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

260

HISTORY OF THE SIKHS

CHAP. VIII

1844. and to expel Hira Singh. He crossed the Sutlej on the
2nd May, but instead of moving to a distance, so as to avoid
premature collisions, and to enable him to appeal to the
feelings of the Sikhs, he at once joined Bhai Bir Singh, whose
religious repute attracted numbers of the agricultural population, and took up a position almost opposite Ferozepore,
and within forty miles of the capital. The disaffected
Kashmira Singh joined the chief, but Hira Singh stood as
a suppliant before the assembled Khalsa, and roused the
feelings of the troops by reminding them that the Sindhianwalas looked to the English for support. A large force
promptly marched from Lahore, but it was wished to detach
Bhai Bir Singh from the rebel, for to assail so holy a man
was held to be sacrilege by the soldiers, and on the seventh
of the month deputies were sent to induce the Bhai to retire.
Some expressions moved the anger of Sardar Atar Singh, and
he slew one of the deputies with his own hand. This act led
to an immediate attack. Atar Singh and Kashmira Singh
were both killed, and it was found that a cannon-shot had
likewise numbered Bhai Bir Singh with the slain. The
commander on this occasion was Labh Singh, a Rajput of
Jammu, and the possession of the family of Kashmira Singh
seemed to render his success more complete; but the Sikh
infantry refused to allow the women and children to be
removed to Lahore; and Labh Singh, alarmed by this
proceeding and by the lamentations over the death of Bir
Singh, hastened to the capital to ensure his own safety.'
The Hira Singh was thus successful against two main enemies
Governor of his rule, and as he had also come to an understanding
of Multan with the Governor of Multan, the proceedings of Fateh Khan
Tiwana gave him little uneasiness.2 The army itself was
his great cause of anxiety, not lest the Sikh dominion should
be contracted, but lest he should be rejected as its master;
for the Panchayats, although bent on retaining their own
power, and on acquiring additional pay and privileges for
their constituents the soldiers, were equally resolved on
maintaining the integrity of the empire, and they arranged
1 Lieut.-Col. Richmond to Government, 10th, 11th, and 12th May
1844.
2 Cf. Lieut.-Col. Richmond to Government, 29th April 1844.