1 Decnanath
2 reaches Kan-
3 gra.
4 Major Law-
5 rence fired
6 318 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
7 in a hostile coalition, whereby the British might be
8 expelled from the Punjab. ;
9 About the middle of April last, Deenanath ar-
10 rived at Kangra, bringing positive orders to the
11 killadar Soondur Singh to deliver up the fort to
12 the British. But though thus called upon by a
13 most influential person of the Lahore Durbar,
14 Soondur Singh not only refused to comply, but
15 treated the bearer of the purwannah with the
16 utmost disrespect, telling its bearer to call in the
17 evening for an answer.
18 Tt would appear that in the evening Major
19 Lawrence, having reached the place, went towards
20 the fort, expecting a reply from the killadar; but
21 instead of this being a favourable one, he was
22 at Saluted by a round shot, which hit the ground or
23 rock close to him.
24 Such behaviour on the part of the killadar of
25 Suspicions of Kangra, could not fail to raise suspicions of foul
26 fout play.
27 Importance
28 defending
29 play. Major Lawrence remonstrated with the
30 Lahore Durbar, and the latter threatened to im-
31 prison and otherwise punish the relations and
32 friends of the refractory killadar, but without any
33 other apparent effect than rendering the obstinacy
34 and determination of Soondur Singh more marked.
35 of If asingle fort with a few guns, can thus bid
36 their forts ine Gefiance, not only to the Sikh government, but
37 stead of en-
38 trenchments.
39 . the British authority, what a desperate resistance
40 might the Sikhs not have offered to the British
41 troops, had they, instead of placing their numerous
42 guns in the entrenched camps of Feerozshuhur and