1 138 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 the Seiks advised the prince to return to Seealkote for the
3 present, which he did immediately, after being- in the Khalsa
4 camp only about two hours. This visit of Peshora Sing- to the
5 army was brought about entirely by the machinations of Goo-
6 laub Sing-, who believed that either the prince would be
7 murdered, or that he would have to apply to him for pecuniary
8 aid to enable him to bribe the troops, and who trusted to turn
9 either event to his own advantage. The plot, however, failed,
10 and the prince having" returned safe to Seealkote, Goolaub
11 saw that he had now nothing* to do but go with the army
12 to Lahore, trusting to his influence with the soldiery for safety
13 and advantage. The whole body of the Khalsa, therefore^
14 marched for the capital, where they arrived in a few days in
15 two divisions, the one commanded by Rajah Lall Sing, and the
16 other by Rajah Goolaub Sing-. Lall Sing's division, on approaching
17 Lahore, encamped at Shahdera, and Goolaub's at Ekrar ke Put-
18 tun, on the Ravee, at a distance of about two miles and a
19 half from each other. A strong feeling of animosity had by
20 this time sprung up betwixt the rival bodies. That with Lall
21 Sing professed to uphold the Government, while that with
22 Goolaub, which consisted of about twenty thousand men, and
23 fifty pieces of artillery, declared that having passed their
24 word with the Rajah they would not allow of his being molested
25 or ill-treated by any one or in any way. While affairs were
26 in this position, the Ranee and Jewahir Sing sent orders to
27 the troops then with Goolaub Sing, that they should either send
28 the chief into Lahore as a prisoner or remove to at least twenty- *
29 four miles from the city. The soldiers, however, would do
30 neither one thing nor the other. On this Jewahir Sing ordered
31 the troops then in and about Lahore, about twenty thousand
32 in number, to march out and prevent the refractory body from
33 crossing the Ravee. This force was, therefore, soon in progress
34 for Ekrar ke Puttun, and at the same time Rajah Lall Sing's
35 division received orders to make preparations for an attack