1 British politi-
2 cal authorities
3 insulted,
4 Idea of the
5 Natives re-
6 garding our
7 government.
8 Lahore accus-
9 tomed to
10 pillage.
11 282 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS,
12 as happened in 1837, when the Commander-in-
13 chief, Sir Henry Fane, attended the nuptials of
14 Nonehal Singh, the abstaining from the slaughter
15 of cows might justly have been expected ; but to de-
16 prive the British soldier of his roast beef, to suit the
17 caprice and prejudice of the Sikh government in
18 1846, is somewhat unreasonable, to say the least
19 of it, and impresses the Sikhs with a belief that
20 our present position at Lahore is one of sufferance.
21 They would dictate to us, even in their prostrate
22 condition ; and, therefore, they ought to be re-
23 minded that we are able to render the execution of
24 our wishes absolute, without any reference to their
25 absurd prejudices. We are sufficiently acquainted
26 with the firm and determined character of Major
27 Lawrence, to be assured that the Sikhs will not
28 dare to tamper with him; and they may rely upon
29 it that he will not allow any of their absurd no-
30 tions to interfere with the execution of his arduous
31 duties. One of his assistants was actually struck
32 severely on the head by a brickbat! Hardly a
33 month had elapsed after the ratification of the
34 treaties dictated by the Governor-general, when his
35 representative was grossly assaulted in the streets
36 of Lahore!! The Natives of India smile at such
37 occurrences, and with a shake of the head exclaim,
38 the “ Ungrez Buhadur can conquer all, but they do
39 not know how to govern !”
40 The city of Lahore has been so accustomed to
41 be pillaged, that the inhabitants, particularly the
42 bunniahs, or merchants, could not account for the