1 128 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 the army understood that the Maharajh Dulleep Sing and
3 his mother complained of being' treated as prisoners and
4 that they were not allowed to go in or out without the special
5 permission of the Minister. On receiving this reply, Heera
6 Sing promised to withdraw all restraint on the Maharajh and
7 his mother ; and seemingly satisfied with this, the troops quietly
8 returned to their quarters.
9 On the following day the Wuzeer assembled the officers
10 and deputies of the army and took counsel with them for a
11 long time. The result was that the majority declared their
12 readiness to acknowledge and obey him as Minister, but re-
13 quired that he should dismiss the Pundit Jellah from his
14 court and counsels. They further demanded that he should
15 allow the Maharajh and his mother perfect freedom of per-
16 son and action, and set aside a suitable jaghire for their
17 maintenance. On the Minister agreeing to these terms the
18 officers and deputies promised that they would the next day
19 meet again and use their best endeavours to effect a set-
20 tlement of all differences betwixt him and the reigning family.
21 That same night the Wuzeer and the Pundit receiv-
22 ed intelligence which induced them to make an attempt to
23 escape towards Jummoo. Their plan, however, was acted
24 on with such irresolution that it was nearly day before the
25 fugitives, attended by Meean Sone Sing, Mcean Laub Sing, and
26 others, with about three or four hundred horse and foot, left
27 the city under the pretext of going to inspect the troops at
28 Meean Meer. They had scarcely cleared the Tanksallee
29 gate when they heard the music of the different regiments
30 saluting Jewahir Sing. On this they quickened their pace
31 towards the Ravee, and on arriving at its banks, they
32 ordered their Scik attendants to halt, while they with
33 the rest crossed the stream. They then proceeded to
34 the Burradaree of Thara or Thurgar, which was near
35 the ford, and there dismounting, Heera Sing and his