1 13G SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 that these men, who doubtless had good and substantial
3 reasons for their advocacy, exerted all their influence to
4 secure a favourable reception for Meean Jewahir Sing* and
5 his terms. Further to ensure success to his negotiations,
6 the Rajah himself now went out among the soldiers, and
7 he declared that he and his family were as they ever had
8 been the creatures and slaves of the Khalsa, and that nothing
9 should induce him to raise his hand against them. He de-
10 clared, too, that though he might appear grasping and cruel
11 in the extortion of money, it must be remembered that he
12 sought to amass wealth only for the service of the Khalsa.
13 He added another and a more powerful appeal to their for-
14 bearance, when he told them that he was the last of his family
15 who knew where the vast treasures of his house lay hid, and
16 that if he were put to death this secret would die with him.
17 To enforce and illustrate this declaration, he would direct the
18 Seiks to repair to certain places around Jummoo, where, by at-
19 tending to the marks and signs which he gave them, they
20 found large sums of buried money, fifteen, twenty, and even
21 forty thousand rupees in one place, and which but for Goolaub's
22 disclosure mi<rht have lain hid for ever. It was thus that
23 the Rajah gained the title which the soldiers bestowed on him
24 of the Sona ka Koohooree, or the Golden Hen. By such
25 means, by flattering speeches, by promises and bribes, Goolaub
26 Sing entirely brought over the troops to his interest, without
27 troubling himself about the views or opinions of their leaders.
28 The terms he offered did not satisfy the chiefs, but they pleased
29 the soldiers, and that was all the Rajah cared for. These terms
30 were that each man of the entire Seik army should receive a
31 gold bangle or armlet and twenty-five rupees in cash. The
32 first object of this offer was to attach to the interests of the
33 Rajah, the four battalions of Avitabile's division, the Povindea
34 division, and that of General Court, and not only to ensure his