1 46 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 wards by the Tunksallee and other gates. It then appeared
3 that the guards and keepers of the gates all round the city,
4 after having on the previous evening accepted large sums as
5 presents from Goolaub Sing, and sworn to be faithful to
6 Chund Kour, had, on the receipt of somewhat more valuable
7 gifts from the other side, transferred their service and allegiance
8 to Shere Sing, to whom, in virtue of this agreement, the gates
9 were quietly opened at the time appointed.
10 Thus before daylight Shere Sing* was not only in possession
11 of four or five of the principal gateways of the city, but
12 had actually entered the place in person with about two thousand
13 infantry, while about five thousand cavalry had gone in by the
14 gates, and all assembled quietly and privately in the open
15 space now included in Meva Sing's artillery barracks. Shere
16 Sing himself took up his quarters for the time in Meva Sing's own
17 house, which was close to the wicket by which he had
18 entered the city. Thus proceeding as silently and quietly as
19 possible, the prince before day was, by means of further bribes,
20 in possession of both the gateways leading into the Hazooree
21 Bagh, as also of the Badshahi Musjid and the large magazine
22 which was then in that edifice.
23 While matters were thus proceeding outside, Rajah Goolaub
24 Sing concentrated his Dogra troops in the upper fort and made
25 all requisite preparations for whatever might occur. He also
26 sent directions to Jemadar Khoosheeal Sing and Sirdar Teja Sing
27 to repair to the fort with such men as they could command,
28 but for reasons best known to themselves, these chiefs on various
29 pretences and excuses declined to comply with the Rajah's re-
30 quest. There were about twelve hundred Seiks on duty in the
31 fort before the Dogra force entered ; they were the two bat-
32 talions in charge of the treasury called the Mootee Mundur,
33 and were under the command of Boodh Sing Maun. These
34 Seiks perceiving the course which affairs were taking, showed
35 some inclination to become mutinous, and even went so far as