1 40) FROM THE DEATH OF NOO NEHAL SINGH
2 induced Jowahir Singh to proceed, at the head of
3 a party of the Khalsa troops, to the minister's
4 house, when a conflict took place, which ended in
5 the flight of Heera Singh and his adherents, in-
6 cluding his favourite councillor and confederate
7 the Pundit Jella, their route being towards Jum-
8 moo. It appears that their escape was connived
9 at, m order that the slaughter of the Rajah
10 Sahib’s party, which had been determined upon,
11 should not take place in the city, and cause
12 greater commotion there, and perhaps carnage.
13 They were, however, pursued by Jowahir
14 Singh and several hostile sirdars, and overtaken
15 about thirteen miles from Lahore. Heera Singh
16 had with him, besides the Pundit Jella, Meean
17 Sohun Singh (the Rajah Goolab Singh’s son),
18 and Meean Singh; his force did not exceed five
19 or six hundred men. An action took place,
20 which ended in the discomfiture of the minister’s
21 party; he himself took refuge in a hut in the
22 neighbouring village, but being surrounded by
23 the troops, who threatened to set fire to it, he
24 came out and was instantly cut down. His head,
25 together with the heads of Pundit Jella, who was
26 overtaken three miles beyond the scene of action,
27 Meean Sohun Singh, Meean Lal Singh, and two
28 others, were brought to Lahore, carried about
29 in procession, and exhibited before the house
30 tenanted by Jowahir Singh. Nineteen women,