1 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR. 35
2 nephew of Dehan Sing, and the two proceeded through the
3 gateway together. As they emerged from the passage, the
4 young Maharajh made a momentary halt while he addressed
5 some jocular remark to his companion, and the next instant
6 a crash was heard, — the beams, stones, and tiles fell from above
7 and the two young men were struck to the ground.*
8 The largest of the stones fell on the Meean and killed him
9 on the spot. The young prince too fell senseless, but after
10 a moment struggled to rise. No one, however, could tell at
11 the time whether the blow was mortal or not. Dehan Sing
12 immediately took up the prince in his arms, and placing him
13 in a palkee, which, as it would seem, was in readiness for
14 the purpose, had him conveyed to the fort, and there locked
15 him up in an inner apartment. Lena Sing Majeeteea, attempt-
16 ed to follow the palkee ; but Dehan Sing, as soon as he saw
17 the Sirdar's object, instantly pushed him away. In vain did
18 some others of the chief Sirdars entreat admittance — in vain
19 did the mother of No Nehal in a paroxysm of rage and anxiety
20 come and beat the fort gates with her own hands — admittance
21 even into the fort there was none, still less into the prince's
22 apartment. None of the female inmates, not even his wives
23 were suffered to see him. Every thing was kept locked up
24 • Captain Gardner says, " I myself was present at the commencement of the
25 ceremony of cremation, that is, when the torch was applied, standing close to
26 Rajah Dehan Sing, being by his special orders, in attendance on him. Before the
27 prince had left the spot, however, I was directed by the Rajah to go and bring
28 forty of my artillerymen in their fatigue dresses, whom he said he wanted there
29 immediately. When I returned with these men the catastrophe had just occurred,
30 and No Nehal Sing was being carried in a palanquin into the Hazooree Bagh.
31 I then received an order from the Rajah to send my men to their camp, as
32 their services were no longer required. What services it was intended or expected
33 that they should render, 1 have never been able to ascertain. While on the
34 spot, however, I learnt all the particulars of the affair, and have since verified
35 them by the evidence of a most respectable merchant of Lahore, the state jeweller
36 to the Durbar, who, before several British officers, corroborated what I have said
37 of the events which preceded the death of No Nehal Sing."