1 HI&TOHV OF THE SIKHS. 211
2 nine o’clock; though Runjeet and his chiefs kept
3 up the revelry to a late hour. On the evening of
4 the following day, the fireworks were repeated ;
5 and Runjeet and Sir Henry, attended by his principal
6 sirdars, and the officers of the staff and escort,
7 proceeded on elephants along the street of fire¬
8 works ; the exhibition was on a magnificent scale,
9 and Runjeet and his party seemed to enjoy it very
10 much; the same could hardly he said of the young
11 elephants, for it was with difficulty that some of
12 them could he induced to advance through the
13 line of fire. On the third day of the marriage
14 festivities, a large sum of money was distributed in
15 charity by Runjeet, to the poor people, who had
16 come from every part of the Punjab to witness the
17 marriage ceremonies, and receive their reward.
18 The amount of money expended on this occasion,
19 was said to equal ten or eleven lakhs of rupees,
20 equivalent to one hundred thousand pounds ster¬
21 ling! Every living creature received a rupee, and
22 even the dogs and other domestic animals shared in
23 the bounty ! Magnificent presents were made by
24 Runjeet to the newly married couple. Leaving
25 Attaree, and the young bridegroom to marry bis
26 other two wives, the camps proceeded towards
27 Lahore. On their reaching the celebrated Shala-
28 mar gardens, a halt of one day was ordered, tor
29 the purpose of witnessing a grand fete. The whole
30 of these extensive gardens were illuminated by
31 various sorts of fireworks ; and the prolusion of
32 light emitted by these, and numerous waxen tapers.
33 Pv.ca.cli jftie
34 Simla mar
35 gardens*