1 welfare, and provided only for.his private interest. In the cotiffeii
2 <>f time there naturally arose a general dissatisfaction. The
3 minister, Dhyan Sing, perceiving the c.nsequences of it, pre¬
4 tended to go with ids younger brother Soochet Sing into the
5 mountains of his native country, on a hunting party, to restore
6 his health ; but, in fact, it was only a pretext for calling in
7 Sheer Sing, to whom all the troops flocked to range themselves
8 under hi* standard.
9 The following event may serve as a sample of oriental policy.
10 Djiyan Sing’s eldest son, Heera Sing, and his own elder brother,
11 Gholab Sing, belonged to the faction of the ranee. They shut
12 themselves up with her in the fortress, which was bombarded
13 incessantly for three days anti nights. It was only when the
14 besiegers prepared to take the place by storm, that the besieged
15 surrendered, under the following stipulations: the ranee shall
16 henceforth live in the fortress, a convenient jaghir shall be
17 granted t< her; and to the,garrison, consisting of two batallions
18 of dogras (mountaineers), the troops of Gholab Sing, a free
19 retreat shall be granted. Their retreat was fixed to take place
20 in the darkness of the night, and they were permitted to take
21 with them whatever they pleased. Gholab Sing was during five
22 days in possession of the fortress where the treasury happened
23 to be. The troops of the mountains were ordered to go to the
24 opposite side of the river Bavee, until the coronation of Sheer
25 Sing should have taken place. By Dhyan Sing and Soochet.
26 Sing’s mediation, Gholab Sing and Heera Sing were reconciled
27 with Sheer Sing, living with him on the best terms, and enjoying
28 as before the greatest influence at the court. JIud the party in
29 the fortress gained the day, the issue of that civil contention
30 would also have finished in favour of the Rajah's family.
31 After the settlement of this affair, two of the rajahs retired
32 into the mountains with their troops, laden with their stolen
33 treasures, the two others remained, with Sheer Sing.
34 The new maharajah addicted himself to immoderate drinking,
35 and indulged especially in champagne. The good-feeling between
36 bin. and Dhyan Sing soon reached its end, and they began to