1 134 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 the Dogras, and encouraged partly by the successful result
3 of some skirmishes, and partly by the large desertions of the
4 Dogra troops, approached the place.
5 Goolaub Sing now sent word that in case Sham Sing Attaree-
6 wallah, General Meva Sing- Majeeteea, Sultan Mahomed, Futteh
7 Sing Maun and two or three other chiefs would come to Jummoo
8 and guarantee his personal safety, he would accede to all the
9 demands of the Lahore Government. None of the chiefs named,
10 however, would risk his liberty and life by venturing among
11 the Dogras, except Futteh Sing* Maun,- a brave old chief of
12 Runjeet's best days, who volunteered to beard the Lion in his
13 den. Accompanied by Wuzeer Buggenoo and one Gunput,
14 formerly a Moonshee of Heera Sing, with a small escort, the
15 old soldier repaired to Jummoo, where he and his companions
16 were well received and entertained for three days. At the
17 end of that period, Goolaub Sing gave them permission to
18 return to their camp at Bobliana, with his answer, which
19 was to the effect, that he was but a poor man and could not
20 afford to pay the three crores of rupees which the durbar
21 demanded of him, but that he agreed to give up all the property
22 which had belonged to Dehan Sing, Heera Sing, and Suchet
23 Sing, and in earnest of his purpose he sent along with the
24 messangers, in banghy baskets and on camels and elephants,
25 the sum of about three lakhs as a nuzzur for the Lahore
26 Government. The Rajah himself, mounted on the elephant
27 which carried Futteh Sing Maun, accompanied that chief out-
28 side the town, followed by the Wuzeer and Moonshee on another
29 elephant. On arriving near the river, or a little beyond the
30 outer gateway, Goolaub took leave of his visitors and returned
31 into Jummoo. Futteh Sing and his company had not proceeded
32 more than a mile and a half from the town, when as they arriv-
33 ed at a barrier called Soorghur, from its being the entrance into
34 some hunting grounds covered with thick jungle, they were
35 suddenly assailed by about five hundred armed Dogras and