Tempo:
CHAP. VI
RAN JIT SINGH AND FATEH KHAN
Shah's property
13«
when misfortune overtook him. This isH-ie.
Mir Abdul Hassan had originally informed the Sikh chief of the safety of the Koh-i-nur and other valuables, he plotted when in Lahore to make it appear the king was in league with the Governor of Kashmir, and he finally threw difficulties in the way of the escape of his master's family from the Sikh capital. The flight of the Begums to Ludhiana was at last The flight of f^'^jj^ effected in December 1814; for Shah Shuja perceived f^ the design of the Maharaja to detain him a prisoner, J^^^^^Lnr and to make use of his name for purposes of his own. ^^^^. A few months afterwards the Shah himself escaped to p" ^^^^ the hills; he was joined by some Sikhs discontented and his own with Ranjit Singh, and he was aided by the chief of Kishtwar in an attack upon Kashmir. He penetrated ^TsXar" into the valley, but he had to retreat, and, after residagainst ing for some time longer with his simple, but zealous. Fails the crossed Kulu, through mountain host, he marched ^^^^^^^'^^'j^;^^ Sutlej, and joined his family at Ludhiana in Septem- t^^^Ludhiana, ber 1816.^ His presence on the frontier was regarded ^^^q as embarrassing by the British Government, which desired that he should be urged to retire to Karnal or Saharanpur, and Sir David Ochterlony was further discretionally authorized to tell Ranjit Singh that the ex-king of Kabul was not a welcome guest within the limits of Hindustan. Nevertheless the annual sum of 18,000 rupees, which had been assigned for the support of his family, was raised to 50,000 on his arrival, and personally he was treated with becoming respect and •
consideration.^
Shah Shuja thus slipped from the hands of the Ranjit singh Maharaja, and no use could be made of his name in attempts further attempts upon Kashmir; but Ranjit Singh con- ^^^i^repuitinued as anxious as ever to obtain possession of the ged, 1814. valley, although the Governor had, in the meantime, put himself in communication with the English.^ The chiefs south of the Pir Panjal range having been brought under subjection, military operations were commenced towards the middle of the year 1814. Sickness detained the experienced Mohkam Chand at the 1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 102, 103; biography', chaps. XXV, xxvi.
Shah Shuja's 'Auto-
Government to Sir D. Ochterlony, 2nd and 20th Aug., The Wafa Begam 14th, 21st, and 28th Sept., 1816. had before been told that the Shah's family had no claims to (Government to Resident British protection or intervention. at Delhi, 19th Dec, 1812, and 1st July, 1813.) 3 Government to Sir D. Ochterlony, 29th Oct. and 23rd '-
1815,
and
Nov., 1813.
RAN JIT SINGH AND FATEH KHAN
Shah's property
13«
when misfortune overtook him. This isH-ie.
Mir Abdul Hassan had originally informed the Sikh chief of the safety of the Koh-i-nur and other valuables, he plotted when in Lahore to make it appear the king was in league with the Governor of Kashmir, and he finally threw difficulties in the way of the escape of his master's family from the Sikh capital. The flight of the Begums to Ludhiana was at last The flight of f^'^jj^ effected in December 1814; for Shah Shuja perceived f^ the design of the Maharaja to detain him a prisoner, J^^^^^Lnr and to make use of his name for purposes of his own. ^^^^. A few months afterwards the Shah himself escaped to p" ^^^^ the hills; he was joined by some Sikhs discontented and his own with Ranjit Singh, and he was aided by the chief of Kishtwar in an attack upon Kashmir. He penetrated ^TsXar" into the valley, but he had to retreat, and, after residagainst ing for some time longer with his simple, but zealous. Fails the crossed Kulu, through mountain host, he marched ^^^^^^^'^^'j^;^^ Sutlej, and joined his family at Ludhiana in Septem- t^^^Ludhiana, ber 1816.^ His presence on the frontier was regarded ^^^q as embarrassing by the British Government, which desired that he should be urged to retire to Karnal or Saharanpur, and Sir David Ochterlony was further discretionally authorized to tell Ranjit Singh that the ex-king of Kabul was not a welcome guest within the limits of Hindustan. Nevertheless the annual sum of 18,000 rupees, which had been assigned for the support of his family, was raised to 50,000 on his arrival, and personally he was treated with becoming respect and •
consideration.^
Shah Shuja thus slipped from the hands of the Ranjit singh Maharaja, and no use could be made of his name in attempts further attempts upon Kashmir; but Ranjit Singh con- ^^^i^repuitinued as anxious as ever to obtain possession of the ged, 1814. valley, although the Governor had, in the meantime, put himself in communication with the English.^ The chiefs south of the Pir Panjal range having been brought under subjection, military operations were commenced towards the middle of the year 1814. Sickness detained the experienced Mohkam Chand at the 1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 102, 103; biography', chaps. XXV, xxvi.
Shah Shuja's 'Auto-
Government to Sir D. Ochterlony, 2nd and 20th Aug., The Wafa Begam 14th, 21st, and 28th Sept., 1816. had before been told that the Shah's family had no claims to (Government to Resident British protection or intervention. at Delhi, 19th Dec, 1812, and 1st July, 1813.) 3 Government to Sir D. Ochterlony, 29th Oct. and 23rd '-
1815,
and
Nov., 1813.
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