The old gazetters read that the Muslim tribes crushed by Ranjit Singh early in the century, were eager to pay off old scores, and anxious to recover their own. The Bhattis, Tarars, and Chathas of Wazirabad and Hafizabad rallied to the British standard, readily furnished supplies, brought ill information of the movements of the enemy and fought on our side at Ramnagar, Chilianwala and Gujrat.
The annexation of Punjab in 1849 while it involved the complete downfall or temporary eclipse of many of the leading families was welcomed by the great mass of the people, and especially by the agricultural population.