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overwhelmed by a gathering of the Yusafzais, five times as numerous as the Sikh force, whom he defeated after a most stubborn and gallant fight. To his assistance Sirdár Budh Singh Sindhanwalia, a splendid soldier, was despatched. This cousin of the Mahárájá had become suspect, and Ranjít Singh sent him to the frontier in the hope that the chances of frontier service would prevent his return to Court. The origin of his disgrace was this. In 1825, the Mahárájá was ill at the Rámbágh, in Amritsar, and his physicians had given him up. Budh Singh, one of the most powerful chiefs, with his reckless brothers Attar Singh and Lehna Singh, determined to be prepared for the worst, and attempted to surprise the fort of Govindgarh at night, rightly thinking that the possession of this fortress would give an immense advantage to its holder in the scramble for territory and power which would follow the death of the Mahárájá. He heavily bribed the officers in charge, and forged an order in the Mahárájá's name for the surrender to him of the fortress; but the commandant, Jamadár Khushhál Singh, suspected treachery, and declared that he would not open the fort gates at night to the Mahárájá himself. So the plot failed; and the Mahárájá recovering and hearing the story, a change of air to Hazára was considered advisable for Budh Singh. Here he did excellent service. At Akora he fought Syad Ahmad Sháh and defeated him, but lost five hundred men. The next day he advanced to Jagíra, where he was joined by the Dogra chiefs