About the Book The British and other Western scholars rendered great services to Punjab, and their works still have great bearing on the language, culture and history of this land. This volume is one of their most valuable works, which is reprinted for the benefit of most readers, scholars and research workers. It presents the deeds of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh and the mode in which he conducted his administration. However, it does not include the description of his court and its officers. The book reveals that Sikh chiefs had no system of official records. Their business was mainly conducted by verbal orders and continued so with Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. The passing events in that quarter were gaining importance, which suggested their publication through this work. After reading this book, the author hopes that for the sake of his country, Persia, the interests of his countrymen may hereafter be better understood and more truly estimated.
About the Author Shahamat Ali owes his education to the benevolence of the British Government in restoring the College founded at the time of Mogul emperors for the benefit of Indian youths in Delhi and the neighboring provinces. The College had shared the fate of other public establishments in that city on the decline of their empire. On 20th Oct. 1832, Ali had been selected as a secretary with the mission of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir C. M. Wade to Peshawr. He was to join the Captain at Lodiana, who was then preparing to proceed on a mission to the courts of Lahore and Bhawlpore to form treaties with those states for opening the navigation of the Satledge and Indus, in pursuance of the Mission of Lieutenant- Colonel, now Sir Henry Pottinger, to Sindh, who had shortly before visited the Amirs for the same purpose. In 1837-38, he had the honor of receiving the approbation of the Right Honorable the Governor-General, Lord Auckland.
Preface BEING a stranger to the English people, and their language one foreign to my own, it may be expected that I should give some account of myself, the source to which I am indebted for the little knowledge I possess, and the motives which have encouraged me to publish my Journal.
I owe my education to the benevolence of the British Government in restoring, for the benefit of Indian youths in Delhi and the neighboring provinces, the College founded in the time of the Mogul emperors, which had shared the fate of other public establishments in that city on the decline of their empire.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
