1 34 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
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3 4.
4 This ceremony was performed in an open space opposite the
5 mausoleum of Runjeet Sing-, and near the Hazooree Bagh,
6 within the precincts of the palace ; and while the body of the
7 late sovereign was being burnt, the new Maharajh, No
8 Nehal Sing, stood by the blazing- pile of his father. Rajah
9 Dehan Sing- was at his side. Ere the corpse was consumed,
10 however, the prince felt desirous to leave the spot, and
11 to perform the ceremony of ablution in a nullah at a short
12 distance. On this the minister politely represented to him
13 that it would be contrary to rule and etiquette for him
14 to leave the place before the body was consumed, and even
15 went so far as to appeal to his sense of duty to the me-
16 mory of a dear and lost father! No Nehal was thus per-
17 suaded ' to stay a little longer ; but presently, on the plea
18 of sickness — it is said that he really was sick — he left the
19 spot. He then proceeded on foot towards the bathing place
20 which was at the distance of only about one hundred and
21 twenty yards. While on his way the minister again brought
22 him to a stand, for a moment, to remonstrate with him on his
23 indecorous haste ; the prince, however, was not to be detain-
24 ed, and he went on towards the stream. He was attended
25 by the whole court, and followed by five elephants ; but as it
26 would have been considered irreverent for him to ride past the
27 funeral pile on his return, the elephants were sent back to wait
28 at a little distance. Having washed, the prince set forth on
29 his return. He had to pass first through a gateway, then across
30 a court yard, and lastly through a deep arch-way leading
31 from this court-yard to the spot on which the corpse had
32 been burnt, and near which the elephants were now in waiting.
33 Just before he entered this archway the prince took the hand
34 of Meean Oottum Sing, the eldest son of Goolaub Sing and
35 Sing— who for some occult reason procured it— shamefully treated and forced to
36 become one of the victims at the suttee on this occasion.