retreat of the Mahárájá, and the final subjugation of the province in 1819. The work of subduing the fierce Mussulman tribes of Hazára, who have so often given trouble since the English conquest and have necessitated numerous military expeditions, was a very difficult matter. The Sikhs were never fond of hill fighting, while the Afgháns and Yusafzais are much more at home in the hills than in the plain country, and their national system of attack has been developed by the wild and mountainous nature of the country in which they fight. The governor of Hazára, Sirdár Hukma Singh Chimni, who had been, in 1814, appointed to the command of Attock and Hazára, after he had by a brilliant feat of arms driven the Afgháns out of the Attock fortress (which they had recovered by a coup de main), was a brave soldier, but a ruthless administrator. His arbitrary ways and especially his hanging of a wealthy and influential chief, Syad Khán, had roused the whole country side, and compelled the Mahárájá to recall him in 1819, and appoint Diwán Rám Dyál in his place.
This young and incautious general, accompanied by Prince Sher Singh, as nominal commander, and Sirdár Fateh Singh Ahluwalia, marched through the hills as far as the fort of Gandgarh, where the tribes of Yusafzai and Swát had assembled to oppose them. The Sikhs were outnumbered, and the tribes had gained confidence by more than one victory over the troops of the late governor. The fight was kept
