A History of the reigning family of Lahore, with some account of the Jummoo Rajahs, the Seik Soldiers and their Sirdars. With notes on Malcolm, Prinsep, Lawrence, Steinbach, M'Gregor and the Calcutta Review

Front matter

A HISTORY OF THE REIGNING FAMILY OF LAHORE, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE JUMMOO RAJAHS, THE SEIK SOLDIERS AND THEIR SIRDARS ; EDITED BY MAJOR G. CARMICHAEL SMYTH, THIRD BENGAL LIGHT CAVALRY; WITH .NOTES ON malcolm, prinsep, lawrence, steinbach McGregor, and the Calcutta review. CALCUTTA: W. THACKER AND CO.— ST. ANDREW'S LIBRARY. 1847. SANDERS, CONES AND CO., TYPS., NO. 7, MISSION ROW, CALCUTTA. NOTICE. Unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances and the great distance from Calcutta at -which the Editor has been stationed, to whom constant references were made, have delayed this work long beyond his expectations. '> TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR BROADFOOT, C. B. LATE AGENT TO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL UP t n D i a ON THE NORTH WESTERN FRONTIER THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED, BECAUSE THE MORAL COURAGE OF HIS COUNSEL WAS ONLY TO BE EQUALLED BY HIS UNDAUNTED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD.

Preface

. A Dedication is generally addressed to a great man, or some one to whom the author has been placed under obligations ; it is either as a debt of gratitude, or as a loan, which the writer expects will be repaid to him with Hebrew interest, most praiseworthy in the first instance, most paltry in the second. The expressions, flowing from a grateful heart, will ever be read with admiration ; but the foul flattery of a Para site is beneath contempt, and generally as false as it is foul. My dedication, however, is neither as a debt nor as a loan ; and, if the name of one who was great, and wovdd have been greater, has been mentioned, it is — because he has departed ; for, notwithstanding this book was undertaken at his suggestion, when we last met at Loodiana, still it would never have been presented to the living man, though offered now " to his memory."

G. C. S. CONTENTS. Page. Introduction xvn to xxx History of Runjeet Sing's Family 1 Early History of Runjeet Sing 13 Chap. I. — Secret History of the Lahore Durbar 24 II. — The Siege of Lahore by Shere Sing 42 III. — Goolaub Sing and Affghanistan 62 IV. — Murder of Jewalla Sing and of Ranee Chund Kour 65 V. — The Assassination of Shere Sing and Dehan Sing 70 VI. — Punishment of the Murderers 81 VII. — Birth and Parentage of Dulleep Sing 91 • VIII.— The Wuzeerut of Heera Sing 98 IX. — The Expedition to Juinmoo 133 X.— The Murder of Peshora Sing 141 XL— Death of Jewahir Sing 146 XII. — Rajah Lall Sing, and theSlave-girl Mungela 155 The War with the British 167 to 184 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. Pholah Sing, the Akalee 185 The Mutiny in Cashmere 193 Wuzeer Zoroveroo 198 The Soodhun Revolt 205 Futteh Khan Tewanah 213 The Lords of the Hills ; — A Genealogical History of the Jummoo Family 219 to CONTENTS. VIII

Appendix

. Sir J. Malcolm's "Sketch of the Sikhs" i Prinsep's Life of Runjeet Sing v The Punjaub Adventurer viii Colonel Steinbach's Work xii The Medical and Literary Journal for January, 1845 xviii The Calcutta Review for August, 1844 ib. The Productions of the Punjaub, and of those Hill States, &c. dependant on it xxii Trees and Shrubs xxv Mineralogical Productions xxvi Manufactures of the Punjaub, and in the States dependent on it xxvii A List of the different Castes in the Punjaub ib. An Estimate of the Population of different Cities in the Punjaub xxix Districts and Countries of the Punjaub... ib. List of Sirdars and Chiefs xxx Abstract, showing the Disposition of the Sikh Army, 1st July, 1844 xxxii The Boundary of the Punjaub in 1845 xxxiii A List of the Principal Sirdars and Chiefs in the Punjaub, classed according to the Party they were supposed to side with after the death of Shere Sing xxxiv The Numerical Force of the Standing Array of the Punjaub in 1845 xxxv Officers who have been or are in the Seik Service xxxvi Amount of Revenue or Money paid into the Treasury for 1844 xxxvii Products and Manufactures xxxviii Articles procurable in the Punjaub at the Stated Prices, Pucca Rupees per maund xl IJENF.AI.OGICAT.

TABLES AND A Map OF LAHORE. L I S T OF {SUBSCRIBERS. Nos. Names and Rank. Corps. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 lu 11 12 13 II 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ■21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 3a 36 37 38 39 in 41 42 43 Abercrombie, J. Lieut Abbott, J. B. Captain Alexander, C B. Lieut. Col Alexander, H. Ensign Angelo, J. Lieut. Colonel Aratoon, Mr Ashbumham, C B. Lieut. Col. . . Baring, S. D. C Lieut Baring, E. A. Ensign (Unposted) Barclay, C. Esq Barr, Captaiu Beunwell, Lieut. Colonel Becher, A. M. Major Becher, J. R. Lieut Beller, R. B. Lieut Belli, W. H., Esq Berrill's Hotel Biddulph, E. Lieut. Colonel Birch, B. J. H. Lieut Colonel Bird, W. W. Cornet Blagrave, T. C Lieut Blake, M. T. Capt. Commanding Boileau Ensign, N. C Bodle, G. Lieut Book Club Book Club (Officers) Book Club (Officers) Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Book Club Brigs, H. C. Lieut Britten, C. Captain Brown, E. Lieut Budd, (J. B. Lieut Bunbury, A. C. Ensign Horse Artillery 12th Regt.

N. I Horse Artillery 05th Regt. N. I 3rd Lt. Cavalry Merchant, Loodianah 62nd Queen's 55th Regt. N.I D. D. 51st N.I Hallyforcl, Middlesex ..'.... Horse Artillery H. M. 9th Foot Assistant Qr. M. General. . . . Engineers 50th Queen's C. S. Calcutta Allahabad Horse Artillery J. A. General 9th Lancers 26th Regt. N. I 2nd Inf., Sindiidi Contg. . . 27th Regt. N. I H. M. 80th Foot 1st Bengal Fusileers 2nd Light Infantry Horse Artillery 69th Eegt. N.I H. M. 21st Fusileers 29th Eegt. N.I 26th ditto ditto 68th ditto ditto 20th ditto ditto 1st ditto ditto 61st N.I 46th N.I Juanpore Mussoorie 9th Lancers 60th Rifles 1st Bengid Fusileers 3rd Light Cavalry 34th Begt. N.I X LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS Corps. X°> <_o Noee. Names ami Rank. 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 06 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 Burke, J. Ensign Butler, J. Major Bunny, A. Lieut Burn, J. Ensign Bruce, E. E. Lieut Byng, E. Lieut Burten, J. A. Lieut Bidders, Lieut. Colonel Boxer, B. H. Lieut Cameron, T. M. Lieut Campbell, Lieut Campbell, Sir E. Lieut. Col Canora, Colonel Caley, Lieut Colonel Carnegy, Lieut. Colonel Carmichæl, Sir J., Bart Carmichael, C. M. Lieut. Col. . .

Cheap,Captain M. of B. Neemuch Christie, J. Major Christie, Major E Cbarde, D. Esq Clarke, Captain Clarke, Mr. S. M Clarke, Stanley, Esq Clifford, B. W. Cornet Colquhoun, Dr Corfield, C. Major Coombe, Captain Cortlundt, Lieut. Colonel Cookes, C. H. Lieut Costley, Brigadier Craigie, G. Surgeon Cunningham, J. D. Captain .... Cureton, C. B. Lieut. Col Coxen, Captain &. P. M Culleu, W. Major General Davidson, C. T Dawson, J. Ensign Day, E. F. Major De Montmorency, R. E. Lieut. . . Dewar, A. C. Capt. Commanding Dempster, J. Surgeon Dixen, C. G. Major Douglass, Major Douglass, Captain Drummond, Major Drummond (C. B.) Lieut. Col. . . Dorin, H. A. Lieut Dunlop, J. Lieut Donaldson, A. S. O. Lieut Edwards, H. B. Captain Edwards, W Elliot, A. J. H. Comet Faithful, E. W. Surgeon Fast, MajorGeneral Farquharson, G. Major 36th Eegt.

Foot 3rd Eegt. N.I Artillery 40fh Eegt. N. I Horse Artillery A. D. C 3rd K. 0. Lt. Dragoons 3rd K. 0. Lt. Dragoons H. M. 80th Foot 55th Eegt. N. I 60th Rifles Late 3rd B. L. Cavalry Seik Service 64th Eegt. N.I 27th Regt. N. I London 3rd Lt. Cavalry 51st Eegt. N. I 9th Irregular Cavalry Artillery Meerut 1st Bengal Fusileers Tailor, Meerut Civil Service 10th Light Cavalry 3rd ditto ditto 47th Eegt. N. I 1st Bengal Fusileers Late H. M. 31st Foot Artillery Barrackpore H. Artillery Engineers Adjt. Genl. Q. Troops 66th Eifles Civil Service, Tirhoot 1st N.I - Horse Artillery 60th Eifles 1st Cavalry, Sindiah Contg. . . H. M. 21st Fusileers Artillery H. M. 9th Foot 60th Eifles 3rd Light Cavalry Dy. Q. M. General Commissariat 12th Regt. N.I 45th ditto ditto 1st Bengal Fusileers Under Secretary G. G G. G. Body Guard 9th Irregular Cavalry C alcutta 8thEegt.N.I LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

XI Nos. Names and Rank. Corps. 4! 100 101 102 103 104 105 Inn 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 101 152 153 154 155 Ferris, J H. Captain Fisher, Mrs Follett,Captain( Major of Brigade) Forbes, W. Lieut Forrest, M. S. 0. B. Lieut Forrest, J. H. Captain Frank, Lieut. Col Fraser, A., C. S Frith, Lieut French, J Fullerou, Lieut. Col Flyter, J. C aptain Galloway, A. S. Lieut Galloway, S. C. C. Lieut Garden, Col. Q. M. Genl Gilford, J. Captain Gibbs, J. J. Lieut Gilbert, Sir W. Major General . . GUberts, F. M. D. Lieut & Adjt . Gilmore, J. F. Lieut Gorle, J. T. Captain Gordon, P. Major Gough, Lord, C. C. in India .... Gougb (C. B.) Lieut. Col Gordon, J. Captain Graham, J. Surgeon Graydon, W. Lieut Gray, W. J. Lieut Grey, Sir John K. C. B. MajorGenl Greville, S. Lieut Grant, (C. B.) Lieut. Col Gubbins, J. P., C. S Gundry, C. B. Lieut Hamilton, C. V. Lieut Handscomb, J. H. Lieut. Col. . .

Hammersley, H. Cornet Hardinge, Lieut Harvey, F. Esq. Seharanpore .. Harvey, Lt. Col Havelock, H.(C. B.) Lieut. Col. . Hawkes, Lieut. Col Hardinge, C. S. Esq Herbert, Captain Hissen, E.H Hathem, H. V. Lieut Hopper, A. Q. Captain Hoste, W. D. Lieut Honig Berger, (D. Martin) Howard, Esq Huish, A. Captain Hutchinson, W. C. Lieut Hoyden, T. Lieut Hughes, W. T. Lieut Hughes, E. J. Lieut Iimis, P. E Jiunes, C. P 12th ditto ditto Europe Kurrachee 27th Eegt. N. I 12th ditto ditto 1 1th Hussars H. M. 16th Foot Artillery Indigo Planter, Tirhoot 9th Lancers 64th Eegt. N.I 3rd Light Cavalry 10th Foot Head Quarters 2nd Grenadiers 68th Eegt. N.I Comg. Sirhind Div 2nd Gren Artillery 10th Foot Loodianah Head Quarters H. M. Troops in India .... 3rd Lt. Cavalry H. Artillery 16th Grendiers Artdlery Comg. Meerut Div 1st Bengal Fusileers Adjt.

General 12th Eegt. N.I 45th Eegt. N.I 26th Lt. I gth Light Cavalry 80th Queen's Civil Service 52nd N.I Bombay 9th Lt. Cavalry Private Secretary 9th Light Cavalry 06th Queen's 18th Eegt. N. I 24th ditto N. I 05th ditto ditto Seik Service Profr. of Music, Umballa .. Artillery Horse Artdlery Artillery 2nd Irregular Cavalry 07th Eegt. N. 1 ." 1st Bengal Fusileers 50th Queen's LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, Nvs. Names and Rank. Corps. 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 ltiij 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 >■; 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 190 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 Jameson, W. Dr James, T. Captain Joseph, Mr. Merchant Keer, J. Ensign Keiller, D. C. Captain Reunion, Lieut Kirke, H. Captain Knowles, Captain Kyroff, Mr., Merchant Lamb, W. Captain, Lawrence, (C. B.) Lieut. Col. ..

Lawrence, G. St. P. Major La Touche, Brigade Major Lawrell, H. Esq Lambert, G. C. Lieut Lee, E. Lieut Leeson, J. Major Library Library, (Officers') Library, Soldiers' Library, Soldiers' Library Library Lindesay, H. Capt Littler, (Sir John) Major Genl.. Liptrap, Capt Lindain, C. Lieut Loch, H. B. Cornet Lovette, Captain Long, Major Loyd, B. P. Lieut Low, A. Major Louther, Civil Service Lugard, E. Major Macdonald, Lieut: and Adj t Macleod, D. J. Ensign Macleod, W. B. Supery. Surgeon. Macleod, D. Esq Macderniott, W. Vey. Surgeon.... Macgregor, G. H. Major Macgregor, W. L. Surgeon Maiming, H. D. Lieut Mainwaring, C. Captain Mackenzie, J. Captain Mackenzie, Colin, Capt Marsh, H. Captain Maginn, Ensign Maude, Lieut Maloney, Surgeon Mess, H. M Mess, H. M Mess, Officers Moore, L. G. Cornet Momet, T. De, Ensign Monteath, T. Brigadier Menteith, W. S. Capt Shaharunpore Kotah Contingent Loodianah 60th Eegt.

N. I 6th ditto ditto Horse Artillery 12th Eegt. N. I 50th Queen's Lahore Major of Brigade Agent, Lahore 11th Light Cavalry Nusserabad Late 3d Bengal Cav. London 1st Bengal Fusileers 10th Foot 2d Irregular Cavalry Kurrachee 86th Queen's 86th ditto 28th L. Infantry Gwalior Contingent 80th Queen's 3rd Light Cavalry Comg. Punjab Div 42nd Eegt. L.I 10th Foot 3rd Light Cavalry 28th Queen's 50th Queen's Loodianah, Regt Late 16th Lancers Allahabad Head Quarters 7th Re__;t. Sindiah Contingent 12th ditto N. I Dacca Tirhoot 8th Light Cavalry Artdlery 1st Bengal Fusileers 19th Eegt. N. I Commissariat Dept 8th Lt. Cavalry Loodiana 3rd ditto ditto 69th Regt. N.I Artillery 50th Queen's 9th Foot 10th ditto 8th Regt. N. I 3rd ditto Lt. Cavalry 68th ditto N.I Comg. at Umballah Brigade Major LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS XIII Nos. Names and Rank.

Corps. Œ' 3_ 212 213 214 210 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 230 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 240 246 247 248 249 200 201 202 203 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 Money, E. K. Lieut Monro, A. Esq Mnlcaster, W. E. Capt Midler, E.' C. Lieut Murray, B. H. Lieut Napier, Sir Charles, Lt. General.. Newton, The Eev Nunn, Major Ogston, Ensign Oldhani, J. A. Lieut Omisby, Captain Palmer, C. O. B. Lieut Palmer, Brigadier Palmer, Captain Parsons, (C. B.) Lieut. Col Paterson, A. H. Lieut Pearson, A. Lieut Polwhele, Major Philips, Vety. Surgeon Plunket, J. Lieut Prendergast, W. G. Lieut Eajah Mahtab Chund, H. H. The Eenney, G. A. Lieut Eeid, B. T. Lieut Eeid, A. T. Lieut. Col Eiley, A. W. Capt Biehardson, E. Lieut Bobbins, W. P. Captain Eobinson, Lt.

Col. Pol. Agent. . . Ross, A. H. Capt Eowcroft, Major Eussell, E. S. Lieut Eussell, W. C. Lieut Eubie, P. Lieut Sale, Lady Salter, Lieut. H. F. Col Salmon Seaton, D. Major, Siddall, J. Vety. Surgeon Sidley, J. H. H. B. Major Sim, George, Lieut Scott, P. G. Lieut Simpson, A. Lieut Skinner, S Smith, (Sir H.) & Major Genl. . Smith, Captain Smith, E. A. Lieut Smyth, Cannichael, Captain .... Smith, E. M. Lieut Snow, T. E. Lieut Stewart, D. Asst. Surgeon ...... Stacy, L. E. Brigadier Studdy, T. B. Captain Sutherland, J. Lieut. Col Swetenham, E. Major Syers, J. D. Lieut. Col Artillery Edinburgh Fort Adjt. Chunar 50th Queen's 43rd Eegt. N.I Governor of Sindh Loodianah Mission 80th Queen's 34th Eegt. N. I 86th Queen's 80th Queen's 1st Bengal Fusileers Delhie 60th Rifles Depty. Comry. General .. 68th Eegt.

N. I Artillery 42nd Eegt. Lt. I Saharunpore Stud 6th Eegt. N.I 8th Lt. Cavalry Burdwan Artillery 1st Bengal Fusileers 12thBom.N.I. Allan Deffell.. 80th Queen's 3rd Regt. Lt. Cavalry 15th ditto N. I Mewar 42nd Lt. I 1st Regt. N. I 12di Bombay N.I Horse ArtUlery 40th Eegt. N.I Europe lldi Light Cavalry 60th Rifles 1st Bengal Fusileers 11th Light Cavalry 86th Queen's Engineers 12th Eegt. N. I Artillery Delhi Europe 9th Lt. Cavalry 19th Eegt. N.I H. M. 32d Foot 54th N. I., Ferozepore 9th Lt. Cavalry 10th Foot Comg. Mewar Field Force . . 8th Lt. Cavalry 2nd Bombay L. C Mussooree 59th Eegt. N. I 2 o i LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, Nos. Names and Rank. Corps. 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 Tabor, J. Captain Taylor, E. G. Lieut Taylor, Ens. with 16th Grenadr.

Thackwell, Sir J. Major Genl. . . Thorpe, D. B. Clerk Adjt. Genl. . Thompson, W. A. Lieut Tombs, H. Lieut Trevelyan, M. Captain Trower, F. C. Lieut Tulloch, C. B. Lieut Templer, H. J. Ensign Tudor, Major Trewlaney, Lieut. Col Tweddell, H. M. Surgeon Vansittart, H. Esq Vincent, Major General Vincent, G. V. Merchant Wallich, G. C. (M. D.) Doctor... Ward, G. Cornet Watson, Major General Watt, Major Warburton, E. Capt. Comg Wedderbum, J. Lieut Welman, H. T. Lieut, and Adjt. . Wood, Lieut. Col. Mily. Secy Wood, A. Surgeon Wood, A. Captain Wyndham, C. Cornet Wollaston, C. Captain Woodington, H. P. T. Lieut 7th Light Cavalry 11th Light ditto Dinapoor Comg. Cawnpore Div Office H. M. Troops 9th Light Cavalry Artillery 60th Eifles 9th Lancers 12th Eegt. N. I 6th ditto ditto 46th ditto ditto Europe Garrison Surgeon, Chunar . .

Jullender Mussoorie Meerut 2nd Irregular Cavalry 8th Cavalry Allahabad 27th Eegt. N. I 2nd Comp»Arty. Sindia Contg. 69th Eegt. N.I 80th Foot Governor General Artillery * . . . 29th M., N. I 9th Light Cavalry 8th ditto ditto 21st Fusileers

Introduction

. The following pages have been compiled partly from native manuscripts, and partly from information collected from Seik Sirdars, and European officers in the Seik service ; but chiefly from the notes of a Captain Gardner of the Seik Artillery, who has for several years past supplied important information to the British Government without betraying his own,* as all the intrigues he brought to light were those of the Jummoo family, and their coadjutor the Pundit; and there is every reason to believe Captain Gardner could give further information, and prove that the Dogra chiefs were at the bottom of the Cabul insurrection!

An insurrection, which, in all probability, never would have taken place, had Lord Auckland followed the suggestions of Sir William Macnaghten regarding the Punjaub, on the death of No Nihal Singh; for then it was the Envoy declared the tripartite treaty at an end, as Sheer Sing who had usurped the rajh, could not, by the most forced construction, be con sidered the posterity of Runjeet Sing ; and all those who had made themselves acquainted with the History of the Punjaub must have been aware of this, as Suda Kour's attempt to pass off the two children (Sheer Sing and Tara Sing) on the Seik chief, as the twin sons of her daughter, Metab Kour, is stated in Mr. Prinsep's Life of the old Maharajh ; and I might bring forward the authority of many others, well informed upon the subject, from General Ventura to Mr. Vigne ; but it is useless discussing this point, for it is as well known that Sheer Sing was not the son of the Maharajh, as it is that • To give an idea of Captain Gardner's knowledge of Seik affairs, I may mention that Major Lawrence, in writing to me from Katmandoo, observed, " If I was iu Broadsoot's place I should like to have Gardner at my elbow."

INTRODUCTION.

. Heera Sing was the Alexis, the delicias domini : I do not mean to assert, however, that Dulleep Sing is the offspring of the old impotent sinner, but he certainly is his mother's son, and that may give him some small claim to the Guddee.* I think it is in Don Juan, Byron says of the Emperor Alex ander of Russia, " Oh mighty Alexander, if you be, Your mother's son, that's quite enough for me ;' and had Sheer Sing been the son of Metab Kour, it would have been quite enough for the British Government ; and Sir William Macnaghten would never have asserted that he could not by the most forced construction be considered the posterity of Runjeet Sing.

Our connection with the Lahore Government, it is supposed, was much the same as our connection with Bhurtpore ;t the Rajah was independent, but we were bound to support the reigning family, and yet, when Sir David Ochterlony (clarum et venerabile nomeri) had the moral courage to come for ward, and convince the Indian community that even a petty Prince might rely on the fulfilment of a Treaty entered into with the paramount authority, he was rebuked and disgraced by the Members of the Government at the time, with the exception (according to his own statement) of Sir Edward Paget ; for this high-minded man has no paltry feelings ; he is as little acquainted with jealousy as with fear, and would have been delighted if Sir David Ochterlony had taken Bhurtpore, and obtained the Peerage % — but the unjust treat- * Dulleep Sing's mother, Mai Chunda, was not, however, one of Runjeet Sing's wives; he was only married to two women, Metab Kour, the daughter of Suda Kour and Mai Nekee, the mother of Kurruck Sing ; and he only performed even the Chadardalna with three women, namely, the two widows of Sahib Sing, of Guzerat, and Gool Begum, a Kunchenee of Lahore. t See Agra Guide and Gazetteer. % Ochterlony's military reputation was established, and he had no wish to wade through carnage to a Coronet ; but on the contrary was a peacemaker, like the able and amiable lletcalfe; his letter to Lord Amherst shews he would have

INTRODUCTION.

. XVII ment of the Resident at Delhi may have been borne in mind by the Envoy at Lahore.* The Bhurtpore Usurper after a time, however, was deposed, but Sheer Sing was allowed to end his days in possession of the rajh. Lord Amherst pluck ed up courage after a short time, but Lord Auckland (not withstanding his love for legitimacy) remained timid to the last, though he refused to acknowledge Sheer Sing until he stood in need of his assistance ; so that we may suppose he only objected to support a woman's rule in the Punjaub, having himself so completely failed in his attempt to keep an old woman on the throne of Cabul. But I believe the real fact is, Sheer Sing was considered the Louis Philippe of Lahore, "The King of the People," and the rajh was supposed to be as safe in his hands as it had been in old Runjeet's ; though, if such was the case, how little did our Government know of the intrigues of that arch hypocrite, Dehan Sing, a Sejanus to Runjeet, who merely placed Sheer Sing on the guddee to destroy him, knowing he was too ambitious and too powerful to be passed over; for there is not the least doubt that the Minister and the Prince had arranged matters, even before the death of the one-eyed monarch, as Sheer Sing spoke to Colonel Skinner on the subject of his succeeding to the guddee, when Lord Auckland and Sir Henry Fane were at Ferozepore with the "Army of the Indus," though Kurruck Sing was only a few years his senior, and No Nehal Sing settled every thing at Bhurtpore without tiring a shot !— proving, that as a diplo matist, as well as a military man he was superlatively great.

Sir David was born at Boston, New England, in 1758, so that in 1825 he was only sixty-seven,— younger than most of our Indian generals. « It appeared to be the wish of the Indian Government to add insult to injury, and to forget who had conquered the Nepalese and defended Delhi, while the panic that had so often prevailed within the Mahratta ditch was their only excuse for this gross piece of ingratitude : indeed they were so much alarmed that they not only ordered Sir David not to depose Doorjun Saul, but to prepare to act on the defensive .' which even brought a smile on his lirs in the midst of his anger.

INTRODUCTION.

. was then quite a young man.* It was to bring forward all these facts, that chiefly induced me to undertake this Histo ry of the Punjaub ; for since Mr. Prinsep's " Life of Runjeet Sing," no work of importance has appeared except Major Law rence's " Punjaub Adventurer," which, although it gives, generally speaking, a very correct account of the Seiks, still, as will be seen by the Appendix to this work, it contains a few errors, and it was written before all the disgraceful scenes of slaughter had taken place, of which I profess to give the true version. My work also includes the History of the Dogra family and their iniquities, with which but few people are acquainted ; though, after the account given in these pages of Goolaub Sing's atrocities, the public will, I dare say, be greatly surprised at the British Government entering into a treaty with such a monster ; f but, when a political measure is to be carried out, I verily believe we would make friends with the Old Gentleman himself, — for I have now been twen ty-six years in India, and during the whole of my sojourn in the East, I have never heard of so infamous a miscreant as the Rajah of Jummoo,! though I am acquainted with the • The Calcutta Review for August, 1844, states, that Sheer Sing, actually consulted with Mr. Clerk regarding his opposing no less a person than Kurruck Sing, the only son of the old Maharajh. + It has been generally asserted, that making Goolaub Sing a Maharajh was a mockery, and giving him Cashmeer, was in keeping ; that the justice of the act and the policy were on a par.

The " Rose-water " Rajah's life has been spent in the enjoyment of very different feasts to " the feast of Roses," and he would soon reduce " the sweetest that Earth ever gave" to the state to which Cabul's hundred gardens were reduced by our " Incendiary Generals, " as Lord Brougham called them. All those who have heard, and " oh ! who has not heard of the Vale of Cash meer," must have observed that every traveller who has visited that place since it fell into the hands of Runjeet Sing, has heard the unfortunate inhabitants cry out against the oppression of the Seik chieftain, and now their falling into the power of Goolaub Sing is like escaping from Scylla into Charybdis. t See " Punjaub Adventurer," Chap. XIII. p. 75, Note 1st.—" Goolaub Sing is the elder brother, and, in the family pact, he has charge of their conquered territories in the hills : while he manages those of Dhyan Sing, he yearly adds to his

INTRODUCTION.

. XIX evil deeds of such wretches as Kam Ran and Yar Mahomed, his Vizier, with whom the British Government, to their cost, at one time, were connected. Regarding the Punjaub war; I am neither of opinion, that the Seiks made an unprovoked attack, nor that we have acted towards them with great forbearance ; my opinion is, that we should, as the paramount authority, long ago have adopted coercive measures with the Seiks, and have assumed what kings call " a commanding attitude,"* but if this poli cy was disapproved of, no half measures should have been pursued, no middle course should have been taken; for, if the Seiks were to be considered entirely an independent own by conquest, or by the terror of his name. He has overrun the whole district between Kashmeer and Attok ; and inflicted such terrible vengeance on the people of Sudan, (a large district south-east of Mozaffarabad,) cutting up, maiming, flaying to the amount, is is said, of twelve thousand persons, that the men of Dundi and Satti, two adjoining territories, sent in their submission, but begged not lo see his face.

Of course, the brothers must unite in this barbarous policy, though it is difficult to believe such horror9 of either, seeing their mild and winning demeanor. They are alike too in their boundless ambition and fathomless duplicity ; as wary as they are daring, as little disposed to use force where cunning will succeed, as they are unscrupulous in the employment of violent measures where such seem called for. Of Gulab Singh I have heard tales which I can hardly believe myself, and therefore, will not task my reader's credence with. His information, like that of his brother, is considerable ; and though not a very accurate geographer, nor with clear ideas as to the direction in which his lieutenant, Zorawar Sing, went to push his conquests, he has a good estimate of the wealth and products of China, as well as of Europe.

In manner, Gulab Singh is highly mild and affable: his features are good, nose aquiline, and expression pleasing, though rather heavy. Indefatigable in business, he sees after every thing himself; hardly able to sign his name, he looks after his own accounts, and often has the very gram for his horses weighed out before him. Since the death of Runjit Singh, the Rajah has been in bad odour with the durbar, for holding out against the present monarch ; and with the army, from the numbers killed in his famous defence of the Suman-burj, in the commencement of 1841, as well as from the summary punishment inflicted on the mutineers in Kashmir. Both Gulab Sing and his brother are, therefore, always surrounded by regiments of their own Dogur clan, who serve them in fear and trembling, having their families in the Rajah's hands, and knowing that any dereliction from duty would entail torture on them." * Surely after having deposed Dost Mahomed merely because Captain VickovitcU paid him a visit, we need not have stood upon such ceremony with the Seiks. XX

INTRODUCTION.

. state, in no way answerable to us, we should not have pro voked them ! — for to assert that the bridge of boats brought from Bombay, was not a causa belli, but merely a defensive measure is absurd; besides, the Seiks had translations of Sir Charles Napier's speech, (as it appeared in the Delhi Gazette*) stating that we were going to war with them ; and, as all European powers would have done under such circumstances, the Seiks thought it as well to be first in the field. Moreover, they were not encamped in our territory, but their own ; and, although the second article of the treaty of 1809 states, " the Rajah will never maintain in " the territory, which he occupies on the left bank of the " Sutlej, more troops than are necessary for the internal " duties," still the third article states, " in the event of " a violation of any of the preceding articles, or of a de " parture from the rules of friendship on the part of either " state, the treaty shall be considered as null and void."