1 Capture of the
2 citadel,
3 Ajit Singh, Sindhian-
4 wiata, is slain,
5 Plunder of the fort.
6 Commotions in the
7 eity,
8 The immolation of
9 Dhian Singh’s widow
10 on the pyre,
11 4A, touching {ncident,
12 Sri Satguyer) agat Sudigbgiekibratyudly protest
13 518 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
14 ously rushed forward and effected an entrance through the breach and
15 swept everything before them. Bhai Kesri Singh, the principal adviser
16 of Réj& Suchet Singh, mounted the tottering walls by means of scaling
17 ladders, and thus effected the entrance of the detachment under him.
18 The little garrison made a desperate resistance, but were borne down and
19 almost annihilated by the superior number of the besiegers, and in
20 about an hour all resistance was at an end. Ajit Singh, Sindhian-
21 w4lé, with Mahar Ghasitd, his confidential agent, escaped over the wall
22 by means of a rope, but they were observed by a Mussalmén soldier,
23 who pursued them. Ajit Singh, being hard pressed, took the gold bracelets
24 off his hands and threw them to the man, and made him lavish promises,
25 hoping thereby to induce him to spare his life; but he and his comrade
26 were immediately slain, and the Mussalmdn soldier cut off Ajit Singh’s head
27 and hurried to Hiré Singh, to whom he delivered it as a trophy. The
28 soldier was munificently rewarded. Valuable presents, money and jdgirs
29 were bestowed on all who had made theniselves conspicuous in the siege
30 and assault, while even common soldiers filled their pockets with silver and
31 gold obtained as presents or spoil. The fort was now indiscriminately
32 plundered by the soldiery. The house of Ranf Chand Kour was pillaged,
33 and vast quantities of clothes, shawls and jewels were carried away. The
34 royal Toshakhdnd was also, plundered, and everything that could be found
35 taken away. Great depredations were committed on the citizens of
36 Lahore. The merchants left their shops to save their lives, The inhabi-
37 tants buried their valuables underground, and whatever was left unprotect-
38 ed was pillaged by the infuriated Sikhs. The noses of the common women
39 in the streets were cut off, and whoever made the slightest show of resistance
40 was forthwith despatched.
41 The plundering, which continued for some time, was at length stopped
42 by the orders of Raj&4 Hira Singh, who brought Ajit Singh’s head to his
43 step-mother and laid it at her feet, On beholding it, the Rani exclaimed: “ My
44 mind is now at perfect ease, let the pyre be now prepared, and I will follow
45 my lord in his journey to the next world.” Addressing the youthful Hird
46 Singh, she said: ‘“ When I see your father I will tell him that you acted
47 as a brave and dutiful son.” The pile was in readiness; she talked with
48 patience and perfect composure, distributing her valuables and jewels among
49 the bystanders as alms, and giving orders regarding her affairs. Her
50 last act was the placing of her late husband’s kalgi, or the warrior’s
51 aigrette, in the turban of Hird Singh. She then quietly and cheerfully
52 ascended the fatal ladder which led to the pile, followed by her slaves. The
53 women, thirteen in number, took their seats around their mistress. The
54 lady then took her final leave of all with smiling and cheerful countenance,
55 and, in a loud and dignified voice, ordered the torch to be applied. Her
56 orders were immediately obeyed. In the twinkling of an eye the whole
57 pile was in flames, and in a short time nothing remained but heaps of
58 indistinguisbhable ashes. Ne
59 An interesting and touching instance of fidelity occurred on this occasion.
60 A female child, ten years of age, a slave-girl of the Rani, and a native of
61 the hills, was declared by all, including the Rénf, to be too young to be
62 sacrificed, and her mistress entrusted her to the charge of her step-son, Hird
63 Singh, strictly enjoining him to look well after her. But the child insisted
64 upon perishing in the flames with her mistress. Three times did she throw
65 herself on the pile, and was as many times forcibly taken away. At last,
66 with a courage and zeal as pd i as they were extraordinary in one of
67 a
68 pIChRSHlibATyedRapsowr the Rdjd