Treaty of Amritsar

Article 1: The British government transfers and makes over, forever, independent possession, to Maharaja Gulab Singh, and the heirs male of his body, all the hilly or mountainous country, with its dependencies, situated to the eastward of the river Indus, and westward of the river Ravi, including Chamba and excluding Lahore, being part of the territory ceded to the British government by the Lahore state, according to the provisions of Article 4 of the Treaty of Lahore, dated 9th March 1846.

Article 2: The eastern boundary of the tract transferred by the foregoing article to Maharaja Gulab Singh shall be laid down by commissioners appointed by the British government and Maharaja Gulab Singh respectively, for that purpose, and shall be defined in a separate engagement, after survey.

Article 3: In consideration of the transfer made to him and his heirs by the provisions of the foregoing articles, Maharaja Gulab Singh will pay to the British government the sum of seventy-lacs (seven and half millions) of rupees (Nanakshahi), fifty lacs to be paid on ratification of this Treaty, and twenty-five lacs on or before the 1st of October of the current year, AD 1846.

Article 4: The limits of the territories of Maharaja Gulab Singh shall not be, at any time, changed without concurrence of the British government.

Article 5: Maharaja Gulab Singh will refer to the arbitration of the British government any disputes or questions that may arise between himself and the government of Lahore, or any other neighbouring state, and will abide by the decision of the British government.

Article 6: Maharaja Gulab Singh engages for himself and heirs, to join with the whole of his military force, the British troops when employed within the hills, or in the territories adjoining his possessions.

Article 7: Maharaja Gulab Singh engages never to take, or retain in his service any British subject, nor the subject of any European or American State, without the consent of the British government.

Article 8: Maharaja Gulab Singh engages to respect, in regard to the territory transferred to him, the provisions of Articles 5, 6, 7 of the separate engagement between the British government and the Lahore Darbar, dated 11th March, 1846.

Article 9: The British government will give its aid to Maharaja Gulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies.

Article 10: Maharaja Gulab Singh acknowledges the supremacy of the British government, and will, in token of such supremacy, present annually to the British government one horse, twelve perfect shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female), and three pairs of Kashmir shawls.*

This treaty consisting of ten articles, has been this day settled by Frederick Currie, Esq. and Brevet-Major Henry Montgomery Lawrence acting under the directions of the right Honorable Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B. Governor-General, on the part of the British government, and by Maharaja Gulab Singh in person; and the said treaty has been this day ratified by the seal of the Right Honorable Henry Hardinge, G.C.B. Governor-General.

Done at Amritsar, this 16th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1846, corresponding with the 17th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1252 Hijri.

Gulab Singh (LS)

H. Hardinge (LS)

F. Currie

H.M. Lawrence

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