Indian Antiquary Vol 17

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 94

84
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCR, 1888
desired to be immolated on the funeral pyre sardar whom the new Maharajá henceforth with the body of his master, but was dissuaded consulted on all occasions, although he by the other courtiers. The ladies Harvi and possessed no experience in the administration. Rajvi," with other handmaids of Ranjit Singh The amirs of the darbár were so displeased with also prepared for the last journey, and ex. Kharak Singh's choice that they waited upon pressed willingness to be immolated. The his son Nau Nihal Singh, who was accordsuccessor caused immediately a golden bier to ing to our text a very intelligent and sweetbe prepared in the form of a litter upon which spoken young prince, and represented the the corpse was placed amidst wailings, and car- matter to him. Accordingly he went to his ried from the fort by the army and the popula- father and informed him, but Kharak Singh tion, to which last the nobles distributed money. who was a good-natured man and void of all When the funeral procession reached the burn- ambition to govern, paid not the least attention ing ground, the corpse having been placed to the warnings of his son, who thereon took his upon a pyre of sandalwood, the faithfal place on the throne with the approbation of the Ranis were allowed to stand beside it, and the darbár, and as Chait Singh, his father's wazir, heir-apparent approaching, set fire to it with still desired to monopolise authority, he slew his own hands. When the flames shot upwards him with his own bands. The murder of his to the sky, a general shout of lamentation shook wazir greatly affected Kharak Singh who had the earth, and shortly afterwards an abundant already given up the administration and now shower of rain fell, whereon the ashes were altogether retired, but when he heard that collected, the remaining ceremonies performed, Nan Nihal Singh had been formally installed and all was over. Thus Ranjit Singh died in by the darbár on the throne, he fell sick and St. 1896 [A.D. 1839] after a reign of forty shortly afterwards died. His funeral was years. His burnt bones were by order of the solemnized with great pomp. Alms were heir-apparent conveyed to the banks of the largely distributed, the corpse was borne to the Ganges, and he ordered a grand mausoleum to river bank on the shoulders of Nau Nihal and be built over them, but did not live to see it some amirs, and on its being committed to completed. The Mahârâjâ Sher Singh endea the flames, two Ránis, widows of Kharak voured to do so, but it was not finished when Singh, were likewise burnt on the pyre, with he died, and disturbances having arisen in the nine of his handmaids. Pañjab, the building was altogether neglected. After the cremation Nau Nihal Singh perThe British Government, however, annexed formed his ablutions in the river, and afterthe country and finished the edifice, which wards returned with the crowd of amirs to then remained in good condition during a num- the fort, but on entering the first gate, & ber of years. At last, however, the eight columns stone detaching itself from the top of it fell on which had to support a heavy capola, began to his head, and suddenly extinguished the lamp give way and to break, whereon the author of of his life. Now the wazir who is, by the this work added, by order of the Government, author, stated to have been both a politician eight columns more, making the total number and a warrior, desired to place the prince Shér sixteen, and strengthened them with iron-hoops, Singh upon the throne, but was opposed by the so as so insure their stability for a long time Rani Chand Kanwar the mother of Nau Nihal to come.
Singh, who being supported by the Sardârs 41. After the demise of Ranjit Singh, his Ajit Singh, Atar Singh, and Lahn Singh, successor Kharak Singh ascended the throne all of whom were of the family of Sindhanand assumed the reins of government as soon wali, assumed the reins of government. as his season of mourning had expired. Dhyan After the lady had been placed upon the Singh, who had been wazir during the previous throne, the wazir abstained from appearing in government remained in his former position, the darbár, and, departing from Láhôr, rebat was after a short time neglected in favour tired to Jammin, his ancestral home. In of Chait Singh, an ambitious and intriguing his absence the Râni enjoyed her power a few
"According to a marginal note Harvl and Råvji were wives of Ranjit Singh, and daughters Sanear Chand Katoch of Kangrå.