Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
242 1845.
CHAP. VIII
is it probable that at the time he desired to take the life
any one except Bachna, who had been variously employed by him, and who knew the extent of his resources. The act nevertheless greatly excited the Sikh soldiery, and Gulab Singh perceived that submission alone would save Jammu from being sacked. He succeeded in partially gaining over two brigades, he joined their camp, and he arrived at Lahore early in April 1845, half a prisoner, and yet not without a reasonable prospect of becoming the minister of the country; for the mass of the Sikh soldiery thought that one so great had been sufficiently humbled, the Panchayats had been won by his money and his blandishments, and many of the old servants of Ranjit Singh had confidence in his ability and in his goodwill towards the state generally.^ There yet, however, existed some remnants of the animosity which had proved fatal to Hira of
Gulab Singh submits and repairs to
Lahore. April 1845.
Jawahir Singh formally appointed Wazlr,
May 14. 1845.
Singh; the representatives of many expelled hill chiefs were ready to compass the death of their greatest enemy; and an Akali fanatic could take the life of the Jawahir 'Dogra' Raja with applause and impunity. Singh plainly aimed at the office of Wazir, and Lai Singh's own ambition prompted him to use his influence with the mother of the Maharaja to resist the growing feeling in favour of the chief whose capacity for affairs all envied and dreaded. Hence Gulab Singh deemed it prudent to avoid a contest for power at that time, and to remove from Lahore to a place of greater safety. He agreed to pay in all a fine of 6,800,000 rupees, to yield up nearly all the districts which had been held by his family, excepting his own proper fiefs, and to renew his lease of the salt mines between the Indus and Jhelum, on terms which virtually deprived him of a large profit, and of the political superiority in the hills of Rohtas.- He was present at the installation of Jawahir Singh as Wazir on the 14th May,-^ and at the betrothal of the Maharaja to a daughter of the Atari chief Chattar Singh on the 10th July; * and towards the end of the following month he retired to Jammu, shorn of much real power, but become acceptable to the troops by his humility, and to the final conviction of the English authorities, that 1 Cf. Major Broadfoot to Government, 8th and 9th April and 5th May 1845. - Major Broadfoot to Government, 5th May 1845. 3 Major Broadfoot to Government, 24th May 1845. Major Broadfoot to Government, 14th July 1845. •*
242 1845.
CHAP. VIII
is it probable that at the time he desired to take the life
any one except Bachna, who had been variously employed by him, and who knew the extent of his resources. The act nevertheless greatly excited the Sikh soldiery, and Gulab Singh perceived that submission alone would save Jammu from being sacked. He succeeded in partially gaining over two brigades, he joined their camp, and he arrived at Lahore early in April 1845, half a prisoner, and yet not without a reasonable prospect of becoming the minister of the country; for the mass of the Sikh soldiery thought that one so great had been sufficiently humbled, the Panchayats had been won by his money and his blandishments, and many of the old servants of Ranjit Singh had confidence in his ability and in his goodwill towards the state generally.^ There yet, however, existed some remnants of the animosity which had proved fatal to Hira of
Gulab Singh submits and repairs to
Lahore. April 1845.
Jawahir Singh formally appointed Wazlr,
May 14. 1845.
Singh; the representatives of many expelled hill chiefs were ready to compass the death of their greatest enemy; and an Akali fanatic could take the life of the Jawahir 'Dogra' Raja with applause and impunity. Singh plainly aimed at the office of Wazir, and Lai Singh's own ambition prompted him to use his influence with the mother of the Maharaja to resist the growing feeling in favour of the chief whose capacity for affairs all envied and dreaded. Hence Gulab Singh deemed it prudent to avoid a contest for power at that time, and to remove from Lahore to a place of greater safety. He agreed to pay in all a fine of 6,800,000 rupees, to yield up nearly all the districts which had been held by his family, excepting his own proper fiefs, and to renew his lease of the salt mines between the Indus and Jhelum, on terms which virtually deprived him of a large profit, and of the political superiority in the hills of Rohtas.- He was present at the installation of Jawahir Singh as Wazir on the 14th May,-^ and at the betrothal of the Maharaja to a daughter of the Atari chief Chattar Singh on the 10th July; * and towards the end of the following month he retired to Jammu, shorn of much real power, but become acceptable to the troops by his humility, and to the final conviction of the English authorities, that 1 Cf. Major Broadfoot to Government, 8th and 9th April and 5th May 1845. - Major Broadfoot to Government, 5th May 1845. 3 Major Broadfoot to Government, 24th May 1845. Major Broadfoot to Government, 14th July 1845. •*
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