1 CHAPTER XI.
2 DEATH OF JEWAHIR SING.
3 When Jewahir Sing- received tidings of the death of Peshora
4 Sing, he was so elated that he actually ordered that a salute
5 should be fired and the city illuminated. This ill-judged order
6 was, however, privately countermanded by Baba Ruttun Sing
7 and Bii Chetta, who saw the folly and danger of such a
8 demonstration. Rumours of the event soon spread among the
9 troops, exciting their horror and indignation • and it was in-
10 timated to Jewahir Sing that the Khalsa was likely to be in
11 a state of mutiny, and that the soldiery were bent on mischief.
12 A few days more served to confirm the apprehensions of the
13 conscience-stricken Sirdar. Pirthee Sing, the son of Meean
14 Arbela Sing*, a Dogra, and his party, were busily at work
15 exciting the troops to rise and revenge the death of Prince
16 Peshora Sing ; and so well did they play their parts, that in a
17 very short time the Avitabile division and thirteen others had
18 resolved on the death of Jewahir Sing. These divisions
19 therefore marched out of their several lines and encamped about
20 four miles from the city, a little beyond Meean Meer. Having
21 taken up their position here, they sent orders to the remaining
22 battalions to leave their various stations and to join them.
23 This was done for the purpose of ascertaining whether the
24 entire Khalsa would side with them or not, while the object of
25 their movement was yet kept secret. They then induced
26 the troops that were in the city to come out, that they might