1 170 THE WAR WITH THE BRITISH.
2 mother, with the whole Court, returned to the palace in Lahore.
3 Preparations for the projected invasion were now commenced
4 in earnest, and each corps and battalion was directed to send
5 in an account of all that it required for the march. Henceforth
6 the expedition and its anticipated results formed the grand subject
7 of discourse in camp and city. The soldiers expatiated on
8 the booty they were to bring back from Delhi, Muttra, Benares,
9 &c, and some were forming plans for keeping and ruling the
10 country they were to conquer.
11 The astrologers having named an auspicious day, the grand
12 assembly for the installation of Rajah Lall Sing and Sirdar
13 Teja Sing was held at the summood or tomb of Runjeet Sing.
14 The first thing done on this occasion was to read some passages
15 from the Grunth, their sacred book, preparatory to their partak-
16 ing of the Chirr ee Persauth, or holy bread and wine,* a ceremo-
17 ny observed at all their solemn assemblies. This performance
18 over, a discussion ensued on an order for the French division
19 (Ventura's) to proceed towards Peshawar, where troops were
20 required to quell some disturbances in the province. The Pun-
21 ches of the division however declared that they would not march
22 in that direction until the war with the British was over, and so
23 the matter dropped.
24 Now all the sirdars, officers, and Punches were requested to
25 lay their hands on the Grunth and on the hem of the sacred
26 canopy over the shrine of Runjeet, and thus to swear alle-
27 giance to Maharajh Dulleep Sing, and obedience to Rajah
28 Lall Sing as Wuzeer, and to Sirdar Teja Sing as Com-
29 mander-in-chief. Then orders were issued for the march
30 of the army torwards the Sutlej. It was made known that
31 Lall Sing in person would command the Gorechar cavalry,
32 * The bread used on this occasion is rather a fine dough, sweetened with sugar
33 and raisins, and rather heated than baked. There is generally a great scramble
34 for this Seik sacrament, and the officiating Gooroo is sometimes trampled down
35 by the rude and impatient mob of soldiers.