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

140

HISTORY OF THE SIKHS

CHAP. V

1809. restitution of his first conquests would not be insisted on;
while, to remove all cause of suspicion, the detachment under
Sir David Ochterlony could fall back from Ludhiana to
Karnal, and take up its permanent position at the latter
place.' But the British commander represented the advantage of keeping the force where it was; his Government
assented to its detention, at least for a time, and Ludhiana
thus continued uninterruptedly to form a station for British
troops.2
Ranjit In the beginning of February 1809, Sir David Ochterlony
Sigh. had issued a proclamation declaring the Cis-Sutlej states to
be under British protection, and that any aggressions of the
Chief of Lahore would be resisted with arms.3 Ranjit Singh
then perceived that the British authorities were in earnest,
and the fear struck him that the still independent leaders of
the Punjab might likewise tender their allegiance and have
it accepted. All chance of empire would thus be lost, and
he prudently made up his mind without further delay. He
withdrew his troops as required, he relinquished his last
acquisitions, and at Amritsar, on the 25th April, 1809, the
and enters now single Chief of Iahore signed a treaty which left him
into a for the master of the tracts he had originally occupied to the
mal treaty,
25th April, south of the Sutlej, but confined his ambition for the future
1809. to the north and westward of that river.4
The terms The Sikh, and the few included Hindu and Muhammadan
of Sikh dependence chiefs, between the Sutlej and Jumna, having been taken
and of under British protection, it became necessary to define the
English su terms on which they were secured from foreign danger.
premacy in
Sirhind. Sir David Ochterlony observed,5 that when the chiefs first
sought protection, their jealousy of the English would have
yielded to their fears of Ranjit Singh, and they would have
agreed to any conditions proposed, including a regular
tribute. But their first overtures had been rejected, and
1 Government to Sir David Ochterlony, 30th Jan., 6th Feb., and
13th March, 1809.
2 Sir David Ochterlony to Government, 6th May, 1809, and
Government to Sir David Ochterlony, 13th June, 1809.
3 See Appendix XXIV.
4 See the treaty itself, Appendix XXV. Cf. Murray, Ranjft Singh,
pp. 67, 68.
5 Sir David Ochterlony to Government, 17th March, 1809.