1 CHAPTER X.
2 THE MURDER OF PESHORA SING.
3 Peshora Sing on the invitation of the troops repaired to
4 Lahore, and on his arrival there, the deputies of the army waited
5 upon him, when some of them went so far as to desire him to
6 place himself at the head of the Khalsa declaring- that they
7 would proclaim and support him as the rightful heir to the throne.
8 He had not been twenty-four hours in the city when such
9 overtures were made to him, and his cause was gaining
10 ground. At this juncture the Ranee sent for him, and at
11 her request he presented himself in durbar. He was there
12 received by Her Highness with open arms and professions
13 of regard and respect as the equal of Dulleep Sing her son.
14 Jewahir Sing, however, did not treat him as the prince con-
15 sidered due to his rank, and the latter therefore left the durbar
16 in disgust. Thence he went quietly to his quarters in the
17 city, and immediately summoned to his presence the Punches
18 of the Khalsa. To them he enlarged on the slight he had
19 received in durbar, and proposed that he should leave the capital
20 and return to his jaghire. But the deputies persuaded him
21 from this intention, and induced him to accompany them out of
22 the city to Buddhoo ka ava, which, since it became the gather-
23 ing place of the troops on Shere Sing's accession, had been
24 considered to have some good fortune attached to it. Here
25 Peshora Sing was immediately surrounded by the whole body
26 of the Punt who offered their allegiance to him in the name
27 of the army.