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

154

HISTORY OF THE SIKHS

-CHAP. VI

1814-16. his master's family from the Sikh capital. The flight of the
Theflightof Bgums to Ludhiana was at last effected in December 1814;
his family for Shah Shuja perceived the design of the Maharaja to
from La- detain him a prisoner, and to make use of his name for
hore to
Ludhiana, purposes of his own. A few months afterwards the Shah
1814; himself escaped to the hills; he was joined by some Sikhs
April,1815; discontented with Ranjit Singh, and he was aided by the
andhis own chief of Kishtwar in an attack upon Kashmir. He penetrated
escape to
Kishtwar. into the valley, but he had to retreat, and, after residing
Fails for some time longer with his simple, but zealous, mountain
against host, he marched through Kulul, crossed the Sutlej, and
Kashmir,
and retires joined his family at Ludhiana in September 1816.1 His
to aLudhi presence on the frontier was regarded as embarrassing by
5na, 1816.
the British Government, which desired that he should be
urged to retire to Karnal or Saharanpur, and Sir David
Ochterlony was further discretionally authorized to tell
Ranjit Singh that the ex-king of Kabul was not a welcome
guest, within the limits of Hindustan. Nevertheless the
annual sum of 18,000 rupees, which had been assigned for
the support of his family, was raised to 50,000 on his
arrival, and personally he was treated with becoming
respect and consideration.2
Ranjit Shah Shuja thus slipped from the hands of the Maharaja,
Sinh and no use could be made of his name in further attempts
attempts
'Kashmir upon Kashmir; but Ranjit Singh continued as anxious as
and is re- ever to obtain possession of the valley, although the Governor
pulsed,
1814. had, in the meantime, put himself in communication with
the English.3 The chiefs south of the Pir Panjal range
having been brought under subjection, military operations
were commenced towards the middle of the year 1814.
Sickness detained the experienced Mohkam Chand at the
capital, but he warned the Maharaja of the difficulties which
would beset him as soon as the rains set in, and he almost
1 Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 102, 103; Shah Shuja's 'Autobiography ', chaps. xxv, xxvi.
2 Government to Sir D. Ochterlony, 2nd and 20th Aug., 1815,
and 14th, 21st, and 28th Sept., 1816. The Wafa B6gam had before
been told that the Shah's family had no claims to British protection
or intervention. (Government to Resident at Delhi, 19th Dec., 1812,
and 1st July, 1813.)
3 Government to Sir D. Ochterlony, 29th Oct. and 23rd Nov., 1813.