1 PUNISHMENT OF THE MURDERERS. 85
2 of the besiegers secured them the advantage. The loss of a
3 thousand men on their side would hardly have been felt ; but
4 when so many of the small band who defended the place had
5 bit the dust, the garrison was almost annihilated. Thus in
6 about an hour all was lost, and further resistance out of the
7 question. Ajeet Sing- Scindawalla, now attempted to escape
8 by getting over the walls, but he was seen and recognised by some
9 soldiers outside, who regardless of the lavish promises which
10 he made to induce them to spare his life, slew him immediately,
11 and cutting off his head ran with it to Heera Sing, who, in his
12 savage joy, rewarded them with many valuable presents of
13 money, jewels, and even jaghires. The head of Ajeet Sing was
14 then laid at the feet of Dehan Sing's widow, who on beholding it
15 exclaimed, " Now I am fully satisfied. Now I am ready to follow
16 my lord and husband ; and," said she, addressing Heera Sing*,
17 " I will tell your dear father that you have acted the part of a
18 brave and dutiful son." Saying this, she, followed by her
19 women, ascended the pile, talking at the same time witli
20 the most perfect composure, ordering her affairs, making-
21 presents and giving alms. Her last act was to place the
22 hulgee or warrior's plume of her late husband in the tur-
23 ban of her step-son Heera Sing. This done, she placed
24 herself in a reclining posture on the pile, with her women,
25 thirteen in number, around her ; then with a smiling and
26 joyful face she took leave of all around, and lastly in a
27 proud and lofty tone she commanded that the torch should be
28 applied. Her command was obeyed, and soon nothing remained
29 but an undistinguishable heap of glowing embers.
30 An affecting episode in this fearful scene may be here related.
31 A female child of ten years old, a slave-girl from the hills,
32 an attendant on the widowed Ranee, was pronounced by all,
33 including her mistress, to be too young to perform the rite
34 of suttee with the elder women. The Ranee, therefore, fondly