1 26 FROM THE DEATH OF NOO NEHAL SINGH
2 CHAPTER IV.
3 FROM THE DEATH OF NOO NEHAL SINGH
4 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
5 Tue astonishment of the whole Sikh nation, at
6 the intelligence of the death of Noo Nehal Singh,
7 may be more easily imagined than described.
8 Nobody in the province at first believed it.
9 When, however, the news became confirmed, the
10 consternation and regret were very great, for not-
11 withstanding his impetuous and dissolute habits,
12 he was nevertheless a youth of considerable
13 ability, and the only person capable of control-
14 ling the power of the Rajah Dhyan Singh and his
15 brothers. The country, by this singular catas-
16 trophe, was thus suddenly plunged into an
17 awkward dilemma. It was at length decided,
18 by the advice of Dhyan Singh, to offer the crown
19 to the Prince Shere Singh, a twin son of Runjeet
20 Singh by his wife Mehtab. Considerable objec-