1 250 THE LORDS OF THE HILLS J —
2 Misser Dewan Chund, the brothers repaired to Lahore. On
3 arriving- there they presented their letters of introduction to
4 Misser Dewan Chund, who treated them with due respect and
5 made them many promises of assistance. Just about this time,
6 news arrived that Meean Mota had been murdered by Da-
7 moother Sing" and Gal Sing of the Bhow faction. The brothers
8 hereupon determined to revenge his death, but as it was at present
9 out of their power to do so, they were compelled to defer their
10 design till an opportunity for its fulfilment should present itself.
11 Misser Dewan Chund, meantime, introduced them to Runjeet
12 Sing as two of the gallant Rajpoot youths whose conduct he had
13 before described and extolled. The Maharajh pleased with their
14 character and appearance, directed them to remain in attendance
15 upon him, on a subsistence allowance of three rupees each
16 per diem. Thus loitering about the court for some months- they
17 acquired all its habits and manners, and became accomplished
18 courtiers. In 1812, however, they were made Gorechars in
19 Meean Sing's Missee, Dehanoo, being the greater favourite with
20 the Maharajh, receiving five rupees a day, while Goolauboo,
21 the elder brother, had only four. Their pay was, however, ere
22 long doubled and tripled, so that of their savings from this
23 source and from the presents they frequently received from
24 the Maharajh, they were able by the latter end of the year
25 to send home to their family no less than three thousand
26 rupees. While they were dangling attendance on the durbar,
27 their father died, leaving his sons to the care of his brother
28 Meean Mota.
29 The two brothers were the most favoured of all Runjeet Sing's
30 favourites ; it is supposed, however, that Goolauboo would not
31 endure the Maharajh's intimacy as his brothers did. In 1813
32 they, at Runjeet's request, sent for their younger brother Suche-
33 too, now a lad of about twelve years old, whose handsome
34 face and graceful person immediately won for him the entire
35 regard of the Maharajh. The Rajpoot brothers were now all