THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 119 



they gave free vent to their tears, to relieve their oppressed 

 hearts. 



In the year 1845 the cholera arrived at Lahore, having" 

 travelled through Turkistan and Cabul. At the same time 

 Gholab Sing was brought from Jummoo, a town in the 

 mountains, a prisoner to Lahore, and he might have con- 

 gratulated himself on having escaped the persecution of 

 Jewahir Sing ; for it was well known that at different 

 periods attempts had been made upon his life. The reason 

 ofjevvahir's hatred against him was that Gholab Sing had 

 persuaded a great number of the Sikh troops to follow his 

 banner, to whom he trusted himself. He was brought from 

 Jummoo to Lahore, in consequence of his resistance to 

 some government exactions. It is a remarkabie fact, that 

 Gholab Sing, in spite of his fortress being blockaded by 

 numerous troops, was bold enough to give an order to 

 murder on the road the delegates of the Sikhs whom he 

 himself had despatched with the subsidies requested by the 

 government, as if he had regretted performing his duty. 



During his struggles in the mountains, Runjoor Sing, v/ell 

 known to the English as the commander of the Sikh troops 

 at the battle of Aliwal, had the command in the mountains 

 of Jesrota. One of the most wealthy Brahmins of that 

 country had been requested by some of his neighbours to 

 take their moveable goods into his custody, for which 

 purpose the Brahmin solicited of Runjoor Sing a guard, 

 which he obtained. But when Runjoor Sing was apprised 

 that valuables were stored in the house of the Brahmin, 

 he plotted an intrigue for obtaining possession of them, and 

 despatched a division of his men, disguised as robbers, to 

 plunder the house. The Brahmins being convinced that 

 this violence had been perpetrated under the protection of 

 Runjoor Sing, flocked in numbers to Lahore, to make 

 their complaints to Jewahir Sing ; but seeing they could 

 not receive any satisfaction from him, they all returned to 

 their homes. The Brahmin at whose house the robbery was 

 committed, was the only person who remained behind at 

 Lahore, firmly determined not to leave the capital until 



