1 210 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 watching with a jealous eye the movements of the
3 Ranee and her young son, as well as those of Goo-
4 lab Singh, for these were the only persons con-_
5 nected with the Lahore government recognized by
6 that of the British. Through them alone could
7 peace and order be restored. :
8 GoolabSingh’s ‘The steps adopted by Goolab Singh to bring
9 designs. about a reconciliation between the British and the
10 Sikhs, though they might appear hard to the latter,
11 were still those which necessity demanded; and
12 however great the sacrifice might be, it could not
13 affect the Rajah’s prospects: on the contrary, if the
14 demand were exorbitant, and such as the Lahore
15 government was not prepared to meet, an opportu-
16 nity was thereby offered of his liquidating a portion
17 of the indemnity, and as an equivalent, securing to
18 himself not only the stability of Jummoo, over which
19 he would rule as an independent prince, but likewise
20 of becoming master of the rich province of Cash-
21 mere, which he had long coveted. But all these
22 advantages must necessarily emanate from the vic-
23 tors, who had now become the power paramount,
24 and could dictate whatever terms they pleased,
25 without a chance of their being refused by the
26 treating powers. The unruly Sikh Sirdars and
27 discontented soldiers might view the matter ina
28 different light, but to remove any chance of further
29 annoyance from them, the leaders of the remnant
30 of the Sikh army were called upon to return to
31 their allegiance, and a powerful incentive for ac-