1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 13
2 * thing, and totally disregarded that of Dhyan Singh.
3 Neither by night nor day was he ever separated
4 from them: they were his boon companions, and
5 no demand from either Lena Singh or Ajeet Singh
6 was resisted. Every thing they asked was granted,
7 and the interest of every one else disregarded.
8 This state of affairs could not last long, nor could
9 it be supposed that, even, if Dhyan Singh should
10 smother his disgust, the Sikhs themselves would
11 endure the rule of a debauchee whose excesses
12 rendered him incapable of governing the State.
13 In their. hours of revelry, it happened that the
14 Maharajah and his favorites often quarrelled
15 among themselves, and Aject Singh frequently
16 threatened to kill the Maharajah, but the latter Ajeet singh
17 did not regard the threat, and hugged himself in kill he Bae
18 a perfect Security while he possessed so careful ee
19 and wise a servant as Dhyan Singh. The Scindin-
20 walas saw the difficulty that attended the assassin-
21 ation of Shere Singh, and did not fully comprehend
22 what advantage was thereby to be gained, unless they
23 could secure the powerful influence of the Rajah.
24 They accordingly devised a plan, whereby the Resolve to
25 latter might be incensed, and actually connive at eee
26 the act which they contemplated. Accustomed to welt deaigil
27 obtain the willing consent of Shere Singh to their
28 demands, they resolved to avail themselves of this
29 advantage to effect their design. An order was Shere Singh
30 written out to the effect that Rajah Dhyan Singh Hejat's death
31 should be put to death, and to this the Maharajah’s 7-7"
32 signature was obtained at a tine when, overcome by