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Rh boundary. Since that time the Government had relieved the Cis-Sutlej chiefs from all tribute and would not allow them to be subjugated, but took them absolutely under its protection. It was further intimated that the Mahárájá's conduct to the Envoy had been discourteous and contrary to etiquette in invading Cis-Sutlej territory while a reference was being made to the Governor-General, and a demand was made that all territories seized south of the Sutlej since the first reference of the question to the British Government should be restored and the Sikh army withdrawn to the north of the river.

The Mahárájá vainly tried to evade compliance with these terms, of which he bitterly complained. The Envoy, he said, had been sent to conclude a treaty against France and cement a lasting friendship with him, but the treaty had been altogether forgotten, and the only friendship shown was in thwarting his most cherished policy. His disgust was such that he prepared for war. Troops and ammunition were collected from all quarters; the new fort of Govindgarh at Amritsar was armed and provisioned for a siege, and General Mokham Chand, the best of the Sikh generals and a bitter enemy of the English, was recalled from Kángra and marched to Phillaur on the Sutlej, opposite the town of Ludhiána, where he encamped. To this hostile movement the Government replied by sending a British force to Ludhiána under Colonel Ochterlony, who, passing Patiála and Nábha, was received with many demonstrations of satisfaction and regard. The