Page:Ranjit Singh (Griffin).djvu/117



record of the campaigns fought by the Mahárájá, the principalities he annexed and the chiefs he overthrew, would have little interest for the English reader, who rather desires to know what manner of man the Mahárájá was; by what means and instruments he obtained his astonishing success, and what was the character of the chiefs who surrounded him. An attempt will be made in this chapter to give portraits of the principal courtiers of the Mahárájá, some of which were drawn by me many years ago when the originals they represent were still alive, or from the faithful accounts given to me by their sons or companions.

The Mahárájá was far too astute a man to trouble himself about the antecedents of his subordinate officials; so long as a man did him good service in the cabinet or the field, he was trusted and rewarded. As soon as he found his confidence betrayed, or the instrument he had chosen inefficient or unworthy, he