Baksh, and was commanded by a Mussulman general of that name, the best artillery officer in the Sikh army.
The pay of the whole brigade was Rs. 96,067 (then about £10,000) per mensem.
After the death of the Mahárájá in 1839, great changes occurred in the composition of the army. His strong hand had kept down mutiny and complaint, though even he was once constrained to take refuge in the fort of Govindgarh from the fury of a Gúrkha regiment which could not obtain its arrears of pay. His successors, fearing for their lives and power, were compelled to increase the numbers and pay of the army, till it at length became an insupportable burthen to the State and a standing menace to other Powers.
At the time of the Mahárájá death the regular army, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, in numbers and monthly cost, as compared with the figures under his successors, stood as follows:—
Number. | Guns. | Cost. | |
1839 Mahárájá Ranjít Singh | 29,168 | 192 | Rs. 3,82,088 |
1840-43 Mahárájá Sher Singh | 50,065 | 232 | Rs. 5,48,603 |
1844 Rájá Hira Singh | 50,805 | 282 | Rs. 6,82,984 |
1845 Sirdár Jowáhir Singh | 72,370 | 381 | Rs. 8,52,696 |
The increase in the number of guns under Sirdár Jowáhir Singh was, in a great measure, nominal. Few new guns were cast, but many old ones were taken out of forts, furbished up, and placed on field carriages. The irregular cavalry does not appear to have in-