1 1G EARLY HISTORY OF RUNJEET SING.
2 was Cliete Sing who usually dwelt at Lahore; and the
3 sons of Soba Sing* were Mohur Sing- and Mean Sing.
4 Two Mussulmans of the name of Meea Ashuk and Meer
5 Mokun-ood-deen were however considered the principal Var-
6 seedaurs or Chowdries of Lahore. They were opulent and
7 influential ; and without their interference or sanction, few
8 matters could be settled in the city or its neighbourhood.
9 The daughter of Meea Ashuk was married to another Chow-
10 drie whose name was Meer Buddur-ood-deen and who
11 happened to be on unfriendly terms with certain Kotrees
12 and Brahmins of the city. These men, in order to be revenged
13 on Buddur-ood-deen, went in a body to Sirdar Chete Sing
14 who resided in the Summun Boorj or fort of Lahore, and
15 told him a long story of the treachery of their enemy, who
16 they alleged was in constant communication with Zeman
17 Shah the sovereign of Afghanistan. They even brought
18 forward false papers, bearing a forgery of Buddur-ood-deen's
19 signature, for the purpose of corroborating their statement,
20 and by these means they convinced Chete Sing of its truth.
21 He accordingly, in a great rage, sent forth and had Buddur-
22 ood-deen seized, and without allowing him to make his
23 defence, or even to have an interview with him, ordered
24 that he should be heavily ironed and cast into a dun-
25 g-eon. On hearing of this, Meea Ashuk the father in law
26 of the unfortunate man, with Meer Mokun-oo-deen,
27 Chowdrie Kukka, Abruth Khan, and many other chief
28 men and inhabitants of Lahore went in a body to Chete
29 Sing to convince him of the innocence of Buddur-ood-deen
30 and the malice of his enemies, hoping thereupon to
31 procure the immediate release of their friend. Chete Sing
32 however, refused to listen to them, and in an angry and haughty
33 manner ordered them from his presence. On this, Meea Ashuk
34 Meer Mokun-oo-deen and their companions returned home
35 much enraged and disappointed, and swearing vengeance upon
36 the Kotrees and Bramins, as also on Sirdar Chete Sing. They