FYZ
469
" Maun Siug caime in the afternoon and rested under a banyan tree, which stood opposite the gateway of the fort. He apologised for not entering the fort on the ground that it might lead to some collision between their followers, or that his friend might not wish any of the king's seiwants who attended with the dress of honour to enter his fortress, Hurpaul Sing left all his followers inside the gate and was brought out to Maun Sipg in a
unable to sit up without support. The two friends embraced and conversed together with seeming cordiality till long after sunset, when Maun Sing, after investing his friend with the dress of honour, took leave and mounted his horse. This was the concerted signal for his followers As he cantered off, at the sound of to dispatch his sick friend Hurpaul. his kettle-drum and the other instruments of music used by the nazims of districts, his armed followers, who had by degrees gathered round the tree without awakening any suspicion, seized the sick man, dragged him on the ground a distance of about thirty paces, and then put him to death. He was first shot through the chest and then stabbed with spears, cut to They were fired upon from pieces with swords, and left on the ground. the fort while engaged in this foul murder, but all escaped unhurt. Maun Sino- had sworn by the. holy Ganges, and still more holy head of Mah^deo, that his friend should suffer no personal hurt in this interview; and the credulous and no less cruel and rapacious Gurgbunsees were lulled into The three persons who murdered Hurpaul Sing were Nujeeb security. Khan, who has left Maun Sing's service, Beni Sing, who still serves him, and Jeskurun Sing, who has since died. Sadik Hoseyn and many others aided them in dragging their victim to the place where he was murdered, but the wounds which killed him were, inflicted by the above-named litter,
persons. " The family fled, the fort was seized and plundered of all that could be fotmd, and the estate seized and put under the management of Government Maun Sing had collected half the revenues of 1847, v/hen he officers. in the contract by Wajid Allee Khan, who re-established superseded was the lady Sogura in the possession of all that remained of her estate. He, at the same time, re-instated the family of Hurpaul Singin the possession that is, the widow of Nihal Sing to Seheepoor, of their now large estate, Eamsaroop, the son of Seoumber Sing, to and half, comprising one Kupragow, comprising the other half. The rent-roll of the whole is now estimated at Rs. 1,29,000 a year, and the nankar, or recognised allowance demand at Rs. 56,000, for the holders, is Rs. 13,000, leaving the Government of which they hardly ever pay one half or one quarter, being inveterate Wajid Allee Khan had been commissioned by the robbers- and rebels. Durbar to restore the lady Sogura to her patrimonial estate, and he brought her with him from Lucknow for the purpose; but he soon after made over a part of the estate to his friend, Bakir Allee of Esoulee, and another part to Eamsaroop, the son of Seoumber Sing, for a suitable Sogura. This she at consideration, and left only one half to the lady to restore the whole the next year, first refused to take, but he promised when he saw she was resolved to return again to her friends at Lucknow; and she consented to take the offered half on condition of a large remission When the season of collections came, it. of the Government demand upon however, he would make no remission for the half he had permitted her
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