1 Shér Singh with-
2 draws to Batala.
3 Attar Singh,
4 Sindhianwalé,
5 appointed Prime
6 Minister,
7 Gulab Singh
8 embraces the cause of
9 the Maharani.
10 First report of Dulip
11 Singh’s birth.
12 Shér Singh appears
13 before Lahore.
14 Jawali Singh the
15 chief councillor of Shér
16 Singh.
17 The panches of the
18 army support tlie cause
19 of Sher Singh.
20 He fakes Budhu-
21 Ad-died his stand-point,
22 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary
23 502 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
24 Hird Singh, as a son (inasmuch as the Maharaja had treated him as such
25 during his lifetime), and by this means acknowledge his claims. The cun-
26 ning Dhidn Singh appeared pacified with the show of sincerity thus displayed
27 by the queen, but the rude Shér Singh was bent on offering her armed
28 resistance. Dhidn Singh considered this an inopportune time for carrying
29 on warlike preparations, and advised his protegé to withdraw quietly.
30 The good-natured voluptuary accordingly withdrew to Batdlé, and there
31 enjoyed his favourite pastime to his heart’s content. Dhidn Singh, pretending
32 to be ill, went to the Jammu hills for change of air. Chand Kour now
33 exercised supreme power, under the designation of Mai, or mother, as
34 regent for the expected offspring of Nau Nehal Singh. She bestowed ao
35 khilat of honour on Attar Singh, Sindhianwdlé, whom she appointed her
36 Prime Minister. A council of four sardars was established under Attar
37 Singh, whose advice was sought in all State affairs.
38 Rajé Gultb Singh, at this juncture, allied himself with the queen, the
39 deep policy of the Jamm% brothers, who appeared to share in all impor-
40 tant intrigues, being that, whichever party might win, their element would
41 preponderate. Feeling, moreover, doubtful whether Shér Singh’s claims
42 would be recognised by the English Government, Rdj4 Dhidn Singh had
43 the news conveyed to that Government that Rani Jinddn, a favourite wife
44 of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had given birth to a son, named Dulip Singh, a
45 few months before the confusion arose about the re-seating of Shah Shuja
46 on the Kébul throne. Thus was the British Government, for the first time,
47 informed of the existence of another heir to the throne of Lahore.
48 Raj& Dhidn Singh remained at Jammu for about a month; but he had
49 left emissaries at Lahore, who secretly kept him informed of all that was
50 going on in the capital. They played with the Khdlsé soldiery and their
51 sardars so well, that assurances of allegiance and support were given by
52 several corps, whenever the Royal Prince, Shér Singh, and Dhidén Singh,
53 should make their appearance before the walls of Lahore.
54 The time now being considered ripe for an advance on Lahore, Shér
55 Singh, according to previous arrangements with Dhidn Singh, marched from
56 Mukeria, at the head of about 300 followers, and posted himself at the
57 Shaldmdr gardens, To his great disappointment, however, he was inform-
58 ed that Dhidén Singh, instead of joining him at the gardens as_pre-
59 viously arranged, had not, up to that moment, even left his hill territory.
60 This afforded an opportunity to Jawdlé Singh, an ambitious sardar, and
61 one of Shér Singh’s principal councillors, who aspired to the wazirship, to
62 instil into the mind of the credulous prince the idea that Dhidu Singh
63 cared little for his interests, and that his real sympathies where with his
64 brother, Gul4b Singh, who had openly espoused the cause of the Maharani.
65 Sher Singh now permitted Jawdldé Singh to negotiate directly with the
66 soldiery, and the Ihdélsé troops stationed at Midn Mir were informed of
67 the arrival of the prince. The troops expressed their readiness to assemble
68 the following day at Budhu-kd-dwd, a lofty old brick kiln, near Lahore,
69 on the top of which General Avitabile had constructed a barddari, known
70 in after times as the Jatehgarh, or the house of victory. The place was used as
71 the rendezvous ofthe panches, or deputies, of the Khdlsé troops, who in those
72 times exercised great influence over the army and people. The following
73 day, 14th January 1841, witnessed the arrival of Shér Singh at Budhu-hd-
74 dwd, where were also assembled the Khdlsé troops from Midn Mir and
75 the surrounding places,
76 Shér Singh having taken up his position on this mound, his safety was
77 ensured by four battalions of infantry and two of cavalry, with several
78 amdhariElibrary@ gmailcom