Jehlam town stood on the right bank of river Jehlam. There was. no bridge over the river. A number of boats were kept on both side* to carry passengers across it. Its right bank was high and the left was low and flat. This was generally flooded in the rainy season. The town of Aurangabad was situated to the south of the river. It was one of the famous four mahals. The town of Jehlam was an insigni- ficant place then. Seventy years later Shahamat Ali counted fifty houses inside the walls and thirty outside the walls. The place was famous for timber. In those days trees were not cut down by carpen- ters in the upper regions of the river. On account of heavy rains they were pulled out from the roots and carried away by water to the main stream. In the passage they were shorn of their branches. In the rainy season and winter rains about one thousand trees, big and small, came floating down the river to Jhelum town in the year. Some of the trees were about twenty metres long or even more. Two such trees sufficed for the construction of a boat of about 300 quintals capacity. One log of wood of good quality cost 60 to 70 rupees. The timber from Jehlam floated down to Pind Dadan Khan, Miani, Bhera and Khushab. From Khushab it was sent to Multan. Bamboos were brought in boats from Chowakan. 50 kms above Jehlam.
In May, 1767, Charat Singh and Gujar Singh marched upon it- Its Gakhar chief fled away to the fort of Rohtas for shelter. Charat Singh gave charge of Jehlam town to Dada Ram Singh.
Charat Singh imposed a duty of 10 per cent on the timber meant for local consumption. In course of time the Jehlam district yielded annual revenues amounting to about Rs. 38,000. This included Rs. 10,000 from transit duties, Rs. 10,000 from villages and Rs. 18,000 from the jagir of Sanguri.
References :-
- History of Sikhs -Vol. IV ,The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls By Hari ram gupta.