New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-16
DULEnP SINGH AND 1HE KOH-ENOOh
THE EXILED MAHARAJAHs BOYHOOD.

| HIS INNOCENT AvOwAL OF CERTAIN sANGUINAEY
DEsIGNs--APPEARANCE AND DISPOSITION.
! To the Editor NJ The TrtoNnc.
SIR: once met tho rightful owner of the great
KOh-nOor diamond; that is to say. he was the son
of the man who stole it from a man whose grand
father had stolen il from some one else and if that
does not make u good title to property do not
know what does. There was only one flaw in his
ttle and that that some one else had stolen it
from him.
The person whom met was the Maharajah Dueep
Singh son of that potent King of Lahore, the Nah
araah Ruugeet Singh, who used 70 wear the koh-
l-noOr in golden bracelet Oh his sword arm After
the death of Rungcct Singh, when his territory De
came incorporated with the British Indian Empire,
the English Government took his infant heir under
its projections granted him au enormous pension
and appointed an officer of rank Us his special
guardian. This officer Sir John Il think il WAS
John Logan, and it was while calling at his house,
near Noting Hill, in London to visit relative who
was his guest. and who had accompanied Sir John
and Lady Logan and the young Maharajah from
Lahore to England that met that disinherited po-
tcntate The young Prince was handsome, bright,
largc-eycd, swartby boy, and, was told, of very
engaging and ailectanate disposition. He formed
strong attachment for my relative. and used to
hde to her all his thoughts and plans with an in
genuOus iraukness which We rarely associate with
the Asiatic character; but then he belonged 10 the
SIKH race who resemble Europeans in their robust
mauliDess and hearty spirits more than any other
people on the Indian Peninsula. But they have
strange ideas Of morality, these Oriental pOtentates
and politicians, which manifest themselves even in
the babes and stockings. As an Illustration: One
day i'll India this boy said to my relative: " Do you
know what is the first thing 1 Will do when |
become kingi will order my mother to be killed"
D,,f. I. lao - wiz lp1
the lady
"Would it9 Wby?
"Why! because it is very wicked to kill any one,
and you ought to love your mother and protect Der.
The Bible teaches us to honor parents"
"Ducs it7 But suppose they are always scheming
and intriguing aud making trouble like my
mother9'
"stll it is your duty as son to treat her with
respect
"But hate her So she Is tao bad"
q" Whatever she is, she is your mother, and TO kill
her would be the wckedcst thing in the world. and
God would never forgive yon."
"Well, Them | won't do it. But when | become
KING will marry you ard then you'll always tell
lit hat il is right for me TO do"
"But you can't marry me. for am married
already"
"Well, but when | am King can send Vour hus-
ban away, can't y
ooh, no, you couldn't do That, and If you could
that would not he right either"
"Woud il not # were TO have him killed
wOudn't that he right I"
Beng assured that none of these acts could be
justified on moral grounds, he looked rather de-
pressed and thoughtful for n few moments, and
then consented 70 lortgO all action in either of these
matter aud 30 Danish them from his mind alto
gether. On minor points. however. such as the be-
heading of few of his prOgenitOr's old cOunscors
or of marrying gross or two of wives Ie consulted
his lady friend quite freely But the opportunity Of
b linz hrs fl..r a uiUT of fln heads IF
councillors. or of even marrying wives, except in
the most retail way, was denied him, for he was
packed on ~ England under the care of Sir John
Logan, by order OF Her Slaiesty the Queen, who
took away his big diamond granted him pension
Of quarter of mil lion dollars year, and had him
educated and brought up on British soil where he
now is settled down and leading the life of Eng
which e follow. to- cover dressed III tho regulation
scarlet coat tights aud tOp-ho0ts of fOx-huntcr,
" like Ii iinc Old English gentleman"
Apropos of this Indian var, which placed Dulecp
Singh and the koh-i-nO0r in the hands of the Brit
ish recall two little Incidents which may be OF in-
puglist In one of tie Sikh battles, British officer
and native soldier gTapp.ed and rolled over to-
gether INTO ditch. Both having lost their swords
in the melee thc officer disengagcd one of his arIs
and was punching his 8dversary's head in true pu
gislic fashion, when AN IRISH soldier came TO his
rescue aud CRYING ont, Jist move ttlo taste to
wan side, yer amer, whist touch him mp Bit"
the unfortunate Sikh through the body with his
buyOuet. Some officers OF another regiment, charg
lhZ pact al the time Witnessed tile puglbtlC pArt OF
the encounter and afterwar OIL meeting the gentle
man Of the ditch began 10 banter him his mode
Of warfare. " What were you punching his head !
for, you could not Kill him that way" they said. |
" No." he replied. 4" but the fellow was feeling for
his knife, and did that to prevent his collecting |
has ideas"
Some officers of my acquaintance were charming !
with their men, when they CaIuc upon u brother |
officer lying utterly hepess on the ground. As |
they abOnt to pas him he called out IN a voice
OF agony, For God sake carry me within rangen |
Ihey took hIIn by the two arms and so dragged |
HIM TO place of danger. Fear had deprived hun of |
tie u.o Of b,s limbs, and yet tic spirit was Wiling
10 meet death FRANK BsLLEw
Neg ORR. March IA, 1881.