1 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 27
2 tion was at first offered by the Sikh Sirdars,
3 upon the ground of his alleged illegitimacy,
4 Runjeet Singh never having fully acknowledged
5 the twins as his offspring. The opposition, how-
6 ever, was for the time overcome, and a messenger
7 dispatched to Shere Singh with the glad tidings.
8 For some time previously this Prince had taken
9 no part whatever in public affairs, but lived in
10 retirement upon his property, a very beautiful
11 spot named Battee-alah, not far distant from
12 Umritzur. Upon his arrival at Lahore, aided
13 by Dhyan Singh, he attempted to assume the
14 government; but by this time the widow of Kur-
15 ruck Singh Chund Koor, mother of Noo Nehal
16 Singh, supported by a powerful faction, asserted
17 her right to the regency, on behalf of the yet
18 unborn offspring of Noo Nehal Singh, whose
19 widow she affirmed to be enceinte. This tale,
20 although not generally credited, supported by
21 the influence of her party, enabled her to assume
22 the regency of the kingdom ; all orders were
23 issued in her name; and even Dhyan Singh as-
24 sisted at her councils. The Prince Shere Singh
25 seeing the overthrow of his hopes, returned to
26 his country seat; and Dhyan Singh, without
27 assigning any particular reason, also shortly after
28 withdrew from Lahore to his own possessions, a
29 mountainous country called Jummoo, leaving his
30 elder brother, the Rajah Goolab Singh, in the post