CHAPTER X.

ADVENTURES IN THE PANJAB.

PESHAWAR-MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH-GARDNER ENTERS HIS SERVICE-VISITS ON THE WAY-DR HARLAN AND GENERAL AVITABILE-GENERALS VENTURA AND COURT-RAJA DHYAN SINGH, THE PRIME MINISTER-GARDNER'S DÉBUT AS A GUNNER-HE BECOMES AN INSTRUCTOR CAMPAIGN ON THE INDUS- OPERATIONS IN BANNU — THE SIKH - AFGHAN WAR OF 1835 — FINAL CONQUEST OF PESHAWAR BY THE SIKHS-GARDNER OBTAINS COMMAND OF THE JAMMU ARTILLERY RANJIT SINGH'S LAST CAMPAIGN - A RAPID MARCH-THE REBELLION OF SHAMAS KHAN.

Ir may be as well to repeat, for the information of those unfamiliar with Eastern history, that Peshawar, so long a bone of contention between the Sikh and Afghan nations, was now practically a portion of the Panjab.

Sultan Muhammad Khan, though nominally an independent sovereign, was to all intents and purposes a vassal of Ranjit Singh.

It was, in fact, not very long after Gardner's arrival at Peshawar that the Maharaja compelled Sultan Muhammad to join his Court, and replaced

him as governor of Peshawar by a succession of Sikh sardars, who, proving incapable of managing the turbulent people of Peshawar, that "nest of scorpions," were succeeded finally by the ironhanded Avitabile.

Gardner thus describes his entry into the Panjab:

I went to Peshawar in the month of August 1831, and remained there until the spring of the following year, 1832, when a letter was received by Sultan Muhammad Khan from Maharaja Ranjit Singh desiring my services.

1

I myself would

1 Ranjit Singh, who became Maharaja of the Panjab, was born in the year 1780, and at the age of eleven succeeded his father as chief of one of the least important of the twelve confederacies which at the time composed the Sikh nation. One by one the confederacies fell before the talents and ambition of Ranjit Singh, who then turned his attention to those portions of the Panjab that were in possession of neighbouring rulers. Multan was captured in 1818, and Kashmir in the following year.

The only Powers that the Maharaja now had cause to fear were the British and the Afghans, and with the object of facing them on equal terms Ranjit Singh set about the task of raising a large army, formed on the European system. With this object in view he gave employment to a considerable number of foreign officers, of whom the most important were Generals Ventura, Allard, Court, and Avitabile; Colonels Gardner and Van Cortlandt. The skill and tenacity with which the Sikh army fought the British in two desperate campaigns show with what success these officers and their assistants served Ranjit Singh.

GARDNER JOINS THE SIKHS.

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have preferred to remain at Peshawar, but Sultan Muhammad dared not refuse the Maharaja. I regretted leaving him, as he had treated me kindly and honourably, making me daily a guest at his table, and giving me a liberal salary.

On taking my leave of Sultan Muhammad he bestowed a number of gifts upon me, including an excellent horse and a sum of money.

I was directed to travel under the care of the Maharaja's daroga, or chief of the stud, who was then at Peshawar, collecting the annual tribute of horses. Some delay, however, occurred in his setting out on his journey to Lahore, as none but the best Persian or Turki horses were accepted in tribute, and I took advantage of the opportunity by again visiting my friends Mir Alam Khan of Bajaur, Futteh Khan of Panchthar, and Paindah Khan of Am, on the right bank of the Indus.

Thence crossing to Torbela, I went down to the fort of Attock, where I met the daroga with his horses. His escort consisted of some forty wellarmed Sikh horsemen; but notwithstanding, he had been attacked at night between Peshawar and Attock by 300 or 400 Afridis, and four of his horses had been taken from him.

On our way from Attock to Rawal Pindi we

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were again attacked by 400 to 500 Ghakkars near the Margali Pass, with a loss on this occasion of two horses and five men.

After this nothing of import occurred until the party arrived safely at Gujrat. Hence the daroga started direct for Lahore, while I and my servants remained a few days with Dr Harlan,1 then governor of the distriet. Then, crossing the Chenab river, I went to Wazirabad, where I remained four or five days the guest of General Avitabile, the governor. It was unfortunate that a sore animosity existed at the time between these two governors. However, I received letters of introduction from both, and went from Wazirabad to Lahore, where I met Generals Ventura and Court.*

1 Dr Harlan was an American adventurer who obtained employment at different times under Ranjit Singh and Dost Muhammad. He was thoroughly unscrupulous and a man of considerable talent. His 'Memoir of Afghanistan' is worth reading.

2 General Avitabile was governor of Wazirabad before he was made governor of Peshawar. He greatly beautified the town of Wazirabad.

3 General Ventura was an Italian officer of high character in the service of Ranjit Singh. He was much honoured and trusted by the Maharaja, and commanded the "Fouj Khás" or model brigade of the Khalsa army. General Ventura eventually became governor of Lahore.

+ General Court was a French officer of artillery, a most honourable and estimable man of considerable professional skill.

For biographies of all the above officers see Appendix.

A CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENT.

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After a few days' delay I was presented at Court by General Ventura and the Prime Minister, Raja Dhyan Singh.

I presented my letters from Syad Jan, chief of Kunar, and from Mir Alam Khan of Bajaur, both of whom were on friendly terms with the Maharaja. I also had letters from the three Barakzai brothers, Sardars Sultan Muhammad of Peshawar, Pir Muhammad of Kohat, and Syad Mahmud of Hashtnagar.

On the day of my presentation to the Maharaja, and while I was waiting outside the Shalimar Gardens, an incident occurred which is described in the work called 'Adventures of an Officer,' by the great and good Sir Henry Lawrence (afterwards my well-known and honoured friend).

A certain Nand Singh, an officer of the Maharaja's cavalry, rode his horse intentionally against me and endeavoured to jostle me into the ditch, which was deep and filled with running water. I touched the rein of my good steed, gave him half a turn, pressed him with my sword-hand the veriest trifle on the loins, and in an instant Nand Singh and his horse were rolling on the ground. I calmly expressed a hope that the fallen man was not hurt, and was treated with