Tempo:
CHAP. VI
KASHMIR ANNEXED
143
by Muhammad Azim Khan; but the proceedings of 18I8-19. Desa Singh Majithia and Sansar Chand for a moment changed his designs upon others into fears for himself. These chiefs were employed on an expedition in the hills to collect the tribute due to the Maharaja; and the Raja of Kahlur, who held territories on both sides of the Sutlej, ventured to resist the demands made. San- Delayed by sar Chand rejoiced in this opportunity of revenge upon a discussion the friend of the Gurkhas; the river was crossed, but with the the British authorities were prompt, and a detachment ^"f^^J^'jg^g of troops stood ready to oppose force to force. Ranjit Singh directed the immediate recall of his men, and he desired Sirdar Desa Singh to go in person, and offer This alarm being his apologies to the English agent. over, the Maharaja proceeded with his preparations against Kashmir, the troops occupying which had, in the meantime, been reinforced by a detachment from Kabul. The Brahman, Diwan Chand, who had exer^
cised the real command at Multan, was placed in advance, -the Prince Kharak Singh headed a supporting
column, and Ranjit Singh himself remained behind with a reserve and for the purpose of expediting the The choice transit of the various munitions of war. of the Sikh cavalry marched on foot over the mountains along with the infantry soldiers, and they dragged ^^^ p^any with them a few light guns; the passes were scaled on annexes the the 5th July 1819, but Jabbar Khan was found ready to vaiiey to receive them. The Afghans repulsed the invaders, and ^is domimastered two guns; but they did not improve their "*°"^- ^^^*success, and the rallied Sikhs again attacked them, and won an almost bloodless victory.-
A few months after Kashmir had been added to The Derathe Lahore dominions, Ranjit Singh moved in person Jat of the to the south of the Punjab, and Dera Ghazi Khan on the ^"'^"^ ^^' ^° Indus, another dependency of Kabul, was seized by the ^^'^ victorious Sikhs. The Nawab of Bahawalpur, who held i8^ig?2o lands under Ranjit Singh in the fork of the Indus and Chenab, had two years before made a successful attack on the Durrani chief of the place, and it was now transferred to him in form, although his Cis-Sutlej possessions had virtually, but not formally, been taken under British protection in the year 1815, and he had thus become, in a measure, independent of the Maharaja's power.^ During the year 1820 partial attempts Cf. Murray, Ranjit Sinqh, pp. 121, 122, and Moorcroft, Travels, 110, for the duration of the Maharaja's displeasure with Desa Singh. - Cf. Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 122-4. " Government to Superintendent Ambala. 15th Jan., 1815. 1
KASHMIR ANNEXED
143
by Muhammad Azim Khan; but the proceedings of 18I8-19. Desa Singh Majithia and Sansar Chand for a moment changed his designs upon others into fears for himself. These chiefs were employed on an expedition in the hills to collect the tribute due to the Maharaja; and the Raja of Kahlur, who held territories on both sides of the Sutlej, ventured to resist the demands made. San- Delayed by sar Chand rejoiced in this opportunity of revenge upon a discussion the friend of the Gurkhas; the river was crossed, but with the the British authorities were prompt, and a detachment ^"f^^J^'jg^g of troops stood ready to oppose force to force. Ranjit Singh directed the immediate recall of his men, and he desired Sirdar Desa Singh to go in person, and offer This alarm being his apologies to the English agent. over, the Maharaja proceeded with his preparations against Kashmir, the troops occupying which had, in the meantime, been reinforced by a detachment from Kabul. The Brahman, Diwan Chand, who had exer^
cised the real command at Multan, was placed in advance, -the Prince Kharak Singh headed a supporting
column, and Ranjit Singh himself remained behind with a reserve and for the purpose of expediting the The choice transit of the various munitions of war. of the Sikh cavalry marched on foot over the mountains along with the infantry soldiers, and they dragged ^^^ p^any with them a few light guns; the passes were scaled on annexes the the 5th July 1819, but Jabbar Khan was found ready to vaiiey to receive them. The Afghans repulsed the invaders, and ^is domimastered two guns; but they did not improve their "*°"^- ^^^*success, and the rallied Sikhs again attacked them, and won an almost bloodless victory.-
A few months after Kashmir had been added to The Derathe Lahore dominions, Ranjit Singh moved in person Jat of the to the south of the Punjab, and Dera Ghazi Khan on the ^"'^"^ ^^' ^° Indus, another dependency of Kabul, was seized by the ^^'^ victorious Sikhs. The Nawab of Bahawalpur, who held i8^ig?2o lands under Ranjit Singh in the fork of the Indus and Chenab, had two years before made a successful attack on the Durrani chief of the place, and it was now transferred to him in form, although his Cis-Sutlej possessions had virtually, but not formally, been taken under British protection in the year 1815, and he had thus become, in a measure, independent of the Maharaja's power.^ During the year 1820 partial attempts Cf. Murray, Ranjit Sinqh, pp. 121, 122, and Moorcroft, Travels, 110, for the duration of the Maharaja's displeasure with Desa Singh. - Cf. Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 122-4. " Government to Superintendent Ambala. 15th Jan., 1815. 1
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