Page:Ranjit Singh (Griffin).djvu/200

194 by numbers, and lost a large number of men. He contrived, however, to fight his way to a strong position in the valley, and waited for reinforcements, which the Mahárájá sent him under Bhaya Rám Singh, an unenterprising officer, who failed to relieve him, and returned to the Mahárájá. Ranjít, finding that an advance was impracticable in presence of the superior and victorious force of the enemy, determined to retreat. The hill Rájás rose behind him; heavy rain turned the streams into torrents and made the road impassable, and it was only after great difficulty and heavy loss that Ranjít Singh fought his way out of the hills and reached Lahore. Rám Dyál, left to his own resources, behaved so gallantly that Azím Khán was compelled to come to terms with the enemy he could not annihilate, and gave him a safe conduct to the Punjab.

This was a disastrous expedition, and the Mahárájá’s generalship was much at fault. But his perseverance was more remarkable than his strategical ability, and the next year he was on the watch for another opportunity to seize Kashmír. This did not at once arrive, for Wazír Fateh Khán returned from Herát and Kábul and joined his brother Azím, the governor, and the two united were too strong to attack. Ranjít Singh was, however, able to avenge himself on the Rajáori Rájá for his treachery, and burnt his palace and town. The opportunity came in 1819, when the Mahárájá, taking advantage of the absence of the governor, sent a strong force into Kashmír under the command of