1 128 SUDA KOONWUR DISGRACED. A. D. 1820.
2 high expectations. She remonstrated against the order
3 in vain, and being herself in the Sikh camp, then pitched
4 at Shah-Dehra, and consequently in the power of RuN-
5 JEET Singh, she felt the necessity of complying so far,
6 as to execute a deed making the assignment required.
7 But she had no sooner done so, than she plotted the
8 means of escape, and after a time left the camp secretly
9 in a covered carriage. Intelligence of her evasion was
10 conveyed to Runjeet by Bysakh Singh. Desa
11 Singh was accordingly sent with a detachment of horse
12 to bring her back, and she was committed by her
13 son-in-law's order to close confinement. Xot content
14 with this punishment, Runjeet Singh ordered a
15 division of his army to march and sequester all her
16 wealth and territory, and this was effected, after a
17 resistance of a few weeks by one of her female attendants,
18 who was in charge of the fort of Uttul-gurh, her princi-
19 pal strong hold. Thus, after an influence, maintained
20 for nearly thirty years, fell at last this high-spirited
21 woman. She had been serviceable to Runjeet Singh,
22 indeed, was the main stay of his power, in the early
23 part of his career, and it was through her intrigues,
24 and with her aid, that Runjeet was able to assume
25 authority so early, and to put aside his Mother and
26 her Dewan. The independence she asserted, and ths
27 high tone she was accustomed to assume, had for some
28 time been irksome to the Sikh ruler in his growing
29 fortunes, and her ruin was prepared by the course of
30 events, no less than by her own unbending disposition.
31 She bore the restraint of her confinement with great
32 impatience, continually beating her breast in lamentation,
33 and venting imprecations on the head of her ungrateful
34 son-in-law.