1 HlSTbliY OF THE SIKHS. W&
2 Criminals, but the arrow was purposely blunted,* and
3 seldom did much injury to the individual exposed to it.
4 it was only, however, when sickness prevented
5 the Maharajah from taking exercise, that he thus
6 adopted the odd whim of using the bow and arrow.
7 it is not often that a cruel spirit is witnessed in
8 a man who could amuse his leisure hours in feeding
9 tame pigeons and domestic fowls with his own
10 hand, and whose kindness to children was so
11 iriarked. Even in cases of murder, the Maharajah
12 sometimes evinced a degree of leniency (which ac¬
13 cording' to our ideas of justice may be termed
14 misplaced) provided the criminal had, either himself
15 done good service to the state, or was related to
16 those who had done so. Ram Singh, the eldest
17 son of Jemadar Khooshyal Singh, as already men¬
18 tioned, had killed Bishcri Singh, son of Cheth Singh,
19 commandant, and liis victim being a universal
20 favorite, the murderous act was execrated by all,
21 and vengeance called for, but the Jemadar was a
22 man in great power, and the Maharajah forgave the
23 crime committed by his son, much to the surprise
24 of every one.
25 There were many natives of Hindostan in the
26 service of the Maharajah, arid among others,
27 deserters from the British. It so happened that a
28 trooper of the 3rd light cavalry killed his soobadar
29 at Thannessir while on escort duty. The man
30 made his escape across the Sutlej, and was traced to
31 w Nametl a Toda by the Natives.