1 TO. THE PRESENT TIME. 33
2 began to wear a more favourable and tranquil
3 aspect ; and on the return of the troops from
4 their homes, the Maharajah, by the advice of his
5 European officers, wisely caused all arrears to
6 be paid up. The consequences of this judicious
7 measure were, that the annual Dusserah fete at
8 Umritzur, upon whifeh occasion nearly the whole
9 army is assembled and inspected by the Maha-
10 rajah in person, passed off without the slightest
11 tumult or disorder.
12 But this state of affairs was unfortunately not
13 destined to be permanent. Shere Singh no sooner
14 finding himself somewhat emancipated from the
15 importunities of the licentious soldiery, than he
16 gave himself up to every species of debauchery,
17 passing the greater part of his time, when not
18 engaged in the chase, either in drinking or in
19 society of the worst description, to the total
20 neglect of all public business. A conspiracy,
21 which eventually cost him his life, was conse-
22 quently formed against Shere Singh, consisting
23 of Lena Singh Scindewallah, Ajeet Singh, his
24 own brother-in-law, and many other of the most
25 influential sirdars, secretly headed by the prime
26 minister, the Rajah Dhyan Singh. It may be here
27 observed, that, upon all occasions, Shere Singh ex-
28 pressed himself favourable to British interests ; and
29 in justice to his memory, it should be added, that
30 it was solely owing to his constancy that General
31 c 5