Tempo:
CHAP. VIII
THE SINDHIANWALA CHIEFS
231
chiefs with the belief that they had been inveigled to Lahore for their more assured destruction. Ajit Singh had by this time become the boon companion of the Maharaja; but he was himself ambitious of power, and he and his uncle Lahna Singh grasped at the idea of
i843.
~
making the minister a party to their own designs. They appeared to fall wholly into his views; and they would, they said, take Sher Singh's life to save their own. On the 15th September (1843), Ajit Singh induced the sher singh
Maharaja to inspect some levies he had newly raised; asasssinahe approached, as if to make an offering of a choice ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ carbine, and to receive the commendations usual on fl"f^',sept, lo, such occasions, but he raised the weapon and shot his i843; sovereign dead. The remorseless Lahna Singh took the life of the boy Pertab Singh, at the same time, and the kinsmen then joined Dhian Singh, and proceeded '
with him to the citadel to proclaim a new king. The hitherto wary minister was now caught in his own toils, who likeand he became the dupe of his accomplices. He was wise puts separated from his immediate attendants, as if for the ^'^'^/^ sake of greater privacy, and shot by the same audacious ^53^^ chief who had just imbrued his hands in the blood of sept. 15. their common master.' The conspirators were thus far 1843. successful in their daring and in their crimes, but they imprison the son of their last neglected to slay victim; and the minds of the soldiers do not seem to have been prepared for the death of Dhian Singh, as Hira singh they were for that of the Maharaja. The youthful Hira avenges his *^^^^''Singh was roused by his own danger and his filial duty; he could plausibly accuse the Sindhianwalas of being alone guilty of the treble murder which had taken place, and he largely promised rewards to the troops if they would avenge the death of their friend and his father. The army generally responded to his call, and the citadel was immediately assaulted; yet so strong was the feeling of aversion to Jammu ascendancy among the Sikh people, that could the feeble garrison have held out for three or four days, until the first impulse of anger and surprise had passed away, it is almost certain that Hira Singh must have fled for his life. But the place was entered on the second evening; the wounded Lahna Singh was at once slain; and Ajit Singh, in attempting to boldly escape over the lofty Dalip Singh was then proclaimed Maharaja, and Hira Singh was raised to
walls, fell and was also killed.-
1 Lieut. -Col. Sept. 1843.
2
Lieut.-Col.
Richmond
to
Government,
17th
and
18th
Richmond to Government, 20th Sept. 1843.
THE SINDHIANWALA CHIEFS
231
chiefs with the belief that they had been inveigled to Lahore for their more assured destruction. Ajit Singh had by this time become the boon companion of the Maharaja; but he was himself ambitious of power, and he and his uncle Lahna Singh grasped at the idea of
i843.
~
making the minister a party to their own designs. They appeared to fall wholly into his views; and they would, they said, take Sher Singh's life to save their own. On the 15th September (1843), Ajit Singh induced the sher singh
Maharaja to inspect some levies he had newly raised; asasssinahe approached, as if to make an offering of a choice ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ carbine, and to receive the commendations usual on fl"f^',sept, lo, such occasions, but he raised the weapon and shot his i843; sovereign dead. The remorseless Lahna Singh took the life of the boy Pertab Singh, at the same time, and the kinsmen then joined Dhian Singh, and proceeded '
with him to the citadel to proclaim a new king. The hitherto wary minister was now caught in his own toils, who likeand he became the dupe of his accomplices. He was wise puts separated from his immediate attendants, as if for the ^'^'^/^ sake of greater privacy, and shot by the same audacious ^53^^ chief who had just imbrued his hands in the blood of sept. 15. their common master.' The conspirators were thus far 1843. successful in their daring and in their crimes, but they imprison the son of their last neglected to slay victim; and the minds of the soldiers do not seem to have been prepared for the death of Dhian Singh, as Hira singh they were for that of the Maharaja. The youthful Hira avenges his *^^^^''Singh was roused by his own danger and his filial duty; he could plausibly accuse the Sindhianwalas of being alone guilty of the treble murder which had taken place, and he largely promised rewards to the troops if they would avenge the death of their friend and his father. The army generally responded to his call, and the citadel was immediately assaulted; yet so strong was the feeling of aversion to Jammu ascendancy among the Sikh people, that could the feeble garrison have held out for three or four days, until the first impulse of anger and surprise had passed away, it is almost certain that Hira Singh must have fled for his life. But the place was entered on the second evening; the wounded Lahna Singh was at once slain; and Ajit Singh, in attempting to boldly escape over the lofty Dalip Singh was then proclaimed Maharaja, and Hira Singh was raised to
walls, fell and was also killed.-
1 Lieut. -Col. Sept. 1843.
2
Lieut.-Col.
Richmond
to
Government,
17th
and
18th
Richmond to Government, 20th Sept. 1843.
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