1 CHAPTER IV.
2 MURDER OF JEWALLA SING AND OF RANEE CHUND KOUR.
3 It has been seen how Jewalla Sing, the Mooktear or agent
4 of Shere Sing, under promise of being made Wuzeer, exerted
5 himself to obtain for his master possession of the throne
6 and capital, without the aid and influence of the Dogra
7 family. In the interval between Shere Sing's first appearance
8 at Shalimar, and his return from Konoowar to Lahore, and
9 while Dehan Sing was at Jummoo, Jewalla Sing had stre-
10 nuously exerted himself to bring over the troops to his master's
11 interest, and it was chiefly by his bribes and promises that
12 their services were secured on behalf of Shere Sing. Elated
13 with his success in this matter, the Mooktear fancied that
14 with the aid of the troops he had won over he could take the
15 fort by force of arms, and advised his master not to allow
16 Rajah Dehan Sing on his arrival to interfere in an affair,
17 which he, Jewalla Sing, could settle without his assistance. It
18 was he who instigated the Khalsa troops to attack the fort
19 during Dehan Sing's absence, and it was only by the energy
20 and resolution of the Dogra garrison that his object was
21 defeated. Even when Dehan Sing arrived, and when Shere
22 Sing, repenting of his attempt to take the fort without his
23 aid and advice, ordered a cessation of the fire upon the place,
24 Jewalla Sing, unwilling to be baulked in his ambitious designs,
25 persuaded the troops to continue the attack, and thus for
26 twelve hours the orders of Shere Sing were of no avail ;
27 K