1 164 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 ment, Lall Sing was strictly prohibited from entering* the female
3 apartments in the fort, and forbidden to hold any communication
4 with the Ranee. At the same time a particular inventory was
5 taken of the valuable property under his charge, vso that he could
6 no longer undetected make presents to his lady-love and her
7 confidant. This gave great annoyance to the virtuous trio, and
8 filled them with indignation against Heera Sing and his adviser,
9 whose ruin they thenceforth sought.
10 When Sirdar Jewahir Sing, the brother of Mai Chunda, was
11 imprisoned by Heera Sing for attempting to carry away the
12 young Maharajh Dulleep Sing, Mungela persuaded her mistress
13 that, should she quietly submit to the incarceration of her
14 brother, the next step would be either at once to murder her
15 and her son, or to consign them to a lingering death in
16 some dungeon at Jummoo or elsewhere in the hills. The
17 Ranee was assured that the Dogra party meant no good to her
18 or any of her family, and would certainly try by some means
19 to get rid of her. Thus was Mai Chunda incited to appeal
20 to the troops, whereby she procured the release of her brother,
21 who swore vengeance on the Dogras, and immediately proceed-
22 ed to lay his plans for effecting their downfall. While he
23 was at Umritsir sowing the seeds of disaffection and rebellion
24 among the Punches and the troops, Mungela was busy at
25 Lahore using all her arts to induce Mai Chunda to instigate
26 the Khalsa to rise against her enemies.
27 While these intrigues were working, Lall Sing contrived
28 to insinuate himself so far into the favour of Heera Sing and
29 the Pundit, that they, as has been before mentioned, created
30 him Rajah of Rhotas. At the same time, however, he was,
31 with the Ranee and Mungela, plotting their destruction ; yet
32 he acted his part so well that up to the last moment his fidelity
33 was never suspected by his victims.
34 After the murder of Heera Sing and Pundit Jellah, Sirdar
35 Jewahir Sing came into power, and at the same time became