likewise watchful, the season was advanced, and the Maharaja suddenly returned. Shah Shuja followed slowly, and on the way he was plundered of many valuables, by ordinary robbers, as the Sikhs said, but by the Sikhs themselves, as the Shah believed. The inferior agents of Ranjit Singh may not have been very scrupulous, but the Shah had traitors in his own household, and the high officer who had been sent to conduct Mr. Elphinstone to Peshawar, embezzled much of the join him, pertjaps with
1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 92, 95; Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 4th March, 1813; and Shah Shuja's 'Autobiogra-
phy', chap. XXV. 2 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 95, 100; Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 1st July, 1813. 3 Murray, Ranjit Singh, p. 96, &c.: Shah Shuja's 'Autobiography', chap. XX v; Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 16th and 23rd April, 1813, and to the Resident at Delhi, 15th Oct., 1813. The Shah's own account of the methods practised to get possession of the diamond is more favourable than Capt. Murray's The Shah wanted a jagir of 100,000 rupees, to Ranjit Singh. and one of 50,000 was assigned to him; but effect to the assignment was never given, nor perhaps expected.
©
2026
Lehal.net