The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-11-06
QUEER AFFlNTIES. RULED THE SlKHS
An American Who Became Gov
ernor OF Gujarat, In India.
A REAL SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

picturesque Carecr OF DR.. marian CT
Philadelphia. Who For Years Was
tho Power Behind the Throne Of Ran
jit Singh. King of the Punisb.
The sikhs OF India are religious
sect that have come to be really dis
tinct race and have developed into a
military people. They are brave and
stalwart soldiers and have the reputa-
ton OF being absolutely fearless In
battle.
II Is interesting To know that an
American was once ruler over these
people, as governor under RanJit
Singh. the great Sikh king OF the Pun
jab. This American was Dr. Harlan
Of Philadelphia, and his career In In
dia was surely as picturesque as that
OF any adyenturer who ever set forth
! from the United States 10 win fame
in far distant lands.
In. the year 1925 Dr. Harlan sailed
from Boston as surgeon apothecary In
one OF the old East Indian ships. He
arrived In India at the time OF the first
Burmese war, when surgeons were
badly needed for the British expedi-
tionary force. and he jumped at the
chance 10 see something OF little
known country
At the end OF the campaign he was
discharged That offended his sense or
justice and perhaps moved him TO take
the side OF the Indian princes IN their
conflicts with the British. II was the
period OF the downfall OF the Mogul
Empire and the carving up OF 1t into
several independent kingdoms. There
were big chances for man OF adven-
turous spirit, so Harlan went up coun
try and offered his services to RanJit
Singh. the Sikh king OF the PunJab.
Ranjit Singh had confederated the
Sikh states into a single nationality
under his power at Lahore, organized
a well trained army under some OF Ma
poleon's former French officers, and
was bent ON extending his sway over
most OF the crumbling Mogul empire.
1t was at this moment that Harlan
turned up In Lahore. IL Is said he
cured the Sikh king OF some illness
and won his friendship.
BE that as lt may, by the year 1927
Harlan had risen to such high favor
that he was appointed governor OF the
great province OF Gujarat There for
ten years he ruled. but at last he came
TO parting OF the ways with RanJit
Singh, either because he had quarreled
with the king over his severity I'm pun
ishIng criminals. or because the Brit
ish interests In India did not approve
OF an American In SO important an
office, and automatically suggested his
removal. At all events, he resigned
end made for Kabul. in Afghanistan.
There Dost Mohammed. the ameer,
was preparing for war with the Brit
ish.
The Journey was perilous one Ia
those days. but Harlan made II sue
cessfully, and either by reason OF his
impressive appearance or the informa
ton he could give Dost M0hammcd
he soon came TO. stand high In the
ameer's confidence.
But when war actually broke out
Dost Mohammed showed complete
incapacity 10 conduct II intelligently.
He seems TO have taken Harlan for
regenade Englishman. whose advice
could not bc safely trusted He failed
10 take the precaution OF fortifying the
Bolan pass as Harlan urged, and the
British marched through II 90 enter
Kabul.
Dost Mohammed's stupidity seems 90
have Disguised Harlan with the Aslat-
les. for he Is next found as the friend
and guest OF Sir Henry Lawrence. high
commissioner OF the Punjab. While
visiting Sir Henry one OF the servants
stole 100 rupees from him Harlan told
Sir Henry and asked permission 10 be
allowed 90 get Il back In his own way.
So sir Henry consented. but stipulated
that he should not injure any OF the
servants
Harlan had all the servants IN the
house called to his room the door OF
which he locked then, drawing his
sword and looking ms fierce as he could.
he told them he would cut The head
of every man In the room II the thief
did not confess and restore the mon
ely, The fellows, knowing Harlans
reputation were badly frightened. ana
the guilty man confessed.
Or. Harlan returned 60 New York In
the forties and lived there until his
death. about 1880, but before that time
the sikh power was swept away az the
decisive Battle ~ Guiarat Dhulip
Singh. the son aud successor OF Raniit
Singh, WAS sent into exile. and the
province over which Harlan ruled was
Incorporated I'm the British Indian en-.
! pire.--Youth's Companion.
Grace Before Meat.