1 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR. 41
2 safety four battalions of infantry and two of cavalry with several
3 pieces of artillery were quickly stationed around the mound,
4 while a heavy discharge of cannon as a salute proclaimed to
5 the startled citizens of Lahore — now roused to a sense of their
6 danger — the intention of the army to support Shere Sing*.
7 Rajah Goolaub Sing, who ever since the death of No Nehal
8 Sing, had in a manner publicly avowed his intentions to favour
9 the claims of Chund Kour, was considered the head and main
10 spring of her cause. Rajah Heera Sing', the eldest son of
11 Dehan Sing, was likewise of her party, and while he remained
12 in Lahore made it appear that he had joined his uncle against
13 his father — a deep-laid scheme to save appearances, a trick
14 which the wily brothers of Jummoo had often played before.
15 The intent of this manoeuvre was, that by ostensibly becoming
16 enemies to each other, and by the appearance of opposition
17 in their political views, they were enabled to become the leaders
18 and controllers of the contending parties, whereby their object
19 was secured whichever side was successful, and they were
20 enabled by their private agreement to direct the current of
21 affairs more entirely to suit their own intentions and advantage.
22 However, from this it may be inferred that Rajah Dehan Sing-
23 did not leave his brothers at Lahore without a proper ar-
24 rangement with them as to the part each had to play in the
25 tragic drama that was about to be performed. Rajah Goolaub
26 was well aware of the moment when Shere Sing was to leave
27 Koonoowan for Lahore, as well as of the real disposition
28 of the Khalsa towards him. But it was only on the day on
29 which Shere Sing arrived at Shalimar that Goolaub seemed to
30 have the slightest notion of his approach or of the intentions
31 of the armv.
32 G