Theri, near Naoshera, halfway between Attock and Pesháwar. It was a critical contest, and decided, once for all, whether Sikhs or Afgháns should rule east of the Kháibar and the mountains of the North-West frontier. The Mahárájá commanded in person on the left bank of the Kábul river, where the Yusafzais were posted. The Akális the Sikh fanatics, and the Gházis the devotees of Islám, met in fair fight, which resulted in the repulse of the former with the loss of their much-feared leader, Phúla Singh. But the Mahárájá repulsed the tribesmen; while, on the other side of the river, Sirdár Harí Singh Nalwa, commanding the main body of the Sikh army, with General Ventura, Jamadár Khushhál Singh, and Sirdár Budh Singh Sindhanwalia, opposed the Afgháns under Muhammad Azím Khán, who did not make much of a stand, but retired upon Peshawar and thence through the passes, while the Mahárájá occupied and plundered the city. He then retired, leaving Yár Muhammad Khán as governor, subject to payment of an annual tribute.
From this time onwards, Hazára, Pesháwar and the frontier districts were a constant source of trouble and expense to the Mahárájá, and in frequent conflicts with the Bárakzái chiefs and the untamable and fanatical tribes he lost many of his best officers and troops. The long and monotonous record of frontier fights can find no place in this brief sketch. The situation was aggravated by the appearance of a
