1 DEATH OF JEWAHIIl SING. 147
2 not embarrass them in the execution of their design ; and
3 lastly they sent a message to Jewahir Sing, informing him
4 that if he would come forth, present himself before them,
5 and order them gratuity, the affair of Peshora Sing's mur-
6 der should be hushed up. But the Sirdar either mistrust-
7 ed them too strongly to venture amongst them, or he wanted
8 tact to seize the opportunity for making his peace with the
9 army, and so declined to accept the invitation. He attempted,
10 however, to negotiate, but to no purpose, as the Punches would
11 listen to nothing that he could urge on his behalf until he pre-
12 sented himself before the troops.
13 Meantime the Punches of several battalions went into the
14 city and took away Pirthee Sing, pretending to do so by
15 force, and placed him at the head of the army, issuing or-
16 ders in his name and that of the Punt Khalsajee. The next
17 day Rajah Lall Sing, Buggut Ram, Dewan Denanauth, and
18 several other principal men of the state went out to the camp
19 and made their obeisance to Pirthee Sing. There, too, they
20 remained, taking care, however, to make it appear that they
21 were detained as prisoners and against their will.
22 There was now a clamorous multitude, under the designation
23 of Punches, constantly assembled at the tents of the Dogra
24 party, which were in the rear centre of Court's battalions.
25 Word then went forth that every corps which did not join
26 the Punt, would incur the anger of the Khalsa, and be severely
27 dealt with. This threat had such effect, that ere the day
28 on which it was proclaimed had past every division of the
29 army was in line, with the exception of two battalions
30 belonging to Jewahir Sing, which were in the fort with three
31 or four pieces of artillery. These corps were allowed to re-
32 main where they were, but peremptory orders were sent to them
33 to prevent the escape of their chief Jewahir Sing ; and this
34 command was enforced by the declaration, that if they allowed
35 the Sirdar to go from among them, they should all be either