1 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR. 37
2 house, he convened an assembly of the principal Sirdars, (those
3 chiefly whom he feared most) and went over the self-same
4 arguments with them also. Thus, though revealing the whole
5 to a few, he still kept the matter a secret from the public !
6 He had promised Chund Kour, during* his interview with
7 her, that she should reign in the place of her son, but his
8 great object was to ensure her silence until the arrival of
9 Shere Sing, to whom he had privately written, reminding him
10 of his promise, and telling him, that now was the moment —
11 that he should ride post by night and day, and arrive quickly.
12 Shere Sing arrived, and as soon as he had presented himself,
13 the death of the prince was publicly made known, and pre-
14 parations for his funeral obsequies were made accordingly.
15 Dehan Sing, well aware that should Chund Kour become
16 the sovereign of the Punjaub, it would not be long before
17 the only party he now really dreaded, (the Scindawallas)
18 would hurl both him and his family from the high position
19 they then held, speedily endeavored to urge upon the Sirdars the
20 necessity of placing Shere Sing on the guddee. With the utmost
21 wiliness he pleaded that the turbulent Seiks neither would nor
22 could be ruled by a woman ; and that he felt it would be utterly
23 impossible for him to act with or consult a woman on affairs
24 of importance. Some were for this, others again against it;
25 however Shere Sing was by the minister installed in state
26 and proclaimed the reigning monarch. Although Chund Kour
27 and her party strenuously opposed this movement, still for
28 the time the minister had his way ; and with his usual tact,
29 he was soon enabled to win the army over to his side. The
30 Scindawalla family and Rajah Goolaub Sing espoused, in ap-
31 pearance at least, the cause of Chund Kour : — for it is a well
32 known fact that in all important intrigues, it was the policy of
33 the two brothers, by appearing to divide, to side with and lead
34 the two opposing parties. Goolaub Sing came from Jummoo to
35 head the party of Chund Kour, who, as it had been promised