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124 sonal guard of Ranjít Singh. Here, by his vigilance, aided by good looks and soldierly bearing, he attracted the favourable notice of the Mahárájá. The story told by the family is that one night Ranjít Singh went out in disguise, and on his return to the palace was stopped by Khushhál, who was on guard, and who detained his master in the watch-house till morning, and that this vigilance pleased the Mahárájá so much that he kept Khushhál by him as a personal attendant. However this may be, it is certain that he rose daily in his master's favour till, in 1811, he was appointed Deorhiwala or chamberlain, with the title of Jamadár. The appointment was one of importance. The chamberlain was master of the ceremonies, regulated processions, and superintended the Darbár. It was through him alone that any individual, however high in rank, could obtain a private interview with the Mahárájá, although the daily Darbár was open to all men of family or official importance.

Five years after he arrived at Lahore he was baptized as a Sikh, and after this grew rapidly in favour and became very wealthy; as his influence with his master was used to obtain bribes and contributions from all attending the court. He was employed on various military duties, and in 1832 was appointed governor of Kashmír under Prince Sher Singh, where his oppression converted a year of scarcity into one of famine. He was not a man of any particular ability, and although the Mahárájá is said to have been attracted by his good looks in the first instance,