John Nicholson | Page 6

capture in the mountain passes, and join him
later at Jummu.
The Sikh insurrection, however, had a brief life. A few months later
Nicholson was again in Cashmere with a definite appointment in the
North-West Frontier Agency. He was marked out by Lawrence as one
of the men whom he could rely upon to help in the work of keeping
peace in the Punjaub. Of the other lieutenants of Lawrence--Herbert
Edwardes, Abbott, Reynell Taylor, Becher, and the rest--mention will
be made in due course. Never was master better served than was the
British Resident by these young and able officers.
To the wise way in which they carried out his policy of conciliation we
owe it that the vast district of the Punjaub not only remained quiet at
the outbreak of the Mutiny, but itself furnished us with native troops
who had a great share in quelling the rebellion.
From Cashmere Nicholson was in time transferred to Lahore to act as

Assistant to Colonel Henry Lawrence. This was a pleasing promotion,
and held out hopes of even more important posts in the future. On the
way down to the old Sikh capital he had the satisfaction of meeting his
younger brother Charles, who had followed him into the service and
arrived in India some months previously. Another brother, Alexander,
as has been noted, had been killed in action in the fighting round Cabul
in 1842, and a third--William--was to meet with a sadder fate. He was
found dead in circumstances that gave rise to a suspicion of foul play.
Now began for Nicholson that useful training in administrative work
which gained him such repute a few years later. Within three weeks of
his arrival at Lahore he was despatched on a mission to Umritsur, with
instructions to survey and report generally on the district. This done, he
proceeded to the Sind Sagur Doab country, where he was stationed as
political officer in command. To cultivate the acquaintance of the two
Nazims, or ruling chiefs, the Sirdars Chuttur Singh and Lall Singh, and
support their authority, at the same time that he protected the people
from oppression, was Nicholson's charge from Lawrence, and he
applied himself to the difficult task with zeal and enthusiasm.
"Avoid as far as possible any military movement during the next three
months," wrote Lawrence; "but, should serious disturbance arise, act
energetically." By peaceful methods, if possible, did he wish to bring
the Punjaub under subjection. Still, if the
". . . new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child,"
were rebellious and needed chastening, the hand that smote them was
to smite heavily.
Very soon after Nicholson reached his new district the occasion arose
for him to assert his power. Captain Abbott, then acting as Boundary
Commissioner, was having trouble with the chiefs of Simulkund. These
worthies had committed some dastardly outrages in the neighbourhood,
and refused point-blank to appear at his court to answer for their
misdeeds. In response to the other's summons, Nicholson led a small
force to Simulkund, where he acted in conjunction with Abbott. The
result of these prompt measures was to make the Simulkund rebels

abandon their position without firing a shot.
This was a peaceful termination to an overt act of rebellion. The next
piece of lawlessness that called for punishment was of a more serious
nature, and gave Nicholson more opportunity to display his mastery.
Although the country round Rawal Pindi was apparently tranquil, the
natives were, as a matter of fact, only waiting for a convenient moment
to shake off the yoke. Pathans, Rajputs, Jats, Gujars, and men of other
tribes, alike resented the check laid upon their raiding and cattle-lifting,
while the rough soldiery especially lamented the lost opportunities for
plundering.
Before the winter of 1847-48 had come to an end there was a violent
outbreak in Mooltan. In that district the Moolraj treacherously
murdered some white officers and proclaimed a "holy war" against the
British.
The revolt soon began to spread. Tribe after tribe helped to fan the fires
of rebellion into a blaze, until at last Sirdar Chuttur Singh, whom
everybody had thought to be tamed, threw off his allegiance and raised
his wild Hazara followers. To Nicholson news speedily came that
Chuttur Singh meant to seize the fort at Attock, an important hill
station. Although suffering from fever, he declared to Lawrence his
readiness to start at once for the fort and occupy it before the rebel
chief could forestall them.
"I will start to-night," said Nicholson. "The fever is nothing, and shall
not hinder me."
Lawrence having consented to his departure, he set off some hours later
with a body of Peshawur Horse and Mohammedan levies, and by dint
of hard riding reached the fort in the nick of time. The garrison were on
the point of