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178
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
CHAP. VII
1832.
COWS, and that a prophecy foreboded the downfall of the Sikh empire on the removal of the gates from Ghazni.^
Further ne-
In 1832 a rumoured advance of the Persians against Herat gave further encouragement to Shah Shuja in his designs.- The perplexed Amirs of Sind offered him assistance if he would relinquish his supremacy, and the Shah promised acquiescence if he succeeded.' To Ranjit Singh the Shah offered to waive his right to
gotiations
with the Sikhs and Sindians, 1332.
Peshawar and other districts beyond the Indus, and also to give an acquittance for the Koh-i-nur diamond, in return for assistance in men and money. The Maha-
raja was doubtful what to do; he was willing to secure an additional title to Peshawar, but he was apprehensive of the Shah's designs, should the expedition be successful.^ He wished, moreover, to know the precise views of the English, and he therefore proposed that they should be parties to any engagement entered into, for he had no confidence, he said, in Afghans.'' Each of the three parties had distinct and incompatible objects. Ranjit Singh wished to get rid of the English commercial objections to disturbing the Amirs of Sind, by offering to aid the rightful political paramount in its recovery. The ex-king thought the Maharaja really wished to get him into his power, and the project of dividing Sind fell to the ground." The Talpur Amirs, on their part, thought that they would save Shikarpur by playing into the Shah's hands, and they therefore endeavoured to prevent a coalition between him and the Sikh ruler."^ The English indifferent
about the Shah's attempts;
The Shah could not come to any satisfactory terms with Ranjit Singh, but as his neutrality was essential, especially with regard to Shikarpur, a treaty of alliance
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1 Capt. Wade to Government, 21st Nov. 1831. Considering the ridicule occasioned by the subsequent removal by the English of these traditional gates, it may gratify the approvers and originators of the measure to know that they were of some local importance. When "the author was at Bahawalpur in 1845, a number of Afghan merchants came to ask him whether their restoration could be brought about for the repute of the fane (a tomb made a temple by superstition), and the income of its pir or saint, had much declined. They would carefully convey them back, they said, and they added that they understood the Hindus did not want them, and that of course they could be of no value to the Christians - Government to Capt. Wade, 19th Oct. 1832. •"^Capt. Wade to Government, 15th Sept. 1832. 4 Capt. Wade to Government, ^.3th Dec. 1832. 5 Capt. Wade to Government. 31st Dec. 1832. " Capt. Wade to Government, 9th April 1833. " Capt. Wade to Government 27th March 1833.
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HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
CHAP. VII
1832.
COWS, and that a prophecy foreboded the downfall of the Sikh empire on the removal of the gates from Ghazni.^
Further ne-
In 1832 a rumoured advance of the Persians against Herat gave further encouragement to Shah Shuja in his designs.- The perplexed Amirs of Sind offered him assistance if he would relinquish his supremacy, and the Shah promised acquiescence if he succeeded.' To Ranjit Singh the Shah offered to waive his right to
gotiations
with the Sikhs and Sindians, 1332.
Peshawar and other districts beyond the Indus, and also to give an acquittance for the Koh-i-nur diamond, in return for assistance in men and money. The Maha-
raja was doubtful what to do; he was willing to secure an additional title to Peshawar, but he was apprehensive of the Shah's designs, should the expedition be successful.^ He wished, moreover, to know the precise views of the English, and he therefore proposed that they should be parties to any engagement entered into, for he had no confidence, he said, in Afghans.'' Each of the three parties had distinct and incompatible objects. Ranjit Singh wished to get rid of the English commercial objections to disturbing the Amirs of Sind, by offering to aid the rightful political paramount in its recovery. The ex-king thought the Maharaja really wished to get him into his power, and the project of dividing Sind fell to the ground." The Talpur Amirs, on their part, thought that they would save Shikarpur by playing into the Shah's hands, and they therefore endeavoured to prevent a coalition between him and the Sikh ruler."^ The English indifferent
about the Shah's attempts;
The Shah could not come to any satisfactory terms with Ranjit Singh, but as his neutrality was essential, especially with regard to Shikarpur, a treaty of alliance
—
1 Capt. Wade to Government, 21st Nov. 1831. Considering the ridicule occasioned by the subsequent removal by the English of these traditional gates, it may gratify the approvers and originators of the measure to know that they were of some local importance. When "the author was at Bahawalpur in 1845, a number of Afghan merchants came to ask him whether their restoration could be brought about for the repute of the fane (a tomb made a temple by superstition), and the income of its pir or saint, had much declined. They would carefully convey them back, they said, and they added that they understood the Hindus did not want them, and that of course they could be of no value to the Christians - Government to Capt. Wade, 19th Oct. 1832. •"^Capt. Wade to Government, 15th Sept. 1832. 4 Capt. Wade to Government, ^.3th Dec. 1832. 5 Capt. Wade to Government. 31st Dec. 1832. " Capt. Wade to Government, 9th April 1833. " Capt. Wade to Government 27th March 1833.
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