Tempo:
220
Punjab Monarchy and bnperialism
one and the military post on the Sutlej was only to hold back the Punjabis if they attempted to cross the river. Ochterlony continued his march. At Patiala, the dim-witted Sahib Singh received him in a state of 'childish joy'. Nabha was a little less jubilant; he had received many favours from Ranjit. So also had Bhag Singh ofJind, who wanted to exchange the city of Ludhiana, given to him by his nephew but taken over by the British, for Hariana. Kamal, and Panipat. The Malerkotla Nawab was reinstated in his possessions. On 9 February Ochterlony issued a formal proclamation 'to signify the pleasure of the British government' which was motivated solely by the desire 'to confirm the friendship with the Maharajah and to prevent any injury to his country,· that hereafter 'the troops of the Maharajah shall never advance into the country of the chiefs sill.lated on this side of the river.' If the Maharajah did not comply, then according to the proclamation 'shall it be plain that the Maharajah bas no regard for the fiiendship of tJ1e British.' 12 The Maharajah swallowed his pride and agreed to recognize the Sutlej as the Punjab's eastern boundary. He had earlier returned to Amritsar, where the details of the treaty were to be discussed. The negotiations of the preceding six months had produced such a state of tension that a small fracas between Phula Singh's nihangs and Metcalfe's Muslim escon almost set light to the powder magazine. 13 Fortunately, before news of the incident 12 The proclamation was reissued on 3 May 1809, which states in its preamble: 'It is clearer than the sun, and better proved than the e,cistence of yesterday that the marching of a detachment of British troops to this side of the river Sutlej was entirely at the application and earnest entreacy of the several chiefs.• A1ticle I of this proclamation -reads: 'The country of the Chiefs of Malwa and Sirhind having emered under the Btitish protection, they shall in future be secured from the authority and influence of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, confonnably Lo the terms of the treaty.· 13 Muharram was on 25 February 1809 and the Shia Muslims in Metcalfe·s escort decided to take out a procession in the streets ofAmritsar. IL also happened to be the day of Holi and a great many Sikhs, particularly
Punjab Monarchy and bnperialism
one and the military post on the Sutlej was only to hold back the Punjabis if they attempted to cross the river. Ochterlony continued his march. At Patiala, the dim-witted Sahib Singh received him in a state of 'childish joy'. Nabha was a little less jubilant; he had received many favours from Ranjit. So also had Bhag Singh ofJind, who wanted to exchange the city of Ludhiana, given to him by his nephew but taken over by the British, for Hariana. Kamal, and Panipat. The Malerkotla Nawab was reinstated in his possessions. On 9 February Ochterlony issued a formal proclamation 'to signify the pleasure of the British government' which was motivated solely by the desire 'to confirm the friendship with the Maharajah and to prevent any injury to his country,· that hereafter 'the troops of the Maharajah shall never advance into the country of the chiefs sill.lated on this side of the river.' If the Maharajah did not comply, then according to the proclamation 'shall it be plain that the Maharajah bas no regard for the fiiendship of tJ1e British.' 12 The Maharajah swallowed his pride and agreed to recognize the Sutlej as the Punjab's eastern boundary. He had earlier returned to Amritsar, where the details of the treaty were to be discussed. The negotiations of the preceding six months had produced such a state of tension that a small fracas between Phula Singh's nihangs and Metcalfe's Muslim escon almost set light to the powder magazine. 13 Fortunately, before news of the incident 12 The proclamation was reissued on 3 May 1809, which states in its preamble: 'It is clearer than the sun, and better proved than the e,cistence of yesterday that the marching of a detachment of British troops to this side of the river Sutlej was entirely at the application and earnest entreacy of the several chiefs.• A1ticle I of this proclamation -reads: 'The country of the Chiefs of Malwa and Sirhind having emered under the Btitish protection, they shall in future be secured from the authority and influence of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, confonnably Lo the terms of the treaty.· 13 Muharram was on 25 February 1809 and the Shia Muslims in Metcalfe·s escort decided to take out a procession in the streets ofAmritsar. IL also happened to be the day of Holi and a great many Sikhs, particularly
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