1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 27
2 the Pundit Julla. The cruel act had the effect of
3 “estranging the Rajah of Jummoo, who became sus-
4 picious of his nephew's protestations of friendship,
5 while his hands were yet red with the blood of his
6 uncle.
7 The widow of the deceased Rajah and his nume-
8 rous friends arid adherents were loud in their cries
9 for revenge on the murderer of Soochet Singh, and
10 Heera Singh dreaded the pernicious consequences
11 of his barbarous and impolitic act. Still, he main-
12 tained too much power to render successful any
13 effort on the part of the widow of his uncle.
14 The wealth left behind him by Soochet Singh, His property
15 sent to Feroz-
16 consisting of several lakhs of rupees, was sent pore.
17 across the Sutlej, and safely lodged with the
18 British authorities at Ferozpore. Several demands
19 were madc for its restoration by the Sikh govern-
20 ment, but to these little or no attention was paid.
21 The refusal to deliver up this money served to irri-
22 tate the Sikhs, since the Lahore government con-
23 sidered Soochet Singh as a rebel who had forfeited
24 all his property to the state.
25 The ostensible reason for Heera Singh’s taking Reason for
26 , : It
27 away his uncle Soochet Singh’s life, and the man- s.
28 ner in which the latter died, were related to us by
29 a faithful adherent and follower of Soochet Singh
30 named Esree Singh, a man who had behaved with
31 marked attention to the officers visiting the court
32 of Lahore. It appears from this statement, that
33 the Rajah Soochet Singh had been induced to visit
34 Lahore at the solicitation of the Punches of the
35 ing
36 chet Singh,