1 148 FAVOR SHOWN TO DHEEAN SINGH. A. D. 1827-28.
2 twelve years of age, son of Raja Dheean Singh,
3 was the object of particular favor, RuNJEET Singh
4 seldom suffering him out of his sight, and seeming to
5 delight in humouring all his whims and caprices. In
6 common with his father and uncles, he was created Raja,
7 and RuNJEET Singh studied to procure him a high
8 matrimonial alliance. It was about this time that Raja
9 Unrodh Chund, son of Sunsar Chund of Kangra,
10 paid a visit to Labor, with his family, on his route to
11 attend the nuptial ceremonies of the Aloowala's son,
12 NiHAL Singh. He had with him two sisters, on whom
13 Raja Dheean Singh cast his eyes, desiring them to be
14 joined in matrimony with his family. The pride of the
15 hill chief was roused at the proposition of so degrading
16 an alliance, but the influence of Runjeet SiNGH pro-
17 cured from him a written promise, that the two young
18 women should be at his disposal. Themother of Unrodh
19 Ghund, however, succeeded in carrying them off, and
20 took refuge with them in the hills under British protec-
21 tion, whither Unrodh Chund himself soon followed,
22 leaving his possessions on the other side of the Sutlej at the
23 mercy of Runjeet Singh, who sequestered the whole,
24 and received the surrender of them without any resistance
25 from Futeh Chund, Unrodh's brother. A Khawas or
26 concubine of Raja Sunsar Chund, named Guddun,
27 was enticed away from the family, and fell on this occa-
28 sion into Runjeet Singh's hands, with several children
29 she had borne to the late Raja. Two of the daughters
30 the Sikh married himself, and upon a son he conferred
31 the title of Raja with a considerable Jageer. The nup-
32 tials of Heera Singh were at the same time celebrated
33 with great pomp, though not with a member of the Kau-
34 gra family.