A history of the Sikhs, from the origin of the nation to the battles of the Sutlej.

CHAP. III

BANDA

87

he did not pause to enter his capital after his southern 1708-16.
successes; but in the meantime his generals had defeated But Banda
a body of Sikhs near Panipat, and Banda was surrounded in is in the
his new stronghold. A zealous convert, disguised like his meantime
driven toleader, allowed himself to be captured during a sally of the wards
besieged, and Banda withdrew with all his followers.' After Jammu.
some successful skirmishes he established himself near
Jammu in the hills north of Lahore, and laid the -fairest
part of the Punjab under contribution. Bahadur Shah had Bahadur
by this time advanced to Lahore in person, and he died Shah dies
at Lahore,
there in the month of February, 1712.2 1712.
The death of the emperor brought on another contest for Jahandar
the throne. His eldest son, Jahandar Shah, retained power Shh slain
for a year, but in February 1713 he was defeated and put rukhsiyar,
to death by his nephew Farrukhsiyar. These commotions who
becomes
were favourable to the Sikhs; they again became united emperor,
and formidable, and they built for themselves a considerable 1713.
fort, named Gurdaspur, between the Beas and Ravi.3 The
viceroy of Lahore marched against Banda, but he was
defeated in a pitched battle, and the Sikhs sent forward a
party towards Sirhind, the governor of which, Bayazid Khan, The Sikhs
advanced to oppose them. A fanatic crept under his tent reappear
under Banand mortally wounded him; the Muhammadans dispersed, da, and the
but the city does not seem to have fallen a second time a province of
prey to the exulting Sikhs.4 The emperor now ordered plundered.
Abdus Samad Khan, the governor of Kashmir, a Turani noble
and a skilful general, to assume the command in the Punjab,
and he sent to his aid some chosen troops from the eastward.
Abdus Samad Khan brought with him some thousands of
his own warlike countrymen, and as soon as he was in
1 Cf. Elphinstone, History, ii. 566, and Forster, Travels, i. 305. The
zeal of the devotee was applauded without being pardoned by the
emperor.
2 Cf. the Siar ul Mutakharin, i. 109, 112.
3 Gurdaspur is near Kalanaur, where Akbar was saluted as emperor, and it appears to be the Lohgarh of the ordinary accounts
followed by Forster, Malcolm, and others. It now contains a monastery of Sarsut Brahmans, who have adopted many of the Sikh modes
and tenets.
4 Some accounts nevertheless represent Banda to have again
possessed himself of Sirhind.