1 120 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 the river, that his bones might not be left on such a land of
3 iniquity.
4 It is a fact that to the very last moment before the conflict,
5 the Baba had no suspicion that the Seiks entertained any
6 hostile intentions towards either himself or Uttur Sing Scinda-
7 walla, as was proved by his actually having victuals provided
8 for ten thousand men, saying as he ordered the slaughter
9 of five hundred goats for the feast, that the Seiks were coming
10 as his visitors, and he must entertain them as such.
11 All being over the troops returned to their camp, and
12 marched that night or early the next morning, encamping for
13 want of water on the bank of the river opposite Ferozepore.
14 Peshora Sing, the day before this battle, had come to Lahore
15 to make his submission and to entreat pardon from his brother.
16 But before he had been there many hours now news arrived of
17 Cashmeera Sing's fate, and there being no other alternative, the
18 Minister installed him in his former jaghires, &c. He was
19 immediately sent off with presents and money to Gurriwalla,
20 when he declared his intention to live a quiet and retired life.
21 The wives and mother of Cashmeera Sing, who were in the camp
22 of Beer Sing, were captured by Meean Lall Sing, and pri-
23 vately sent off towards Lahore covered up in a cart. But
24 a rumour of this and of their bad treatment — they were re-
25 fused even water to drink — coming to the ears of the Khalsa,
26 the whole army shewed a strong disposition to mutiny, and
27 two or three hundred men immediately set off in pursuit of the
28 escort, which they speedily overtook. They beat the guard,
29 Mean Ball's men, who fled, and the unfortunate women were
30 released and brought back to camp, the troops engaging
31 that they would prevail on the Wuzeer to provide them with
32 suitable and honorable maintenance.
33 The Khalsa now called to mind the death of the revered
34 Gooroo. They laid all the blame of his murder on Jewahir
35 Mull and Meean Lall Sing, and rushed tumultuously upon