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190 the plunder of the orthodox Hindu as of the hated Mussulman. It was to this family that the three brothers, the Rájás Ghuláb Singh, Dhyán Singh, and Suchet Singh, the most powerful members of the Lahore Court, in the later days of the Mahárájá's life, belonged; or, at any rate, they produced a plausible genealogy which was sufficient to impose on the illiterate monarch and strengthen their claims to succeed to the Jammu heritage. Whether of princely descent or not, they certainly, in intelligence and personal advantages, were men of great distinction, and eminently deserved their success in a community where honest virtue was ridiculous and violence and fraud could alone ensure victory.

In the year 1811 the Mahárájá prepared for the conquest of Kashmír, and first reduced the hill States of Bhimbar and Rajáori, ruled by Muhammadan families of Rájput descent, and Kúlu in the following year. He then formed an alliance with Fateh Khán, Minister of Sháh Mahmúd of Kábul, who had crossed the Indus bent on the reduction of Kashmír and on the expulsion of the governor, Atta Muhammad Khán. The alliance was made only to be broken, both the Mahárájá and Fateh Khán determining to trick each other at the first opportunity; but it was necessary for the moment, as neither dared to march through the hills leaving a hostile army behind him. General Mokham Chand was placed in charge of the Sikh force, which was to receive a third part of the Kashmír plunder, and he marched with Fateh Khán