1 A. D. 1774. CHURUT SINGH SLAIN. 99
2 a large yearly tribate on condition of his aiding to effect
3 the deposition of his father. Churut Singh having
4 an old enmity against Runjket Deo, closed with the
5 offer, and strengthening himself by association with Jy
6 Singh of the Ghuneea Misul, their nnited force march-
7 ed into the hills and encamped at Oodhachur, on the bank
8 of the Busontee river. The Raja having received
9 timely notice of the designs of the heir-apparent, had
10 made corresponding preparations for resistance. The
11 defence of the capital he reserved to himself, but col-
12 lected a force to oppose the invasion, composed of auxi-
13 liaries from Chumba, Xoorpoor, Busehur, and Kangra, in
14 the hills, to which were added, besides a party of his
15 own troops, the confederated forces of the Bhungee
16 Misul under Jhunda Singh, whom he induced to lend
17 his services in the extremity. The two armies lay en-
18 camped on opposite sides of the Busontee, and in a par-
19 tial skirmish between the Sikh auxiliaries Churut
20 Singh was killed by the bursting of his own matchlock.
21 He was 45 years of age, and had risen from a com-
22 mon Dharwee or highwayman, to be Sirdar of a separate
23 Misul, with a territory computed to yield about three
24 lakbs of rupees. He left a widow, Desan by name,
25 with two sons and a daughter, called respectively Maha
26 Singh, Suhuj Singh and Raj Koonwur. Theeldest
27 son Maha Singh, then ten years of age, succeed-
28 ed to the Sirdaree, but the widow and Jy Singh
29 Ghunee assumed the immediate direction of affairs.
30 It was determined by them to assassinate Jhunda Singh
31 Bhungee, who was the main stay of the Jummoo
32 Raja's party, and the avowed enemy of both the Sookur-
33 Chukeea and Ghunee Misnls. A sweeper was tempted