1 RAJAH LALL SING, AND THE SLAVE-GIRL MUNGELA. 168
2 was at this time about twenty years of age, and of a re-
3 markably shrewd, wily, and insinuating character. She could
4 not be called handsome in comparison with other women of
5 her country ; but she had a pair of fine hazel eyes of which
6 she could make a most effective use, and an easy, winning
7 carriage and address. By means of these she attracted the
8 attention of Runjeet so far as to induce him to give Gulloo
9 Moskee an order that she should remain with Mai Chunda.
10 Jessa Moonshee seeing how Runjeet had determined to dispose
11 of the girl, had the tact to assure him that it was as a present
12 for His Highness that he had bought her, and that he now
13 cheerfully resigned her into the hands of the Maharajh. On
14 this he was dismissed with a trilling present, and Mungela
15 became a permanent inhabitant of Runjeet's Zenana, where
16 she remained in attendance on Mai Chunda as the active
17 and willing minister of her pleasures. It was Mungela who
18 exerted herself to persuade Runjeet that the child borne by
19 Mai Chunda, the present Maharajh Dulleep Sing, was his
20 own, though none knew its real paternity better than she did.
21 By thus aiding and encouraging her mistress in her intrigues,
22 by sparing no means of ingratiating herself with her, and
23 by all the arts which she exercised to gain her purpose, the
24 slave-girl at length attained such an influence over her mis-
25 tress that the Ranee could not act or decide for herself in the
26 most trivial or the most important matter.
27 During the life time of Kurruck Sing and No Nehal Sing, an
28 intimacy grew up betwixt Mai Chunda and Lall Sing, and
29 during the short reign of Shere Sing it had ripened into the
30 closest connection. This intrigue was favoured and forwarded
31 by Mungela with all her power, her object being to secure
32 to herself the gifts in money, jewels, &c. which the lovers
33 were ready to bestow upon her most liberally, — Lall Sing then
34 having charge of one of the toshakhanas or treasuries. When
35 Heera Sing and the Pundit became the heads of the Govern-