1 possesion' of the country, they would Vie personally hmfcfitted.
2 Another reason wliich may have induced the -aijce to place
3 herself under the protection if the English government, was
4 possibly lest her fate might resemble that of her predecessors,
5 should Iter adult son learn in what manner his lather, and
6 also hi grandfather, had destroyed their own mother- (rule
7 Major G. C. Smyth’s History of lhr Reigning Family of
8 Lahore). Thus he was between two fires, and thought her only
9 safety was in English protection. Th difficulty was, how to carry
10 out their plot; but they very soon found the means. At that tithe
11 Teja S’ng was gove rnor of Penhawur, having succeeded Genera;
12 Avitabilo, and was the only man who exercised a great influence
13 over the troops since the time of Runjeet Sing. The ranee
14 called on liim for his advice. On his proposal, false documents
15 were drawn up, which were rend in the durbar, the contents of
16 which were, that the English had confiscated the incomes of the
17 lands of the Sikhs on the other side of the river Sutlej, and hod
18 committed numerous outrages, and that they were-preparing for
19 war against the Sikhs; therefore it was said to bo necessary to
20 have revenge, and attai k them.
21 Lall Sing was proclaimed -wuzecr, and Teja Sing commander-
22 in-clnef of the troops. The Sikhs received their gutee porslwut
23 (consecrated bread) on the Suinmond (tomb of the royal Emily),
24 where they administered an oath to each individually ; the
25 Maliomedftns on the Koran, and the Hindoos on the water of the
26 Ganges.
27 The astrologers having named an auspicious day, th y went,
28 without any further diplomatic conferences, on th. ir march. The
29 English, although well acquainted with all those disturbances
30 and confusions which happened in the neighbouring country,
31 yet had not the least idea of being attacked by their allies, and
32 wore consequently not at ill prepared for u war. On the other
33 side of the river Sutlej, the four battles were fought-—at \foodkco,
34 Ferozeshahur, Aiiwal, and Sobraon; und the English, on -
35 pletely triumphing in the last battle, became masters of the