Page:The Marquess of Dalhousie.djvu/77

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THE CONQUEST OF THE PUNJAB
69

controlled by an English Resident at Lahore, during the minority of the infant Prince Dhulip Singh. In the fulfilment of his duty our Resident at Lahore required the powerful Sikh Governor of Múltán to render an account of his stewardship. This potentate, known to history as the Díwán Múlráaj, held an almost semi-independent position in the middle valley of the Indus, and carried on an enormous mixed business of merchandise and government at his capital, the ancient river emporium Múltán.

After various delays and makeshifts the Sikh trader-prince preferred, or thought he preferred, to resign, rather than to render up his accounts. His offer was immediately, perhaps too abruptly, accepted by our Resident at Lahore. Two young English officers, Mr. Vans Agnew of the Civil Service and Lieutenant Anderson, were sent to take over the government and fortress of Múltán from Múlráj, and to install the new Sikh Governor appointed by ourselves. On their arrival in April 1848 at Múltán, after Múlráj had submissively given up the fortress on the 19th, and the two young English officers were returning with a slender escort to their camp, a fanatical soldier rushed out of the mob, and stabbed Vans Agnew on his shoulder. Lieutenant Anderson was cut down and the escort bore off the two officers covered with blood to the Idgah — a Muhammadan