12ARLY HISTORY O F RUN JEET S IN G .
17
however persevered in their attempts to procure the release
of Buddur-oodeen for nearly a month, when finding their
representations and entreaties of no effect they determined to
resort to other means. They deputed one o f their number to
waft upon Runjeet Sing, the young chief of the Sukerchuckia *
Missal], who then was at Russoolnuggur, otherwise Ramnugg-ur,
on the Chinaub, for the purpose of inviting him to come and
occupy Lahore, assuring him that all that they required was
liis presence there, as they themselves would do all that was
necessary for securing their object. They also sent a similar
message to his mother-in-law, the widow Suda Kour, in
viting her to aid and join the enterprise. Nothing could have
pleased Runjeet better than the project thus proposed to him,
ns his ambition wa.s already boundless. Ho therefore imme
diately got together such a force o f horse and foot as he could
muster on an emergency; and being joined by numbers of
straggling -Sciks, Akalces, and Mujbees, ho at once set out for
Umriteir, on the pretence of going there as'usual to bathe
and perform his devotions at the holy shrine. His real object,
however, was to obtain the counsel and aid of his mother-
in-law, who being fully as ambitious as himself, wUling-ly gave
him both encouragement and assistance, and even the sanction
of her own presence and company. Thus ro-infbrced, Ruu-
ject at the head of about five thousand men, most o f whom
however, were but stragglers, proceeded at one march from
Umriteir to the Shalimar Gardens near Lahore. Here he
was met by Meea Ashuk and Meer Mokun-ood-doen, who
informed him that they had provided all that was necessary to
secure his easy entrance into and capture of the city. They told
him further that for this purpose they had made a large breach
in the wall betwixt the. Kidderee and Yakkee Gatos. But Run-
jeet, either suspicious of treachery or disdaining to enter the city
in such a manner, determined not to pass through the breach
which had been made for his convenience, ft was tbere-
D
