1 38 FROM THE DEATH OF NOO NEHAL SINGH
2 several thousand of the Maharajah’s troops, and
3 although the party defended themselves for three
4 hours against this large force, they were at
5 length compelled, by the fire of artillery, to
6 quit their hold; and after performing prodigies
7 of valour in hand to hand combats, were massa-
8 cred to a man. His remains, however, were
9 respected, and the usual suttee rites performed
10 over them. No sooner had Heera Singh freed
11 himself from the attempt against his power, than
12 the two princes, Kashmeera Singh, and Peshora
13 Singh, also reputed sons of the Maharajah Runjeet
14 Singh, declared themselves openly against him,
15 encouraged by his remaining uncle, the Rajah
16 Goolab Singh, the brother and the favourite wife
17 (now widow) of Soochet Singh, whose joint ani-
18 mosity against Heera Singh, for the death of his
19 uncle, knew no bounds. At their instigation,
20 the princes crossed the Sutlege from Ferozepore,
21 where they had been residing, with about a thou-
22 sand men. They were met, when a few miles
23 upon their march, by some thousands of the
24 Maharajah’s troops, and, after a conflict of some
25 hours, Heera Singh was again triumphant. The
26 princes made their submission to the government
27 at Lahore, and were then left at liberty. Heera
28 Singh’s next step was to effect a reconciliation
29 with his uncle, the Rajah Goolab Singh, which,
30 after considerable difficulty, he etfected. Hitherto