1 SHER SINGH. 513
2 ' the city early on the morning of that day.* He was on horseback, attended
3 only by Dhidn Singh, Dewdn Dind Nath, and his armour-bearer, Budh
4 Singh, a brave man who was always in attendance on his person. He
5 passed through the Roshndi gate of the city, and, taking the road leading
6 to the parade ground, proceeded to his mansion at Shah Biléwal. He had
7 no escort about him. In due time the firing of the matchlocks announced
8 the arrival of the Sindhianwdlds at Shah Bildwal. They presented
9 themselves with a newly-raised levy and were attended by about fifty
10 followers, who, like themselves, were well armed and equipped. It being
11 the first of the Hindi month; or a Sankrant day, no darbdér was held
12 on that date. The Mahardj4 entered the house, and, having seated
13 himself opposite a window of the Barddari, began to amuse himself with
14 the wrestling of some athletes. This lasted a short time, and the Maha-
15 réjé was dismissing them with presents, which he gave with his own
16 hands, sitting in’ the window, when Ajit Singh reported the arrival of
17 his new levy, which“he arrayed before the window. The Mahardjd ordered
18 Dewén Dind Nath to enlist them as soldiers. As the athletes received
19 presents from the Mahardjdé, they bowed before him and made their obei-
20 sances, the Mahardjé receiving them freely and in a courteous manner, He
21 reclined easily on his chair, little suspecting the fate which awaited
22 him, While he was thus employed, Ajit Singh approached Shér Singh,
23 and, exhibiting a handsome double-barrelled fowling-piece for his inspection,
24 said with a smile: “See, what an excellent rifle I have bought for 1,400
25 rupees; 1 would not now part with it for even 3,000.” The Maharaja stretched
26 out his hand to take the gun, which was loaded with two balls in each barrel;
27 and, as Ajit Singh. handed it to the Mahardjdé, he discharged both barrels
28 simultaneously into his breast? The Mahardjdé instantly fell back in his
29 chair, exclaiming, “ Zh ki daghdé?” (“ What treachery is this ?”) and expired
30 immediately after.t As the Mahardjd fell back a corpse, Ajit Singh, at one
31 ‘blow, severed his head from his body. Budh Singh, the armour-bearer of
32 Shér Singh, came to the spot, immediately on hearing the report of the
33 un, This brave man cut down two of Ajit Singh’s followers, and aimed
34 a blow at Ajit Singh himself, but the sword snapped in two. He ran to
35 procure another, but, his foot slipping, he fell down, and was immediately
36 despatched by Ajit Singh’s followers. The Sindhianwdld4 troops, who were
37 arrayed before the window, fired a.volley, through the window, at the men,
38 * According to Smith, Shér Singh on this occasion went to live in Shah Bildwal, three miles
39 east of the city. All accounts, however, agree that he left the city the very day of his
40 assassination,
41 + Speaking of this occurrence, Doctor Honignpetset thus writes, in his Adventures in the
42 fast; “Twas by accident not further than ten steps from the place, where the horrid crime was
43 committed ; and five minutes before his atrocious murder, I had spoken tothe Mahardjain the
44 garden under a tree, where he ordered me to remain until his return. The subject of our
45 interview was a gun powder mill with a machinery which Dhidn Singh had ordered me to make.
46 Shér Singh had inspected that establishment four days previously (on aSunday), and was so
47 satisfied, that with his own hands he pub on my arms two pairs of gold bracelets, and ordered
48 Rs. 500 to be given to me as an additional sum to the Rs. 900 which I already received as
49 my monthly salary. This having been only an oral promise, I went daily to the darbdr in
50 order to receive an authority in writing, and was with him on the fatal Thursday on which he
51 was assassinated.” The learned Doctor was an eye-witness to the horrible scene, and his state-
52 ments of facts coincide with ours in the main. ‘The story given by McGregor of the mode
53 of Shér Singh’s death receives no corroboration from any known authority. He writes:
54 ** While thus employed ue Singh produced a handsome case containing a new English rifle,
55 which he shewed to Shér Singh. The Maharaja inspected the box and its contents, and, raising
56 the barrel and stock, adjusted the one, to the other, and then tried the sight. Ajit Singh re-
57 marked that if was. loaded, on which Shér Singh gave the rifle to one of Ajit Singh’s atten-
58 dants, and desired him to take aim and fire it off. His master gave the signal, and the contents
59 of the rifle were lodged in the Mahardja’s chest.” This account, very improbable in itself,
60 makes one of Ajit Singh’s servants the murderer of the Maharaja, while all accounts agree that
61 Ajit Singh himself was the assassin,
62 Ajit Singh assassi-
63 nat
64 Sin,
65 1843
66 es Maharaja Shér
67 gh, 15th September
68 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com