Tempo:
CHAP. VII
DOST MUHAMMAD
189
two governments to cuuivate a profitable friendship, isss. and the wondering Amir, full of warlike schemes, was naively asked, whether he had any suggestions to offer about a direct route for merchandise between Kabul and the great boundary river of the Afghans ^ The English rulers had also to reply to Ranjit Singh, who was naturally suspicious of the increasing intimacy between his allies and his enemies, and who desired that the European lords might appear rather as his !
than as Dost Muhammad's supporters; but the Governor-General observed that any endeavours to mediate would lead to consequences seriously embarrassing, and that Dost Muhammad would seem to have interpreted general professions 6f amity into promises of assistance."
The two parties Were thus left to their own means. Ranjit Ranjit Singh began by detaching Sultan Muhammad singh and Khan from the Amir, with whom he had sought a re- ^°^* ^"'. fuge on- the occupation of Peshawar by the Sikhs; and J^^^l^ the ejected tributary listened the more readily to the peshawar. Maharaja's propositions, as he apprehended that Dost isas. Muhammad would retain Peshawar for himself, should Ranjit Singh be beaten. Dost Muhammad came to the eastern entrance of the Khaibar Pass, and Ranjit Singh amused him with proposals until he had concentrated his forces. On the 11th of May ,1835, the Amir was almost surrounded. He was to have been attacked on ^ost muthe 12th, but he thought it prudent to retreat, which hammad he did with the loss of two guns and some baggage, retires He had designed to carry off the Sikh envoys, and to rather profit by their presence as hostages or as prisoners; ^attie'^'iith but his brother, Sultan Muhammad Khan, to whom th^ May isas. execution of the project had been entrusted, had determined on joining Ranjit Singh, and the rescue of the agents gave him a favourable introduction to the victor. Sultan Muhammad and his brothers had considerable jagirs conferred on them in the Peshawar district, but the military control and civil management of the province was vested solely in an officer appointed from Lahore.^ Government to Capt. Wade, 19th April 1834, and 11th Abdul Ghias Khan, the son of Jabbar Khan, reached Ludhiana in June 1834, and the original intention of sending him to study at Delhi was abandoned. 2 Government to Capt. Wade, 20th April 1835. ^ Capt. Wade to Government, 25th April, and 1st, 15th, and 1
Feb. 1835.
19th May 1835. Cf. Masson, Journeys, iii. 342, &c.; Mohan Lai, Life of Dost Mtihammad, i. 172, &c.; and also Dr. Harlan's India and Afghanistan, pp. 124, 158. Dr. Harlan himself was one of
DOST MUHAMMAD
189
two governments to cuuivate a profitable friendship, isss. and the wondering Amir, full of warlike schemes, was naively asked, whether he had any suggestions to offer about a direct route for merchandise between Kabul and the great boundary river of the Afghans ^ The English rulers had also to reply to Ranjit Singh, who was naturally suspicious of the increasing intimacy between his allies and his enemies, and who desired that the European lords might appear rather as his !
than as Dost Muhammad's supporters; but the Governor-General observed that any endeavours to mediate would lead to consequences seriously embarrassing, and that Dost Muhammad would seem to have interpreted general professions 6f amity into promises of assistance."
The two parties Were thus left to their own means. Ranjit Ranjit Singh began by detaching Sultan Muhammad singh and Khan from the Amir, with whom he had sought a re- ^°^* ^"'. fuge on- the occupation of Peshawar by the Sikhs; and J^^^l^ the ejected tributary listened the more readily to the peshawar. Maharaja's propositions, as he apprehended that Dost isas. Muhammad would retain Peshawar for himself, should Ranjit Singh be beaten. Dost Muhammad came to the eastern entrance of the Khaibar Pass, and Ranjit Singh amused him with proposals until he had concentrated his forces. On the 11th of May ,1835, the Amir was almost surrounded. He was to have been attacked on ^ost muthe 12th, but he thought it prudent to retreat, which hammad he did with the loss of two guns and some baggage, retires He had designed to carry off the Sikh envoys, and to rather profit by their presence as hostages or as prisoners; ^attie'^'iith but his brother, Sultan Muhammad Khan, to whom th^ May isas. execution of the project had been entrusted, had determined on joining Ranjit Singh, and the rescue of the agents gave him a favourable introduction to the victor. Sultan Muhammad and his brothers had considerable jagirs conferred on them in the Peshawar district, but the military control and civil management of the province was vested solely in an officer appointed from Lahore.^ Government to Capt. Wade, 19th April 1834, and 11th Abdul Ghias Khan, the son of Jabbar Khan, reached Ludhiana in June 1834, and the original intention of sending him to study at Delhi was abandoned. 2 Government to Capt. Wade, 20th April 1835. ^ Capt. Wade to Government, 25th April, and 1st, 15th, and 1
Feb. 1835.
19th May 1835. Cf. Masson, Journeys, iii. 342, &c.; Mohan Lai, Life of Dost Mtihammad, i. 172, &c.; and also Dr. Harlan's India and Afghanistan, pp. 124, 158. Dr. Harlan himself was one of
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