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THE CLASSIC FIRS}HAND ACCOUNT OF ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE BENGAL ARMY

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Edited by James Lunt Illustrated by Frank Wilson

EKOM SEPOY TO SUBEDAK

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All righs rcscrvcd. No rcproducrion, copy or rransrrrission of this o-ublicarion mav bc madc withoutwrirrcn ocrrnissiou. Noocrrnission.this publicarion may be madc without paralraph ofthis pdblication may be reproducid, cogied or

. transutteo savc wltlr wntten Detm[slon or 1Ir accordancc wltirtransmittcd savc with written permission or in accordancc v rhc provisiorrs oI drc Cop{ghc Acr r 9;o (as anrcndcd). tu ry DCTSOn \vho dOCS anv UnaUlhOn\Cd act ltl rclatloll to thlspcrson who docs any un bublication mav bc liablpublica_rion nray bc liablc ro crinrinal prosccurion and civil ilaims for damigcs.

FintEnglish edirion r ll73 This cdi-rion first publishcd r 97o by Routlcdge & Kegan Paul Lrd

First publishcd r 98 8 in papcrback by PAPERMAC a division oIMacrnillan Publishcrs Lirnitcd 4 Littlc Esscx SrrcctLondon WCu l{ 3LF and Basingstokc'

fusociatcd corrrpanics in Auckland. DclLi. Dublirr. Gabororc. Hanrburg. Haraic, Horrg Korg. Joharrcsburq, Kuala Lut npur, Lagos, Mirrzirri, Mclborirrrc. Mixico Ciry. Ne'irobi, Ncw York. )rngaPorc aDo roKyo

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Sita ll.an From Scpov to Subedar: bcins thc lifcand ,du"rrruicr'ofsubcdar Sira Riln, a narivc Offic.'r of rlrc Bcrrgal turrry.

- [Ncw cd.].

r. Sita Ranr z. SJdi".. -- tudil -Beuqal

- Bioqraphy

l. Triic ll. Luir,Jinics I i i.l'32'o92-l U55.S.+5 ISBN o-jjj-4j672-6

Pr:rrr'clin Hong Kong

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Con.tents

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I)rcf;rcc br TrrrrsJetor I:.iirorirl Norc

Acknou lcdqcrrt-nts

Irr rroJuction

Forcl ord br Sit.r I{rnr r fJrc llcqirr inq : -foitirrLl tlrc Ilcqintcnr -l 'l irc (irrrkhr War: r g 11_rg r6 4 1.Ic lrirrcl:rri War i Ilctrrrrr ar rhc Vilhqc 6 Thc i_ovclr.Thakuril I Tlrc llLri,,vrrk of IlinclLrstal lJ fhc l\4;rrch irto Afqhrnisral: rl3S 1S:9

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\\' 'i ix

rri rrir--

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.tl

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List oJ

r India z The Gurkha \\'a 3 Ihe Plndan a::

4 The Afghan a:l:

9 Ghazni and Kabul ro The Retreat from Kabul: January r84z rr Escape from Slavery rz The First Sikh War: 1845-1846 r3 The Sccond Sikh War: r848-t849 14 The Wind of Madness

15 The Pensioner Glossary

Index

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r30

t46

156

170

179

r83

'. . . and relute the wonrlers of the woil he had seen'

1 The Beginning

I The:: " drc next wrs S&edar, ot :.::- Major, ofwhich there s;t -

The Begiuitg

h this chapt,'r, uhiclt in thc Hilili "Ltsia bc,qar wirh a '1.n

int,ottlliott to rhc HindtL potls,.Slto Rnrrr t. //-, r,/-/rort Ir htatlt a sol,li,r, l.-,pit tfu tyyo:irilr,tl his tttotfur,utl tlr .l,ttttily pticst, PatLLlit Drrltl Rllt. " rr,,r-r /r/-r rrtotlicr'-s h't)tltcr, Hajuutttjt, rr'lto find hitn uith il,,as,.l ltilintl' ':.t),. Hauntnru u',ts a tatirc ofiar (Jcnradrr') irr tht l:osr Itr{ia Cottltatti' , BtqqalAntl,, and Sita Ra,r nrirtiLttts rlt 'Joli bcads vort by ltis tuttl,, itt rilivtn. 'lltcsc u,trt a tuark ,tl'distittctiot, t1dtit,. r,fil-.cr'r'-r ri,calirrg ,'rr' rrrr i qo/r/ lcad-r, d/// /rc sclovs ,1,n,1,111'5 olrt'ltitt lc,r/r. .Sit,r R,irr llfir t,,

'':, I:nst Lklia Cotttp'ut1, as the Cortrl,rly J3ahaclur, tttattitt.g tll-potuctlirl. H. o/-ro lrdrs trr it sonuitttts as thc Sirkar, orgot,rrttatr'til.

Sira Rurrr rr,,r.i a ]|nlnnit. thL ltiphcst HttLdtL ctlstr, ditl ltt ,'ts tlrrL'fotL sdticct to tln' shict(st rcli.:lt.'tt-r o/r-v'r.r,crcr'-r tt'ltich, as tpilI h stt'tt ti.t, {ft,t1tl), ettpliatc,l ltit !ilt as a s,,1,!i't . Ilis.fitlt.r ttld! tl ),t.rltalt -lut t)i(l t totnforta|t tirarnstalcr's u'lto lircl irt rltc t illa,qt ,,l 1il,ttltc, h tltt

R,t Tldl,li dirrri.t t,l C)tnlh, itt tlnt ts uol' tl,.' Stnt tll Lttt,lt Pnlcslt (L't'). ftlau,,:,: lits rotrgltly rtiluay ltctrt'tctr tltt citiLs of ItrcLttotu at .lllaltnhol itt 'i:t ytr),htart o.l Ilit&statt.

-4t tfu tintt o.l Sita Rani s [h tlt, OrJh uas an irdcpu ott .ngdon uith its cnpit,ll dt Lu.k t)tr, iu it vos.lron Otdh tlnt thr:l:ast lurlia tJonpattT,rccnritcd tlrc hrlk,,Jirs soldrLrs.lor thc ISutgtl .1rnty, td a lt,s-iu ttunbcrfrtr thc BotnLay Artty. It hatl orioinally L'cctt t Ihr,qlwl protilrt', ,trlcl by a Nort,ab oppoittrctl by tlt Dnpctor, krt tlrc l4rplurl nrpirc tuos.li-.t ,iisilttt.!t11titt! h1' t797, ttltn.S/l,r Rorrr rns lorri, and rktto)'s tJ proritrcLs iu,l :ct tlrcnstlrts up as it cpu utt priurcs. Tlle ltotatirts uti-ilortniutt-\tt t! Odh lctl trt its attttcxatiott itt t356 by tfu East hulia Corryany, rcsultig ir uuch liscontcnt antotg tlrc soldius e istctl.fron Ordh uho lost turler the Conpan\,thc ualucd yiuik'gcs the1, halJorncrly utjo)'cd h thc ci l cotrts vhen Outlh uas indepcndtnt. The annentiot oJOurlh by Lor,! Dalhotsic tuas onc of the cottributory couscsJbr thc Itdiat lv[rrtitty h t,t57.

I was born in thc villagc ofTiiowee, in Oudh, ru the ycar r7g7. My father was a )/eoman farmcr, b1' naDrc Gangadin Pande. He posscssed about rJo acres oflatld which hc cultivetcd himscll My family sdcn I was young werc in casy circuurstanccs, and luy fathcr was con- sidered a man ofimportance in our village. I was about six ycars old when I was placed Lrnder the care of our family priest, Duleep Ram, in whom my

r There were threc grades of native ofiicer. The junior was]enaddr; thc next was &iedar, or Rissaldar in thc Cavalry. The senior wrs Subedar ot Rissdlddp Major, ofwhich thcre was only one in cach infantry battalioo or caralry regimcnt.

The Begh ng

flfcr and rnothcr,placed irnplicit corrlidcncc, and thcy ucvcr did arrything ol rurponancc witlrout his ldvicc and corrsclt.

By him I was raught to write and rcad our own language;

*:::lgll9',*dgc offigurcs.was irnparced to nrc. nn* r frrJ rilJi"a :l::]^:::'.,*::9,lyrclf

far supcrior in k,ro-.ledg" ro.,ll ttr" "J,*-AJi, "fny, ag.c whom l kn cw, and IrcId up my head aciordirgly. Ali;;";;'";.,

:: 3:"0:|:': :.f iT:": t? .9:i t ran ci cd m )'-sc r r.nrilc'i;;:; ,i' il" vprcccptor Dulccp himscl{, and ifit had nor b".n fn.-r1," h,glr;;;;;;; ;; ;1hcld in by my fathcr, I should on solne occasrolr h avc even dared to tcll

seat bcfore our house, aud rclate ld hc had sccn, and the prospcrity of.thc great Company Bot nd,,, ;;

"";;';','i.'" .r.*j,r

!;y sy, until I,was sevenreen years of agc I attendcJ "ry-aj,".- i,, *":.,.'": "..".,,,:". ycats or agc r attenctcd my fathcr in thc

managemcnt of hls land. and was cntrustcd to giec tlte cont to thc coolrcshc somctimes enrployed in cutting fri, *"pi j."U"g on.

My mothcr had a brothcr, by naurc Hanumal, rvho was il*::':':':"1'1" .?:i:!:"v o",ka", ",,d *", . j";,;;;;;;";'';;;";.rbattalio'. He had corne ho'me'on lci

xr qrr nrrdulry

Li. ^_,,- l.^_^ L_,-- "rvc tor six ntoxths, and on his way to

his o*'n home, hc staycd with my fr.tr".. rrly uu.il'.r", ;;;r, il;;J,".

::Tt-? Tq F* *iliary ardour had infamcd rny brcast, and ccrtainly hedid all in hisolo ar ln tus power,to cncourage me. He ncvcr said anything about rt oerore my rather and mothcr, or the priest; sti)l, hc rcpeatedly told me

man, and o[grcat pcrsonal strcngth, FIe usccl ofan """,,i,rn

,o'rir'JJrn" seat Dclorc our house, and tclarc thc worrdcrs ofthc woriJ L.ihld..,,,,

"..1

eagcr listcncrs, who.rvith- opcrr moutlx and staring "y",

i..t i,, "iif,i,rn:uvets as undoubtcd trtrths. Nonc ofhis h"arar, rrl"r" rnorc artcntivc rlrun

n4'self, aud from thesc rccjtals I i.rbibcd a strong dcsirc to c;;;;;i;;;;fu, and try fltc tortunc of a soldier.

, ,Nothirrg.elsc could I thirrk od day or nighr. Thc rank of

goJd bcads, and a crrrior:s brighr rcd coat, covercd witjig.fa bri;;"ra, aoovc:rJt, lrc appcared to havc an unlimircd supply ofgold nohtts.z I longcd for,thc tirne whcn I rrright poscs th" ,.,,,,.,., *tri.ti tt

", il,ouglrt

woutd be dlrccuy I bccame thc Company Ba/ralrrr.s scrvant. _, My unclc had observcd how attentivc I was to all his

to tcll

water, and so :: -:: :::::::- --: . - :..:','. ','. :::, . .,

_ :: , C::-.::::- i., : - r:: :i-:i rr i:'-::.: -: '

1''. ._ _'

--: :: ::1 :,1 :l:.' ii::::,----.1,-.-,..: ' _::::: :: a Inef: ji:_:::

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n'ice .r-ith C :::..:

:, ...:: :ome itfn rr.:-.r : --.-. : r: ilm to Pat a::l:.--

- -- -- ,L- ^*^i.rrin- -'"^l "_'-_

_ -

r-: ::,:r he should take : . : .:.-: thc first fis ;::-:r - .ut the service I "'-:i:

T --an ---t""- :: ::.: priest and ms r:::: . . : uo the idca. I1r- rr-:::

. ,i :- ru! house, but all l:.:- '---:::k over thc matter. Tl^-

i::ernined to follo.r' n'-" :

-:'::n to wrestle or f la" 't:

-:her's ficlds, s'hich c:::: :.teat from him that I 'l:

! The E::: l

-.f Oudh by a Resident' rsnr r: llis durics wcrc suPPoscdll_ ;;' ' :he u.ltimrte senclioo offorcc'

*::fi1_i::5:9 ': as quite caurt to rh"t of ct,",iJi,r nr-.,t"., ir,. rr,,g .rOudh hinrsclf; in fact, ncvcr hnving secrr the lactcr. I "",'"r"ifr .r,,rla"t.a, ---.-,'

^' nlyuncle as of €vcn morc. inportancc. He had such a splendij nccklacc of

privately that if I wished to be a soldier, he would take me br.k'*iih hr- on his retunr to-the-regimcnt. How I longed to menrion thi, ,o -y _oJ.r,but darcd not for I wel] knew her dearest wish was for me ,o La"ont"

"priest. However, one,day when I had been reading with Dul".; R;_ about the nughry battJes toughr by the gods, I fairly told him mv i,i.h ,.,about the mighry battles gods, I fairly told him my wirh to

2 Gold nohurs wcte .parr

of th. coinlgc of rhc Mughul EmpiE,

) b.

' i:.i lr)ythiDg

..rDqulgc; . :.rc.1uircd

:.: - r bovs of : rcr castes :lrr lDy -: l1c wxs

:-,l ro tcll -i xt tllc

: - coolrcs . - .rncl s,r

, ; t,.r l'as

::: lllltr v .\ JY tO

.::.]sorlc .:,11 thc

,n. and :'rvcl of : .rll his

: .: tlltD '.r'orLI,

:.,nk r>f -,::tq of

::.:-lL'rcd ,. rcc of

. , ; aUal, :lrj '? I

: : ,rrght

.rll his '-.:::i\ hc ,a!)ut lt :.-.i lnc ' :::1 lllm ::--Jther,

, ,;ome a . ."-' Ram

'.., ish to

The Bcgilttitg

bccomc a soldicr. How horri{ied hc sccned ! llow hc rcproached mc, .lcclarinq that all the itrstruction he had so labourcd to impart to mc rvas :;ro$'l'r l$'ay, and that half thc storics nry unclc had told Inc u'crc falsc; ihrr I mieht bc floggcd, and ccrtainly should bc dcfilcd by crrtcrinq tirc Corr.rpany's servicc. A hundrcd othcr tcrrors hc conjurcd up, but thcsc hrd ilr) cflec[ On mc.

Thc priest immcdiatcly u ctrt to nrv parcnts and inlonncd :;!-ur of n1y dctcrtnination, and thus brokc to thcnl thc subjcct I ltad not ::rc couragc to tcll. To n1y grcat surPrisc rny fathcr madc no objccrioDs; :-rcse alL camc lr,.rur trrt' rnotltcr, lvho scpt, scolclcci, cntrcatcC, and :lrrL'xtcDcd rlc, cndinq bv imploring mc to givc trir thc idce, ancl abuscd :::. fathcr for Dot prcvcrrring such a catastrophc. Ar this p:rrticular pcriotl .: rvhich I l1o\\'\\'rite a larvsuit rvls intpcndirrg ovcr nrr'hthcr, lbout his

: ighr to a mango qrovc of sotr-tc ,+oo trccs, arcl hc thouqlrr thar having a , .n in thc Conrpanl Balralrrr's scrvicc rvoLrld bc thc nrcaus of gcting his --.lrc attcrrded to in thc larv courrs ofLucknorv; firr it s,as rvcll krorvn thlt ., pctitiot scnt b)' a soldicr, through his cornurancling oficcr, l'ho lbr- '... rrded it on to rhc Rcsidcnt -.,?lrir, in Lucknot, gcncrullv had prorrrpt .,:icntion paid to it, and carricd morc wcight than cvcn thc bribcs a:rd parry ::rt!'rest of a rnerc subjcct of the King of Oudh.

Shortly aftcr my parents had becn infornrcd of my dcsrrc :,r take service with Compan,v l)alralar mv uncle lefr thcrn to procecd to :ris orvn home fiftv miles away, Although rnv mother ncvcr eriprcsscd any * ish for him to pay anothcr visit when he was about to rctum to his rcgi- incDt on the cxpiration ofhis lcavc, hc told hcr that hc intcndcd to do so, and that hc shor.rld takc me with him if I werc still of thc samc mind. I rr';rlkcd thc first lcrv miles with hinr on liis journcy, and made him tcll mc all about thc service I wished to cnter, ovcr and ovcr again.

Upon my rcrurn home I had to sustain drc unitccl attacks of the pricst and my moiher. Thcy tried cvery inducement to make mc qivc up thc idca. My mothcr even cursed the day her brothcr had scc foot in our house, but all they could get from me was a promisc that I would think ovcr tire matter. This i did, and evcry day becamc more and morc determined to follow my uncle. I now felt idle, and did vcry littlc clse than lcarn to wrcstle or play with sword-sticks, and consequcntJv ncglcctcd my father's ficlds, rvhich caused me to fall under his displcasurc. Ho$'eyer a thrcat from him that I should ncvcr be allowed to scc my tmclc ag:un had

3 The East lndia Company rvas represcntcd at the court of tbe KmE ofOudh by a Resident, who wis a seilior civil or nilitary onicer ofrhe Companyt serviccl His duties werc supposedly advisory, but in frct rhc Krng knew thrt behindihe rdvice hv thc ultimate sanction offorcc.

'. . . b,rndits aud tltttgs u\u, then itfested the roads,

2 Joining the Regiment

I TtL,ilitht oJ th )tu:::

a ---

Sirr Rorr dc-srrilcs /r is jountty to At,ra, or AkbaraLal ,ts ir :: tlrLn talkd, tr'ltrt lis unclc's rc,qinut .forl tt,l lart Ltl'tlrc g,trrison.

Ht also ttlls ofltis eulistntttt itto thL,-4rn),. 'liotel in htdia Adtt.q thc lr..aL-try a.l'thc )hgltLtl ctityitt

t. J\ a lnzdrdols lttsirLss. B uls (jfrt rc.lr,,ltbts ro,ttt,,i tlir,,arttrr1,si,{r atJ :,iglnny nbluy nns c. t jtlo ]llacc,t I tlro-r, r/a1,-r orrll, t/rr, rtf.,{ ,|,jll ,rrl1r{ rl .-.'r r 1,i.i'rrar',1 /r is.r,oor/-, . at,l th n L,nl), wn il a stt,tjQct tltt11 /rc -r/r,, rr /,/ r,,rrrt,. , ilri pttlnl: tlrc .r.trt'nttst ln:a I cutrL,.lr,.ttt llre /lllqs, ol r.tr,lig/r,r-,. rr,/rr ,ur,ttrtd yattly lJr n'1i{ir,rr-r rrrolilr,-,. au,l yartl1,.f,,r qain. 'l h tlnr.qs rtartili,! rr lrorrrlr, p,,-cirrg a-r irrlot:utt ttnr.lk'$. arl jttinLLl ry tith othcr tt,tulh,t: :ilttil tlrc not ott ltnl rorrc 1o -rrrilc. '1h1, Ia]i2ysl 1111,1'1.',,/r,r'r lr, 1,t,-rclr,,rrr1. ,,1 tlrc.qo,/,/t-.-r 1r,r/i, rlili rrf.sir',i, phLt lnl ntghnlttlt thi r,Ni h ratu.f,tr lttr yrott'tliol. anl rlr

1,r ll,n' stat f, btatt,,l ,t ,,tt, , u,!, ttirh tdlrlt tlt,1, ,rnuryld tltcir ictirns, tt'1:rLl.tttcd th,, lrlrrr li K,r/r's r,,1,r,. )lu.,Lt l.i, sruu11t!,tliott trns tltttl;.tL i lit,iu( nLission,l lulr rhc l,oot;,,,1,r,:r,r,,,/ 11i,.r,.1,, !,.7i tr. lrr{-i'.,rrr/rl), f.l r,./.

7 /riir.-r,-rr.,r-, r1r. J. ./()-\rf, lr?)1 t/r,rt it rr,,ri rrr,rrr1, I,t.,D.-r i,r'[tn tltL Briri-,lt snrntlL,l ot rlr fi/ri ,r l,.ur //]l r(q... ,/ /(l iI n,,.f ,r {f.,r1 ,1,,ri lL,n.gtr ltl,,n, th crtl it,ts cr,tiiic,ttL,l..Sorr:t. r,/ r/rc l,,rrr,l, ,'/,, r,rr,,,l rirr,l r r/i,, pt.tr,.)irt,1t,,.1 ptrt r|.lirl laidotuttits, tltk! tltLn u,tls irr,rr1,r.,rsi ,r r,,r,y,ir.;c1,,,/ -,ilt'rrrr, r'lir, /r rr,,r-r /r,,rJ 1., /,, r,1r,it, . - I -,ir, ii,r1 ,/,,i.,rr lil,,rrr l,,rJ _,(,i r/1, n) if /;rill ,,ut l/,r/({.(,,i1,1./,,r /rir/./', 1,f irr..r::tr'rrrr irrr,i-, 1.,i,1,1/,J,Srr Ijrilr,rrrr -S/r', rr,rrr, ,rl ,,1ii., r r,/ rirl ii,rr1,rl - lil; . rry'r.,,.,. , /, r. r rril,itr,,rr ,uri/ /\rrrr/i.r 1,rr,;r'/;, r,'rtlil,;rr, ,/ t,, rli,, r/, /i,,rr ,,l 7lrrr,3,1r.t,. Oi , i -j.,,,'o

'J /iirqs rr , r,, r.,,rr li.r, ,/ l(/l'i,or lS,it ,rir,/ ;Ji;. arr,/ .,,r i;r, ,,/ r/:rrrr lr,r,rstrr/,r/ :,,1 ,,; 11y,,11. 1r111,1.1-.. .r,lr /'- /: . ..,. ':.r ., . / : rltcnc,rtl:Lir l\il'tLr- l.{lr,/ JL,.{rr,,s,r.,',,,,,/rl ,ir;/li,.r,./ /r,,rl r/:t rlrrr,lL olttntuJ, d\,l lx1r otr,,,f lri-, rorrrj',rri i,,l-. ri,,r-r -Vr, rrr{1 ,/.

7lr. -it(,r'l'1r'/ri-r.tf-rt r',/,rrrri(1., rr-i,r.i.rlil,,ri.. 1,r,/r,r]r r i1ir1, hLty, rt'itlt tltt aln:o:t tl1'rl:iial Dnri:lt, rir!'-r,';r ri, /;li'. 1r r,,r/r,,,1,..1ii,1',, ,,'/ lh. nlt .:t ])tii.t1fil t,,/,rr i ,l-r/rr|-r l,,,trlr.r rr ,'/fir, r'-, ,r;,1sc1.or s rr t';i /r ijr,l r'rlv.,l rri l,ir,' 1Jr rrg,rl -lnl) . Ldh i irr /;; r rr;. r;r,,ri s Srr,i ll,rlr I ,r;rr rirr r/r,. rlt',rf,'riirrq r'/ t/ri-r lrl,r.r,,r/-i/i+), 1xll rt ij (r/i/i'./,irr i, -r,:;,rir,rr 1 I r i I ; .. I ' , , / j i r , r. ,,/ tlr fl ns att,l B,,lt 1,r1,,-lrrlirr tlLit ttitical ,.1 tllir ro//r',r1,;1,.. 1,, rirr, li,,rr,g,il -1rrrr1, 1,r1r,,r'rrq r/,,rt tli,) t,,Li! lin t,.',rJr.ii ,;tn,iri,ri r,, rl-. r.l,;.i,:r., sr.r;ri,i.. ,/,1,/Jr,n('l)tifil.irr(r/rr/rtrr lri,g/;-i rrrL \.fo\\. l,r/'.rr iti tittt i,.,i t,,.r ri\,i,ilrir,\r

,1itt rcnt

I Trtlilht,,J l" )ttrirttr lv Pc..ivrl sf(.rr, atr,lrl.rtrlr:,.U!iv.r,irv ir..$, rrt,.

il_. ,,:==::;*n:rdfllg*.

llnl,

Joiuing the Reginent

My uncle and I went one march in the rnornine. Wc restcd during the hcat of the day under a tree, and in the eveniig we tnarched the samc distance as wc had in rhe morning. For the iight we always put up at a.t.rai, whenever this was possible.-On the third Jay we arrivcd at a village celled Dcrsungpor wherc two sepoys of my unclets regirnent, whose lcavc had finished, ioined us. One was called Tillukdaree Ghccr, and thc other Dconarain. They appcared dclighred to rneer rrrv uncle and treated him with grcat rcspect. Deonarain was accompanied bv his youngcr brothcr, who was hoping to cnlist. They wcrc ali carrying srvords, and Tillukdaree also had a blunderbuss, callcd a '1,eurq 11gq.'. Wc lookcd a rather fornidable partv, and felt securc

^gains theia,lidlts

,rrd tlruqs who thcn infcstcd thc roads. Aftcr about three or four days a party of itincrant musi-

ciirs crnrL' Lrp rvith us aud begged that wc should join forccs for the sakc of prorccriou. Tlrcv corrsjstcd of fwo lncu with drums, four mcu with Jlr./,r,:r two lrrcn with cvrrbels, and onc with a kind of trurnpct. They rold us that thc\-werc on their way to attend a marriagc fcsrival ai a rown which lav ou our way.

For scvcral days cverything went suloothly, and the rnusicians enlivcncd our march bv playing prctty airs. But during the nighr of t)rc fburth day my uncle, happcning to be arvakc, discovered ihat allihc rmrsicians had collcctcd toqether and were in some earnest debate, speak- ing ir.r a low tonc ofvoicc rnd in x tonquea which he could uot understand, Alarrrcd at r,vhat hc sarv, he imrnediately arouscd rhc orher scpoys and rold thcm hc bclicvcd that the nusicians were in rcality thugs.'He thcn ap- pointcd one of our parn' to watch thcrn while thc rcst of us again laid oorvll to slccP,

Thc ncxt tnorning my unclc told thc mtuicians that he rvas ob)igccl to make long rnarchcs, and that thcrcfore thcy would be un- able to kccp up with us. Thcy, horvever, bcggcd to be allowed to accom- pany us, ancl at thc samc tinc cxprcsscd great fcar ofbcing robbed on the road. Ncvcrthclcs nry unclc urarchcd vcry carlv thc next morning, leaving thcu behincl. 'rl/c rvcnt sornc cight milcs on thc high road, and then branchcd off b,v a sidc path, intcnding to join thc road again some thirtr. milcs larthcr ol.

Thc ncxr four davs passcd rvidrout incidcnt. At the evcn- ine's hrlting-placc on the fourth dav rvc n'crejoincd bv a parry ofabout

i A rcsriDe phcc lor rravcucrs \!hcrc strbling w.' ,'.,,"tt p-"]::*:i: 3 A rihr is r kiDd of violin rvhich hrs rccentry b*."* *ii3,.i,:I rl,,dia is, of.ourse. r land ofmrny languages, rnd of evcn.more

Joinitg the Re.;:",,

:..'.'lvc mcn, carrying bundi.. :rpe-stems. Thcse mcn begg.'.i :: :r: musicians had done. In tl:: ::- : )c of these men was rcmark , t- ::.rned this to my uncle lvho " :: .)rrt their language was diiler.':::

'.'re vcly dirty, and the\'lo,r.i - ,:r.1 appointed one ofthc -.,t,. . : : rhcse people.

During the ni:::: ,L'p for a loug time, as I bcii.. - : -.ite of my endeavours to i, ,-i ::.rrdy aftcrrvards awakcnca. :' : :r, ancl in a lDomcnt onc o: :' . -'rpcrs. I siroLrtcd Ioucllr', an':- ::-' .:rJ mshcd at thcm. Althouc.r :.: :r.l lranagcd to stranglc thc :': .:rd rcndcrcd Tillukdarec s.':r'-., -.rt down thc thug standin: . .:ch, leaving thcir bturdlc' r: .:. .).lcc, thc tllugs hrd manag:,:- : . :.ipccs,6 and Tillukdalcc's bl.r:r,: , r;.poscd to be on watch.

After all thr' l:: : :nd roused the cntirc popLrhi: ':

:ron to pursuc the blood-thir': : :right on the outskirts ofthc r:..- .i Dconaraitr's brothcr. Iu tli:' ::-

H:r :i

;" htt. b llffi

b- b' >iq hrr:

Fnt l! nr :r '- lrir' fia t'

Joining the Reginent

:'.1'.lvc nren, carrying bundles of bamboos which arc uscd for making :r!\e-stems. These men begged to be allowed to join us for protection, as ::i musicians had done. In the morning, whcn it was light, I fancicd that :re of these men was remarkablv like one ofthe forner party, and men- :::rned this to my uncle who went to them and entered into conversation. 5ut their language r.as different from that ofthe musicians, thcir clothcs ...':re vcry dirty, and they looked like coolies. Still he was on his guard, -::r-J.appointed one of the sepoys to keep awake and watch thc movcments r: tlrcse DcoDte.

During the night. after we had halted, I could not go to ..:.'p for a long time, as I believcd these men rvere also thugs. However, rn .:ire of my endeavours to keep awake, I fell asleep eventually, but was ,rortly aftcrwards awakened by a noise like a cock crowing close by.' I sat -:-', and in a monlent one or two of thesc mcn wcrc by thc sidc of the ..:.'pers. I shoutcd loudly, and rny unclejumpcd up with his srvord drawn, :-:rJ rushcd at them. Although this was thc rvork of a moment, thc fiends :-rd lnanagcd to strangle the brother of Deonarain with a silk cord, and ;r;rd rendcrcd Tiliukdaree senseless. He was just saved by my uncle who rilt down thc thug standing ovcr him. The others disappeared imrnedi- :rely, leaving their bundles of sticks behind them. However, in this short :.nacc, the thugs had managed to steal rny r.ncle's gold beads, worth 2Jo rupecs,o and Tillukdarce's blunderbuss. He had fallen asleep w-hen he rvas supposcd to bc on watclr.

After all this had happened, we went to the village uearbv rnd roused the entire population, but no-one showed the slightcsr inclina- rion to pursue the blood-thirsty rnurders. We passed thc rcmainder ofthe light on the outskirts ofthe village, having carricd r.r'ith us the dead body ofDconarain's brother. In the morning we found the bamboos still at our

sThe tactics adopted by thc thugs flore properly tla3s, merning jcccivert seldom v?ried. They bcgan by winning thc con{idcnce of those to rvhorn thcv iad attrched thcmsclvcs, and would ifnccessiry travel mrny uriles:rnd for scvcral dr)s until :ny suspicion of thcir rcrl intentions had been dnpclcd. Tbcn, rvhcl dre ]cadcr of the bsndjudgcd thit the moment hrd comc to strikc, thcy would prcprre thcir victims' gnvcs, ud cach selcct a victim to stranglc. Thc signrl to strike *'as usurlly thc cry'Bri'g rhc tobacco!', but this was somctimes vrricd by the sound of :r cock crowing. The :rcturl *r;rnglirrg rvrs thc rvork of :r moment, thc hamdkcrchicf, or silkcn cord, h:rvlng r knot at one cnd to assist thc str:rnglerJ grip. Oncc thc dccd rvrs clonc, dre bodies rverc scarcitcd and rhclr buricd, the booty shrred, and the drrrgs rnovcd on nr search of othcr victins. At the end of the expcdition, which mighr last severrl rnc'ntlx, dte brnd dispcrscd to thcir or'n homcs, rnd rcturncd to thcir pcrcctul rvocrtions, until thcy wcrc sumnroned by thcrr le;rder to assemblc lor:rnothcr forry. Fcw thugs dxrwcd auy rcrnorsc for the murdcrs they had comnrincd, bclieving thcy wcrc scrvins a rc)igiorrs cnd, and manv of thcnt rvcre rcspcctcd mcmbcrs ofsociety. The r:rmifimtions of Thuggcc ran drcP ind nrinv a trnd- owner, or m;nor njrh, was in receipt of'hush-rlorcy' lrom thc grngs.

6 The rupee rt this time was worth about two drillings.

- -:: :i itinerant musi- : r;ccs for the sake

: - :::. tour men with -'rj:npct. t hey told - . :. ar a town which

- :::::rrhly, and the - :: Juring the night

. '. :rcd that all thc .: ..: Jebate, speak-

_ :::ot understand. - :: ,.7,'1-r and told ' .:_-s. He thcn ap- ' : us again laid

..:,:cians that he , - : .r-ould be un- - .,. .'d to accom-

: :-.bbed on the -

. .:ling, leaving :.ld, and then

: j::i some thirtv

. ::. \t the evcn- : :.:rn.ofabout

..: Frovided for animeh.

: : rpularized by The Beades.

_ a even more dialects.

Joining the Reginent

formcr camping place, and my uncle sold them to a tobacco nrerchant for 46 rupecs, but not rvithout an altercatiorr with thc villaee headman who claimcd that they bclonged to him, by right of their having been lefr on his qround. Wc stayed a complete day ar the villagc in ordcr to pcrform thc funcral ritcs for Dconarain's unforturratc brother. Fornrnatelv for Deonarain's comfort rvc wcre only .r few rnilcs from thc holv Gaugcs, and hc hrd thc satistiction ofsecing thc pricst cast his brothcr's ashcs into thc stream, thus sccuring his brothcr rcst in onr Hindu hcavcrr. Tillukdarec 'was so rvcak ftom thc cffcct ofthc thug's corcl round his tlrroat that he $'as obliqed to hire a pony cart, and $ c procecdcd, norv a mournful party, on our \vaY.

My unclc norv allowcd no partics ofanv kiud to join us, althouq]r scvcral bcegcd hard to clo so since thev salv ruc rvcrc arrncd. Nothinq ofany consequencc took placc during thc rcst oftlrcjourncv so far as I can rcmcmbcr, Lrnril l'c lrrived at Agra, .['hcrc rnt unclc's rcgi- nc.rt \\'.s thcn stationecl.r We rrrivcd thcrc on rl Novcmbcr. and rvhcn r.rc canlc Dcar thc lincs l'c mct scvcrll scpolr ofthc rcgirncnt going dorvn to thcJumna to bxthc. Thcy aJl crnbraccd rrry rmclc, ancl, bcfbrc rvc camc to tirc liucs, sonlc thirty mcn of his Company carrre running out to lncct him:rnJ askccl a thousarld qucstions. My unclc went to his ou:n hoLuc, rvhiclr hrd bccn kcpt ncat and clcal bv a havildar v'ho had livcd in it dur- lllg lllv llllclc s llDscncc.

Aftcr brrdtinq, lnd cating thc rnorninq urcai. tnv uncle pnt on full rcqiurcntrls rucl s'c'nt to pay his rcspccts to thc Ad-iurant sairil," aud Comnrrrdinq Ofilccr. LIc took me l'ith him. I rvls rrthcr drca.Lng this bccausc I h:rd rrcvcr r-ct sccn a salrll ald inlagincd thc\' \\',,'rc tcrriblc ro look on and ofgrcat strrnrc-at tcrst scvcn ttc"'r trll I hr rlrosc d.l.s thcrc rverc oul; a f-cu'-.a/ri!,-, in OuJh; onl;'onc or rrvo.r,lril Rcsic{cnts in Lucknorv, lhcrc I had nclcr bccn.,' [n thc villagcs ofrnv countrv r]rc rnost cxtraorrlinrrl idcas cxistccl ab,rut rhcur, antl anv onc rvho lrrd clrarrccLl to sce a ,,,lrib told drc most curious storic's. In firct nothinq \\'as too frr-

I Agrr, stich strnds on the binks of rhc River Junr|x, .bout (lrrec houn'drirc tiorr Dclhi, t.rs thc crpirrl oil,rdir during drc rcign oithc grcrr Akbi., and n of courc tirncJ for thc cxquisirc Trj iurlul. bu;lt by Akbrr s son, thc linrpefur Shrh J(hrrr. lt hrd l cconc rr inrporrr t l3ritish nilir.rry g,rrri$rr br rllc rinrc Sitr Rrn) :rrrived drcrc ir Isr.l.

3Thc.ddiri.n of thc rvoril J. i/, n, r titlc, rrnk, or nrnt, significs rL'spcct, but durirq ilfitj\b mlc nr Irrdia i! ciruc to rcfrcsont thc Bfitish, or.qora /t'3, i.e. thc \\'hitc l.cof lc, (rr lxrr{'pc,rns.

.Thc Eist lDdia Corlp.uryi Jtcsidcnt ac thc court of drc King of Oudh hrd a nunrcrous strfl', is rrcll as a s bsriDti:l escott oftroops, commandcd by British otliccrs. lt Nould be to thcsc r,r/rirJ that Sita Rim is rcferring, rkhough he hrd nevcr sccn thcnr hinrselt

Joittittg tk R. ;

:.::lrcd to bc bclicved lt rr'.:' , :::1r on a trcc, alrd this idc: ,: -

:rc suddcnl)' into soln. r: :::c. ltavc bcctr consider- -: :

. . , bccn s orshiPl,cd: L'r:: '.: ..,g.' lrould have lutr ,rt.'. : ,:.1i. lt is thcrcfbre h:rrd,'' '::

,: :.re prospcct ofsccitrg a -': I rcnrclnir':

'.1.-rrl in Agre, atl ol,.l "' ::--: -.:::. ii'orl1 cgcs which crr.- '..1rvith a f:rirv bv his 'r'1. - : .r bcautiful colours, h.: a-''

. -:' his hand on ltc! sli!'': -::: ' . .'lJ rvomatr had scctt '.":: , . :rot so iqDor:lnt llo\\', a': -

.::i',-cd at Agra l aftcrr"'..::

.: . Shc I'orc a tiPPct rlli.i- :: ..-l trtistaken this for l-llg''Wcwcntt':

: :.' sizc of thc l.rcadman's ir :' '.'.:!h a loug stick, measurirl: '

tunq, not as tall as mvscL:. :::. '...' quite ,n.tooth

"nd look:.i :

:.:e first sa,iir I had ever scL-i: .: .-.rt believe he could be n'Iii.:-.

:Icc among us it is consii::. i:nooth-faced soldicr is us.r.r'. :.,nqed those young rccrulr' : loived hc had no fear, atrd t : - irll them.

Aftcr he h;'l : :..ok noticc of my uncle, a::-'- .,nglraqe. He seelllcd glrd r'

ittiword," Flt- thcrr rskc,i ' r comc to culist rnd wxs lll1 i-.::- drc Doctor sali6, to wholll l.

10:\Irrrralll. :!: : thc wife ofa EuroPcan. I au1 n'r ' ' Iudian lady of rrnk.

1r Sita Ranl s ::r Adjutflrt the hilt of his sword to i - until t94o, or later'

rflrF

: :tiiacco rnerchaltt for -.:l,aqe hcadrnan who :: ::lving bcen left on

-:. r: ordcr to pcrform : - ::.'r- Fortunately for

: : :,.holv (ianges, and : :::.-r's ashes into the

r\'an. I ltLukdarcc : .:. :\roat that he was

: :::.rltrrrfr party, olr

: : . iind tojoit us, ., ,' l.crc armcd.

. : rhc joLrrncv so : :,'rl rrnclc's rcqi- :r!cr, and whcn

' ::t:i1t-qoing do\l-n :. i-..rorc 1vc cilme

_ ::t:::j out to lilect ' _rs orvn housc, ::: lir.c.l in ir dur-

-' :::.,.r1. rny unclc ' : i -lirlrant .r,?/,i1,, s

:.:Crcl drcaclinq '... -.r.- tcrriblc to

:: ,ir'dxy5 11,"r" Rcsidcnts in

::tir!' tltc most :.:J ch.rncecl tcr

- .,r'ls too far- :: :r i. alr()Lrr tnlcc r -..,r -\kbar, $rd

: r:r;.crLr Shrh . , 1{rn) irrivcd

: :,rnrc, signiiics : . rn /,t(, i.c_ tbc

-: r rhc K;Dg of ::.1.d by Britnh

.. trd ncver scen

Joining the Regiment

:,:ched to be bclieved. lt was said that thcy rvere born from an egg which ::.\1'on a trcc, and this idca still exists irr rclnotc villagcs. Had a mcnsahibro - ,:irc suddcnlv into somc ofour viilages, shc would, if young and hand-

:l(', havc bccn considcrcd to be some kind offairy, and rvould probably r.:r c becn l orshi1'pcd; but shouicl shc have becn old arrd ugll-, thc whole . :.i.rqc would havc rtur arvav to hide in drc junqJc, bclicving hcr to be a

:r.h. It is thcrcfbrc hardly surprising that I should iravc bcen so tcrrificd .: r.)c procpc( t o1-rc.rrrg.r rolrl, for tlrc first trrtrc ir nry Lrfc.

I rcnrcn-rbcr oncc, whc11 I rvls attcndinq a fair at thc Taj Ll.rhal irr Agra, aD old lvoman said shc had ahveys bclicvccl that saiils --.,nrc lrorn cqgs which grcw ol a trec; but drat rnorning shc had secn a

::rrl, rvith a f.riry bv his sidc. The lair,v was covercd rvith fcrdrers ofthe :rost bcautiflrl colours, hcr fecc rvas as rvhite as rlilk. and thc.solrl had to

,r-cp his hand on hcr shouldcrs to lrcvent hcr from ll,ving a*'ay. A1l this ::c old l'ornan had secn lvith ircr owll cvcs, and shc srvotc it was true. I ::11 not so iqnorant now, ofcoursc, but I rvould hevc bclicvcd it when first . rrrivLi -rf Agra. I rficrq.rrds oftcn saw that -.,r/ril driving oLrt with lus ,.lr. Sirc qorc a lpPct nudc frortt ttc:rcock fcathcrs, aud tire old rvoman

::.ril nristaken this ior rvings. 'We rvcnt ro the Adjtltant's housc, rvhich was lour tiulcs

rhe size of drc hcadman's housc in tlv viilagc. He v':rs on thc verandah, rvith a long stick, measuring )'oung rrren who wcle rccrtlits. Hc was vcry \-oung, not as tall as mysell and had no rvhiskcrs nor noustachc. His face rvas quite sr-nooth and looked morc likc a l.;onlarl's than a ureu's. This rvas dre {irst sali6 I had ever sec1r, and he did not fill lnc $'ith rrruch arve. I did not believe he could be much of a rvarrior with a face as smoorh as thar sincc arnong us it is considered a disgracc to be clcau-shavcn; in fact a srrooth-faccd soldier is usually tl.re butt for rnauy jokcs. Ilowever he banged those young recruits'heads aqainst thc s'all in a rnatrncr which shorved he had no fear, and they looked as ifthcy thouqht he r.vas about to kill thern.

After he had frnishcd with thc n.reasuritrg, thc Adjutant took noticc of ny unclc, and to my surprisc spokc to hiur in my own languagc. Hc sccmcd glad to scc hirn, askccl aftcr his rvclfarc, and touchcd his srvord." FIe thcn askcd u'iro I was, and on bciuq infomrcd that I had come to cnlist and lr,as lny uuclc's trc1,hcw, hc tokl my unclc to take me to the Doctor srrlil, to rvhom hc rvrotc a lcttcr. I was astollishcd at thc speed

ro llrnrdirir, the felnale equivalent of sali&, was usually takcn to mean thc wife of a Europsrn. I anr not rwlrc thrt it was rnuch uscd by Indians to sigdfy an lndi:rn ladv of rank.

1l Sitr Ranis urrcle, rs a nnrk of respect, rvould have handcd the Adjuta!! the hilt of his s$'ord to touch. This custonr rvas follorvcd in rhe Indian Cavalry utrtil r94o, or latcr.

Joining the Regiment

of his writing: in lcss time than I could have put water ro thc ink and written one linc, he had frllcd a page, which hc thcn doublcd up and gavc to my uncle, and wc went to thc Doctor salrib's housc.

This rvas cvcn biggcr than thc Adjutant's. My uncle told me tbat the Doctor wrs marricd ancl had scvcral childrcn. Hc was at homc and we rvcrc ordcrcd into his prcsencc. A chair was providcd for my unclc, but no noticc was takcn ofmc so I squattcd on the ground. M1' uncle made mc stand up, ancl told me aftcrwards that it was bad manncrs to sir down rn the prcscncc ofa -ra/ril. Aftcr rcading thc note, tllc Doctor ordcrcd mc to strip, but I was so ashamcd I could not movc, for thcre was a rlc,lrsalib in thc room. Shc rvas sitring at a tablc covcrcd with a sl.rcct, and fccding two childrcn with cggs-thosc uncJcau things !'" I bcgan to rcgrct having fol- lowed my uuclc, and rcurcnrbcred thc pricst's warning about bcirrg dclilcd. Howcvcr I rvas ordcrcd sharplv to rakc offrrrv clothcs, and both the chil- drcn bcqan calling out 'Pxpa says vou arc to takc your c)othcs oF! Don't vou unclcrstand? Donkcr', piq, osl!'-and thc Doctor joirrcd irr, saving I uas a fool and al igrorant villaecr. Thcr) tbc childrcn cried out-'Oh, tnamrna, is hc covcrccl rvith hair?' I rvas so ashamcd that I ran out onto thc vcrandab, but nrv unclc carnc out and told mc not to bc afraid. No harm u,ould bc clonc !o urc. Tlrc Doctor thcn pushed nrc into an clnDtv roour rnd cxanrirrccl mc, bv thrustinq his Jrrnd aqrinst rul,stourach, ,rLriclin""r)y Dradc ruc vomit. TJrcrr hc ol,cncd rDv cvclids with such violcncc that tears camc irrto mv cvcs, enci hc thurnpcd mv chcst. Aftcr this hc pronounccd rDc fit and ccascd tonlrcDtiDq mc-to ruv grcat rclief

Mv urclc ncxt \\'cnt to pa)'his rcspccts to thc Coloncl -cairib. Wc wcrc kcpt oLrtsidc for ar hour, and thcn ordercd to approach. I was now ill such a statc of tcrror, r'rot knowing what horror nright ncxt bcfall nrc, that my lcgs knockcd togcthcr. I imagined that the Coloncl srlril must bc tcrriblc to gazc upon-he courmandcd onc thousand men- his u'ish was law !Judgc my surprisc whcn I saw an old man, very short and stout, withoLrt a hair on his hcad or face, and with a skin ofa bright red colour. He was smoking a nragnificcnt hookah.," He got up to welcomc nry unclc, and aftcr I u'as introduccd spokc very kindl,v to mc, tclling rnc to bc a good boy and irnitatc ruy unclc in cvclything.

I havc said this rvas thc first tirnc irr rnl lifc I had cvcr secu

'r Sita ltam, as r tsrahrnn), would have bccn a srrict vcgctarian, for whoru cvcn cggs $ould bc tibu.

rr Thc smokiDg of hookahs, or hubblc-bubblcs, or rvrtcr-pipcs, u:rs part of Brirish s(,ci.l life tu hrdia until :rbout drc micldlc of drc njnctcc,uh ccnlury u,hcn for sonc rcrson it dicd out. Therc r';crc evcn somc rvorncu rvho snrokcd /rootalrs,:rnd thc sprcious Anglcnrdia,r houschoid of thosc days uslally nrchdcd a scrvrnt whosc solc task was iooking aftcr thc sali6's looAalrs:ud providirrg the tohcco. These scrvrnts wcrc known as }oolalbalaru.

JotntfiS tt ' 3

.:-. safiibs, I had nos'secn r: :: rhem. I could not belict: : ----:\' were all smaller thl:l :: -.. iat a number of curio.:s ::gine what theY did $ ii: : : :eble full ofglass cuPs o: .:- -,r:!h seven or eight gun! ;:

-!igers, stags, anteloPe. .1::

: rl !, buttoned uP to ttlc t:: : : rvhat I then thought rt:s , : rns, and long black bo.'::

'.',.as not struck with his .i:: :'..s $/hich I shall ner'.'r :r ::.rrcd to look throuqL ;--- : rid me that the Colonr. '' :rany as nine tigers.

In a Grv i:'' .:irvays rcmembcr, for is :: rlrade-ground was cove'r- : :r]ost extraordinarv mov3:: .ansuaec of which I did n; .rulh, ind stood astonisl--:: ear-by the drill hauildar ls:: rrtcnd drill for many mon:--

romething and was so sc!ei

I fell down senseless. I con tlte drlll haviLlat. Althous: day on he bullied me in e'' opPorffnirY-fuIhadgor' treatment very much ano i:

drill layillar told the Adju: lever make a soldier.

I told m1 :

I repented ofever havine c

day the Colonel salrib came

drill to his satisfaction. He ' my drill, and the Adjutan: I so longed to wear a red c

rr Sita Ram: 15 It is orJ! \

Hindi wot& of coo[rard in P::

t4 t5

b : L

l )

I :. I

.::.r ro thc ink and : :5lcd up arrd gavc

': :: '. My uncle told:: ::. FIc rvas at homc

. . :-:-'J fbr my unclc, :. \h' uncic made

: .,.r. to sit down in : : (rrdcrcd nrc to

- -::,.s a nunsahib itt : :nJ fi'ccling two

' :: j.cr havinq lbl- : ::: bcirrg dcfricd.

: : l'oth thc chil- -' ::rcs offl Don'r - :r'..1 in, saving I

:t.-'J out-'Oh, ' ..:r our onto thc

:::.riJ. No harrn ::: r rnptv rOOII .. ,r hich ncarlv , it.c that tears

'-:.ionounccd

' |lC LOIODCI . : :-.rrrProach. I -: : niight ncxt ' : lltc Coloncl ': -:..tnd lncn-

: :_ :::. tcry short : r bright red

- , :.. rtclcomc 'r: -. rclling rnc

-:.ricvcrsccrt

' ' r:setrrirn, for

' _:'!lirfcs' $ ils .:riurt u,hcn :,:.Jrr, rnd thc

.:: ,,c sole trsk ,rr\'.rDts wcrc

Joining the Regiment

---. .,'alibs. I had now seen three, and how differcut thcy werc to my icleas :: :.!em. I could not believe they were so brave as they werc rePutcd to be; ----.', \lere all smaller than my uncle and did not look half as strong. And

=..:ar a number of curious things they had in thcir houses. I could not :::Ejnc what they did with them. In one corncr ofthc Coloncl's rooIrr lvas

, ,.r!1" full ofgl".t "ups

ofall sorts and sizes, and in anothcr colncr a sland

=.'::r seven or;ight guns. The walls \l'erc hung with thc hcads of alimels

-:,q.rs, staqs,

"ntelope, and other dce!. The saitib was wearing a tight bluc

, ,,,i bu,,onid up ,o ihe throat with big brass buttons, and with two lurnps : u'hat I thcn thought was gold on his shoulders.ta He wore white panta-

: rns, and long black boots with golden tassels on cither sidc. Although I '...:s Dot stluck with his size or strength, still thcrc was somcthing in hrs :. rx which I shall never forget; thcy wcrc likc the cyes of a hawk and r:..'nlcd to look through and through one. Afrcr wc had lcft. my unclc ::t,l me that the Cololncl was a re;owncd sportsman who lrad killed as ::ranv as nine tigers.

ln a few days I was scnt to begin my drill. It is a day I shall

-:irvays remcmbcr, for is it not imprcssed for ever on ny mind? The .a."ie-ground w"s covered by partics ofsix or eight mcn, pcrforming thc ,r.rost eitraordinary movements I had evcr seen, and thcsc to orders in a .anquase of which I did not understand a single word.'" I felt inclincd to ,.uih, ind rtood astonished at the sight. However a violcnt wrcnch ofrrv car-by thc drill hauildar lsergeantl soon brought mc to my senses. I had to

rttend drill for many months, and one day I happencd to forgct how to do

lomethinq and was so scverely cu6ed on the hcad by the dtill hauildar that I fell doin senseless. I complained to my uncle who was very angry with the drtll hauildar- Although he never darcd to strikc mc again, from that

dav on he bullied me in every other way and used to abuse me at cvery

opportunity. As I had gone to great Pains to learn my.duties, I rcsentcd-this

,ra"t-.n, u"ry -uch and had almost made up my mind to rul away The drlll hauil,lar iold the Adjutant that I was obstinate and stupid, and would

never make a soldier. I told my uncle ofthe treatment I was rcceiving, and said

I repented ofever having come with him. But he encouraged mc, and one

clav the Colonel sahi6 caire to inspect the recruits and I managed to do my

drill to his satisfaction. He ordered the Adjutant to tcst me in the whole of mv drill. and the Adiutant told the Colonel that I was fit to join the ranks'

I so loneed to *.", -"

,.d coat, and to have a musket ofrny own' Besides

r' Si!. Ram is herc referring to the gold-l'ce ePaulcttes ofa field of6ccr' 16 It is onlv within thc last threc years that the Indit Army hat adoPtcd

Hindi sotd! ofcommand in Placc ofEi:glisb.

Joixing the Reginent

:,ll.i, t ltid only been eight months a1 my dnll, and our of a party ofsevcnty-eight recruits, mariy of wh ontv on. ri.",Jio.1iii'..,.;'il it

had enlisted before me' I was the

#;:1.""i'i;;;#;il"1T;iiL.-"'iiil".lT:":"';i::fr :t:l

'My unde next weflt to paf his respects to the Colonel salib,

The Gurkha War: t8t4-t8t6

.Sii; i:

' ,:-ft'ccrs, at'i | ,

' ',tsltip trhich t:.:, ' I :l-rr3,l1 Nrtil'c rl.':

;r oq'a/rr-v c C:, '

'fi;t'. ,

' )rld l(d,ll -(c,: . . .,,:J onclw{cd ri;.:: S :: , th rleliberate inr.' :. '-. apartjon Sttt |: .lxs bY thdr ltitl': .

' '. tutdultclll st'i,'.: ' : i:.7, it ltartiul'tr. ::

; ...1,a1 1/14 5qp6r'1 :. : , :,.ldicrJront thc )l

' : :: 'Dic Hards' .' ) l :,-,ir ,'ft-rrrs rll,, i:.,.' . 'i:r,tlutd to idettti.i

: ,,rtiue by their pcy, ,'

. ,: -|-fghan Wat (.t ! ' : : i,rlll, JI/ggeJ/-r, ,,f j

,l , tt,cr, thc uost li' . ' ' .,iar lcst hkJratk ,.'

,iipany and cndang" , ,:: c cntered wilh hitt: :

-.:'l's initial reluctai:.' ' lI'' ::

' . :it1tcr1t wqs tlrc 21tl 1.. '

'riy sepoy regittrcrrt -': ::, :

.':listed, ard noreot:' '. :rhib.'Estuart' is a c: ", :):crc was d Major Bc :- t' .7hhou.gh he was oni; ::,.

\o. rJ4,June r960. ':Fr,.:: :i

'-neir dying commandi.: :: irrd, JTth! Die hardl'

! Thi :: I! coruisled of two battr.::1 R. Henry who was aPPc;::: i. In the rcorganrzlnoc .: bccarxe 52nd BNI. lt mu::i-:.

'At -ltrct I ./omd it rcr1t l1qrrr"o61, wcuirtg tlte red coat,

IVar:

Sita Ra'.|. tlevotes part oJ this dry ter to a description Ltf his ' ,11 pfuccrs, atd thci rclotiotts u,ir/r t/rc sc1'oys, aud hc also tLxrchL's Ln tht ': t:lip which cxisted bchueu ccrfah British rcgittrcttts hc kucw anrl ::;:tgal Natirc rcginuis, He the goes ou ttt ttll o.f lis ctpcrienccs itt ', r against tlrc Gtrkhas which began in tStl and lastcd ncarll' nuo

Tlrcre is cousirlcrable obscurity regardirg tlrc regitncnts irt .:ii Sita Ratr senrcd. Lonl Sidtuouth tlc v o tc d -forty-fivc ycars' swiy to : tnl rortlulctl that Sita Rau vas cithcr contiwally charyitg his urrit, ot 'ryh rleliberate irtent, or loss Lrf uunory, enbroidcrctl his stor1,,1

1:,lre.apai jon Sita Rauis lnziuess ot,cr ilates, hc rrct'er nruttions any oJ his ' ::ncuts by their ttinbcrs. This is uot altogcther wrptisilg sitcc rhe Butgal .:' tity rutdcnucnt sclcral reorganizatiorts itt tlrc cotrsc LtJ'his scrvirc, anl

tiz4, h partiarlar, the unrltcring olregirictts uios courylctcly chatgcd. ' 1.,r'corer t/rc scpoys r rsrclIy ygfaypl 1p thcir rcgintuts by thcir poytlar tourcs, : a solrliat Jron thc Midrllescx Rcgitttcttt ttight hnuc rcJcrrcrl to his utit

.:: tlr'Dic Hards'.. Most sepoy rcgiurcnts were ktrctwt by thc une s of thc i"itish oficcrs u,ho ltad originall), raiscl thcu, ht Sita Ram locs lot usc et'e,, '::is nethorl to irlentiJy his rcghrcnx, although hc does refer later it his :rrarive by their popular natucs to thrce rcgiments which took part in the First Afghu War (t 6 j6-42)- His urctnory nay haue been failing hin, as Lorrl >rdmurth srggests, or hc nay havefclt this was a notter oJno cotcenr. Hatrarcr, the fitost liktly explarutiott is that he uas anxious to cover his traces

.{,tr fear lest hisJrank contne ts shauld incrr the displeasure oJ the all-powerful Conpany and cxtlanger his precious pension- His tra slato\ Norgate, ny haua ctrtered with hin iito this cotlspiracy oJ siletce ix ortler to overcolte Sita Rani s itritial reluqance ro vritc his ncmoirs.

I c cnn be fairly certain, howercr, that Sito Rdt i sfrst rcginle uas the md Battaliot oJ'the z6th Bengal Natiue Infantry.3 lt was the orly sepoy reginent stetioned at Aga at the tine whex Sita Ra,:r. says he enlisted, ard tnoreovet he tells us that his j.rst comtrandixg offcer was'Estuart' sahib.'Esnort' is a couurox rendering of Stewart ix the vernacular, and there was a Mnjor Benjamin Steuart seruing tuith the 2f 26th BNI ot Agra. Although he was only the thid wajor h order of seniority, the othet two

I Journal oJ the Suietf Jot Aft y Histatieal Reseatch, Vol. XXXVlll,

No. rj4,Juoe 1960. , From the celebrated incidcnt ar the barde of Albuhere, r8rr, v,,hcn

thei! dying commanding ofiicer, Lieutenant-Colonel Ing)is, cheered them on, with 'Die herd, szth! Die hard!'

t The 26th Bengel Native Infrntry was raised ir Cawnporc in r8o{. h coruisted of two battalions, ofwhich the znd ]r'zskr.ow'r

^s Hindti-ki-Paltdr from Caprain

R. H.nry who was appointed to the battalion in r8o5 and who for somc timc commanded it. In the rcorgabizltioD of.r824, when two bafta.lion rcgimdrB wcrc abolishcd, 2/r6th bccaDlc J2nd BM. It mutinied in r8j? atJubbulporc aod was disbrndcd.

I n 'Jr+ I

URKHA

(r326)

THE G t8t4-t8t6

? p l?o^ir""

rtad;rut

DETHI

WAR

-.j

i;'li:*r'l:i.::..';..*'..',.''

Siiiiie€i siigr ii:*:: = = _ j:?ij 1ttr1;= lFiil€ti; Ti: i:i{i+i ll}.: i-

' l::;' ' i", , , 2.)

.. . S ita Rant' s great hcro was his .frst cortpany commander:::.c,tlls'Bunrnpcel'- Like auy other young soldiir, his conpaty . :.:,:t meaflt a grcot deal uore to him that his Conn,ndinp Ofitu, antl

:..l ccrta tly scens to havc been an offrcr oJ chnracrer.-Hiwas l,.: ,luittg tha Gurkha War, and again latcr. By the time Sita Raln canre. ,:t,

't rcnois 'Burnunpecl' had bctonc thc paiapou ofall militatv

Tltis i.s hartlly surprising. I can rctuenLcriry jr* ,i,,,pnry ,ou,,ror,lrr, | .i rnt rise abote the tanle oJLieutenant-Coloxel, far betier than nv

' i "tinnding Officer vlto bccane a uery distinpuisherl Cercral. Atrenuts ta':. F,,t t unperl' ha'c ru l,,runatcly Ja,L,/. tt i frohabh rhnt it vas a : . Sira Rar,r sn)s rln l,t was wotnied ar rh, srornir2 cI Knlarrya

' : t Curkln War. bn tln ofliccr tourtt.uditg tlrc c,.,ttl,.riy ai ,t' - - rl-\'l il tltat action uas Thonas Tlnclecray, ru rclc of tlrc wuclist, atd he

.. .l Jtonly aJion'ards ntJailnQ. Whcrcas ' Bt tr,,n,-ptr l' . ocr.rrlinq r,, . . t. ,rc,'utrt,lf,olt ltis u ou nli,r skk lcavt in Erylnut!, nud

l.;ll) rc l,c wout ,d nltitt it rl,, .,prariotu ag,itn in fl,tltt,tl,ts. - .'iLltcel' utst the/eJorc rcl afu a nJ)stcty.

'fhc East Inrlin Conpary. nJ,,r pati,n y crt1yuritry-fnrnir

. , ':l;es

vith rha Ncpalese Jor nany yL,ats, went to oai vith thcitt ir t8t4; : ::'iryaign whichfolloued is rcmlly knotol as the Curkha War. l-hc ruling

.,: \, pal is of lndiau ot i.qit. beiqq Rajpus who rcoh rcfrqc it .\tpol - ,: -\10,r/errr pcrsrcutior early h the Jourtccttth ccnnry. lhiy Jtrst i,rahlishat'::"::clves h the little town oJ Gukha Jron u,herc they eucnt iliv rorqucrrd the

:::!e oJ'Ncpal as we know,it today. By the end of thc' eightcenth- rcntury they :: , vendcd Nepal's boundaries ro irchdc Siula h theionh-uest and'

'.<<w in the east and their expa sionist polities hatl Lrouphr n t into co,tflicl .:tt rhc Conpany. Curkha rule was nor popular amory the hill people

' ',::,' said of them,'They had no lau to gtide then, nor did they mre-for :.te and prosperity' ; but they uere formidable soldiers and thi Bitih thoueht ',:d and lory before it was lecided to hing the Gurkhas to heel.

Fotu colunns oJBritish and Indian tuoops took pai h, the Lerations; therc was also ajJth, or subsidiary, rclunn citnposad'mosrly oI

.rregulor troops under Ganlner atd Hearscy. The onhcr column was .iiected agafust the Cu*ha strorgholds in the mou tains arouqd Simla, ond it las cotnmanded bf Dauid Ochtetlony, dsjne a soldier as ever serued Britai^ in Indio. The centre cofumn marclrcdJrom Meerut to assault thc fortress of Kalanga anl to cut the Gurhha conmuxicatiots with Nepal. It;as coflnended by Sir Rollo Gillespk, a name to conjure with in IndM at that tine. The third a.nd -fourth columns operarcd fanher h the cas! wi.th rhe ain offorcing the passes into cefiral Nepal and seizing the capitol, Kathmandu.

vOl 3 r 3l-1 vl

I ne b ltlA wdt

Otly Othtcrlouy's colunr uas succcssfi . Cillespie ruas killed whilc,leading the. sronn-oJ Kolanga;,hc uas bwicd in lr/ileni cctrciery rrhere nts oo?ttsk nscs htgh abouc the jtuglc st!rrouditry ovcr a ccnhrry's rrolh of U,rt:Ul Sr:*:. Kd.langa evcnually fc.ll, but rct iefort its nincty srtruiuittg aeJotd(ts had tadr tlrci escape; u,lile at Jaithak, thc rcxt Jort to be atachcd, thcrt IL,as d entpl(tc rcuersal. Sita Ran vas prcsent at both tlrcse actious. Tlrcrc tuos sinilar J'ailwe ix the east, hrt Ochrerlony's succcss hal darnrctl thc Ncpa,le.sc. Thcft gcntrol, Anar Singh Thap), antt rc Ncpalcse Covcruttrcnr, dspcd lof tcrnts-

Sercral nouhs oJ rcgotiations follouttl, antl this respllg u,a5

,lized,hy thc-Gurkhas to st.rengthu their dcJenics corcriry Kdthntailu.

t hey the rcJused to rdtiJy thc pcnrc trcdty. IAar brokc out apain aud Ochtcrlony yas giueu rcnunand oI oll rh Cnu,pony', troopsl Hr. out_ lctrc rry(d rhe C tklns, copnriul tlrcir suppos,dly iuprcsnablc fornr,ss at

Chiringhai altcr a tlariry night approoth-ru'orrh ,rl,irh ,or't,t "q,n"lly

easilv hdw rcsultcd i disast(. Thc Curkhas rcpitnlatctl it order rc aroitl th, irrupniio, of Karhnarlu. A pet1rc treity wos sigtrcd at Sogauli ir tEt6. By this ihc Nepalcx lost Sinla, Dchro Dnn, parts oJ the Tcrai, antl Sikkin, !,n r,,taircrl th.e.ir indcpcnrlurcc. Thay agrecd to atcept o Britkh Rcsilent in Kathrnudua antl allored thc Cotrpany to reuuit Cwkhns.l'or thc Bctgal Arnty.

'l:: C:,. ': .:::: .la th!' io!l'-i;:---. - : Euio',.ean ser::':.'- : .- ::-.' ianguage c,::: ::, i:i not knos- r'.::

-:i:..:::. and insteaj :.: -,,,,i t]tc AC-jutaI:: :- ':.::::. and rve cou.j :

-i.i l:::: - :::1 this \\as oi::-.

..: ' '.'._as vcrr'hea',-.- :: ::- .'. :cclrstomcd r.. :.- :: ., lcn I coulci'.''.'::

:, :.i1a\'s verl tlq:: :: -:. -:, :i': muskct vc:'. :-: :' ::rs i!.' The Poucl-i

I ncra ir,

, C:-.rar:r of mv ccr---: . ro bc. His nan: ':t.

:::.'sr as broad as tll.': :: :::cn rrsed to \1-r!'!:.: -::i he s as in thc l :-: ::' could dcfeat hi:::. .

' : ;\\'resrlcr'. Nearl' :- '-.::r. One t'as the 1':i:

:--r'Jsc he had a lona : : -. als said that rvord. rr . ::. \'oung, mere oo'.'5. j .:rring and shooting.

' There s : -i unit, consisting ulu:llr :

_ : :er sergeant, who usual.. : rsty men who had gcn: :

:-::ted to traasfer to the Cc: ::=idcrable) cither on discL

'This s:. ';e British ArmY, as iodeeC :. --.nccssioi was made to thc :' :anicularly trying for lnd:r.

a This s I pounds end with an etrcc::t

'g Th€ 6'-

:hirds would be abscnt on l::' Io Hanur

.l took my place as a rcgular scpoy in rny uncle's colupary,

Number:,r cight months frorn the dry I had enrered the Sirlnr's scivicc. -But my annoyances did not ceasc here. Through some infucnce ofthe drill havildar, thc Euopean sergeant of my comp;y took a dislikc to me and was conrinually finding fauk and gening me punished. I discovered that I had nevcr givcn the usual prescnt ro thc dtil hauildar when I had passed my drill, and I dctermincd ncver to do so after his bad treatmeut of me. This fee was sixteen rupees, of which five or six went to the European

. Thcrc was a Britirh Residcnt in Karhmandu, \.r,.irh a personal cscort of troops, flonr thc end ofthc Gurkha War until Iodia bccamc independeni in 1947, but for dmo$ all thc rime his movemcnB were rcstrictcd ro thc vdlcy ofKathmandu, Th;NcDalcsc would nor rllow him ro visir oudying arcas, cvcn though ii was from thcsc areas that thc British lccruited thcir curkhr soldiers, and ir is only within thc las! fifteen ycars or !o th.l Ncpal hes becn opcncd up to tour;ts.It is a land ofsingularcharm and beauiy.

5 Numbcr.: was alwrys rhe Light Company. Thcsc wcrcinrroduceq rn Indie * e result ofrhc British Army's expcriencc in thc pcnirsular Wer. Thcrc was a Grenr_ dicr and e Light company in each batalion, consisting ofpickcd mcn, and it wes common practicc to takc thc Grcnadicr rnd L;ght compaDies from scvcrel battalions to form an ,d ro. Light Brltalion, or 'Flank' B.ttalion. Sita Ram appcars to havc scrvcd in such a unit for part ofthc Gurkha w:r.

. _.--. ! r,! rrcPdrcsc , . - -: :-:::e 3reas that rhe

: -=:r.r. The Nepatese

||$ a -: - : :.:.3 inrroduced ir nh;t .::d-- ; _- --::re \r,ar a Grena- nr-r .: s.as commorr

-.: !_- :.-:r::x ro fo.m an

_:.lc's coDpally, :: : -iif^,rr's servicc.

, : _t.-iic to me and f{* : _ -:..oycred that I

- .::: I had passed . ::.:,:rtcttt of m..

,*r -: :: rhe European

The Curkho War

,:::rnr ofthc company to which the recruit was posted' At this time there -: : European sergeant with each comPany of sepoys.6 Some of them

.-.,..-rhc language quite well, and on the whole were kind to us, but ---.:s did noiknow our languagc, or could not rnake us understand thetr

---::ing, and instead resorted to low abuse. Numerous complaints were :-:: to the Adjutant, but he nearly always took the side ofthe European

:,:,'ant, and we could obtain very little or no redress.- At first I found it very disagreeable wearing the red coat;

:- rugh this was opcn in front, it was very tight under the arms. The :i-.' rvas vcry healy and burt my head, but ofcourse it was very smart.

. ::ew accustomed to all this after a time, but I always found it a grcat , ,.: rvhc. I could wear my own loose dress. The uniform ofthe British ,: always very tight and prevcnted the free use of arms and legs. I also

' :r d the musket viry heavy, and for a long time my shoulder ached when ,:::', ing it." The pouch-belt and knapsack were a load for a coolie.

Th"r" *.t. eight' English ofricers in my regimettt, and ':: Captain of my company i",

" ,""'l safiib-jusr as I had imagincd all

,:,,,.-,, to be. His name was 'Burrumpeel'- He was six feet three inches tall,

, chest as broad as the monkey god's,'0 and he was tremendously strong. ,i: often used to wrestle with the sepoys and won uaiversal admiratron . :en he was in the wrestling arena. He had learnt all the throws and no

:-'1,could dcfeat him. This ofiicer was always known amongourselves as

,.-"twrertl"r'. Nearly all our oflicers had nicknames by which we knew :.::m. One was the 'Prince' sallb, and another was known as the'Camel' ::cause he had a long neck. Another we called 'Damn'saii& because hc .-*'ays said that word when he gave an order. Some of the ofiicers were '. .-r1' young, mere boys, and when they were not on duty they were always

:rnting and shooting.

6 There was a small ca&e ofBritish non-commitsioocd officers in crch .:01 unit, consisting uually ofa sergeant-mrjor, onc setgeant pe! comPlrll, anda guartcr- .,"ri.. t"tg.^"t, who usually retired rich if he did not die of drink. These NCOs wcrc ,,,osrly rnen who had gone out to lndia originally with a British regimcnt,Iur who.had :lected to transfer to the Compalyt service (wherc the pay was bcttcr and thc pcrquisitcs :onsidenble) either on discharge or whcn their Bdtish tegimenis left thc Indian Establish- :..enr'

? This smart but not very practicable headdress had been copied from ..he Brirish Armv. as indeed had most ofthe uniforms of thc Compeny's Army. Vcry litdc conccsioir was made to rhe climate and the thick and tighF{itting uniform must heve bcen

?articularly tryiDg for Indians, whose normal dress is cotton, and both light and loose'- 3 This would be the smoo*rborcd muskct 'Browa 86r', wcighing

9 pounds and with an efective range of3oo yards. It was only eccurate-up to roo.yarils. ! The establishment was z3 British oficers, but of thesc ai le'st two-

rhirdr would be absent on leavc, or in stefror othe! employment 10 Henuman, the monkcy god, is onc of the bc*.*ffi"*:*;::1:

''.':1. Gillaspic pas leillcd '. !.:rut rcnrcfery uhere ' .1 ,.fihtty's ,ofih af :: 'iitety sutuiuittg .:.:: .l'.rt to be attacked,-

. :l: thcsc actiorts. There .:: :itned thc

.' . ::.:I.:c Covuuncut,

:. .:.:.! this respite uas ' :1 Kothnandu ,.: .:gaitt atd :.::. Hc a - ' ':.ti.,!e.forncss at

.: . nally easily have : :.:. tlv ocorpotiotr

.:. B; this tha a .: .:,' r, hft retahrcd : : : 1,7111n14n/ne n,tr1

i!5. rG I : sr.3 in such a unit

The Gurleha Wat

The Colonel sahib owned four elephants and often or_ ganized tiger hunts. At the time I am writing aboui there werc tigers rn abundance in the-jungles arourd Ag.", o.., ih"r",pore, and on thZ.oad to Mutthura.rr Thesejungles have since been clearedawav and thcrc is nor a tiger to be seen, but Colonel Estuart'sali6 seldom retuined from a hunr without

_rwo tigers. He was well-known al] around and thc villagcrs camc

trom as lar as thilty miles away to inform him wherc thc game u.a.; qlrqy were,cerrain ofrcceiving a good reward. Nowadays the silils do nor go out all day during the hot weather, but formerly thev bore rhe hcat iusr as we]l as we do, and sometimes even better.

Most of our officers had Indian womcn living with them, and these had_great influence in thc regiment. Thcy always iretcndcd to lr"y".pol.

infllence than was-probabl! thc case iu order ihai thcy might oe Dnbed to ask the i4ribs lor iavours on our behale Thc scroys thernsclvcs welc sometimes instrumental in persuading the ofiicers to take their fcmalc reranons rnto thelr servlce, but such men were usually oflow castc, or clse Mahommedans.l" In those days the scfiibs could speai< our lansuase nruch better rhan they do_now, and they mixcd more witl, us. AIrho'ugli o{ii.cru today have,to passthc language examination, and havc to rcad books. thcy do.not understand our language. I havc seldom met a sahib who could rcally rcad a book or letter although hc_had been passcd by thc cxamining board. The only language thcy leern is that ofthelL*cr orjcrs, which rLcy plck up from their servants, and which is unsuitable to bc used in polire conversation. The sahibs often used to gi ve flautchest3 for the regimcni. and they attendcd

-all rhe mcn! games,. They-also took us with theniwhen they

went out hunting, or at least all ttose ofus who wanted to go. Nowadays they seldom attend naukhes

-becausc their

Padre sali&s have told them it is wrong. Thcse salil,s have done, and are ::]J

d.,Ig,many things to esrrange th; Brirish offcers from the sepoys.la'When I was a sepol tbe Captain of my cornpany would hav",o-" oith"

rlllrerc are still tigers ncar Bluratporc, but thcy are few and strictly

'Although sira Ram docs Dor appcar ro "oor"".

.f ho,lt:t#;o; kccpmg Lndull misllcsscs, hc docs sccm to favou. .slccping dictiooaries'! By no mean, all British ofrcers k€pt Indian misrlclres; many mafficd Indiin wives in the normal fashion, :nd some ofthcsc werc ladies ofhish birth.

rs Nalrt tes weie cnteltainments providcd by rroupcs of profersiond drncers, both mcn aad women. Atthough thc dances were mainly clasical, *"r,y *.." highly!!otic, :Dd oftcn, but by no mcans always, thc dancers wcrc aiso prostitutes. Narlr.lrer might hst .il night and were an acquircd tastc so far es the Europcans werc concemcd, but tnc Jatoys loved tllem_

- . . . . . 1. Sita Rrm ir hcrc exprcssing a bclief widcly hcld by thc repoyr that

l,rrt|sh chaprarnt were coming betwecn rhc oficers and their mcn. The rcpoyr also fcared thlt thc chrplaini wcrc sccting to convcrt thcm to Christiarity, a3 somc ofihim undouot_ cdly tricd to do, .nd thir was anothcr ofthc Dely ouscs ofthc Mutiny.

1 .a 'r',.

-._ :: l-:i::-:l: a-. i:'. -_'-: -i ::--- :i: :::::::l:-

- -:a ::: :l ::':--:_.::- : : - :.-.:: ,': ::.::.:;: l:

--:: :: :1'3.:i:': I::' -:.:':: -- ' '. ::-: r. -:- =:: ::- - -- ::: ::- :!: -,.:j::: i :::,

_: :,'.:.:it l.i llkiC::-:::' : .., :rli .i: !:.::;-l

. - --.1^- j .. -..

I h. _:r:

-::: -! rn tile sanlc :,.:-,...''.--...

- :. :i::crs ..i rhe R:' : . --r'-i:h thc ior;:.'. :-.: : :.:::: callcd a c:::-:

' r. -{:nrt. And r'.': l: ,:.-. i made rl,ry;'.:::."- :

: i :rllorvl l har'.' :: :::.:r knog'ing th: :-

- ::--.: s of temper.;:::- ::::.is widr tire Ing,i'i . ' .::rr'ss, And wh\' l],]: - ..: ,euard duties ir :l-.. ':.a ihem our o\rn:I:

'lrlavs. Thet are n:::. i rrl speak one s'':j

. -:.i lcarn polite ex.-:: :.-.:'. rvould indeed t:::

I har'.' :-

ti Reg::.: :..1 lrid for by thc East I::: : i: :ting's Troops, or (urr,ler \ -

16 Sit: L:: ::: Fint Afghrn Wrr' r3:l: i: ::. now the rtt Blttalion. ii: l:.'en's Roval Lenccr': 3:,.-. ::

rs Dui::: :!vc up their rations to }a\i :

. .:ants and oftcn or_ :: lnere were trqcrs in

-: .rc. and on thc road : .-.r-a,, ancl thcrc is not : ::l--rrrccl fron a hunt ':: rhc villagcrs camc

' :::-. qanlc \1'as; thc}' :.--: -.,r/rils do not go -_ rrc ole hciltJust as

:., .rr.ing rvitlr drcnr, - '.:rs pretcrrclcd to : ::: rirat thcr. rrriqht

- ,1,.,1s thernsclvcs : r.rkc'tbeir uralc

- r ,r' castc. or clse :: .rnqLtagc nruch .:- rhough olliccrs

-:.1 books, rhcl. , 'i r.,'ho could: :irc cxamining

' ::,:.. rvhich they ,: -:(cd n pollte

' : -.: rcgin-rent, and ::::n tvhen thcy

: : :r. :..cause thcir

- : J ,nc, and arc : :: ii:. -rsp6)/5.rr

.'. : ,orue of drc .:: :rr rnd srricrly

Frcaervcd,'1ah:sofiiccrs I r:o means all

::::: I frshion,

: : : ;rofesional r:.. iranv wcrc.- :::.r5. -\:aal.rer

'. 'l : :::..med, but

: :.:: J?o),r thac : - ::iso fearcd

::::: undoubt-

The Gurkha Wdr

=* at his house all day long and he talked with them. Of coursc many -. ::rt with the intention ofgaining somcthing-to persuade the cornpany

:rnande! to recon'lmend thcm to thc Coloncl for promotion, or to :.rin this or that appointment in the rcgimcnt-but fat more of us went

::.-ause we liked the rari, who always trcated us as if we were his children. :::r a vcry old man norv and my words xle true. I havc livcd to scc qrcat

: -::rqcs in thc sa&i|s' attitude towards us. I know that manv ofliccrs no$a- -: , only spcak to thcir men whcn obliqcd to do so, and they shorv rhat :.-.: 5usiness is irksomc and try to gct rid ofthe sepoys as quickly as posible. --;s -r,rli6 told us thet hc nevc! knew what to sav to us. Thc so/ril.,s alu.avs . \v wlrrt to sry. and how tn say it. whcn I was a loung roldicr. If I r;n

. :rking too boldJv, vour Honour must forgivc nrc ! The ofrcers of the Roval fumyrs since thc Mutiny clo nor

:::at us in the same fashion as they uscd to io. I arn fulJy ru'rrc of thc rr.:.cration my unworthy brcthrcD descrvc for thcir brutal conduct durirrq : : Mutiny, but surely this should comc from thcir orvn olliccrs, ald not :-- r:n ofiicers of the Ror.al Arrny, Evcn when it was known that I had , ::r'cJ with thc force which relievcd Lucknorv, I can ncverthclcss rcmcrn- :.: bcing callcd'a damned black pig'bv morc than oDc ofiiccr ofthc . -.,r1 fumy. And vet I can recall that olilcers ofthc r3th and 4rsr Foot,16 .. :tcnI nad,e chappatist? for thcnr in Kabul, told mc. .Jack ..r1,,'y is a darnncd ::.,J fellow !' I have not scrvccl fortr'-cisht tcars rvirh lnglish o{rccrs .. rrhour knowing thc meaninq of all this. It can lrrgely bc attributcd ro :.tincss of tcmpcr, and rvho can strugglc against fatc? I ahvals rvas good

::i:'nds with the English soldiers, and thcv used to trcrt the scyo1, rvith qrcat .::ndncss. And why not-did wc not do all their rvork? Wc pcrformcd ali :-c'ir guard duries in thc heat. We stood scntn'ovcr thcir nun-crsks. Wc :ivc thcn our orvn food.'. Wcll, English soldiers are a difrcrent brced :rrwada)'s. Thcv are ncither as furc nor as tall as thcl used to be. Thcy can ,:ldorn speak one word of our lanquaqc cxccpt to abusc us, and if thcy .-ould leam polite exprcssions as quicklv rs they can learn lbusivc ones, :ncy u'ould indccd bc apt scholars.

I have noticed that a rcgimcnt ncw to lndia, both ollicers

I'Regimcnts ofdre British Armv, serving on the Indirn Estrbhhment :nd paid for by the East India Company), werc usually rcferrcd to as thc Ilorrl Arnry, or rr Kingt Troops, or (urlder Vicroria) Quccn s Troops.

16 Sita Rrm is herc rcferrirlg to the British Regimcnts he met dr-rring :hc First Afghrn Wrr. rjth Fool erc no*'the rst Bittalion, The Light Inf,rntr,v; 4rst Foot :re now the rst Brttalion, Ro)d Regimcnt ofU/rlcsi r6th Lincers are now r6th/5th Thc Queen's Rollll Lanccrs; and the rTth Foot are the 4rh B3ttrlion, Roval Anglixn Resitnenr-

'1 chappati!: thc flai. brked rvheaten crke .*'o' "":h*.iL,:j 13 During the siege ofJellelabrd (r84r-2), the.rcpoTr of the 35th DNl

gave up thcir rations to HM rtth Foot.

€1r r/a

'. . . oxe uolley called Datlhor which was the noutlt of heli.

Tlte Marclt into Afghanistan:

-(it: R : '': '' :j:.: I lr,ii,lt'-'. :

: ; .Li i:. .l: :_, : j.:: , d l-r.1rr) iri,:':

. :,.. lJicr ,'i :j:. '..-':rcJ ,:-iri,' .:. : " ir r,:lt l,lrgir r::, ", ,''i/gr.,rr',1r.'r, :,' :,-,:1lr-,i,'r.'J l ; ::,. : .i

'rl {',li-'r;';:. ::

,: t l,teak it rt .:: , : ::t,i thc Butgr: -:"

=..'.:1-[,,rce thot ,:: :' FoT l':; ' :

. , r:pcr'/cltces ,it :i;,

: ,;,tve alreadY L.: : . .': tlr,rt ir tt'as tli '.', : - ,, .,tirrcttricr,l S:':-:.::

.:,i hns writtctt t;::: : :'h uerdict is Yr; ", .::t)' in India ari, i::: ':g,tl r\alile ,l r;r'

Sit'r R :

,,.,1 i,,L,/it l,)' st'., ', . ,lttrl It',ts /tt/crtt/i,;' :" ,

'' .ttisnut ftcr tlrc D',: :. succutltl in alit' :'

..,;c,'-,-fir/1;' a-r lc /r':: ht:

:. iu S/r,rl Slrrir/r ,". :

l.;,tr.uttucd Knn 'l', '.; ,.:r,,1,111, nll)'tlu," D . , ,. r'c,1 rttot c tt't otrg. - l'-

:.1 trtasut', tltc l)ri:,: : :t fi:sPtcltt'l rforl/i-i.. : .;rc tolJ ,f Sit,r li rrti -' , '- .,:suuliy ,'f tfu cx1, ;,: lrctgh tlrc l)tluclti:: : liu as blttL's twrc crt:;.'

Most of thcsc ruttc-fti). ' - alotrc, but ltL,th thc Br::::

priu'ttions'

t$8-tg9

h b I t

Sita Ran begins thk chapter with a criticism of the rcu ;:l Arury thdt hod ariser phoerix-like rton the ashcs oJ the okl arny which ' ,!ni icd h t857. It is hard to say uhether his criticisrus are justiferl,

trtltcr tlrcrc is any truth fu his allcgotions oJ disloynlty auong the Puujabi - t''s. As a soldier oJ the oltl school ofpipcclay arrl close-ortler tlrill, Sita Raur ' '' tl'ly rcsurtetl the Jreer antl casier ways oJ tlrc teu orny. The Jact tlnt it

:ioirrcd o nuch lcrger lunrber oJMoslenrs lhon theJorlrer orlry clso ':trsetl hk religious prejudices. But it nwst be renetrbcrctl that he uas ol,l, ' 1 and disillusionetl by the tiue lrc wrote his ttrenoirs. There untloubtctlll' .:: a good rleal of dkcoutent it tlrc yc.trs irtntediatel\ afte( tlrc M&tit\,

r vell as a bre ok in relotions betve en ludians atd British,Itut thcre cau ltc .., dottbt tha,t lr Bct$al Arny post-,Vutitty ua! d t,tudt Lttt,r r!:xipli,t,,l lua onl(ctedJot(e tho s prtdKessor.

For the nost part, hoveuer, Sita Ran tlLnls in this cltdpttr :L,ith lis cxpcriutce s at the ofiset aJ'thc First A-fghan War. Thc causts 1,,, 'ltnt ytu hdue alrcddy bcen ciiscussetl in thc Ltroductiott, awl it suftus-to ,t y hcre that it ruos tlrc grcotcst disasfcr British duus wt:tc to su|; i Asid

:rtttil the swtendcr oJ Singaporc alnost exactly orrc lautltc,l yi,trs lattr, I.:ttc.yne,lns ttttttctt rlt,l Ilrc cntupnign Lr:: gln rcthi,ry bur,lir3ntJ, attJ .at lnrsh v,rdin is prol,nbly tnt, . Ir strtnll l,u,nStd ti,,. 1,r,,srgc afrli

Cottrpany -in

India ond hadJar-rcdchiug cfccrs on tlc disciplirrr: rtnrl ntorala oJ lIc Be rrg,rl r\otiuc,tllty.

_ Sito Ra'l tooh patt h tlrc canrp,rigrr ns o h:rvild;rr irr n.ftr.r,. iruitcd iu lndia by Shah Slrrga/r-rrl-.,l.ftrl/t. Ir rr,,rs Irrorlrr ,rs S;'ralr Sirrrf,lr's I-rr), aiul rns itte tlt:d to ettsure S/rali S/rrg,rlr's sccrrrity ou rlrr, tluortc oJ .lftlrdrii-\tdlr lftcr tlrc Britkh hod u,itht{rnrut -ll on tlnt iorntr1,. Iu Jatt itc 5lt,th succultd itt nlicttatittg ltis t'u'rr tuoopr, Brifis/r r'/f-rr'r-r arr,1 scpol,s ,r/itc, ,r-, -.rrcres-$irlll as hc hd alicn,rted Itis orrrrr corrrrtr.)rlrr,rr.

It u,ill be rccallcd tlnllrc dn ttJ th b irislt t,,ts to rt'store Slr,rlr Slur-iah ott tlrt tluotc -lirtn ry1,ir1t hc hd ltttr otr:tcd 4, Dosr f.Iahotnr.netl Kntl. Thcy lvlie vcd Irc ntral[1! 1y.1t1ts tpt bt a notL, tuLstu,Ltrtlry attd

pctdablL ally tlutt Dot llahottrnctl, lwt scLLat ltas duy Qot,utunt,tt [ttlctt p r.olcr/ lror', r l rrrrg. .1-/i,,i.Jir rr r 1,,,nrr' r,rlrpaigrr irrg, nrrd ,rr gritrt co-v irr |/ot d auJ rn'i'lttr', tltc l3ritish t'oe ttt L'nut hov gricL,r.rrl1, tht1, har{ niscdlcrl,ttci rlrc rcspcrtrr,, rlort/r-r.,t'S/r,i/r Slrrirr/r oriJ Do.v -[ I, lt,unutcrl. In /lii-t rli,iptu,r rle dr? f0ld (t-Sinr l{nrrr's crp, ricrrrc.s r/rrririg t/rc-/ilst 1l,r-rc rr l irc awrynioi-.tltc ,i-,-.,'rrrlrl1 r,frlre c.rpr',liti.uary _l,,rcc ,ut! its nirtL ,tuoss ric Siu,l ,listi atr{ tlrrrrglr t/rc lSrrLirlri-rt,lr lrr)ll,l,ril.r l() K,tul,lw.lt rr,,rs lirtrr,r/ly l/rr,rrlL,r: -s_ Jiu ns Inttlt s rlct c cottct nttl, lut tlrous,rnrls dir,tl ,.,J' lungu, Ihit.:t, ar tt! disc,tsc. tr4osf g[tJir-cc rlrrcJt/l,lrcrs, ,,/11',11n,,, ,r.J, ooo nciontltinicd tfu lJcrg,rl D1,i-sl,,1r alont,but lxtth theBritish anJ Iuditut trt,tlts also srJJcrr:d srrtrcll,Jion, Prttttllt0llS.

*it".-ffi- r- _---<.]i:--4si__--_\:--*<f_

:L utouth of hell'

..u1:

x e se- s9

3 I V

o z

z I o

uJ I F

Atrd :l' . :1'5 llcw arll\'t al:'-_ _' :r drc Mutillv ' A5 L:

. - ,-Hindus, Mehotr'-:: ,:rre; thcy ucvcr,ktl -

r. r'clr, attd lnorllcr : : -

": ,:Jc rvas likclY to s-:r: :r,rlc trcc:r disturbc'i'

-illr,tr rvith the sam: -'

\.rtivc Ar Y rt thc bcgi::::: :)utillicd rd \\crc drsr:::- .r.l vcre hter rctrrol-co :: rhcm werc comPoscd-'ilr: PLIniirbi Mus$lnla'rs >::: :

nc$'comers as rude alld ':::: fro rn the Kangra ano"

s u-: '

doubtless considered drat ::

prcseDt This hrs bcc'r) trr'

thc strong hand ofJohu.L workcd o thc PrtnclPtc r

,l I

o .z z I o TL

llJ T F

'llrc Mdrch itn A.lghoristdil

Iront tht aut:L I tlu r,uty,tipn rrrrr rrirsrri.:a,rqr r/. Thtre u,as ::.'n hdutcctt thc gcncrak; bctu'cur tht 1utL'r,tls ,u,! lte political ,,fta,rs :. r.utn,srrppostd to hr: addsin,q thutt;bLtu,ttn o-fhcus o.l rc Ro1,,tl Ant1, r r/rc ,'ffir. rs ,y' tlrc Botnbdy an,l Bttryal Arlies; hctrt,tctt thc 1,lficers oJ tltc .'thiy.Tnrl'atkl thos,,-fir.rt Btn.qal; u,hile all u,crc ntitcd it tltsyi:iug thc

, yuq and luL'tail rulto lntl .i,,ind ry h Shah Shujth's Lcr,1,. N, rr,,,,,,/,,r lrar :.r 1{arrr rrlrlcs-rc-r /r/s ostonislurwtt at tht, itttptiturlc t,l his.qtnt'"dls, ,tuil tlrc liur t.,i,t,t,ut.t.i, t,, ttr ,1 tln t.u,ty,ti,tt.

Ancl norv, nrl Lord, I shall ser- sollcthirrg lboLrt thc .iillar's ncrv lrnir', artl bt tlris I rnclr thc arrrrv rvhich hls bccrr rlisctl .incc rhc lrlLrtinr'., As iur as I kn,rrr., cverr on. .i]slrkcs rlrc scr\.lce Do\\.a- .lrrr llinclLrs, NI:iltonrmcrlrrrs. Sikh'. t,.rtjrrns, rrr,l D,,qr.rs. Thct qct no tcisLrrc; tlrcl ncvcr krr<,s thcil rvotk; tlrcy havc to lcarn onc kl,ri.ri',lr;ll ihis r car, lncl auorhcr rhc lcrr, an.l rhcr. arc puuislrcd firr rot rcrncnrbcr- irg thc ncrv tlrill. Thci lorr-have c;rlminatious and frollrotion gocs b). sLrprposcd rncrir, rvlriclr nrclns irr cl,ii'ct lt thc plcasurc ofthc Commaudinq Olliccr, rvliich is a vcrv I'rccarious tirilg to dcpcld upol for pronorion., Thc I)unj.rbis xn(l Sikhs onh. curcrccl thc Sirlrrr's scrvicc bccausc ri,.1 thoLrqlrt thcrc rvorrlcl bc ofpoltunirics for plurdcr, rnd not bcclusc they rrcrc plcrscd rrj()inirrg thc scrvicc, or lookcd on it fbr brcacl ancl pcnsion.-l'hcv

do not rcspcct rhc (lorcnrnrcr)t ls \yc llscJ to rcs|cct tltc Corlperry B,rld,/rf. lil)clhi hacl nor fallcn at rhc timc it rlid, dre ljritish ,,r.ouiei uor ]tu'c 1,.-rsLraclccl s() rltilll\ l)lthiuls lnd othcr- rrorthcru rncu to clltcr thcir scrlicc. Ir is u cll knorln thlr rlrcsc urcn hunq back, u,aiting to scc whic]r siLlc s.as likcl,, to rvirr. Thcir qrctr ltopc \yxs that the punjab rvouid also h.rvc lcor disturbed,,, irr whic]r casc tlrcy rvoLrld 1,""c gon" agrinsr thc .Srrl,rr * ith thc srrnc .rl:rcrirl' es drcy displayed lvhcl entcring iis scrvicc.

, Thcr. $.rc ut$,rrd5ofnnrct) regulir jnf: rtr] batt:rlions in rhe Bcng:rl Nrtivc Ao \' ,t thc bclr'rnrir)g of r S\7-thc ) crr ofthc Grcrr t\,truiny. Trvo+hirds ofthcsc rDuri,,rcd.urJ $.rc Ji,b.rrl.leJ; (,fdrc rcnr.,ir)dcr, sevcrat hovercd on the vergc ofrnutiny aird \ crc Lrtcr rcIlrov.,l li(, r rhc A I\. Li*. 'I hc ncwli, rriscd reginrcnts u.hich rcplaccd thcn, rrerc corrrposcd nti,,lv ol ncr tionr norrtrcnr Indir_plthrns, Sikhs, r)ograi, and |"r)jrl,i r|lustrlr)rir)s. Sitr lhnr, .t Ilr.,Ln,in fn,D rhc hcr.t of Itin.lost3n, rcg"rJed tncsc rrc\c,rners rs rrrlc auLl Lrncouth, cvcrr rrhcn drcv Ncre co-rcligionists such ri the Dogrrs fr,!,1t1. K.,ngrtr xnd Kr'1u vrllcys.

l Thesc vicws conflict with thosc cxprcscd prcviously, but Sirr Ram d,rubtlcs c.usiilrrcd tl)I thc olJ dars rnrl oll s.ars rverc nr clcrv \,ry suprrior to thc Frcsent. This hrs bccn the,)Lt n,ldicrs prjvitrgc sincc Iong beforc Tristran Siandyl

3 The hnrjib \loutd ccrteinl;. havc burst irrto flanrcs had rr noibcen for drc srrong h,rnd ofJohn Lrwrcnce, the Conlnrissi(r1er, rnd his tcanr of assist;rnts, $,ho rvorkctl on thc principlc,'A(r 615r, ind ask rfter\!rrdi.

.Sl

The Morch ixto Alghanistar

Their sole object was love of loot. More than half the men of thesc : - nrcnts now want their discharge, and the other halfonly remain b. -, . they think there may be a chance of plunder for them in China or .- where. But thanks to the amazing good fortune of the SirAar, all prc , - ofwar has been extinguished, like hot ashes after sprinkling 6om a r. .: : .- - skin, and as peace is likely to last for many years to come, nrosr oi :.-.. men will wish to leave the service. If they are prevented ftom doins : they will only be unwilling servants.

Numbers ofyoung men can always be found to enlis: once the novelty has worn oFthey will soon want to leave a service n:. is daily becoming more distasteful to them. Their officers will havc ha: . the trouble ofdrilling them for nothing. In the Punjab the Sikhs will ::, service because they are near their homes, but they do not care for :- other country.. There is also an uneasy feeling about pay. The cava.- trooper has had his pay increased, but the foot soldier's remains the san Since throughout Hindustan everything nowadays has become so mu: more expensive, and since the Goverumcnt allows the moncylendcrs to i as they please, the pay of seven rupees a month will not support eiri:.: Sikhs, Punjabis, or Mahomrnedans. So 6r as the latrcr are concerned, rL. always think they will reconquer Hindustan from the foreigners and thc look forward to that day, {lattering themsclves that it is not far oll Thc have not seen what I have, or they would not entcrtain such fooljsl. notions, but they love to boast ofwhat they have done and what they on: day will do again. They might h".,. ro-e idea ofthe absurdity ofihcse ideas when they remember that they could not hold Delhi even wirh thr Company's army in their service, and its artilleryin theirpossession, agains: four or {ive European regirnents and a few hastily raised rcgirncnts ofdirn' Punjabis. After the Mutiny I was posted to a Purjabi corps, and I knorv what I have said to have been the general Geling. I also know that if the people of the Punjab should rebcl and fight thc Sirlar, therc would be roo,ooo Hindustanis ready and willing to take service agaimsr them, ifonlt to pay offold scores.s

The Government's practicc ofkceping several regiments of Nativc troops together at the same station is unwise. It is thcD tlut thc young men becorne firll of their own importance and swagger about the bazaars pufed up with vain conceis and talking about things they had better not. They forget the giver oftheir salt. There are plenry ofrascals in

I It is strange tbat Site Ram should take this view ofthe Sikhs who are somc ofthe greatest travellels in India, and certain-ly among thc mosr enterprising oflndia's maoy nccs rnd sccts.

5 Site Ram was postcd to thc rzth Punjab Infantry after his own rcginent had mutiqicd. This would havc been composed of mcu from northem lndia, with probably a prepondere*c of Mahommedarx and Silis,

Tlrc \[utt: :'::

and in most Srr,l"i:'

a In mort i$lra:ra

ro!1c ilittancc ftom thc city ot tcr-

overawc thc local PoPulaflor' allo i:

rldrost cvery lodien city' Bazaars ': uP in cvery cantonm:1ffTil;T;;

call thc countrY AfehenlYn; t';-l:

arc Kabr:I" [Footaotc in I'torBatc srcr

;;"J#""#i'#i'"T*:ffi in opcratiotu io Ankan tnd there

BomblY Aroics scco to hrvc.rurcr

rnd tomc lutbo'itiG h2vc lttlrDureq

x"ff"9*et,ff't'iJ#,"Y':r in thc Bodbay ArdY 2!d thcrc

w2s

65 E4

:-: ::]en of theJe regi_ ' l:..i' remam bCCaUSe .' ,_ in China or else_ -' : S:rknr, all prospect -_.-.:ng trom a water_

- : : rle, most of these :::j from doing this

: : ::.rnd to enlist but :.:aservicewhich ,:, '.r'ill have had all

- . : :.:: Sikls will take :: :ct carc for any -: :.lr.. Tire cavalry- :::lains the samc.

- .: ::come so much -::.!'\.lendcrs to do -:r support cithcr

- - ::i crrncerned, thcy . ::::igners and they

. :rr far off Thc)...:::n such foolish

' , :-i s.hat they one ::surdity of thesc

- .-:i even with thc - : rssession, against : :.:imcnts ofdirty : ::s, and I know

--rorv that if the ,- ::r(-rc would b€

. _ .-::.c drem, ifonly

The March into Afghanistan

every city, and in most Sdd b^z:,ars,' who encourage the sepoys in every kind ofvillainy. This idle behaviour has much increased since the Mutiny. Before that time I never heard much about it, but now that calamity has africted Hindustan, it has become comtnon practice. Thcse brzaar rufians have nothing to lose, and they reckon that in times ofconfusion and drs- order they will benefit, as many ofthem did during the rebellion. Meerut, Cawnoore. and some other cities are full ofthese men who escapcd punish-

ment ior their evil deeds and boast ofthe 6ct. Some bad me" *ill bi found in every regiment and their induence should be well guarded against- especially among the young soldiers.

For several years nothing haPpened in my regiment. My son became a frne young man and was enlisted into my corps. In the year 1837 it was common gossip throughout India that the Sir&4t was going to assist Shah Shujah-ul-Mulk, the Amir of Kabul,' to rcgrin his throne. Every day the rumours grew stronger and there was grcat cxciterrcnt throuehout Hindustan. Some said the Sirlar would meet the Russians rn AfghJnistan and that they had promised to hclp the AmirDost Mahommcd Khan, who was the favourite ruler among the Afghans. Thereforc the whole country, supported by a large army ofboth Russians and Persians, would be against the English. Many people said that the Sr*art army would be beaten, while others considered that the English would succeed in taking Kabul because there was a strong party which favoured the de- posed king, Shujah-ul-Mulk. The septiys dreaded crossing thc tndus be- i"*" it *1, bey-ond Hindustan; this is ?orbidden by our ieligion and the very act means loss ofcaste." Consequently many rePof obtained their dis-

charqe, and many deserted. The Mahommedans said that a lalge army was

coming to invadc India and tried by every means to excite the feelings of

. In aost iostances the militery liner, or cantonmcnt, were situatcd romc distailce from the city or town' This was patly for defensivc purposcs, partly to ovcmwc thc local population, and pardy for hygicnic tcasons since diseasc was cndcrnic in rlmost cvery Indirn city. Baz3ars, o! me.kcts, to scrve the soldiers and thei! familicr spr$g uD in cvery centonmmt, rnd wcrc known as Sny'da bazaars.

? 'Tbc inhrbitaos of India, although they talk of aa Afgban, scldon call thc country Afghanisaa; with them it is Kebrn. Kandahar, Jellalabad, Ghazoi-ell rrc Kabul,' [Foooorc in Norgatc's origin.l tdc5latioD.]-

3 Thc reludatrce ofhigh castc Hindu repoTs to scrvc ovctseu, or bcyond wh.t tbcy considcred to bc thc coo.fncs ofHindurtrn such ar thc rivcr lodus, *T : a peqrctud problem in the Bcngal Native Atmy. Thc +zth BM mutinied in t835 lathe than takc Palt in oocrationr ia Anlzn ard thcrc arc many similer instanccr. Ncider thc Madras nor tbc Bombav Armict sccd to hevc suffacd &om this problcm, or at lcast to a much lcss cxtcnt, and sooc authondcs hew attributed this to thc fact that thcy rccruitcd Je?o/J oflovc! castc' Ncvcrthelc$ thc Bombay Army rccruitcd soac ofits soldicn ftoo thc samc atal in Oudh rr chc Beacal Almy but had ouch lcss troublc with thcm. Discipline was ccrtainly suiccr ia thc Bo;b.y Aroy aad thcrc vrl much less disposition o coddlc thc mco-

.'. rral regiments .: :s then that thc ':lgcr about the

- ::rngs they had ,:r. ofrascals in : ::3 Sikhs who are

r::-rising oflndia's

- -- :-r after his owD - -- -:: nolahem India,

',7,gcuts oJ th Nrrr,,il of C)rr,//r and also oJ' the Kin3 o;f Delhi'

\Ittinl' of thc l]rttt t '

B.,{dl i,i .il{rrf'lr.l "'- rclfh rtlo ),f,rr-r l!rl,r ' laydltics tlrlt tc]-ult t' : tcuafu ltt)'al to tl r c that he.fearcrl fu ni.1 :

lo.rl,ts ard Jtdrs rt' tt'

,lfiar o]]l tire S.'ral "1": dilcfi tta 4t the lurt :' chasc to tcnnir l') )'i' : ' totrlottiots. 'I't: . dtd trndiliosditl :"':'' nncienl cu:tons'I'l:"'' rc iurtghrcd tlnt;t : :

-&foltotltttrc,l,tti st'1't.= :

it1 4 ,tilht, 4s 1t'c nrc

a s/,It,,ritrttttcrittg "r " t357. '4r Lt'ur tlt "':

,trt,/t,,0[ tro.llilr tli' I ' PoliicalIY-nt'"tit"tt'

Ilritis/r.,lt is t/tt-' tt ' :

nilitatY rcl'tlliott :: . i llrrlia, or it lL"tti :: rir.ilc tirc Briri-'l 1":;:

f. -: lot,cd C,,nnt,tn,!, ' :-.t

Bctigai llor-tc --lt;:' Filst, t/ir'y''ti-r "i

; '' artd tlisJcat u"t' it: ::

Sccotld, tltc'rttrtt'r'r'

srltti efi, at L::' : ' .varrriirrq irr l/lr { ':.':j rroru Brifish tr'r'ril"'; ' tu Irc sncatcd vil: " rllirlr tlc scPo) l;'' I :

o/rlrc scPoY irr rl': 'E ' itPortatce' Fi.Jilt .t' ' ElroPeot and Indi':'::

MairY broke o tt' :' :.''..' Bengal, Modtas' ar: "

li-

14 The Wind of Madness

::te Kiry of Delhi'

In thk chaptet Sita Rali' dcuribes his expcricnccs tlwhry the Mutiny oJ the Bengal Native Aruy diclt-first broke out atBcrhaupore in. Bcngal in March t3 57, ard continrctl rntil Outlh u,ns jnall), clcarcl oJ the rehels hvo ycars lnter. Sita Rall,r gives us dtr cxcellent exmrple oJ'thc cou,fl)ct of Ioyahics that result from an uprising oJ this kintl o , olthotgh fte r/ro-.e to renain loyal to tlrc Coveruwcrt he hatl serued so lorg, he is hurcst h arlnittittg that he feared he night well be servi q aloshgcaux. His occtunt LtJ-his tlorbts antl fears tenintls nc oJ a sinilar situotit)tl sotrc ),carc ogo whu ar Aralt offcer of the South Arabian Arny took ne irto his conJtdeute atd ntld nc ttJ his .lile ft a at the time tuhen nationdlisru was gathuhry force in Adcu. IIe too chose to renah loyal to his solt awl was,like Sita Rau, callerl a troiht by ltis cotIpatriots.

The Iulian Mutirty tvas basically a reuolt by a couscrvdtive oud traditionalist societl agoi|st ,hat seencrl to be a tln'cat to their rcligiot and dncient a$tonls. There were wany couses Jbr tlrc Nhrtiuy,lrrf au fond it tlos the imagircd thrcat to thcir religion thdt causetl so ur,ruy Hitdu and Mahonnucdon scpoys to brcll< ort into rct'olt. Hoveucr, all this did not lnppcn in a night, as we are sometincs lcd to bclicvc itr novck oJ the A&t ty,butwas a slow siulnering over fiary yearc thot only cdr e to tlrc ltoil h the 4n iug of t857. And even then unny of thg uulincers hurricd honc Jrom their Sdrisons and took no jrrthcr part fu the ptotcetliugs, lcaving it to their nore politically-utotivatcd orfanatical conrades to ptusuc thc rebellio og,tittst irc British. It is this vhich uakcs tha Mutiny less d nationalist uptililg in a nilitory rebcllion pute and simple but it is oJ corrsc true thqt tliue u'crt nton)' in h ia, or ot lcost iu Hin&rctou, who sought to utili:c the soldiut' uxily to driue the British bdck itto the su vheuca they h,tci cotre.

Field-Marslll Lord Robcrts, onc oJ the Luliat Arnty's best- loued Conuuanders-in-Chid foryht throughout the fulutiny as au Ltffccr fu the Bcugal Horse Artillery. In Iis uiev the cdtst,s Ltf the Mrtitty rucre asfollovs- First, theJears oJthe high-cdste Flh u sollicrs that thcir religiLut ruc,s iu danger, autl thisJear was ir turn cLtntnnicatcd to thcir Llaho uucddn conndcl Sccotul, the annexation oJOulh b), Lord Dalhotsic, u,hi& o.lJiutlcd local sentineflt, afid. rcsukerl in the lLtss Ly the sepoys of thci Jorurcr privilcgecl stondins in the courts: thcy could scarccly clniu sltccial priuiL:ges iu ulnt was nou Btitish territory, Thiftl, tha alen oJ the cartridges uhkh u'crc supposcr! to be snearcd uith a tnixturc oJ cov's fat anl l,td for presert'ntiue puryoscs, tn,l which thc sepoy had to bite beJorc loatliug his ureapot. Fowth, panperitg of the sepoy ir the Bengal Arny, which gave hiu an uuluc sense oJhis otvtr importonce. FiJth, the tlorgcrous dkproportion iu nwrlters bctwecn the Erropean and Inrlian boops. It is .tstouishig to lcarn thot in r857, uhen the Mutiny broke out, there were only z t, t 97 British troops in India, thcrcas the Bengal, Madros, antl Bonbay Native Armies totalled z77,ooo tneu; and this

r57

.;igttrc docs ttot inclufu tlc parattilit,try .litrcts srch as thc artntd yLtlirc. Silt/r, /i,r-rati-frrriorr ir,/rorl.q l/r. scpols ot,o t't1iit)rs dtluiilislnltit,c nkt,1sru.s, :'uth r th: vithlnnul ol-li'Ll alL,t'trtrccJ,tr troops scruing in the Pnjab anrl Sind, and thc ir-ri-rtcarc, ,r/icr ,Nrrlc nLtr t3;6,l/r,?t scpoys trtst tulciakc o,t cttliltltclt to sL\'t,c bc1'ont! tltc st't. ItLtst hilLcn\tu LIitd6 helierttl rhat scrurcc Lcyond the Kala,Pari, or l|lack Wnttr, ,a ll irtt,itnl)ly fultrcy thri. ctlstc dt thc rcv rcgrlatiLtrt rL',ts regttrrlr'r! as 7<t anolu rt,til in tht co,fftt oJ ltcit tcligion.

I;irutlly, au! possibly nrt)st iulottdtiy, Lt)ri Robtrts yhcts nwh o;[ the ltlant J,n th. itlttit), ott the :h,.wltlers oJ the Btiti& oftccrs t,l'thc Bugal Natiw ,4nny tlnt u,erc too cautltlarcrt, too altl, trrl no sustrptiltlc to rhe yrcjdkcs t,f thn mtlt tt) tttkc t1-hrl litc ruith th,:n. ,4lthou.qh thc Bonbay Ant), ruruitcl liigl ca-vc scpoy s Jrr,ttt tltt sanrc arcns as tlrc Bcngdl Atny, rl1s,a nn u,erc ,tllLuucJ ro rpr,rl r/ prlr,il,q'cs vis i yis thc lop trtstc antl outciste tdc(s vho supplitl t tntst tnr:hlottltl itt{rcliun b fic Baulny Aa11,, At thc sicl'c rtl ltfitlt,ar lir l3,,rg,r1scpol s r$rsc,l to dig irL rfu cnrtluuotks bcntLsa rtJ'thtit t.tstc Int tltci to-rcligiLtni:ts h tlrc lJotubd)' :1rn)t trtltktt! ritlttul tlentr. Itt thcBorttbay Antl) lrtliut)tit l rrrrrs 1.1, -r11,11i;1,, 1 jcrcd! ijt B, uoal it rlas L), scrti()rit),, u,hidt nc,:L)ultt! jr Stn llan h,tuiu,q tLt tr.,air nttil he u,as ncarly sitty [t$,rc lcroririrrg ojcurad r.Iti tht ttLt:t dtnnirg i ichnort of thc Ilnonl .4nn), is coutaiud h a;fLtottrotc il Lorl Rofut's Fortl-Onc Y..rr, irr lrrdi.r, i,t rt lticl, lu rt ttt. :

'lt' is arriLtus ltt nLtlc ltt' ttL,,trl)' cvt,r1, tlilitatl, pfjaar 11,fir1 711,1 a conttttattl ar a lti.gh posititl Ln the sta-fl'h l3utgal uhcn tht \[ttiry, ltrtkt ott, i i,;nppcan,d f, ottt thc stutc tuithh tlu.fitsf .fcw wc.ks,,ud tas nr,utr ltLard of rtficially oqir. . .. Two Gcttu,ls o.l clit,isious rrcrc ru:ntot,ttlfttn thL,it couuttortds, sclut Brigalicts rt,etc JLtwtd uattiug in tht hoLrr ,tf ncJ, dtxl att oJ' the scvcttty-thrce reginutts rtf Rtgrlar Caurlry ,nt! Itfantty rlhich ruttiiicd, ouly four Cotwtwtding O-fliccrs u'trL ,qi!ut otltu co jttwtds, l,otngcr ,,ficers bcitg selL,ctcd tLt raisc atd crtan,nt! irc 1Ru tlqi u:t/'s.'

Despite thc sh'oils to t,lich hc rt,ts s tjccttd, Sita Ratt rctttaircd lrlyol, aut! so rc doubt tlid ntlul othL'$ (f his kiutl about uhon vc arc ncrcr told. Tlrc tttrtiuct,rs tottsirlercd hin to Lte rt ttaitttr atd cat r.ied hirn of to Luckrtotu to bc ptt to icath by tortne hrt hL' )os ttsctcd [It d rovfig part1, of Erropean Mrtss-TrttLtpe rs uul cuotttnlly joirrd one oJ'thL, rcu rcginuts rciscd in tfu Pntjab to rq[acc the Bengal tcginutts. 'fhis twst hdpe [eu thc tine he nct hisJutuc Cotulandhry Oflicu, Norgatc, uho vos scrving it the t ztlt Puttjab Infantry, and tvlrc na1' hauc bten thc offccr uho ttlicued hin <,f thc respousibility ttJ'conu t tlitg the flhtg paftl tltat $ecutcd his san as d rcbcl.

Gujerat, thc EDclr':: :

Rivcrs. Thc urtglr: : rnrntlc of rtllc !1"' - ' -fhc -.irrlnr rvt'rc "

of olcl Sikh solii-:' taken into thc n '::' : thc Sikhs ll'ere 'r-:'

:':

clcan and rvc-rc:: : :

vcry uncomtol!_ __- - - extcllt disaPPc'1i- : - wcrc rcgar.lctl :' t'tl' as wc \\tcrc ol1 ::: ' luir gavc thcl:: t:: cenc likc Fliq r': : long tirlc.

nothing l:rrtl;:r ': introducc.l I tl: : offencc am(ln' :: :

from those Sri:l! ': Sikhs (l{cg;ntc::: : :

rrth Sikh R''r::: Bittxlion, lrth ' :: RegimcDt, In'i::: '-:

irr thc rrnr,' Tl:: :- troops st:iti':'': l rcgiments, an';: disb:inded iLr!::' for thc Covcn:::' Nrscri Gurkh: : : ArmY. Thc orlr: ' I-ord Dilhousre 1:: :

This led to tltc :'.:: ' Courts, and $3s:: ': dynasti€s ofloJ:r :

rj3

:.:);c annctl ptlicc. .: :' :itlirlntitc,tu,isurcs,

. .: :u.g fu the pu jalt aul - -, -.t s ttlrst ttrulcftdkc on

-', ,: its.hclieuer! rhat scruicc : .) tltthoy thcfu a$tc ' . :'t tb coffrt oJ'theit

':.tt1',,jicu.u,ho h l ::. ,\Iutiry brckc out,

: ;.; ttct,u.lu,ard of

, .: tny,,l, ortl orrt oJ- :t'tttalt utli,icd, :.'ttrtgcr ojicers

. :..i. Sita Ran : ::..,ttt vlrcrtr tue are : .:t riLd hir ofl' to

: r..ri,g party oJ . j..gintc ls : lnve becu thc

.:. !L't ritg i tlrc : '.Llicucd hiu of

The Witd of Nlalncss

Aftcr thc fall of Multan and thc total dcfcat ofthe Sikhs ar Gujcrat, the Euglish took posscssiorl ofall thc land ofthc Purrjab, or Frvc Rivcrs. Thc mighty powcr of thc Sikh uation bccxnre as clust rncl the mandc of rulc dcscendcd upon thc Sirlar, thc grcat Companv Bahalur- Thc .sirr/nrs wcrc all takcn prisoncr and tJrcir troops, dcprivccl of therr weapons, rvcrc disbandccl lnd scnt to thcir homes. Englisir rcgirncnts rvcre stationed all over thc Punjab-at Lahorc, Wazirabad, Jhclun, llarval Pindi, Attock, Peshall'ar, and rnanv othcr places-without any furrirer opposition. Truly, the Inglish arc a remarkable pcoplc; within six rnonths barracks rosc out of thc ground as if by magic. Thc safti6s built houscs, policc u'cre organized, and the country appcarcd as if it had bclongcd to the Sirtrar for mxny ycars.

Mv rcgirncnt rvas now scnt to Jullundur. Two rcgimcnts of old Sikh soldicrs wcrc cnlistcd for thc Sir&or' arrd young Sikhs wcre takcn into thc native regiments. This anuoycd thc scpols cxcccdingly, for thc Sikhs werc disliked bv thc Hindustanis rvho considcred thcra to bc un- clean and rvcrc not pcrn tted to associatc rvith thcm. Thcir position was very uncomfortaLrle for a long time but aftcr a whilc this dislike to sornc extcnt disappcaled. However, thcsc mcn always kcpt to thcmselvcs and werc rcgardcd as intcrlopers bv thc olde! Jcpo1s. Thcy iverc ncvcr as snlart as wc wcrc on parade aud their practicc ofusing curds to clcan thcir long hair glve thcnr an cxtrcmclv disagreeable odour, but many of thenr be- camc likc Hinclus aftcr thev had bccn arvry frorn thcir own country for a long tlme,

No rvars took place for sevcral ycars in Hindustan and nothing particular occurrcd apart fiom scvcral irrnovations which wcre introduced into thc Arny, ancl into the Civil Courts, which catscd grcat offencc among the pcoplc.' Irr r855 a stmll war broke out in Bengal rvith

I Siti Itinl is incorre(. Tr,r'o battalions of Sikhs rvcrc r3ised jll 1846 from thosc Sikhs living to thc cast of the Sudcj in British-controlled tcrritory. Thc r4th Sikhs (Regimcnt of Ferozcporc) subscqucndy became the rst (King Gcorge V's) Battalio!, rrth Sikh Rcgirncnt. Thr rsth Sikhs (llcgimcnt of Ludhiinr) becrmc thc 2nd (Royil) Battalion, rrth Sikh RegirncDt. Thev rrc tod:ry tlre rst and znd battalions of the Sikh D--r-^-r r-.1i"- a,-.,,

! Sitr Rrm rcfcrs hcrc to trvo cvents which caused g.car dissxrisficrion irr thc army. Thc 6rst srs drc \\'ithdrrwil of 6cld, or forcign service, allorsance for all tloops strtioncd in lhe Punjxl, ifter its inncxrtion in 1849. Mutiny occurred in scvcral regimcnts, and p:rticularly irr d1e 66dr llNI stitioned in Amritsar. This regincnt was disbandcd forihwirh by the Conrmrndcr-in-Chicf, Sir Chrrles Napicr, wirhou! waiting for thc GovemrncDfs srnction, irld irs phce in rhc Bengal N3tive Army rvrs taken by the Nasleri Gurkha b:rttrlion, \'hich l.rrcr bccame thc senior Gurkha rcgirncnt in thc Indirn Army. The other cvcnt to which Sita Rrm refcrs is probably the annexrtion of Oudh by Lord Dilhourie in r8j6, as a rcsrrlt ofthe misgovcrnmen! ofthc King, or Nawab, ofOudh. This led to the sepoys losing thcir privilcgcd position es soldiers ofthe Conpeny in thc Civil Courts, and $'es most unpopular. Morcovcr the disapperrmce ofone ofthclasr independcn! dvnastics ofIndia undorrbtedlv offen lcd lrrdirn sentiment.

159

I'lt Il'inl l- ),Ialutss sornejunglc pcoplc callcd Santhals,r end my rcgJmenr fonncd prrr ofthe firrcc lnd was stationcd ncar l{anigarrj, rrot i.rr fiom C.rlcLrrra. ft was thcre rhat I first saw thc iron road and the steam tnonstcr and this was rrrore rv.rn,l.rfirl tlr.rrr .rrrrrlrirrg I lr,r,l cvcr rccn bclorc. Wlrcrr I askcd rhe ocoplc rlr.,rrr ir rlrcv.:riJ rlrc,,. bcjicvc,l rlrar rjrc Errqlislr p,,r so,,.,c pu*..rfi,l j.,,,on iuto cach iron box, aucl it rvas his cfforts ro c,cape rvhich iuadc thc rvheels turn round. Holvcvcr I saw thc rv11s1 put iu, and thc coals lightcd undcr it, but I am so iqnorant ofhow it q'orks tlat ifan oficcr had nJt told ne that it was rli rhc lorce ofstcrrn, I miglrt casily havc bclievcd that this demon tcd ol \\ood. coJl,,)r stonL's. arrd,lrarrk qlllorrs ofwatcr.

I rvcnt clolvn to C;rlcurtn in rhc tnin but it welt so fast that it ncar]v took alvav rlv scnses. As it nearcd Calcutta all kincls oflorv castc pcoplc cntcrcd thc train and bcluvccl as ifthey rvcre cqual to evcry,_ onc. This is not goocl lnd causcd qrcat anlloyancc to n-r"ny.

-I wa,

"mazcdby wbat I sarv in Calcutta but wirat is thc usc ofdcscribine it to you, rny Lord, l'ho knorv ir so rvcll? Thc shrps-what c.rn I possibly i.ry ? Tlicv iu.rc a hundrcd timcs larqcr than I had cspcctcd. No wond". rhe ,r/,il,s.rn travel all ovcr thc rvoricl. Each ship could carry a reqimcnt. The Lorcl salib's horrsca was vcry big, and if cvcr1. rroblcman ininqland lives rn a housc ls big as that, w-hat a wonderful country Enqi.rnd mulr bc ! I noriced in_this rnagnificenr city that the s,r,hils scldorn spokc to cach other and I was told thcy did lor knos' onc a,rorhcr. But can this be posible if they all conle from such l srnall island?

The Santhals uscd bo\\.s, irro!\,s, .ul(l lrrqc 5hrrp a\cs. but they always dispcrsed rvhcn wc Iircd orr rhcrr. Ar first it i-"s ..portcJ that thcy uscd poisoncd arrows, and for this rcason tlrcy wcre rtu.h fc"rcd. but rve soon discovcrcd that this rvas nor rhc c-rsc. Afrcr a cood dcal ofnrarch_ ing through.drick junqlc, and afrer gurrding rhc main road by rhc Sone river throughout onc hot rveathcr, thc rcbcllion was put dowtr and my rcgimcut rvas sort t I was told by sornc ofthe Santhals that thcy rcbclicd bccaLrsc thcy could obrain no iusticc from thc Civil Courts- They had no moncy with which to bribc rhc nativc ollicials and rhcir conr_ plaints u'crc all agailst the rich landkrrds and moncylendcrs. rvho had nranrged to gct thcse sirnl'lc foJk ilto thcir clutchcs. I caurot vouch for the truth ofthjs but it was certaiDlv a curious \\'.rr. [n one part ofrhe iungle $,e 1\'crc firing at tirenl, rvhilc in anothcr tlrc Sir[,rr was providine r'Leril.rith cJlt-loatls of ricc.

Thcre was now a rumour that the Sir,(ar \a,as going to 3 The Srnthih wcre rboriginrl rribesmen. They lived in the junglo.

covercd hills ofthc S:nth:l l,.rrganas in Bcngrl ancl rose in rcvolt in rd55 . Govemmcnt Houre, Calcutta.

160

'I ltt

takc Otrdh from thc l '\1rvr: - : which rv:rs largclY conrP'"' : : rlruch cuc whcthcr tltc 5:' : : o\\'ncJ [o llroPcrtl .th(r-

t,,,.k l.tsscssiott of ;rll trt,u

Narvlb to C.tlcutla ir11il t ': Orrclit. Rcqinrcuts of Loc ri I : English ofliccrs, an(l-r, I1L:: : broupiht in. ManY ot tn"'' :: Arurics and \4'crc totall\ 1i : oi thc pcoplc, rnci thc ':::: Bcngrl'from thc collcgr' - without anv opcn rcsisliln' : pcoPlc dicl not hsvc trn.ir- : - "fatirlltrl' alld hcx(lmcn

- ':' vicw had actcd clishtrtroLi: '' \\'crc flenty of intc-rcste'l

: .

cvcr)onc that thc ('st'ltft : : Sillar, rvhich cotll(i cislr ' : : Prcscnt owncrs hacl l1o

Ili : pcoplc in OLrdli had xcqLl r- : : ,r't"ut ,l'otrld llevcl rccog:ll-_

thcsc peoPlc had larqc nur' : with them, who wcrc al- :: : : mcnt Prcvailinc in OLr'h

: -

Strftar's armY. -It ls 1n\' ilLl::

miuds of thc scPol's ruiil' 'i''t' ment. Aqcllts of thc N'ir"'- : sent all over lndia to disc!'" ': : thc fcclings ofdre stP.'li :- had bchave<l towards th'rt- 'i: miscs to Pcrsuadc thc solijJr' :

English, with thc objcct c: ;'

5 Sita R:r: : DenY's Civil Scrvicc who N'r' '-:::

6 The hcr€;::::

? Misgoven:::::: yean, but each GovernorCencr .'

b:lhousie h.rd rdviscd th:t thc : ' and for the ComPrrY to idnr::i:_: chose his altemadve solution' \\ "r'il

161

-:.::e!.

':,:: but it went so Ast - --iira all kinds oflow I -..rc equal to every_' ::3nv. J lvas amazed

-:r!1jng it to you, my : r !:!1\.say? They were

::li.r the sahibs can :.:irnent. The Lord :,- Ingland lives in a

- : i_-rust beIInodced ..:;h other and I was

:. :osible if they all

,::e sharp axes, but' -.:-.r-as reported that . : :lLrch 6arcd, but- - : ri deal ofnarch_

- - :.rad by the Sone - -:; down and my

. ::re Santhals that' -- :re Civil Courts. ' ::: -s and their com_' .:rders, who had

, :-,-, ,. t vo uch for the ::: cfrhejungle we : -. :Jtng them with

--:' l.as going to ,. -_r:d in dre junglo.

'thc Wind oJ Madne ss

takc Oudh from the Nawab. This led to great cxcitcmcntwithin thc arrny, which rvas largely composed of mcn from Oudh Many of them did not rnuch care whether the Sir&ar took Oudh or not but thesc werc rnen who owncd uo propelty thcre. Neverthcless an undefincd dislikc and disquiet took posesiion ofall ofus. During the yeat [r856] the Si*ar removed the Naw"b to Calcutta and took ovcr thc government of the I(ingdom of Oudir. Regimcnts oflocal infantry and cavalry wcrc formed, ofiicercd by nnglish ollicers, and a uumber of Assistant Cornmissioner sahils were brought in. Many of these ofl'icers carne from thc Bombay and Madras Armics and werc totally ignorant of thc languagc, manncrs, and customs of tlre people, and the same was true of all thc sqhibs who camc from Bcngal from thc college.' Thc occupation of the country was effected witliour

"ny opetr resisiancc xt the timc. It took placc so quickly that the

peoplc did noi have timc to combine against it but thc minds-of all-tfie Taliqdar* and herdmen wcrc excitcd against thc Sirlrrr, which in therr view had acted dishorrourably, and had bccn rurfair to the Nawab.? Thcre

were plenty of intcrcstcd people to kccp this fccliug alive. They asured

",r"ryon" tl.t thc estatcs of the rich would soon be confiscatcd by the

Slr,Lar, which coulcl casily rnaniPulate the law courts to show that the present owncrs had no right to thcsc cstatcs. The truth was that so many people in Oudh had acquircd ProPcrty by methods which the Govern- irl.nr *'ould r,"o.,,..oinir" tlut they-began to fcar an inquiry. Since all these people had large numbcrs of rclations, retainers, and servants living with them, v/ho were all intcrested Parties, it explSins the great excite- ment plevailing in Oudh at the timc, and consequently throughout the SirAar's army.

It is my humble opinion tl.rat this seizing of Oudh filled the

minds ofthe sepoys with distrust and led thern to plot against the Govern- ment. Agents;f thc Nawab of Oudh and also of the King of Delhi were sent all over India to discover the temper ofthe aflay. They worked upon the feelings of the sepols, telling thcm how treacherously the foreigners had behaved towards their king. They invented ten thousand lies and pro- miscs to persuade the soldiers to mutiny and turn against their masters, the

English, with the object ofrestoring the Emperor of Delhi to the throne.

6 Sita Ram is presumably refening to the junior ofticials ofthc Com- oanv's Civil Service who were senl to Oudh straight from theit training in Calcutta'

t The hereditary land revenue receivers ofOudh rvho had become the landed gentry.

? Misgovemment in Oudh had been notorious for more than 6fty vean. but each Govemot-Genetal in succession hrd been chary of atnexing Oudh. Even bathousie had advised that the best soludon would be to leave the Nawab as titular ruler, atrd for the Company to administer Oudh in his name, but the Indtu Board in London chose his akemative solution, which was outright annexation.

161

The l4/ind oJ Ma,lness

They raaintained that this was wholly within rhc army's powers if thc soldiers would onJy act together and d; a, rh.y ,uer.

"driirei- -'"

It chanced that about this time the Sirlar sent parties ot mcn from each regiraent to different garrisons for iustructio,, in it

" or. of

the new rifle.s Thesc men perfonneJthe new d.ill for some ti-me until "report got a-bollr, by some means or othcr, that the cartridgcs used for

thcsc new lrHcs wcre greased wirh tlrc f.rt ofcows and piqs. Thl mcn fronr our regrment wrote to othcrs in the rcgulcnt telling ilem of this, and there was soon excitement in every rcgiient. Some ricn poi,rt.d oui th"t in forry yean'.servicc nothing had evir been dorre by th.l Si,[r, to i,,rulr therr rellgion. but as I have already mentioned thc relro1,s, rninds had been inflamed by the seizure ofOudh. Interestcd parties werc qui.k ,o oo,n, our thar rhe grear aim of the Fnglish was t; turn r.rs all irlto Chrisirrns, and rhey had rhercfore inrroduccd thc cartridgc in ordcr to bring this about, since both Mahommcdans and Hindus Jould bc defiled by"uung it.,

. I _reporled this curious story to my ofiicer but no noticc was takcn. He only told mc not to talk abo;t it, Some tirne late,

"n o.d.,

was read outto theregimentfrom the Comrnandcr_in_Chicf, or Governor- General snil6, saying that the Sirlar had not used any objectionable fat but that in future the men could make up their o*o

""rt.ilq", "od or. ih.i.

own grease. They could then be satisfred that the Sirlar iiad no intenuon whatsoever of hurring-their_ feelings or breaking their caste. Uo*"u". th" v€ry readrng our ot this order was scized upon by many as proofthat the S/r&ar had broken our caste, since orherwise the order woujd never have bcen issued. What was the use of a denial if it had not b""r, th. Golr..n_ ment's intention originally to break our caste?

It was the time of year for fiulough,o_that is the month of April--and lt

.was mI turn to go on leave. B"efore I went I tolJ*y Commanding Ofrcer what I had heard, and I warned him that sreat mad_ ness had possessed the minds ofall men. I could not say what shi'pe the dis_ content would take, but I never thought thc entire army would'mutiny_ only those men who might have suffeicd as a result ofannexation ofoudh -and

at present only a fcw of the really bad charactcrs were disaffected. Thc Colonelsafti! was ofthe opinion that rhe exciternent, which even he

3 The Brown Bess had been superseded by rhe Enfield riflc in t8J6. Prior to loading the new rine i! was necessrry ro biti offthe eni ofthe crrtrjdsc.

e The cow is ofcourse srcred to rhe Hindu. while the pig i! unclcan ro the Mrhommedrn. The aurhorilies could hirdly have chosen a worse pr"r"-""Ur" f*il.i, carrridges then a mixrure of cow's fat and lard, which, according to Field_Marshal Lord Roberts, v're.e the ingredimts u5ed.

ro Furlough, or long teave, was taken to -t"U" **,T;f" i:;:r;

162

The Wiu! ii )'l:.

could not fail to see,lr \1'ouli :': recommended mc to go !o ::r" -'

I arrlved at 11"-

of the ordinarY on the rori' troops of Meerut and Delhi l::: ' claimed the I(ng of Dclhi a: :: cause a comPlete regincnrr: :: with irons which destro\'('{r :r--:::

story that I refused to belier : ::' the minds of thc PoPuLac'' r:: went to the DePutY Coturtti:': ::

not do this openly $'ithour ':r::' ,taffwere on thc w"tch iir ':'- '' Commissioner's house u ili : :: in to the salif, saYing th'' r:-' except during oficc hour' i: ' him ihe talc I had hcard 'r:': ' said neithcr one thing nor ti: : : discover how n.ruch I knel ':: -: the peoPle in mY disrrrcr' F : - rurnour-as I had ktlolr n ;: :: rne-but said that thc r'f"::'

Had I asr:: ' orobably have denied anr r:: me.ttly Le denied atrY knor" -:: he knew all about it. Had I :::' my own feelings on the s':-'-":

wishinq the ntutinects rvc - -: thouglihe hin.rself mighr i:; '

-t Y thc tl]:l' ' tlDissrtist:::::

nor new; indecd, it had becn gtr:::': ;:

thioc is that so many British c'i :':' :' 1'zEighn-r'': r:

Meerut, had refused to receivc il:" :' 8 MaY 1857, Publicly dcgrsded.: : ofthe entire garrison' and hrn: : la(er. on ro MaY, rhe 3rd Cr!'l: : Native lnfantry reg'mcnts rn !n' i:' where theY Proclaimcd Blhrdu: \': in mutiny bY the Delhi I rhe muriny, and the local comm::::: on the waY to Delhi'

r" C/ult;'.l' -:

t63

) .r)owcrs if thc

,- ,i'nt parties ot' -:::r in thc use of :,-te trme until a :::Jgcs used for

_ Thc mcn fronr -r of this, and : rinrcd out that i:|Aal to iDsult

:::inds had bcen _-.:ick to point :::o Christians, :

-ro .brirrg thisi.::ted by using

- .: au! no noticc -. larer an ordcr

.:. or Governor_ -:::nable fat but

- : --.: and use their :: no intention

:. Howcver the :roofthat thc

:_i never have .:: rhe Govern_

-: .:: is the month ::.:rr I told my ::at great mad_ :: :hape the dis_ :::ld mutiny_

.:::ion ofOudh ::r' disaffected.

' '.r nich cven he : ::l rif,c in r8J6.

_::ridgc. ::g is unclcan to'', .-r.rtivc for thcir

: . i--\iarshal Iord

: r .:cnever posriblc .nirh thc h2.vcst.

The Wi oJ Ma&rcss could not Ail to see,lr would pass old, as it had oftcn donc bcforc, and hc recomnrcnded me to go to mY home.

I arrived at my own village without hearing anything out of the ordinary on thc road, but shordy afterwards we hcard that drc troops ofMeerut and Delhi had risen and killed drcir ofiiccrs, and hatl pro- claimed the I(ing of Dclhi as Emperor' They wcrc cxcitcd to rcvolt bc- cause a complete regincnt's had been cast into jail, having bccn loadcd with irons which destroyed thcir honour. This was suc]r an cxtraordinar;' story that I refuscd to believe it, considering it a story invcntcd to irt{iarnc the minds of thc populace, but the rumortr gathcled strcngtb daill', so I went to the Dcpury Courmissiotrcr to enquire whcthcr it was truc. I could not do dris ope;ly widrout arousing suspicion, for at this tiurc all thc olllcc' staffwcre on thc rvatch for all who came to the ofiicc.I wcnt to thc DcPuty

Commissioner's housc with a pctition, but the cltr?/.lJsi13 rcfuscd to takc tt in to the safiil,, saying the ordcrs stated that no-onc would bc rcccivctl except during otficc hours. Howcver I managed to see thc sa/ri6, and I told

himihe talel lrrd hcard and asked if thcre was any truth in it. Thc -.,rlril said neithcr one thing no! thc other but askcd mc a numbcr ofqucstions to

discover h<,w much I kncwand rvhat cffcct itrvas having on thc minds of the pcople in ury districr. Finally the salil adnittcd that hc had hcard tlrc ,u-ou-", I had known from rhe bcgiuning by thc qucstions hc asketl me-but said that thc reports wcre vely vague.

Had I asked some inportant hrdian ofiicial, hc wotrld probably have denied any knowledgc of thc facts, and.the rnorc vchc- inently he dcnied any knowledge, the Inore I would have bcen ccrtain that

he knew all about it. Had I persisted, he would havc attemptcd to discovcr

my own fcclings on thc subjcct, and thcn, if I lrad committed mysclf by wishine the nutinecrs wcll, hc would havc informed against mc, cvcn thouglihe himself rnight havc been hcart and soul in thcir favour.

By thc time I rcturned to my village thc whole place was rt Dissatisficrior among thc scpols of the Beogal Nitive Arfly was

no! ncw; indecd, it had becn gath€ring strength ovei a Pcliod ofthirty yea$. Thc surPrrsrDg rhingir thzr so m.ny British oflicers secm to havc been blind to the discontent.- I'EiChty-five mcn of the 3rd Bengal Light Cavrlry, stationed et Meerut, had refused to receivc the offending cariridges. Thcy wer€ tricd by court orirtirl orr 8 M3y r8i7, publicly dcgnded by bcing stripPcd of thcir uniforn rnd fetrcrcd in front of thc entire garrison, and handed over to thc civil authotitics in thc locrljail. Tu'o days Iatcr, on ro Mry, the 3rd Cavalry broke into open mutiny, and wcrc joined by the trvo Native Infantry rcgiments in the garrison. They rcleased the prisonets and set orffor Delhi where thcy prochimcd Bahrdur Shah Enrpcror ofHindustan, and whcrc they wcrejoincd

in mutiny bt $e Dclhi g:rrrison. Thc Brirnh reginents statioDed rt Mccrut friled to Prevcnt rhe mutiny, and the local comminde$ were woefully dilatory in following up thc mutineers on thc wav to Delhi.

rt Chapdssi: ollice messenger who waits on rle verandah ofhh nraster'

N 163

Thc Wi oJ Malutss tllking about thc ncws. Lr a short timc thc cntirc counrry was iu a fcr_ rllcDt14 ir]ld r:vcry rcgirr-lcnt r.vas rcporrcd to bc ripe for niutinl-. Reports crmc Jn evcrt dal.rhrr tltc rcgiDlents xt thc dit'I-crcnt statitlrs ha,l rrscn lncl killcd rheir ollccrs. I lent .rgain to scc thc Dcputl. Conrurjssioncr rncl offcrcd to collcct rhc.furlougli ,r.r",, nf ,nl orun'."ni,,r",,i,

"r-rJr ", "nypcrrsioncrs w]ro could usc arrus. LIe thankcd rlc arid pronriscd to icr mc knorv ifl rvoLrld bc rctluircd to do diis. Shortl;.altcrivarcls rhc rcgrnrcnts at Luckr)o\', Siraporc, and orher stxrior)s in Oriclh brokc orlr inro opcu lrlutill),,

-a ll d tllc corurtry \\':ls ovcfrUrl tvirh s,?01,-, lronr t]rcsc rcgtDtc]]ts.

Marry oftircsc nrcrr rcturnccl tcl thcir honrcs anll had rrothiuq lurthcr to do rvith thc rlutinr', orllcr rhan havilq bccn in a rcgimcirr q,hich had ruutiricd.

I norv discovcrcd rhat I r.r,ls bcinq rvlrchccl. I rves sLrs- pcctcd ofgiving irrlorruarion ro thc- civili.ur oiJiciais. Ouc dava l;rrgc prrri. of rr7.,rr1-r lionr onc ofthc nruliniccl rcginrc.nts caDrc rirrou;l ,,ry-uiilnq", arrd I rrrccl to pctslradc rl)crn to go quictiv to tircir llouscs. I cxpiaitcci to thcnr thc 6llv ofgoins egainst ihc ]lnslish G.,vcn,rncur, bur ;hcse ncn .lv::c

s: Ittoxjc,arc:l

u ith thc p-lLrucicr r1rc1. irad takcn, ancl bv thcir hopc of lcrvird troltl tlrc Etupcror of Dclhi, that thc), turr)crl ,r,r'rnc a,,.1 ,u"." -Lborr ro dloof ,rc orr tirc spor tbr lraving cl:rrcd ar spclk o't in lavour of tt,cllrtlrslt,(;,'\crrtrrrcrrt.fl,,vc,rlludtrr:lrr.,itor.,rrr,lcrrd,JL,yr.rki,,grrr.. 1'rt.'trcr. Tlr. r

.J.rlr llr'.rv) ir,,l)sol)ll..11u,l.rtJt,rrrrro.rrrrl ,,,y ,,...k, n..,,,,r_

lnq ftlc\ \\lrlild r.rkL. lrr- fo Lucknor,y rvhcrc th:,r.. would icccivc a laritcrcrr.rrJ Lr hrr irrq c.rprurctl mc. and whcrc rrr). l,rirrisjrrtrcrrt rvould bc torr.rvc r.D^it(r, lc:rJ p.r1r1,fl,lorvrr Drv thrn11 li1- Ir.rvirrq.l"."6 lr1)llold tll(.&rglish rulc urrclcr r,vhich I had s.-rvccl "u.l "",",,

,-,1, iir ro ,"_r'r*.. ,w;rs trcatc(l wirh cvcry possiblc irrdignitv. Mv crpt,rrs boesi"J.fili c1""a,thcy had rio'c-how tlic -.,,/,rrs ha.ibe.,,, ,o ."riiy: f.,f f "A,'".]._ii". ,,,-

;'l:3tg,iil:t,Jt::;[ll* jl,i:,:;:ffi ].1 :5:,";il ;**.:,:#Tj

suclr a slulrclcss iashion-not cvirr durirrq HL)li.ti .T.1rc,y

li l"ii*"j rn"ywould bc r'edc prirrccs lor what rhcy h".l ,ir,,", au.l ,l"lr"t".i ;;;;,;;;.",rr_ se lvcx about thc oiliccs thcy world rr" g;r., s; iir; Kig ,ri""iir.i ..rlanor cliscoycr rvhat thcy hej clonc, othcr"th,,,, tir"t thcy h"-.1 ,l_, il""*fr",

u Sita tlttn is ofcours trow ,,rc up ,," ,,.,;;.,;;;i;,,;;;l:J;1.:ilf,::,'l::;:r;::ili"i:,::'i:i,1,?:,: M.rtrnj Arny wtrs unrdictcd, an.i rhcfc ,,.\rirc ,ir. ri( r rlr.,r ,,,rnr ,,.jl, r,?,,/,.vc.c r:::;,]::l;,i: ,l*:,,

nr the Dornbry irmy, rr Hrlr rs onc nt-rtrc Drnrcip,rt I tindu [;i;]ls rud takcs ptrcc nr rtre-,rrsIr,\,k,,r11,,rU,,,duj.,r,nit,,.r,,,,",,..,ir,;,i,,t,.g.at<.irn,",Orr","i,...,grrrly

1l:.: ilf .:: : i:':'rijr *.c,'o,v. fdv rh,rss rrc b,,.."a a*",g a,,r;,,*r',;;.;;;il:,,ila"d

,lliili,l,iil',1'11,1i,,]i',,.,'those rvhovc,rnrrcoutr"",rL,",.tr,";.i,,aig,,iii";;i,;;;;;,..,

Tlt l4t 'l :

,.t1rc,. r',. ,.rr th, 1'rr"r.lc :r ' I i ancl sct it on firc. Wltilc u c " -: that thcrc rvas a tulofc'l11 r"_: ::

r.rluLrbhd -l h(\ \\"rrl lr:

said in pLrblic btrt irtl:rriii : Elglish. Tllc Etlrt,l)cilll r'Lr:::- : thc slightt-st trllth iri lllc r' - :: told ruc thet I shoulcl t'c ' : 5CCl1C.

Thc lrr.i. r' : : two -vi rrr/,rfJ \\'ith it llc c ll: thc King of Dclhi. lt c.rl "r : English, pronrrslrg gr.ili l' ' ' nrcnt tt'onlcl lllt!llll\ :lll!1 \: : l irrrcr.L.l tu ttr'rkc rIl

"r '

provcci corrccr, ltlJ itt I't ' : : stiitiottc.l iu Orrdh. " (i.r't' : cat bccixncl Prk Thc .": but to f.ight for thcir rri::: :: countrl. It also slrila.l iil.: : Sulten of l'urkcv th.rr.Lii i - - l{ rr.'i.rn\, tlrir,'r t thcsc rvcrc aJl scl)ilr'1tf!i l' :' and dcstfo)ccl. Tlri' 1'r,'.. : .- seicl to havc bccn irrucJ l' : -: licvcd cvcrl'ltrr.l ol it lr. Si|lar to intcrti'rc \ritir !':ir f- bccn a soldicr, bttr I u.r' : -. :' trcatmcrtt oi trrlnr rigt:t:- : first bcctt protttisccl .LIr': ::- : had scizccl Outlh u itlr,'1.:

I ll,lll .1,. : .1 :

rC\'lll )('11'. rrlto t ": thrt thcir clrcrishc,L r.liri : L 'lllc ( lrll'li.rll iir' thc Sirfar', bur ltol c,'1i,.: .: nlcllt's sllllclioll ? [:tcrr,'::- .

'6 Ti !. c(rrvcrr thr t()Pol.rrrcr) r,, (ll):: : to tLc thjI.s. l\,1(,f.{'\.f rlr' r .. : likc H.rvclock rnd Nicll,1r,r,. confusion ir dre rtrinds oithc r,;.

r?Lrrhc(r'

165 164

- .rchcd. I was sus- ;:, Java large party

: .rlruqh ruy village, -:..i. I cxplaincd ro :::]. Dut thcsc l]lcn . : : 1.,r. thcir hopc of , 'tr rnc and wcrc .,. ,.ur iu lavour of ::.:rJ bl taking mc .: :rrv ucck, dcclar- :.: rrccivc a largc :.-rrr rvould bc ro :.. r.'.J Lrphold thc

' :,r nrany 1.cars. I :.,:cJ ofthc clccds : rr rerrificd into :_ .!)[vinccd that - :ncn bchavc in

:.i bclicvcd thcv :-..t.iD1ODg thcnl_

- .: l)elhi. I could : .::ot dowD thcir

. !)u.lh, or whir is '.:rvc Arnry. Thc

':_.Bombry Arr[y,

: :,ics placc in dre . ::t nrusr originally : :: .r sobcr-nnndcd - .:-.rrrh conrposure,

Thc Wiul tJ Mnducs

otliccrs otr thc plradc grotttrd, lootctl thc strtitrtr wilhotlt an) rcststlncc'

ancl sct it ou fir.j. Whil&c r"'crc on drc t'turc)r sotrrc ltcoplc inlortuctl thctu that thcrc rvas a EuroPc:11 rcginlcnt rrot lir Lrclriucl, and thcir bo;rstinq I as rc.loublcd. Thcy rvould irunrcdiatcly arrlilrilarc it ! This was what thcy

said in pLtblic but inrvardll tlrct scrc tcrrific(l of comill!! up lgaimt thc

Enqlish. Thc Europ",,,t r"gittt",,t rt"u". rn:rrcrillizcd, Itor inclccc{ rves therc

thJslightcst trtlth 11 the ,-"1tort. I .v^, rc)icvctl to hcar tlris sincc drcy bed

t;ld rr? tlt"t t should bc sirot at oncc if anv Ertropcaus appcarcd otr thc scenc.

Thc lcadcr of rhis prrtr Nirr 'r jr'Pd)', 'rlthotrgh rhcrc u'erc

trvo srrlcr/,lrs l ith jt. l lc catrrc ouc clll ltnd t)rowcd rrrc I procl:rlll'ltlol) troln thc Kinq of Dcliri. It callcd uporr rll tltc -c'1"'i-' to rrsc irr)J clestroy thc Errgli'h, l,rotttistrtq qrc.rc ru\\'irrrls rttJ prottloti"tt if rltc tttctr 'll all) rcgt- rrr."ut t*,'ulJ rrr(rti;ri rrr.l kill thcir otlic'rs lt't'rr'drh'rttlrcErrgli'lrSirl'nr intcucled to urakc all llrahnrins into Clrtisti:rrrs, rvhich lrld in fact bccn

r.:rovccl corrcct, an,l iu proof of it onc hrttlclrccl Pl'lrcs lr't-rc irbout to bc

itationcd in Ou.lh."' CA;tc \\'as goilrg to bc Lr"liurr bv fortitrg cvcrrotrc't'r

cat bccfxnd pork Thc sc?o.1's wcrc ( \ht)rtcJ Ir't tir 'rllol\ rbi' to hrppcn' Lot ,o fiqht io, thcir rcliiiJ' x'J (lIivc tltc clctcstctl forcigucrs out o[ tirc .nurl,ru.'r, also statccl tli,rt thc kinq hrtl rccctvcd ittlotnrrtiott Crotn thc

Sultau of Turkcl thlt all drc l-ngli'lr solJicrs h'r..l L:ccrr Jcsrror ''d br thc

ffrrrri",rr;'' thcrclrvcrc onlv lcft th-c fcrv rcgimcnts rcruainitrg irr Indi:r; end

ih"r. ,u.." "ll

scparatcd b, qtcrt distartcctarrcl coultl casily bc sttrrotttrdccl and dcstro)cd. ihi, pro.ia,tt"tion rvrs pritrtcd on lullorv Prpcr rrrd was rrii i" rt""i l*" itsrrc.l bl or.lcr ofth" Lilg Eu"rt nun rvho lrcrrd ir bc- li"u",l

"u".,".unrd ofir. Evcn I rvas ittrl'rcsscd bv it l.ha.tlttcvcr knoun dtc

Si,'|r,, ,o ini..f"r. nuith ottr rcligion oLl ortr castc in lll thc ; cars sincc l.hacl bccn a solclier, but I rvas ncvcrthclcss f'llc'tl rvidr cloubt l rcmcurbcrcd thc'

t.c"n,tcr'tt of ,n",,1 rcgiulcnts with rtq'rrtl to ficltl l llolvlr rcc-lrorv ir had

firrt b""n prorttisid arld thcn rvithh.l.l. I coulJ rror lbrgcr rh:rr thc Sirirar

had scizccl Ottclh l itLout duc causc' I hrd also rcnrarkccl titc increlsc of Paclrc 't'r/ril's tlurrlrg

rcccnt yc;lrs, rlho stood uP i[ tirc slrccts ofout citics and to]d thc |L-oPL' that thlir clicrishcJ ,"ligion tu", all falsc, 'rntl uto cxhortccl thcur to bc- cornc Clt.irti"tt.i. Thcv a'iu'als ttlairrtaincd tllit ' jv wcrc' lrot cn4rloycd by ,n" Sl,lrt, but lx,w co.,lci thcy havc actctl likc dtis rvithout thc Covcrn-

,r-r.r*;r r",r.,;o,t: Evcr\otrc b"iicuc.'l rh"r thcr tvcrc sccrctly clllflovcd bv

16 Thcrc *rs in xlnn\t ()bsc$ivc bclicf tlr'rt drc Drnish intcr(lcd n) convcrt lhc populrtion to Christi:rnit1' aDd thc rctivi(;'s I 'f nr issionrrics

in Indir rddl.d ftrd

;;-;'" i,';"i. il.,l "'v.r this v rs tnc pcrn ''irhcorrrscri'rl rcvivil irr rrit rin '

r'td nu' Lkc H"vcl"ck and Nich"lvl' strxc rcliSnrr *"' ' l-'i"'rr"g

t:'rth' urcrcly rJJcd to thc

confusiorr irt thc miuds oidrc rrplryr' )? Lr fte Clrirrc

'n Wrr

165

titc Governrncnt; why else should they take such troublc? Thcn I rcmern_ bcred how thc .Si*ar irad bectr rny protcctor, antl thar I had eatcn its salt fbr ovcr forry ycars, arrrJ I lvas dcteinrilcd rrcvcr to bctray it so lorg as rt continued to rulc but to do all drat I could to supporr it. Ilua, rrry ior.l, ),ou must not forqct that I was bound rvith chairrs at this tinrc, an<l to all .rppcarancc bcirg takcn ro a terriblc dcrth. As cach dey passc<i and I hcard th.rr.clrl .rticr crr\. grrri5oD rfrcr girrrisoD, had fallcn iDto thc han<ls ofthc local popul.rrion, I nru"r coufcss rhat thc thought passcd rirrougir rny mind that thc mightv Cornpany's rulc rv.rs p.rssinqlwav. All irs s,.iu, lrrd 1,..,, captured, and also all its arscrrrls-]rorv coLrld I Ielp rhinkiirg orJrcrwrsc? Howevcr I still had taith in thc incrcdiblc soo.l ibrtLrnc oi the Sill,,rr, which had aiwavs bccn so rvondcrful ,rnd rnarvcllcrus. I also bclicve that those who hacl brokcn dreir rvord and comrnittccl such crimcs coulcl ,ror expcct to havc goocl fornrnc lor lc,ng.

^ When tlrc prrtl of -sepols with lvhonr I rvas drcr,v ncar ro

Luckno\v, trorn sonrc orrlcr\ fircl prctcnclcd to havc rcccivccl clircct fronr tirc Nan. of lJidnr,s thc rourc iu"s.l,".g"J anJ chcv rnarchccj torvards Carvnporc and crossctl ovcr rhc rivcr. Whilc orr thc rnarch, holvcver, oLrr larty w.rs surpriscd ht ,r troop of mountccl ra/iiLrs.'o It rvirs carlv mornrrrg, -;ust bchrrc the dr$'n, .I)d wc wcrc attackcd so sLrddcnlv rhat tlr"re br"u" urrrion,,.o Ilr lrorn a,rrcrrl,rrrrq to. liglrc rrrJ .rrrrrilril:rrc. tlrc Luropc.rrrs. nL'o lr)ro tjtcJLlngte. LuckjI\ tor]nc, thc) forgot to citrr),out thcir threar co shoor nrc. I rva' pullcd our ot rlrc pony trap irr rvhich i u,,rs travcllinq and rrrrr-o* Iv cscrpctl bcrng shor bv onc ofthcsc troopcr s,r/r11.,s rvho tiroLlirr t \\'Js r $ orurdcd i)r' sick r,po1. FI.- 1r-rrl not noriccd;ry chails

"n.l couljnot

tutticrsrrnd Hindust.rui. Luckilv drcrc *,as an ciiiccr ncarbt,.rr,ho cxnlc up, llcard my storl, ancl srw mv chains, n.lrrch wcre vcrr corruin.i,rn oroofot nly story. Hc gavc ordcrs for nry chains to bc knocked offand tJoi rrr" ro thc ofiiccr commatrclilg who rvrotc dolvn rny statcnrcnt, rny narne, and my reglmcnt. IJc s.rs also vcrv anxious to ]carn ofthc colditions in OLrdh,

rd Drndu prnr. or drc N,rn) Srhib, \.,.as rtrc .rdoprcd so! of the tist Iredlwr oan)o ir, hcrd ofrhc Nlahrittr confcderrcy. He inhcrjtcd r vast i-ortuDc ir1 r8lr, but rhc per)\i"n t.,,J bI rhu Cu/r,t.,,,\ l,p:rd on thc i,cstl\vr's <lc.rth. This rankled rvith ther\:rJ 5.,rjjb, Jnd Jtrlrougt), utqrr.llr frrcndly ro rhe hgljjh, he rvrs irr lict thorouel r,r.grJ.rL..t-u'.tr 1.,J1. II(Fl,\(.1 .r l, ,Jure tJ i,r rlr.. .\t r r,r...r t rs.jlp-rr. tri. cire. ocrng ur th. vj.rnrr\'..rrd be,Jnrc,1,( ufthc ynrcipr) viltrins ofrhe picce so trr.rs the Bntish wcr.,conccrncd. Hc w.rs ncvcr c.rpturcd rnd hrs exrct end reluins onc ofrhc nrys_ rrncs ut thr i\luri)r.

r, In rhe cor)fusion tb owjnc thc outbrcrk of thc iVIutinl,, nr<lividurl furopeans bandcd drcnrsclvcs rogcdrcr as tl1oss-Troopcrs, such xs Vn,..ut ev.",, t.onp of !w-tlve hogjpears. lldigo pl.rntcfs .,vithout plulratiorN, Judecs rvithour couns, OFrc"^ $rthout reernrents,.nd Di\rrid CorlnDissidrcrs \\ithout disrri.ts tuok to thc srvold lnd srcldlc. They did good rvork in restoring ordcr nr ourlrins disr.jcrs bur the justicc they n.te d our

',r,rs ., nroirn$ roush rnJ rtrd),. SitJ Rarn probrbiyjoincrl the Troop

"fLous"dau "r!$ !'l tlrc MrJrr, CJVTIL).

T:: l:

ud whcthcr i h,r : .::: Iast English otiic. r , lvho was, w]rcn I .': l ago-

1. coLll(l not ttlrlr lll, : _ end writc Pcrir:ilr. :r. ::: a ccrtificatc oi tl:-' :. ri-r-.airrlr!o for al',r:: ' ofrnutinccrs rn.l ,-: cavalry. Thc! lt:- : : though thcv t cr: : : killcd rncl tivcrr: - Wc lost llvc Itt, : ,: to Crwrfor.- r' :' kildnc'ss of tn" l- him-hc took ::': : $'as takcn oll 1:lli':: attached to ir. l:::' : Luckno*'. \\'c :r:: . placc again l l:::- . prcviousl-r'. AJI ::: ' frght that I lr':r. : : r be thcl' IliniiLr. : - {iqht. Usurlli :.- : '- thel could rr,r: :.: : rvolk ar l)clhi. I ' ' to [:rvc a][rur.: :: : lattcr in pos..'.':-:: :

a grc.lt nLlDlb,r ': : : '

werc all brou,r|: :: --: and in thc ln \i: r::i ' pcncd thrt it .' :' : 1'risoDcl's tlt.if :- :::: - : onc J.l)(r)/ s.I]!r . . naturallv itlqLl:i-:

., by Mijor T. L-. lrl::: comrnandcd tlte rr;: :, .

166 Ia_

t t p >

: iien I rcrrem- :.1 eiltcn its salt

- :: so long as it ' :iut, rny lord,

:::rre, and to all ,-l aud I hcard

:.-..: hands of thc : .rqh ury mind -

--r:ns had beeir '..:: I othcrwise? . ,r rhe Sir,tar, ,., , bclicvc that

- -.::'::s could Itot

-, -iiew trca! to . -.: .iircct from

. -r-.:c.i torvards - .. :. -,l\-cvcr, our

- ::... nronring, - ..: rhcsc bravc --: Europcans, . : :.,ir rlrrcat ro : ,., c1iing and ,. -: , rhought I ,:. -i could not ,. .: l C.Irrc uP,

The Wind oJ Madness

and whcthcr I had seen or hcard of any solils or ladies in thc junglcs. Thc last Englhh offrccr I had scctr was the De putv Commissioner of

lvho was, whcn I lcft, carrr,ing on his work as usual but this rvas a month ago

As I was not r vcry good horscman, thc Captairt ..altilr could not turn rnc into a troopcr but rvhcn hc found out that I could rcad and rvritc Pcrsian, hc made rnc intcrprctcr fo! the Troop. Hc also gavc nrc a ccrtificatc of thc account of rny rccapturc ctc. I u,cnt abour with this ri-r..a1a,lr'o for aborrt six t ccks, during rvhich timc it destrol cd sevcral bands of mutinecrs and one dal had a hand-to-hand frght rvith a party ofregLrlar cavalry. Thcy fircd of{'thcir pistols and made offas hard as thev could al- though tlrcv wcrc thrcc tirncs thc size ofour party. Ninctcen -rorrrors,r lvere killcd and trvcntv-onc ofthc bcst ofthc (lovcrnmcnt's horscs wcrc takcn. Wc lost frvc mcn killcd and scvcn rvor.rndcd. Afrcr this our Troop rcnrrncd to Cawnl'o1q, u'hich had bccn rc-takcn tq'icc bv thc English. Throuth thc kitrdrcss of rnv Ca|rliu nay thc shaclow of qrcatnc'ss ahvays slrrround hinr-he took nrc to thc ollccr cournrandinq a Punjab rcqinrcnt,r: and I was takcn on tire strcngt]r of this corps ils :r supcnlulllcrarv Jcwadnr lnd attachcd to it. This reginrcnt lvas engagcd in scvcral actions, and also befbrc Lucknow. We pursue cl thc mutinecrs right iuto Nepal and I passcd rhc old placc again whcre I had bccn so frightened by thc clcphants forty ycars prcviously. AII dris is so rvcll knorvn drat I nced not tc)l it again, but in no fight that I was in and thcv were not a fes'-did I cvcr sec thc nrutinecrs, be thcv l-Iindus or bc thcv Mahonurrcdans, cvcr make a good stand and fLght. Usually the,v stood thc first dischargc and thcr took to flight-if thcy'could not find shcltcr bchind u'alls or trccs. I aur toltl it was tough rvork at Dclhi. I was not thcrc, but thc srJ.ro),.r coLrlcl not h.'vc foucht wcll to havc a)lowcd an Enqlish forcc of urrdcr ro,ooo dcfcrt 7o,ooo, u'ith thc lattcr in posscssion ofall tlrc houscs and fortifications.

Olc day, in one ofthc cncloscd buiJdirrts ncar Lucknorv, a grcat nurnbcr ofprisoncrs wcrc takcn. Thcsc wcrc ncariy all scpoys. Thcy werc all broughr irr afrcr the fight to the ofiiccr cornnrrnding nry rcqi,rr"rrr, and in the morning thc order camc that thc1, wcrc all to bc sirot."tt h"p- pcncd that it rvas nr1' turn ro conmand thc firing party. I askcd tirc prisoncrs tlrcir narncs and thcir rcgimcnts. Aftc'r hcarirrg somc fivc or six, onc ry)1/ said hc bclonqcd to a ccrtain rcqirncnt rvhicl was my son's. I rraturallv inquircd lvhcther hc had knorrn my sou, Ananti Rarl. of thc

r0 Rirraial; r Troop ofllorsc, or Cavatrr. 3r Sor,ar: a borscman, or cavalry trooper.

_ ,! This may hrve been the r:rh puri:rt, infin,ry, which was c,,rrrrnrndcd

by M:rjor T. C. Bligrovc. Thc sccomd-in-command was CrprrinJ. T. Norgrrc, \\.ho Iatcr commandcd the reeimcnt.

> F

> ) t ) >

L >

) :1 . n3lDe, and :: ::. i[ Ouclh,

:::r !.!'thc hsr ' : ::':ne ln I8JI, '::.ircd with the : .: thorougt l. : .., Irs estttes

: :r, rIldividuaj

-: r(s, Odjccrs :l:: rrvord and :lr..jr$dcc lhcy

rp ofLousad:r

167

The Wind oJ \Inkrcss

Litht Company. Hc ansrvcrccl that that rvas his own nall.lc l lowever this i, i v"ry cornnlon natnc, and bccrttsc I had ahvrvs imagincd that ury son nlust havc dicd from thc Sind fcvcr, sitrcc I had ncvcr hcard fronr hinl, it did not at first strikc r)rr'. llut whcn hc tolcl ttrc tltat hc camc frontTilowcc, rrv hcart lcapt in nry mouth. Cottld hc bc rny long lost son? Thcrc lvas no doubt about it, for hc gavc nl) lanlc as his firdrcr, and fcll dorvn at tnyfcct implorinq my pardon. Hc hacl rtrLrtirriccl rvidr thc rcst of his rcginlcut and gonc to Lucknorv. Oncc thc dccrl hacl bcctr donc, rvhat clsc could hc do? Whcrc could he havc gonc, cvcn if lrc had rvutc,l to cscapc?

Thc prisoncrs rvcrc to bc shot at four o'clock in drc aftcr- noon ancl I must bc m1'sol1's s's611g 611.r ! Such is fatc ! I rvent to the Ma1or

so/ril, and rcqucstcd thar I miqht bc r.'licvcd of this drrtv as a vcry grcat favour, Hc \vas vcr\.ar)gr)'arrrl sr(l hc s'ouid brine tnc beforc a court- lmrtial (lr tr)'ing to shirk rnr,cluty. Hc rvoLrlcl not bclicvc I rvas a faithful scrv;urt ofthc English Govcrnrncnt-hc thouglrt rnv rcalsvrnparhics werc with thc rnutinccrs-ancl hc rvould uot listcn to rnc any furrhcr. At llst my fcclings as l fithcr qot rhc bcttcr of rlc aud I burst irrto lloocls o[ tcars. I told hirn thrt I uould shoot cvcrl'onc ofthc prisoncrs rvith ury own hands if hc ordcrccl nc but I confc'ssccl that onc oi rhcm rvas mv own son. Thc Major dcclarcd that I was onlv urking up lr1 cxcllsc to avoid luving to shoot trry orvu brctlrrcn brrr ,rt l,rst his hcart sccmccl to bc touchcd, Fle ordcrccl lny unforturratc son to bc brought bcforc him and qucstioncd hrm vcry strictlr,.

I shall ncvcr lbrgcr this ccrribjc sccnc. Not for onc rnorucnt dicl I considcr rcqucstinq rhrt his lifc should bc sparcd-tlrat hc clid not dcscrvc. Evcntuall)'thc N{ajor c:rrrrc to bclicvc in thc truth of ruy strtcmcut atrd orclcrccl rlc to bc rclicvccl lrom tbis dLrfi'. I q-clt to mr.tcnt bLrrvcd dorvu wirh ericf rvhich rvas uraclc rlorsc bv thc gibcs and tauurs of thc Sikhs," w'ho dcclarcd I rvas I rcncqaclc. In a s]rort tiurc I hcard a vollcy, My son hacl rcccivcd thc rcu'arc{ for rnutill} ! I lc shou.cd no fcar but I rvould nruch rrthcr that hc hacl bccl killccl in battlc. Tlrroush the kilcllcss ofthc Major I was allowcd to pcrforur rlrc funcrll ritcs over-nry rnrsguidcd sorr. IIe rvls the ouly onc of thc prisoncrs ovcr whorn it was pcrformcd, lor rlrc rcnrrindcr q crc rll tlrrou rr to rhcj.rcklls .rrd the vulturcs..,

I ]rad rrot hcrrd from ury son sincc just aftcr my rcturn

,r Sire lleur\ :IlriPrthy rirr rhc Sikhs u,rs shrrcd by nrrny of thc old- stylc British ofiiccrs.'I rccollcct,'sr;s Lord R,,bcrts,'drc c,,nrm,)n.lnrg oflicer ofthe e5th llNI, sho hrd scrvcd rll hn lifc with clclrnlo<,kins, closclv-shrvcn Llildustanis, poirlting sidr r look ofcontcnrpt, not to srv disgu*, to sonrc Sikhs, and cxprcssing his rcgrcr th:rt he could not gct drcm to shivc thcir trc:rrdr and cut thcirhrir. "Thcy quire spoil rhc )ook of nry rcgimenr," hc srid.'

!{ The corr..t pcrformrncc <'f thc fLrucrrl ccrcmonics is of inrmerrse Inrfort:1ncc for all llildus, and particuhrll fc,r l)nhnrins.

'Il:' il

from slavcrY. I lr.rc1 r:: - aqain, utltruc to [i' " : fe.1 his fathcr rtr.l l:r::: : Hc was not thc' on ' ' : hc was urttch L'tlatll: -' I

bc pcrformcd otr I r- - ' sornc -c,rlti,-s bclic',.' ::::' :

Ilcvcr rv:rits tlfoll lll' :: : ., l:

tr slrtor of S;t.r ll.r)r ' :r ' MutinY, :r'rd an m.ri' | : bctwcco thc t\\'o nrc:i. Rrnr to Prrt rvit)t htr tr:':: '

163 169

' ,:t1c. However this .,llnc.l t]rat nly sorl : .: - ird froln hint, it

:::tc lr oD) I llowce, - , r:t : Thcrc was no-. Jorr.n at ruv fcct

: ::ts rcqrlncJlt aud ,.

'.- could hc do?

.,--ri.c? : rck in thc aftcr_

::rr to thc Major : :s tr vcry grcat

_ :- -.atorc a coult_ .lu'asafaithful : :jlpathics werc -- .. r. At l.rst mv : _ .-ii of tcars. I : :::'. orvn hands

'.\ n son. thc .. :: -l having to

_ Llcl)cd. Hc - :-,rioned hin.r

: -:1.'lDolltent ' :: ::c clid not

:: .. \!.ltctncllt :-:lt botvcd

::.r:rrs of thc . ::... a vollcy.

: :: r :c'lr but I : . :::: kiuclncss - ,r. :,-risquidcd

:, -.:r.tbrmed,

':,: ::rl tcturn

,i d,c otd_ -: : ,i tlrc z5th :_ :r:\. pointjng

- :::rcr tirrt hc..: ...ok ofmy

: inlnense

The Wi L,J Ma&rcss fron.r slavcry. I had not scen him since I wcnt to Kabul, and thus I met hiur again, untruc to his salt, and in opcn rcbellion against the nustcr who l.rad fed his fathcr and himsclf lut I have said cnough-rlorc is unnecessary. He was not thc only soldicr who rnutinied. Thc Major told nte latcr that he rvas rnuch blan.rcd by the othcr ofticcrs for allorving thc funcral ritcs to be pcrformcd on a rebcl but ifgood dccds wipe away sirrs, and I bclicvc sornc -.ali6s bclicvc this as rvc do, thcn lrrs sins rvill bc vcry ,,vhitc. 3ad luck ncvc! wxits upon tlrc nlcrciful ! May my Major'5 soon bccomc a Gctrcral.

'6 h is rnore thin likcly thrr this 'nrclciful Maj()r' u,rs Norgire, transhtor of Sitr Ranis memoirs. It is known thrt Sit] Rrm scrvcd undcr hinr drrrine the Mutiny, rnd in incidcnt such rs the onc dcscrrbcd $,,uld hrvc f"rnrc,l :r qr,ne bond bctrvccn thc two nren. and mry hrvc accountcd for Norgrtc's succcs in pcrsLurdnrg Srta Rrnl to prrt wjrh his Dcmoirs.

'. . . bou,cd tlovu ruith gricJ vhi& ryas nafu worsc by the gibcs and tamts (f tlte Sil<lE'

169