1 208 HISTORY OF THE 8IKHS.
2 derstand this view of the matter, and previous to
3 their final overthrow at Sobraon, expressed some.
4 hopes that their captured guns would be returned
5 to them. Even the annexation of the Jalindhur
6 Doab to the British territories was looked upon by
7 many of them as a hardship; and they blamed
8 Goolab Singh and the Ranee for yielding up a por- *
9 tion of their country, never taking into account
10 that their very existence, as a nation, was at stake.
11 oe to On the restoration of young Dhuleep Singh to
12 the office of |the head of the government, Goolab Singh was
13 appointed Wuzeer or prime minister; but it was
14 speedily seen that Lal Singh, the favourite of the
15 Ranee, envied his position. Goolab Singh himself
16 was not quite at ease. The office which he held
17 was one which did not exactly suit his views, and
18 he seemed anxious to be relieved. He was indiffe-
19 rent who his successor might be, though, had he
20 possessed a choice, it would not have fallen on a
21 man who had no pretensions to the Vuzeerut, ex-
22 cept those founded on the somewhat questionable
23 character of paramour of the Ranee.
24 The Khalsa troops, when taking the field against
25 the British, insisted on the presence of Lal Singh,
26 not from any high opinion they had formed of his
27 fighting qualities, but solely because while they held
28 possession of him, the Ranee was less likely to com-
29 promise them with the British. The command of
30 their army was neither in the hands of Lal Singh,
31 nor Tej Singh, but invested in the Punches or
32 counsellors of the Khalsa troops, chosen from their