1 108
2 viously (on a Sunday), and was so satisfied, that with his own
3 hands he put on my arms two pair of gold bracelets, and ordered
4 500 rupees to be given to me, as an additional sum to the
5 900 which 1 already received as my monthly appointment.
6 This having been only an oral promise, I went daily to the
7 durbar, in order to receive an authority in writing, and was
8 with him on the fatal Thursday on which he was assassinated.
9 Whilst this crime was being perpetrated by Ajeet Sing, Lena
10 Sing, his uncle, murdered, in a garden in the neighbourhood, the
11 royal prince, Pertaub Sing, a boy only twelve years of age.
12 This innocent victim of party fury was cruelly cut into pieces
13 with sabres, at the moment when he was occupied with his Brah-
14 mins in prayers and giving alms to the poor ; for it was a San-
15 crat day, the first day of a Hindoo month, on which similar cere-
16 monies generally took place. The guardian of the infant child, Baii
17 Goormuck Sing, Misser Belee Ram (the first treasurer), and other
18 accomplices, did not wait long before they received retribution.
19 From Shahbelore, the murderers hurried towards the fortress.
20 On their way they met Dhyan Sing, who was on his road to
21 Shahbelore, and they informed him of what had been done, and
22 took him back to the fortress to execute their project of placing
23 Runjeet Sing’s youngest son, Dulleep Sing, on the throne.
24 When they arrived in the fortress, they shot Dhyan Sing, cut
25 his body into pieces, shut themselves up in the fortress, and
26 proclaimed, by drum-beating, Dulleep Sing as king, and Ajeet
27 Sing his wuzeer. Rajah Heera Sing, Dhyan Sing's son, who
28 was at liberty, having escaped being murdered, knew how to
29 gain the favour of the troops by his eloquence and promises, and
30 they declared themselves ready to follow him. Confident with
31 this armed force, he entered the city at midnight, surrounded
32 the fortress, and blockaded it. The thundering of the cannon
33 lasted twelve hours, till mid-day, at which time the small garrison
34 was almost exhausted. At that moment, Heera Sing gave the
35 signal for storming. A Spanish colonel, named M. Hurbon, in
36 the service of the Sikhs, was one of the first on the battlements
37 of the dismantled walls. Those who laid down their arms