112 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



fortress, they shot Dhyan Sing, cut his body into pieces, shut 

 theniselves up in the fortress, and proclaimed, by drum- 

 beating, DuUeep Sinsf as king, and Ajeet Sing his wuzeer. 

 Rajah Heera Sing, Dhyan Sing's son, who was at liberty, 

 having escaped being murdered, knew how to gain the 

 favour of the troops by his eloquence and promises, and 

 they declared themselves ready to follow him. Confident 

 with this armed force, he entered the city at midnight, 

 surrounded the fortress, and blockaded it. The thundering 

 of the cannon lasted twelve hours, till mid-day, at which 

 time the small garrison was almost exhausted. At that 

 moment, Heera Sing gave the signal for storming. A 

 Spanish colouel, named M. Harbon, in the service of the 

 Sikhs, was one of the first on the battlements of the dis- 

 mantled walls. Those who laid down their arms re- 

 mained unhurt, only the ringleaders, Ajeet Sing, Lena 

 Sing, Baii Goormuck Sing, Misser Belee Ram, and a few 

 others, were destroyed in the melee, Ajeet Sing's head was 

 delivered to Heera Sing, as a trophy, but his body, and that 

 of his uncle, Lena Sing, were hung up on the outside 

 of the city gates. Who would have imagined that the 

 victorious Heera Sing should so soon have met with a simi- 

 lar fate ! 



With the body of Dhyan Sing, thirteen wives and female 

 slaves were burnt. Heera Sing, his son, had been educated 

 by Runjeet Sing, was endowed with wit and genius, and had 

 received a good education, being able to read and write 

 well ; and knowing also how to treat the troops ; which 

 latter accomplishment he learned from his father. The 

 young king ( eight years old ) had therefore a young minister 

 ( twenty-five years of age ), who might have occupied his 

 post for a long time, had he not been too much under the 

 control of his guardian, whom he regarded as a deity. This 

 guardian was a fanatic Brahmin, from the mountains, of 

 the name ofjellah Pundit, who frequently induced Heera 

 Sing to take false measures, by influencing his mind with 

 astrological dreams and false prophecies, to the injury of 

 the country. la fact, he only did that which pleased hinj. 



