1 A. D. 1812. PUTEEALA RAJA DEPOSED. 75
2 improvements into the administration. The attempt to
3 procure a change of ministers by persaasioD failed, but
4 the Raja made many professions of a determination to
5 exert himself to effect the desired reforms. Being left
6 again to himself, his conduct became so violent and irre-
7 gular, as to betray symptoms of an aberration of reason,
8 and the Colonel was compelled to proceed again to his
9 capital, in order to allow his outraged subjects and depen-
10 dents to put things on a better footing, and to prevent
11 the Raja's removal from power from producing convul-
12 sions, or a breach of the general tranquillity. Saheb
13 Singh was now deposed, and placed under limited
14 restraint. ASKOOR Ranee, his wife, in association
15 with a shrewd Brahmin minister named Xundee Rao,
16 was appointed regent for the heir-apparent, the pre-
17 sent Raja, KuRUM Singh, who was then a minor, and
18 affairs were conducted in his name. Maharaja Saheb
19 Singh died a few months after his deposal. The
20 Ranee's doubtful reputation for chastity, and known
21 character for turbulence and intrigue, made her admi-
22 nistration unpopular, while the profusions of Saheb
23 Singh had secured him many partisans. Hence the part
24 taken by the British Superintendent in the establishment
25 of this scheme of administration, although his motives
26 were appreciated by the discerning, made a great sensa-
27 tion amongst the Sikhs, by the lower order of whom, and
28 particularly by the turbulent, and designing, the Raja's
29 removal from power was regarded as an act of tyranny and
30 injustice, produced by intrigue, and influenced by worse
31 motives. When Colonel Ochterlony was at Puteeala,
32 in prosecution of these measures, he was attacked in his
33 palanquin by an Akalee fanatic, who with his drawn sword
34 had nearly taken the Colonel's life. He escaped, however,
35 K 2