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
* Note: In 1893 it was agreed to drop the
gift of "twelve perfect shawl goats."
