1 100 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR,
2 minister, Rajah Heera Sing, and his party. It was expected that
3 this measure, with the promises of a large increase of pay hy
4 which it was accompanied, would have induced the troops to de-
5 pose Heera Sing and to install Suchet Sing or Jewahir Sing in his
6 place. But it happened that it was late in the evening when
7 Jewahir Sing took the prince to the army, and the battalions,
8 ready to suspect something wrong, were confirmed in their suspi-
9 cions by a rumour which soon got abroad, that Jewahir Sing was
10 planning the removal of the Maharajh from the county, with a
11 view of placing him in the hands of the British. They there-
12 fore, ordered him to alight from his elephant, and placing a
13 strict watch over him and his young charge for the night,
14 promised that in the morning they would give him an answer,
15 the night being required for deliberation. Immediately the
16 Punches were at work, and a council was held in each batta-
17 lion. The result was that the friends of Heera Sing pre-
18 vailed, and it was consequently determined to acquaint the
19 minister with what had occurred, and to receive his instruc-
20 tions for their further guidance. A message was accordingly
21 sent to Heera Sing*, who immediately returned a gracious
22 answer thereto, expressing his admiration of the wisdom
23 and loyalty of the troops, who had thus defeated what he
24 represented as Jewahir Sing's plan for removing their sove-
25 reign into the British territories, whereby they had saved
26 many crores of rupees, and much trouble and bloodshed that
27 must necessarily have ensued had the traitorous design suc-
28 ceeded. This message, with liberal rewards, and the minister's
29 presence among the soldiers next morning, induced them to
30 give up Jewahir Sing and his followers, whom the young king-
31 was instructed to deliver over to the tender mercies of his
32 Wuzeer to do as he thought proper with them. But the
33 troops recommended that Jewahir Sing should be leni-
34 ently treated, as they attributed his share of the business
35 entirely to the instigation of Rajah Suchet Sing. This recom-