Runjeet Singh died in 1839, and his son and successor, Kurruck Singh, being of weak intellect, was shortly afterwards deposed, when his son, Noo Nehal Singh, assumed the reins of Government. His death, which occurred in returning from his father’s funeral, caused the throne to be again vacant, and the crown was bestowed on Prince Shere Singh, a twin-son of Runjeet Singh. Shere Singh was a firm friend to the English, and by his interference Major-General Pollock was permitted to proceed with his army through the Punjaub to Cabool in 1842, although the Sikh Sirdars were disposed to attack the British troops. [27] Vide Memoir of Lieut.-Colonel Skinner, Appendix, p. 226. [28] The Punjaub derives its name from two Persian words (_punj_, five, and _aub_ waters), signifying _five waters_. In fact there are _six_ rivers intersecting the country, namely the _Indus_, _Jhelum_, _Chenaub_, _Ravee_, _Beas_, and _Sutlej_. The course of the _Beas_ is much shorter than the five other rivers, so that it appears to have been disregarded when the name of the Punjaub was bestowed. [29] On the death of Assistant-Surgeon Gahan, Assistant-Surgeon Patrick Gammie, of the 80th regiment, was appointed to take medical charge of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment. [30] Vide Memoir of Colonel Bolton, inserted in Appendix, page 225. [31] Vide Memoir of Major Baldwin, inserted in Appendix, page 230. [32] Shortly after the storming of the village of _Aliwal_, an European officer in the Sikh service was given in charge to the regiment, having surrendered himself as a prisoner to an officer of one of the cavalry regiments in the Company’s service. He said his servant had galloped off with his charger, and, being rather stout, preferred giving himself up to the chance of running away; his name was John Potter, a native of Maidstone in Kent; he had deserted from the Company’s Artillery twenty years before, and was at this period a Colonel of Artillery in the Sikh service, having a native wife and family at Lahore. At first he was kept a very strict prisoner, but the severity of his confinement was gradually relaxed, and when the army encamped before Lahore, he was released altogether. The Governor-General afterwards permitted him to hold an appointment in the Sikh service. [33] This officer was promoted from Quarter-master-Serjeant to Ensign after the battle of Ferozeshah. [34] This part of the action is represented in the engraving of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment at the battle of Sobraon. [35] In some copies of this General Order it was erroneously stated that Brigadier Hicks commanded the first brigade: he was not at the battle of Sobraon. [36] Vide pages 146 and 165 of Regimental Record.