1 HISTORY OF TUB SIKHS.
2 253
3 may be at the death of Itunjeet Singh, it is impos¬
4 sible to guess, but a few conjectures may be Ha¬
5 zarded on the subject. It will be seen, that the
6 three brothers, Goolab Singh, Dhyan Singh, and
7 Soochet Singh, are by far the most powerful family
8 in the Punjab, so far as their own personal influ¬
9 ence is concerned; but they may be said to be
10 strangeris in the land, differing in religion and
11 many other respects from the Sikhs. It is not
12 likely, however, that the Rajah Dhyan Singh,
13 knowing, as he does, the resources of the Br itisVi
14 government, would ever oppose himself to their
15 wishes regarding a successor to the present ruler
16 of the Punjab; in fact, it would be to his advan¬
17 tage were the throne of Lahore filled by a descend¬
18 ant of Runjeet capable of preserving the kingdom
19 entire, as in the event of disunion among the
20 various sirdars, each would make a desperate effort
21 to regain his former principality; and this family, oi
22 Hindoo origin, would most likely be expelled the
23 Punjab, though the struggle would no doubt be a
24 fierce one, as each of the brothers has numerous
25 followers, and great wealth; it may be therefore
26 calculated, that this family will give its support to
27 the heir apparent, Khurruk Singh. There is
28 another person who will not probably allow Khur-
29 ruk Singh to mount the throne of Lahore. I Sherc Sin *''
30 allude to Shere Singh, his younger brother by a dif¬
31 ferent mother. This prince is in every respect
32 superior to his elder brother, being a thorough-bred
33 soldier, and a man of undoubted courage: he is