1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 209
2 own body, and by whose advice they bound them-
3 selves to act. The government of Lahore was Military go.
4 merely a shadow, neither the Ranee nor the Sirdars the Sitin
5 had any but a nominal power in all that related to
6 military operations. Thesé Punches or Punts were
7 all powerful among the Sikhs; and, guided by them,
8 the system of government partook somewhat of the
9 feudal character. It is a weak system of govern-
10 ment, and has always yielded to a monarchical
11 form. In this respect, the kingdom of Lahore,
12 under the reign of Runjeet Singh, was far stronger
13 than the same under the management of the Punts;
14 the latter rendered it one of military anarchy, dis-
15 obeying any orders given by the head of the go-
16 vernment, and paying no respect to treaties of
17 alliance, which they neither willingly made nor
18 were likely to preserve.
19 The government of India, represented by the TheGovernor-
20 Governor-general, was perfectly aware of the un- pe ea
21 stable nature of such a system, and wisely refrained “—"""™"
22 from entertaining any negotiations emanating from
23 such a source. A government must be established,
24 and with it alone could the Governor-general
25 treat. Sir Henry Hardinge wished to see a de-
26 scendant of its original founder seated on the
27 throne of Lahore.
28 Dhuleep Singh, after his visit to the Governor- phuteepSingh
29 general, was, as already stated, sent back to Lahore Lahore.”
30 under a strong escort from the army of the Sutlej ;
31 and the latter precaution was by no means uncalled
32 for, since the Khalsa troops, still in the field, were