1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS, 315
2 which they cannot hope to storm. The obtaining
3 possession of it might have been left with great -
4 propriety to the Sikhs, as suggested by the Ranee. The reduction
5 The 44th regiment, Native infantry, has taken pos- wright fate
6 session of the fort of Mulkhera, and occupied the ween Tht
7 town of Kangra. The country people were favour-
8 able to the claims of the British, and a neighbour-
9 ing Rajah lent them three guns.
10 The Ranee, who may justly be considered at the Indisposition
11 head of the present government of Lahore, has" ®**
12 been seriously indisposed of late, and her illness is
13 said to be caused by one of those untoward events
14 which cast doubts on the integrity of the people
15 about her person. Should the Ranee eventually
16 be removed from the scene, it is not likely that Lal
17 Singh will long hold his place as prime minister,
18 and even Dhuleep Singh may be supplanted bya
19 son of Shere Singh, who has certainly as much Ctaim of Shere
20 right to the throne of Runjeet Singh as its present einah's sen t
21 occupant, for his father once sat upon it, which is
22 more than we can venture to say as regards Dhu-
23 leep Singh.
24 On the 28th April but little progress had been Kangra holds
25 made in inducing the killadar of Kangra to deliver
26 up the keys, even though a royal purwannah had
27 been carried to him from the Maharajah Dhuleep
28 Singh. .The exposure of men at such an inclement
29 season of the year, with the thermometer at 97°,
30 must produce sickness among the European por-
31 tion of the force sent against the place.
32 Nothing can more clearly show the weakness of
33 a