1 Under British Protection. 191
2 the more well-to-do Sikhs lived on rent-free lands,
3 and it made no difference to them whether rates of
4 assessment were high or low, unless they happened
5 to be collectors of revenue, and then they preferred
6 them to be high. Muhammad ans and Hindus they
7 were accustomed to regard as mere producers of
8 revenue — not as fellow -subjects entitled to equal
9 rights with themselves. Equality within the limits
10 of the Khalsa was a doctrine which every Sikh
11 was prepared to uphold, but the equality of all
12 communities within the limits of the Punjab was
13 the worst form of heresy. Then, again, there were
14 the disbanded soldiers. Many of these had, it is
15 true, settled down to peaceful pursuits ; but there
16 was still a large number of them who were, as
17 Lawrence himself described it, " afloat on the surface
18 of society." These men lived by methods which
19 were by no means facilitated by the growth of law
20 and order, , and every measure which tended to
21 promote public security increased their discontent.
22 No one, perhaps, was less satisfied with the terms
23 of the Treaty of Bhairowal than the Rani Jindan,
24 wrho found herself completely excluded from any
25 share in the government of the state. All that was
26 now left to her was the power to intrigue, and of
27 this, while her opportunities lasted, she made full
28 use. She intrigued with her banished favourite
29 Lai Singh, she endeavoured to corrupt the British
30 sepoy troops at Lahore, she plotted to assassinate
31 Tej Singh, and she carried on a treasonable corre-
32 spondence with Mulraj, the Governor of Miiltan. To
33 the remonstrances of the Government she sent only