1 272 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 of the Ranee and her young gon are vefy uncertain -
3 also; and if these three individuals should disap-
4 pear, what is to become of the Punjab?
5 If such a crisis should occur, the Sikhs might
6 probably look to a son of Shere Singh as the right-
7 ful heir to the throne of Lahore ; but still British
8 interference would be required to support him.
9 Such a weak kind of government could not exist
10 long; and, therefore, the only alternative, short of
11 subjugation, is the adoption of the system of sup-
12 Contingent, Porting the government by a contingent or sub-
13 sidiary force. The Sikhs, if regularly paid and
14 entertained as soldiers, might, no doubt, be made
15 Dificulies Setviceable in this way; but the feudal system .
16 eppesed © in force would throw great obstacles in the way of
17 this arrangement, and render the attempt at sup-
18 porting a king at Lahore as nugatory as was that of
19 maintaining Shah Soojah Ool Moolk on the throne
20 of Cabul. Like that imbecile man, the person
21 seated on the throne of Lahore might for a time
22 appear grateful for our aid’; but sooner or later he
23 Probable re- Would find our presence irksome, and endeavour by
24 — every means in his power to rid himself of the very
25 people to whom he stood indebted for his exalta-
26 tion.
27 Afirmgovern- ‘Lhe present aspect of affairs in the Punjab differs
28 ment net tobe widely from that in Affghanistan during the short
29 reign of Shah Soojah. No ruler has been dethroned
30 to give place to another. The present Maharajah
31 of the Sikhs is tacitly allowed to be the rightful
32 heir of the throne of Lahore, and there appears to