1 168 THE WAR WITH THE BRITISH.
2 this interval all went on smoothly, the only anxiety entailed
3 upon the heads of the state, being that caused by the intrigues
4 of Jewan Sing, Toshakhaneea, for the elevation of Rajah
5 Goolaub Sing to the Wuzeerut, intrigues, however, which result-
6 ed in nothing.
7 The Court went to Umritsir and there remained for some
8 time. About the beginning of November, (1845) it left that
9 city and returned towards Lahore, but approached no nearer
10 than to the Shalimar Gardens, where it took up its abode for a
11 while. It was rumoured, about this time, that while at Umrit-
12 sir, the Ranee and her favourite Lall Sing had formed resolutions
13 and plans for the punishment of the army ; and from the day
14 of the Court's arrival at Shalimar, Rajah Lall Sing openly took
15 upon himself the duties of Wuzeer, acting of course by
16 permission of and under the authority of the Queen Mother.
17 Reports were now circulated of the intention of the British
18 to take possession of the Seik territories to the south and east
19 of the Sutlej. On several occasions, Lall Sing in open durbar
20 produced and read papers purporting to be letters from Kardars
21 of the country beyond the river, and in which it was stated
22 that the British army was already advancing gradually, and
23 was creating disturbance and annoyance in the Seik states.
24 This intelligence, authentic as it appeared to be, of course
25 created considerable excitement among the troops and people
26 at Lahore, and soon formed almost the only topic of discussion
27 and remark. When these rumours had worked their intended
28 effect, Lall Sing summoned a council of sirdars, officers, and
29 deputies at Shalimar. To this assembly Dewan Denanauth
30 read a letter, which he said had been sent to the durbar by the
31 Kardars of the states beyond the Sutlej, intimating that the
32 British authorities really meant to seize that part of the
33 country, — that they were causing great annoyance to the ser-
34 vants of the durbar, and had actually given orders to the
35 people of several villages to pay no tribute but to the British