1 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 41
2 now tenanted by Jowahir Singh. According to
3 one account, Heera Singh was betrayed by his
4 own followers ; another represents that the
5 resistance was very fierce, and that upwards
6 of one thousand men fell on both sides, but
7 this must be an exaggeration. Jowahir Singh
8 has stepped into the place of the minister, but
9 it appears that the voices of the chiefs and army
10 are in favour of Lena Singh Majeetea (who was
11 residing at Benares), who had been sent for,
12 as well as Prince Peshora Singh ; the latter
13 had recently taken refuge from the resentment
14 of Heera Singh at Ferozepore. The capital is
15 said to be quiet, but these successions of violent
16 changes destroy all hope of permanent govern-
17 ment in the Punjaub, at least during the
18 minority of the prince. Lena Singh is a man
19 of much ability, as well as of honesty, and pos-
20 sesses great influence amongst the sirdars; but
21 he must expect opposition from some of the
22 sources of discontent which have caused the ruin
23 of preceding ministers. Moreover, the Jummoo
24 Rajah is not very likely to be a passive spectator
25 of the destruction of his family, and the AfFghans
26 are supposed to be preparing to take advantage
27 of the troubles in the Sikh state to recover
28 Peshawur.
29 Indeed the general opinion of the best in-
30 formed authorities, namely, the European offi-