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2 welfare, and provided only for his private interest. In the course
3 of time there naturally arose a general dissatisfaction. The
4 minister, Dhyan Sing, perceiving the consequences of it, pre-
5 tended to go with his younger brother Soochet Sing into the
6 mountains of his native country, on a hunting party, to restore
7 his health ; but, in fact, it was only a pretext for calling in
8 Sheer Sing, to whom all the troops flocked to range themselves
9 under his standard.
10 The following event may serve as a sample of oriental policy.
11 Dhyan Sing’s eldest son, Heera Sing, and his own elder brother,
12 Gholab Sing, belonged to the faction of the ranee. They shut
13 themselves up with her in the fortress, which was bombarded
14 incessantly for three days and nights. It was only when the
15 besiegers prepared to take the place by storm, that the besieged
16 surrendered, under the following stipulations : the ranee shall
17 henceforth live in the fortress, a convenient jaghir shall be
18 granted to her ; and to the garrison, consisting of two batallions
19 of dogras (mountaineers), the troops of Gholab Sing, a free
20 retreat shall be granted. Their retreat was fixed to take place
21 in the darkness of the night, and they were permitted to take
22 with them whatever they pleased. Gholab Sing was during five
23 days in possession of the fortress where the treasury happened
24 to be. The troops of the mountains were ordered to go to the
25 opposite side of the river llavee, until the coronation of Sheer
26 Sing should have taken place. By Dhyan Sing and Soochet
27 Sing’s mediation, Gholab Sing and Heera Sing were reconciled
28 with Sheer Sing, living with him on the best terms, and enjoying
29 as before the greatest influence at the court. Had the party in
30 the fortress gained the day, the issue of that civil contention
31 would also have finished in favour of the Rajah’s family.
32 After the settlement of this affair, two of the rajahs retired
33 into the mountains with their troops, laden with their stolen
34 treasures, the two others remained with Sheer Sing.
35 The new maharajah addicted himself to immoderate drinking,
36 and indulged especially in champagne. The good-feeling between
37 him and Dhyan Sing soon reached its end, and they began to