Inscription from a Sikh gun, captured by the Army of the Sutlej, 1st Sikh War (1845-1846)

Hand coloured engraving from a volume of 64 engravings, entitled, 'Inscriptions on the Seikh Guns Captured by the Army of the Sutledge 1845/46', by and after C Gomeze, 1846 (c).

The volume's engravings feature decorative patterns incorporating Persian inscriptions, copied from Sikh guns captured by the British during the 1st Sikh War (1845-1846).

The Sikh army, the Khalsa, was probably the most formidable opponent the British faced on the Indian sub-continent. It was composed of traditional Indian irregular cavalry and infantry alongside European-trained regulars. The Sikh army was particularly well-equipped with artillery. In 1846, at the Battle of Aliwal alone, the British captured over 60 guns.