THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 10$ 



bloody scenes in the Punjab, which could only end by the 

 interference of the English. 



After the murder of Chet Sing, tiie royal prince, No- 

 Nehal, Kurruck Sing's only son, took possession of the 

 government, and ordered his father to retire to his private 

 house in the city, where he soon became indisposed. A 

 few months afterwards he followed his father, Runjeet Sing 

 to the funeral pile. The rumour was current that he was 

 poisoned, and the poison employed was also specified, but 

 I do not believe it. Only it is a fact, that the son showed 

 great indifference in regard to the treatment of his father, 

 or for his recovery ; and, during his father's illness he never 

 saw him but once or twice, and then but a short time before 

 his death ; on which occasion the father was treated by 

 Lis only son in a manner quite revolting, even to the 

 natives around, which accounts for his having committed 

 him into the hands of inexperienced physicians and faqueers. 

 I, the only appointed European physician, was never called 

 for during the king's disease, which lasted nine months. 

 It is probable that the patient requested my assistance, but 

 the son prevented my attending. Had he known that the 

 death-day of his father would also be his own, he certainly 

 would have behaved in another manner. 



On the same day in which the king, Kurruck Sing, and his 

 only son died, a curious event happened. Early in the 

 morning, I was called by Meean Oottum Sing, eldest son 

 of the Maharajah Gholab Sing, and he committed the Chief 

 of his mountain troops to my treatment, he being every il), 

 promising me a pair of Cashmere shawls in case I should be 

 able, as I expected, to relieve him hy the evening. My new 

 patient was unable to void his urine, and was troubled with 

 gravel in the kidneys. He recovered the same day, whilst 

 Oottum Sing himself, as we shall see, met with his death. 

 When I hastened into the house of the patient, summoned 

 as I was by Oottum Sing, with whom he lived, I found both 

 in a small room, and, according to the custom of the 

 Hindoos, the patient was lying on the floor, whilst Oottum 

 Sing was sitting on the bed, offering me to sit near him. 



