Tempo:
British Annexation of Malwa
221
could reach Calcutta, the governor general had despatched drafts of treaties to be offered to the Durbar. The catastrophe of war was thus averted in the nick of time. The drafts provided for perpetual friendship and mostfavoured-nation treatment for the Durbar, recognition of the Maharajah's sovereignty over territories north of the Sutlej, and a concession to the Durbar in that it would be allowed to keep some troops south of the Sutlej to police its estates on the east of the river. The Durbar troops gave up the territories they had occupied in their last e>,.."Pedition and on the twenty-fifth the treaty was formally signed at Amritsar. 14 It was followed by a week of farewell parties for Metcalfe, and the envoy left the Punjab well pleased with himself. Despite the treaty and the celebration that followed, ill will continued on both sides for some time. At the Durbar end there were people like Mohkam Chand and Akali Phula Singh of the Akalis with their celebrated leader Phula Singh, bad foregathered in Lhe city lo celebrate it. The Shia procession wended its way through the streets of Amritsar, beatingcheir breasts to the chants of'Hassan, Hussain'. TI1ey came to the opening in front of the Golden Temple, where I.he Akalis were at prayer. The Akal is remonstrated with the processionists co go elsewhere. Arguments led to a scuffle and the Shia sepoys came to a head-<>n collision with the Akalis. It is not known who were the aggressors. Even Metcalfe was doubtful and conceded that the first shot had probably been fired by one of ltls escons (Metcalfe No. 72, of 7.3.1809). There were more casualties on the side of the Akalis than on that of the Shias. This fact, rn view ofMetcalfe's own admission that the 'matchlocks of our assailants carried furl.her and \\~th surer aim than our musquets,' does not lend suppon to the theory of Aka1i aggression. Nor does it suppon the legend created by British historians that, although outnumbered, the sepoys worsted the Akalis and so impressed Ranjit Singh with their superior discipline that he promptly decided to Europeanize his army. His army had been professionally 'Europeanued' since 1803. This is stated in detail by Amar Nath in the lAfar Namii-i-Rartfit Singh. Meccalfo could not utilize the incident as an excuse for war. His repon blamed Aka1i Phula Singh, but not Ranjit, who turned up on the scene immediate!}' and personally helped to quell the rial. He also sent his courtiers to Metcalfe to apologize for the lack of counesy shown to his guests and promised compensation. 14 See Appendix 6.
221
could reach Calcutta, the governor general had despatched drafts of treaties to be offered to the Durbar. The catastrophe of war was thus averted in the nick of time. The drafts provided for perpetual friendship and mostfavoured-nation treatment for the Durbar, recognition of the Maharajah's sovereignty over territories north of the Sutlej, and a concession to the Durbar in that it would be allowed to keep some troops south of the Sutlej to police its estates on the east of the river. The Durbar troops gave up the territories they had occupied in their last e>,.."Pedition and on the twenty-fifth the treaty was formally signed at Amritsar. 14 It was followed by a week of farewell parties for Metcalfe, and the envoy left the Punjab well pleased with himself. Despite the treaty and the celebration that followed, ill will continued on both sides for some time. At the Durbar end there were people like Mohkam Chand and Akali Phula Singh of the Akalis with their celebrated leader Phula Singh, bad foregathered in Lhe city lo celebrate it. The Shia procession wended its way through the streets of Amritsar, beatingcheir breasts to the chants of'Hassan, Hussain'. TI1ey came to the opening in front of the Golden Temple, where I.he Akalis were at prayer. The Akal is remonstrated with the processionists co go elsewhere. Arguments led to a scuffle and the Shia sepoys came to a head-<>n collision with the Akalis. It is not known who were the aggressors. Even Metcalfe was doubtful and conceded that the first shot had probably been fired by one of ltls escons (Metcalfe No. 72, of 7.3.1809). There were more casualties on the side of the Akalis than on that of the Shias. This fact, rn view ofMetcalfe's own admission that the 'matchlocks of our assailants carried furl.her and \\~th surer aim than our musquets,' does not lend suppon to the theory of Aka1i aggression. Nor does it suppon the legend created by British historians that, although outnumbered, the sepoys worsted the Akalis and so impressed Ranjit Singh with their superior discipline that he promptly decided to Europeanize his army. His army had been professionally 'Europeanued' since 1803. This is stated in detail by Amar Nath in the lAfar Namii-i-Rartfit Singh. Meccalfo could not utilize the incident as an excuse for war. His repon blamed Aka1i Phula Singh, but not Ranjit, who turned up on the scene immediate!}' and personally helped to quell the rial. He also sent his courtiers to Metcalfe to apologize for the lack of counesy shown to his guests and promised compensation. 14 See Appendix 6.
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