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

152

HISTORY OF THE SIKHS

CHAP. VI

1812-13. fessed to the wife of Shah Shuja that he would release her
husband and replace Kashmir under the Shah's sway; but
Ranjit he hoped the gratitude of the distressed lady would make
Singh uses the great diamond, Koh-i-nur, the reward of his chivalrous
the Shah's
name for labours when they should be crowned with success. His
purposes of principal object was doubtless the possession of the Shah's
his own.
person, and when, after his preliminary successes against
the hill chiefs, including the capture of Jammu by his newly
married son, Kharak Singh, he heard, towards the end of
Ranjit 1812, that Fateh Khan the Kabul Wazir had crossed the
Singh
meets Indus with the design of marching against Kashmir, he
Fateh sought an interview with him, and said he would assist in
Khan, the
Kabul bringing to punishment both the rebel, who detained the
Wazir, king's brother, and likewise the Governor of Multan, who
1812; had refused obedience to Mahmid. Fateh Khan had been
equally desirous of an interview, for he felt that he could not
and a joint take Kashmir if opposed by Ranjit Singh, and he readily
enterprise promised anything to facilitate his immediate object. The
Kashmirre- Maharaja and the Wazir each hoped to use the other as a
solved on. tool, yet the success of neither was complete. Kashmir was
Fateh occupied in February 1813; but Fateh Khan outstripped
Khan out- the Sikhs under Mohkam Chand, and he maintained that
strips the
Sikhs, and as he alone had achieved the conquest, the Maharaja could
holds the not share in the spoils. The only advantage which accrued
valley for
Mahmud, to Ranjit Singh was the possession of Shah Shuja's person,
1813. for the ill-fated king was allowed by Fateh Khan to go
Shah Shuja whither he pleased, and he preferred joining the Sikh army,
joinsRanjit which he accompanied to Lahore, to becoming virtually
Singh, who
acquires a prisoner in Kabul.1 - But the Maharaja's expedients did
Attock; not entirely fail him, and as the rebel Governor of Attock
was alarmed by the success of Shah Mahmid's party in
Kashmir, he was easily persuaded to yield the fort to Ranjit
Singh. This unlooked-for stroke incensed Fateh Khan, who
accused the Maharaja of barefaced treachery, and endeavoured further to intimidate him by pretending to make
while Moh- overtures to Shah Shuja; but the Maharaja felt confident
kam Chand of his strength, and a battle was fought on the 13th July,
defeats the
Ktbul
Wazr in 1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 92, 95; Sir D. Ochterlony to Governa pitched ment, 4th March, 1813; and Shah Shuja's 'Autobiography',
battle, chap. xxv.