Tempo:
CHAP. VIII
DEATH OF JAWAHIR SINGH
245
with him for the attainment of a common object. The i845. soldiery began to talk of themselves as pre-eminently congregation of believers; ^ and Jawahir Singh was overawed by the spirit which The peranimated the armed host. In the midst of the successes piexity of against Jammu, he trembled for his fate, and he twice ^^^^ laid plans for escaping to the south of the Sutlej; but the troops were jealous of such a step on the part of He felt that he was watched, their nominal master. and he abandoned the hope of escape to seek relief in dissipation, in the levy of Muhammadan regiments, and in idle or desperate threats of war with his British Jawahir Singh was thus despised and distrustallies.ed by the Sikhs themselves; their enmity to him was fomented by Lai Singh, who aimed at the post of wazir; and the murder of Peshawara Singh added to the general exasperation, for the act was condemned as insulting to the people, and it was held up to reprobation by the chiefs as one which would compromise their own safety, if allowed to pass with impunity.^ The Panchayats of regiments met in council, and they The army resolved that Jawahir Singh should die as a traitor to condemns the commonwealth, for death is almost the only mode ^^ ^^^ *° by which tumultuous, half-barbarous governments can ^^Jh*^"" remove an obnoxious minister. He was accordingly gept. '21, required to appear on the 21st September before the 1845. assembled Khalsa to answer for his misdeeds. He went, seated upon an elephant; but fearing his fate, he took with him the young Maharaja and a quantity of gold and jewels. On his arrival in front of the troops, he endeavoured to gain over some influential deputies and officers by present donatives and by lavish promises, but he was sternly desired to let the Maharaja be removed from his side, and to be himself silent. The boy was placed in a tent near at hand, and a party of soldiers advanced and put the wazir to death by a discharge of musketry. * Two other persons, the sycophants of the minister, were killed at the same time. the 'Panth
Khalsagi',
or
Or, as the 'Sarbat Khalsa', the body of the elect. Major (letter of 2nd Feb. 1845) thought this title, which the soldiers arrogated to themselves, was new in correspondence; but Government pointed out, in reply, that it was an old term according to the Calcutta records. - Cf. Major Broadfoot to Government, 23rd and 28th Feb., 5th April (a demi-official letter), and 15th and 18th Sept. 1845. 3 Cf. Major Broadfoot to Government, 22nd Sept. 1845. * Cf Major Broadfoot to Government. 26th Sept. 1845. It may be added that the Sikhs generally regarded Jawahir Singh as one ready to bring in the English, and as faithless to the 1
Broadfoot
.
Khalsa.
DEATH OF JAWAHIR SINGH
245
with him for the attainment of a common object. The i845. soldiery began to talk of themselves as pre-eminently congregation of believers; ^ and Jawahir Singh was overawed by the spirit which The peranimated the armed host. In the midst of the successes piexity of against Jammu, he trembled for his fate, and he twice ^^^^ laid plans for escaping to the south of the Sutlej; but the troops were jealous of such a step on the part of He felt that he was watched, their nominal master. and he abandoned the hope of escape to seek relief in dissipation, in the levy of Muhammadan regiments, and in idle or desperate threats of war with his British Jawahir Singh was thus despised and distrustallies.ed by the Sikhs themselves; their enmity to him was fomented by Lai Singh, who aimed at the post of wazir; and the murder of Peshawara Singh added to the general exasperation, for the act was condemned as insulting to the people, and it was held up to reprobation by the chiefs as one which would compromise their own safety, if allowed to pass with impunity.^ The Panchayats of regiments met in council, and they The army resolved that Jawahir Singh should die as a traitor to condemns the commonwealth, for death is almost the only mode ^^ ^^^ *° by which tumultuous, half-barbarous governments can ^^Jh*^"" remove an obnoxious minister. He was accordingly gept. '21, required to appear on the 21st September before the 1845. assembled Khalsa to answer for his misdeeds. He went, seated upon an elephant; but fearing his fate, he took with him the young Maharaja and a quantity of gold and jewels. On his arrival in front of the troops, he endeavoured to gain over some influential deputies and officers by present donatives and by lavish promises, but he was sternly desired to let the Maharaja be removed from his side, and to be himself silent. The boy was placed in a tent near at hand, and a party of soldiers advanced and put the wazir to death by a discharge of musketry. * Two other persons, the sycophants of the minister, were killed at the same time. the 'Panth
Khalsagi',
or
Or, as the 'Sarbat Khalsa', the body of the elect. Major (letter of 2nd Feb. 1845) thought this title, which the soldiers arrogated to themselves, was new in correspondence; but Government pointed out, in reply, that it was an old term according to the Calcutta records. - Cf. Major Broadfoot to Government, 23rd and 28th Feb., 5th April (a demi-official letter), and 15th and 18th Sept. 1845. 3 Cf. Major Broadfoot to Government, 22nd Sept. 1845. * Cf Major Broadfoot to Government. 26th Sept. 1845. It may be added that the Sikhs generally regarded Jawahir Singh as one ready to bring in the English, and as faithless to the 1
Broadfoot
.
Khalsa.
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