1 EARLY HISTORY OF RUNJEET SING. 15
2 escort across the Sutlej, and even as some assert as far as the
3 Ganges. All however that is certainly known is that Laik
4 Misser was never more heard of in the Punjaub.
5 Not long after these events had occurred, Runjeet committed
6 another act of cruelty in procuring the assassination of Dewan
7 Lekoo, formerly the manager of his father's affairs, and who had
8 incurred his wrath by refusing him in his minority more than
9 five rupees a day for his expenses, and by otherwise treating
10 him in what the fiery youth considered a disrespectful manner.
11 Not long after the murder of his mother, Runjeet sent ten or
12 twelve of his men-at-arms to Kodrabad, where the dewan was
13 collecting the revenues of the district, with strict injunctions to
14 put him to death. These orders were strictly obeyed, and the
15 soldiers speedily returned to their chief to report the execution of
16 their dreadful task. For many years after this, Runjeet
17 continued to be guided by the counsels of his mother-in-law
18 Suda Kour, who ultimately, however, died in prison
19 in 1827 having been placed in confinement by him for refus-
20 ing to give up the fort of Dhinee, on the left bank of the
21 Sutlej.
22 For some years after the assumption of power by Runjeet
23 Sing, the history of the Sukerchuckia Missal exhibits no event
24 of particular importance. All was peace and quiet, and the
25 young chief went every year with the whole of his tribe to
26 Umritsir to bathe in the holy tank, and to be present at the
27 Goormatta or yearly council of chiefs. Thus smoothly the time
28 passed until the year 1798, when an event occurred which,
29 as it formed the first step of the ladder by which Runjeet
30 mounted to power, requires to be particularly described.
31 By original agTeement among- the Seiks, Lahore was por-
32 tioned out under the rule of three Sirdars, namely Gujer
33 Sing, Seedoo, of Gujerut, Lena Sing, Koloo, of Lahore, and
34 Soba Sing, Kunnia. These chiefs were now dead but their
35 sons were living. The son of Gujer Sing was Sobh Sing,
36 who generally resided at Gujerut; the son of Lena Sing