1 His death.
2 Death of
3 Svochet Singh,
4 His character.
5 26 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
6 the march of anarchy, endeavoured to escape, but
7 it was too late, he was pursued and both he and
8 his favourite Pundit were killed.
9 The behaviour of Heera Singh to his brave
10 uncle Soochet Singh, had raised a powerful party
11 against him; and his uncle Goolab Singh, the
12 Rajah of Jummoo, was disgusted at the death of a
13 brother who had fallen fighting gallantly against
14 fearful odds under the command of his own
15 nephew.
16 Soochet Singh was the Qeau ideal of a Sikh
17 soldier. In his youth, and before debauchery had
18 spoiled his looks, he was a very handsome man:
19 muscular, agile, and well skilled in the use of the
20 sword and matchlock ; an excellent horseman: in
21 short, a complete soldier. In his dress, Soochet
22 Singh was particularly gorgeous, and wore a pro-
23 fusion of jewels; while his arms and horse-trap
24 pings were magnificently ornamented with gold
25 and tinsel. Though thus a gallant soldier, he was
26 of a mild and pleasing disposition; affable to
27 strangers, and a universal favourite with the army.
28 Possessed of such qualifications, it is not to be
29 wondered at, that his nephew should have become
30 jealous of his power and influence; and desirous of
31 ridding himself of a man so much superior to him
32 in every respect, save cunning; for Soochet’s was
33 not a suspicious nature; he was frank, free, and in-
34 genuous. In compassing the death of his uncle, it
35 was universally believed, that Heera Singh had
36 acted under the advice, and at the instigation of