Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
144
1819-20.
Muhammad Azim Khan desirous of
securing
Peshawar, 1818-21;
lYom
which
Ranjit
Singh de-
minds and receives tribute, 1822.
But the prosecution of his plans interfered
with by a discussion with the English
about his mother-inlaw, and a place called
Whadni.
CHAP, vl
were made
to reduce the turbulent Muhammadan tribes to the south-west of Kashmir, and, in 1821, Ranjit Singh proceeded to complete his conquests on the Central Indus by the reduction of Dera Ismail Khan. The strong fort of Mankera, situated between the two westernmost rivers of the Punjab, was held out for a time by Hafiz Ahmad Khan, the father of the titular governor, who scarcely owned a nominal subjection to Kabul; but the promise of honourable terms induced him to surrender before the end of the year, and the country on the right bank of the Indus, including Dera Ismail Khan, was left to him as a feudatory of Lahore.^
Muhammad
Azim had succeeded to the power of his brother, Fateh Khan, and, being desirous of keeping Ranjit Singh to the left bank of the Indus, he moved to Peshawar in the year 1822, accompanied by Jai Singh, the fugitive Sikh chief, with the intention of attackim^ Khairabad opposite Attock. Other matters caused him hastily to retrace his steps, but his proceedings had brought the Maharaja to the westward, who sent to
Yar Muhammad Khan, the governor of Peshawar, and demanded tribute. This leader, who apprehended the designs of his brother, Muhammad Azim Khan, almost as much as he dreaded Ranjit Singh, made an offering of some valuable horses.- The Maharaja was satisfied and withdrew perhaps the more readily, as some differences had arisen with the British authorities regarding the right to a place named Whadni, to the south of the Sutlej, which had been transferred by Ranjit Singh to his intriguing and ambitious mother-in-law, Sada
Kaur, in the year 1808. The lady was regarded by the English agents as being the independent representative of the interests of the Kanhaya (or Ghani) confederacy of Sikhs on their side of the river, and therefore as having a right to their protection.. But Ranjit Singh had quarrelled with and imprisoned his mother-in-law, and had taken possession of the fort of Whadni. It was resolved to eject him by force, and a detachment of troops marched from Ludhiana and restored the authoRanjit Singh prudently rity of the captive widow. made no attempt to resist the British agent, but he was
1822.
Cf. and Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 23rd July, 1815. Murray, Ranjit Singh, p. 124. The Bahawalpur Memoirs state
that Ranjit Singh came down the Sutlej as far as Pakpattan, with the view of seizing Bahawalpur, but that show of resistance having been made, and some presents offered, the Maharaja moved westward. 1 Cf. Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 129, 130, and Sir A. Burnes'
Kabul p. 92. - Cf.
Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 134-7.
144
1819-20.
Muhammad Azim Khan desirous of
securing
Peshawar, 1818-21;
lYom
which
Ranjit
Singh de-
minds and receives tribute, 1822.
But the prosecution of his plans interfered
with by a discussion with the English
about his mother-inlaw, and a place called
Whadni.
CHAP, vl
were made
to reduce the turbulent Muhammadan tribes to the south-west of Kashmir, and, in 1821, Ranjit Singh proceeded to complete his conquests on the Central Indus by the reduction of Dera Ismail Khan. The strong fort of Mankera, situated between the two westernmost rivers of the Punjab, was held out for a time by Hafiz Ahmad Khan, the father of the titular governor, who scarcely owned a nominal subjection to Kabul; but the promise of honourable terms induced him to surrender before the end of the year, and the country on the right bank of the Indus, including Dera Ismail Khan, was left to him as a feudatory of Lahore.^
Muhammad
Azim had succeeded to the power of his brother, Fateh Khan, and, being desirous of keeping Ranjit Singh to the left bank of the Indus, he moved to Peshawar in the year 1822, accompanied by Jai Singh, the fugitive Sikh chief, with the intention of attackim^ Khairabad opposite Attock. Other matters caused him hastily to retrace his steps, but his proceedings had brought the Maharaja to the westward, who sent to
Yar Muhammad Khan, the governor of Peshawar, and demanded tribute. This leader, who apprehended the designs of his brother, Muhammad Azim Khan, almost as much as he dreaded Ranjit Singh, made an offering of some valuable horses.- The Maharaja was satisfied and withdrew perhaps the more readily, as some differences had arisen with the British authorities regarding the right to a place named Whadni, to the south of the Sutlej, which had been transferred by Ranjit Singh to his intriguing and ambitious mother-in-law, Sada
Kaur, in the year 1808. The lady was regarded by the English agents as being the independent representative of the interests of the Kanhaya (or Ghani) confederacy of Sikhs on their side of the river, and therefore as having a right to their protection.. But Ranjit Singh had quarrelled with and imprisoned his mother-in-law, and had taken possession of the fort of Whadni. It was resolved to eject him by force, and a detachment of troops marched from Ludhiana and restored the authoRanjit Singh prudently rity of the captive widow. made no attempt to resist the British agent, but he was
1822.
Cf. and Sir D. Ochterlony to Government, 23rd July, 1815. Murray, Ranjit Singh, p. 124. The Bahawalpur Memoirs state
that Ranjit Singh came down the Sutlej as far as Pakpattan, with the view of seizing Bahawalpur, but that show of resistance having been made, and some presents offered, the Maharaja moved westward. 1 Cf. Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 129, 130, and Sir A. Burnes'
Kabul p. 92. - Cf.
Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 134-7.
©
2026
Lehal.net