1 34 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 Singh. They were his adopted sons through one
3 of those capricious acts of which the Maharajah
4 was guilty. The former, as a boy, was adopted
5 when Runjeet Singh was on his way to Cashmeer,
6 and hence named after that country; while Peshora
7 Singh was, in like manner, adopted and named after
8 the Province of Peshawur when subdued by the
9 Maharajah. But even the adopted sons of a man
10 universally revered by the Sikh nation were looked
11 upon by many as entitled to his throne, and an
12 attempt was made in favour ef Cashmeera Singh by
13 the Scindinwala, Uttur Singh, but which was
14 frustrated by the activity and energy of Heera
15 Singh; while Peshora Singh succeeded in raising
16 astrong party in his favour; but, at length fell into
17 the hands of Sham Singh Atareewala, by whom, it
18 was supposed, he had been murdered, though
19 many disbelieved the account of his death.
20 As regards the British Government, any ruler
21 selected by the Sikhs was sufficient for the pur-
22 pose, provided he could establish and maintain a
23 government which would prevent any infringement
24 of the treaty or aggression across the Sutlej; and
25 Dhuleep Singh was therefore tacitly acknowledged
26 as the successor of Shere Singh to the throne
27 of Lahore. His vakeels remained in the British
28 territories, and order was preserved during the ad-
29 ministration of Heera Singh, and for some time
30 afterwards. So long as the young Rajah con-
31 tinued to follow the steps of his father and the
32 lessons he had Jearned from Runjeet Singh, he
33 wisely abstained fram the ceammiscian af ane ant