1 TUNISHMENT OF THE MURDERERS.
2 83
3 dier of their party who had been killed by the Mahomedan
4 who resisted the attack on Dehan Sing, declaring that this
5 was the corpse of the mad or mutinous soldier who had killed
6 the Rajah, and who had been instantly cut down by their
7 own hands. All this was well designed and skilfully executed,
8 but it did not effect the object of mollifying the troops or
9 turning them from their purpose. The main body of the
10 army marched towards the city, and their appearance was
11 announced by the noise and tumult which they caused as they
12 entered the eastern gates, each corps actually struggling with
13 those next it for the foremost position. The fierce war cry
14 Wah Gooroo jee ho Futteh I resounded through the city.
15 The old fort was again invested and encircled by the infuriated
16 mob of armed men, and the artillery was quickly at work beat-
17 ing down the feeble and tottering walls. Within the fort no
18 means appeared to have been used for annoying or repelling the
19 besiegers, and their artillery was, as in the former siege, drawn
20 up close to the place and quite uncovered and unprotected.
21 The besieged, though only about a thousand or eleven hundred
22 in number, might, like the Dogra garrison on the former
23 occasion, have silenced the guns and driven the enemy from
24 them, for they were almost entirely picked marksmen. But no
25 effort was made to return or silence the fire of the besiegers,
26 and in consequence, before the dawn of the following day,
27 several practicable breaches had been made in the walls.
28 Now, however, Rajah Heera Sing sent for all the artillery
29 officers, and by promises and presents induced them to under-
30 take to effect one large and perfect breach through which the
31 assault might be made with ease and success. To other in-
32 ducements he added an oath that he would neither eat nor
33 drink until he had feasted his eyes with looking on the dead
34 bodies of those who had murdered his father. This declara-
35 tion, with the presents and promises which he had lavished on
36 them, was enough to excite the artillery to use their utmost