1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 5
2 lar one, and gave great dissatisfaction. Instead
3 of allowing the Rajah Dhyan' Singh to remain as
4 Wuzeer or prime minister, he raised a creature of
5 his own to that high appointment. This man,
6 named Chet Singh, had nothing to recommend him cus slug
7 but arrogance and sycophancy. His good fortune Wueer.
8 was of short duration. Dhyan Singh, at the insti-
9 gation, it was supposed, of Shere Singh, entered
10 the Durbar and slew the prime minister before his
11 master’s eyes. The treasurer Belee Misr Ram
12 and others shared the same fate. After this act of
13 violenee, Khurruk Singh shut himself up; and,
14 though he occasionally attended the Durbar, he
15 never forgave the insult. His intellect, never very
16 powerful, became impaired, and the management of eAcca
17 public affairs, thus fell into the hands of Nonehal like eae
18 Singh, who had always shown a dislike to the British, ic
19 and now made preparations in the vicinity of Lahore
20 for hostilities against that power. After a short
21 reign of a little more than twelve months, Khurruk
22 Singh died of a broken heart.
23 All eyes were now turned towards the favourite haste of
24 of the Sikhs, the grandson of their great ruler, Singh.
25 whom he resembled in features and disposition.
26 He was popular with the army, for he had been
27 a soldier from his boyhood, and was of a brave
28 and indomitable spirit, united, at the same time,
29 to great caution, discretion, and forethought.
30 Runjeet Singh was very proud of Nonehal, and fondly High opinion
31 of Runjeet
32 anticipated that in him the Sikhs would find a suc- Singh regard-
33 ing Nonehal
34 cessor worthy of filling the throne of Lahore, and singh.
35 Ts slain,