THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. II3 



and ordered only what agreed with his extravagant ideas ; 

 this caused considerable confusion, and in consequence 

 there was general dissatisfaction ; so it was thought prudent 

 to remove Jellah Pundit. The troops themselves, with the 

 king's uncle at their head, insisted on his being delivered 

 over to them, to which Heera Sing manifested no in- 

 clination ; this caused the flight of the latter, with his 

 guardian, which they performed on elephants, laden with 

 their riches. But scarcely had they gone a few miles from 

 the capital, and crossed the river Ravee, on their way to 

 the mountains, when they were overtaken by their per- 

 secutors, whilst stopping at a village for a few minutes' 

 repose. They were overwhelmed, in spite of the brave 

 resistance of Heera Sing's retinue ; the village became 

 a prey to the flames ; and he and his escort were killed to 

 the last man. Among those who perished in that affair 

 was Meean Son Sing ( a son of the maharajah Gholab 

 Sing ), whose head, together with those of Heera Sing, 

 Jellah Pundit, kc, &c., was brought as a trophy to the 

 capital. 



It cannot escape the attention of an observer who has 

 followed the course of the political changes at that period, that 

 in this party contention a great deal of bloodshed and mis- 

 chief might have been averted from the country, if the 

 Sikhs had been endowed with more penetration, and if, 

 instead of defending the cause of Heera Sing's party, they 

 had ranged themselves under the banner of Ajeet Sing, 

 and supported his interest. If they had arrested Heera Sing, 

 as the circumstances then imperatively required, they would 

 not only have prevented every future struggle, but brought 

 also into their possession all the immense treasures which 

 were at Heera Sing's disposal. But the proverb says, 

 •' Quem Daus vult perdere, prius dementat." 



I intend to give to my readers a true picture of v/hat 

 happened to me at the assassination of Sheer Sing, being 

 an involuntary spectator at this ferocious scene • and how 

 I escaoed the perils which threatened my own person. At 

 the tnomeat I heard tne firiug of the guns, aad perceived 



