1 THE NABHA FAMILY. 839
2 weak mind false notions of his importance and dignity—he introduced
3 the most absurd forms of etiquette * into his court ;—while the Brahmins,
4 who recited sloks before him every evening, extolling his virtues and
5 exalting his dignity far above all others, intoxicated him with the belief
6 that the power of the English was on the wane, and that the day
7 was fast approaching when Nabha would alone reign supreme in the
8 Panjab.
9 When the war between the British and the Lahore Government broke
10 out in 1845, the rd4ja not only showed his sympathy with the Ldhore ais conauctin the
11 darbar by overt acts, but intentionally failed to provide supplies on the *™paign of 1835.
12 road from Kdlka to Rahana, or to comply with other requisitions of the
13 British Agents for supply. As a punishment for this wilful negligence, wis punishment.
14 the estates of Dehrari and Amloh, belonging to the Nabhd territory, were
15 confiscated, and, at the close of the war, the rajé was not permitted to
16 attend the Viceregal Darbar at Ludhidnd, where all the other protected
17 chiefs paid their respects to His Excellency the Governor-General. A for-
18 mal inquiry was subsequently instituted into his conduct, and Raja
19 Devindar Singh was ordered to be deposed, and his eldest son, then a boy
20 of seven, installed on the gadi, under the guardianship of Rani Chand
21 Kour, his step-grandmother, assisted by three other officers of State. The
22 -ex-raj4 was deported to Mathra, but, being troublesome there, was removed ;
23 to Lahore in December 1855, and kept under surveillance in Maharaja ee ete
24 Kharak Singh’s house, where he died in November, the following year. And dies there, 1856.
25 Rajé Bharpur Singh, who succeeded his father, while yet a child, attain- __84j4 Bharpur singh
26 ed age of discretion a few months only after the Mutiny broke out in aii
27 1857. The youthful raja, on this occasion, acted with a sincerity and de-
28 votion worthy the name of the great Phulkian family. He was desirous ais services auring
29 of operating against the mutineers in person, and of proceeding to Delhi, the Mutiny.
30 where the rebels were assembled in great force, and was prevented from
31 carrying out his wish by the British Government only, in consequence of his
32 youth and the onerous nature of the duty. But a small detachment of
33 300 troops was accepted from him for service in Delhi, and this rendered
34 efficient help during the siege. The rajd’s troops also did good service in
35 Ludhiana, in maintaining order, and a detachment of them was of great
36 use in Jalandar, in destroying a bridge and opposing the passage of the
37 mutineers, when a great number of the mutineers were killed, and several of
38 the rajé’s men shared the same fate. Another detachment, supplied by
39 the raja, formed an escort to the siege trains which accompanied the
40 Commander-in-Chief from Phillour to Delhi. He advanced the Government
41 a loan of two lakhs and a half of rupees at a time when money was very
42 scarce, and was of infinite use in furnishing supplies, carriage and camels.
43 He also performed every other duty which was required from him with
44 the greatest promptitude and willingness,
45 For these services, he was most liberally rewarded by the British stewards
46 Government. The Commissioner had recommended for him the grant
47 of a territory in the Ludhidnd, or Ferozepur District, valued at Rs. 30,000
48 per annum, and certain other privileges, such as an increase in the
49 number of pieces in a khilat, his treatment on terms of equality with
50 the Raja of Jhind, his being received under salutes at military stations,
51 * He required his courtiers to prostrate themselves when they paid their compliments,
52 or spoke to him, and he pressed them to show the most slavish humility in speech and manner.
53 He denied the Raja of Jhind any title of honour, on the plea of his being only collaterally
54 related to the late rajis, and he would rae oe the Maharéj4 of Patiélé only as réja. He re-
55 fused to see the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal beyond his own territories, and desired to
56 omit all titles due to officers of the British Government.
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