forty one years in india
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Project Gutenberg's Forty-one years in India, by Frederick Sleigh Roberts
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Title Forty-one years in India
Fro! Subaltern To (o!!ander-In-(hief
)uthor Frederick Sleigh Roberts
Release *ate )ugust +, ../ 01Book 2+3/45
&anguage 1nglish
(haracter set encoding IS6-44/7-+
888 ST)RT 6F T9IS PR6:1(T G;T1
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Frontispiece
%plate 1&
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FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS V.C.
Froma hoto!raph by #essrs* ourne and Shepherd*
FORTY-ONE YEARS IN INDIA
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FROM
Subalt!" t# C#$$a"%!-&"-C'&(
BY
FIELD-MARSHAL
LORD ROBERTS OF )ANDAHAR V.C., ).*., +.C.B., +.C.S.I., +.C.I.E.
FIRST EDITION IN ONE VOLUME
ITH FORTY ILLSTRATIONS
LONDON
RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON*ubl&'! &" O!%&"a!/ t# H! Ma0t/ t' u"
1898
All rigts reser!e"
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A NE# EDITION$ BEIN% THE T#ENTY&NINTH
TO THE 'OUNTRY TO #HI'H I AM SO PROUD OF BELON%IN%$
TO THE ARMY TO #HI'H I AM SO DEEPLY INDEBTED$
AND TO MY #IFE$
#ITHOUT #HOSE LOVIN% HELP
MY (FORTY&ONE YEARS IN INDIA(
'OULD NOT BE THE HAPPY RETROSPE'T IT IS$
I DEDI'ATE THIS BOO) .
%pae (ii&
*REFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
) *ould ne(er ha(e (entured to intrude upon the public *ith + personal
re+iniscences had ) not been ured to do so b -riends *ho, bein interested
the+sel(es in *hat ) *as able to tell the+ o- )ndia as + -ather kne* it, and as )
-ound it and le-t it, persuaded +e that + experiences o- the +an and (arious aspects
under *hich ) ha(e kno*n the *onder-ul land o- + adoption and its interestin
peoples *ould be use-ul to + countr+en. )t *as thouht that ) +iht thus contribute
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to*ards a +ore inti+ate kno*lede o- the lorious heritae our -ore-athers ha(e
beueathed to us, than the reater nu+ber o- the+ possess, and to*ards helpin the+
to understand the characteristics and reuire+ents o- the nu+erous and *idel
di--erent races b *ho+ )ndia is inhabited.
)t is di--icult -or people *ho kno* nothin o- Nati(es to understand and appreciate the(alue the set on cherished custo+s, peculiar idiosncrasies, and -ixed pre/udices, all
o- *hich +ust be care-ull studied b those *ho are placed in the position o- their
0ulers, i- the suerain o*er is to keep their respect and ain their ratitude and
a--ection.
The Nati(es o- )ndia are particularl obser(ant o- character, and intellient in auin
the capabilities o- those *ho o(ern the+ and it is because the 4nlish 5o(ern+ent
is trusted that a +ere hand-ul o- 4nlish+en are able to direct the ad+inistration o- a
countr *ith nearl three hundred +illions o- inhabitants, di--erin in race, reliion,
and +anners o- li-e. Throuhout all the chanes *hich )ndia has %pae (iii&underone, political and social, durin the present centur, this -eelin has been +aintained, and it
*ill last so lon as the ser(ices are -illed b honourable +en *ho s+pathie *ith the
Nati(es, respect their pre/udices, and do not inter-ere unnecessaril *ith their habits
and custo+s.
-ather and ) spent bet*een us nearl ninet ears in )ndia. The +ost *onder-ul o-
the +an chanes that took place durin that ti+e +a be said to date -ro+ the
utin. ) ha(e endea(oured in the -ollo*in paes to explain the causes *hich, )
belie(e, brouht about that terrible e(ent7an e(ent *hich -or a *hile produced a
+uchtobereretted -eelin o- racial antaonis+. 9appil, this -eelin did not lastlon e(en *hen thins looked blackest -or us, it *as so-tened b acts o- kindness
sho*n to 4uropeans in distress, and b the kno*lede that, but -or the assistance
a--orded b the Nati(es the+sel(es, the restoration o- order, and the suppression o- a
-ierce +ilitar insurrection, *ould ha(e been a -ar +ore arduous task. elhi could not
ha(e been taken *ithout ;ikhs and 5urkhas
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per-or+ed b 9er a/est's soldiers, Nati(e as *ell as ?ritish and b the ci(ilians
*ho shared the duties and daners o- the ar+. The are (aluable as re+inders that
*e +ust ne(er aain allo* oursel(es to be lulled into -ancied securit and abo(e all,
the stand as *arnins that *e should ne(er do anthin that can possibl be
interpreted b%pae ix& the Nati(es into disreard -or their (arious -or+s o- reliion.
The utin *as not an un+itiated e(il, -or to it *e o*e the consolidation o- our
po*er in )ndia, as it hastened on the construction o- the roads, rail*as, and
teleraphs, so *isel and thouht-ull planned b the aruis o- alhousie, and
*hich ha(e done +ore than anthin to increase the prosperit o- the people and
preser(e order throuhout the countr. )t *as the utin *hich brouht
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Bhate(er +a be the -uture course o- e(ents, ) ha(e no -ear o- the result i- *e are
onl true to oursel(es and to )ndia. Thinkin Nati(es thorouhl understand the
situation the belie(e that the ti+e +ust co+e *hen the territories o- 5reat ?ritain
and 0ussia in their part o- @sia *ill be separated onl b a co++on boundar line,
and the *ould consider that *e *ere *antin in the +ost essential attributes o-
0ulers i- *e did not take all possible precautions, and +ake e(er possible preparationto +eet such an e(entualit.
) send out this book in the earnest hope that the -riendl anticipations o- those *ho
ad(ised +e to *rite it +a not be seriousl disappointed and that those *ho care to
read a plain, un(arnished tale o- )ndian li-e and ad(enture, *ill bear in +ind that the
*riter is a soldier, not a +an o- letters, and *ill there-ore -ori(e all -aults o- stle or
lanuae.
0D?40T;.
+th September , 186.
%pae xi&%plate 2&
)ASHMIR +ATE AT DELHI.
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CONTENTS
CHA*TER I
V#/a2 t# I"%&a3L&( &" Calutta3A %t!ut&5 /l#"3
H#$-&6"
*A+E1
CHA*TER II
B"2al H#! A!t&ll!/3I"&%"t #( t' 0#u!"/3N F!&"%
CHA*TER III
&t' $/ (at'! at *'aa!3*'aa! &" 18:3E;&t$"t
#( a (!#"t&! tat"3A (l#22&"2
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@#'" La!"= & $au!3D&a!$a$"t at *'aa!3
Saluta!/ ((t &" t' 5all/
8
CHA*TER
N5&ll C'a$b!la&"=
C#lu$"3R#b!t M#"t2#$!/3D&a!$a$"t at M&a" M&!3A
D!u$-Ha% C#u!t-Ma!t&al3S&(t !t!&but"
:
CHA*TER I
F!#ullu"%u!3+"!al M'tab S&"2
3N&'#l#"= #l%&!l/ &"t&"t3M#! %&a!$a$"t
9
CHA*TER II
+#!2 R&6tt at Lu%'&a"a3*u'&"2 #" t# Dl'&3I" t'
a$< b(#! Dl'&
78
CHA*TER III
T' (&!t 5&t#!/3E"t'u&a$ a$#"2t t' t!##
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aault3T' b&2! b&2%3Ha!% (&2't&"23T'
"t"a!/ #( *la/
CHA*TER IV
A " a
A!!&5al #( t' M#5abl C#lu$"3T' 1t F##t at Na0a(2a!'
18
CHA*TER VII
&l#"= %&((&ult&3N&'#l#"= !#l53A!!a"2$"t (#!
t' aault3C#"t!ut" #( b!a'&"2 batt!&3N&'#l#"
;
C#$
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+alla"t!/ #( t' t!##
14
CHA*TER I
I"(atuat" #( t' aut'#!&t& at A2!a3A !& #( M&'aMa!t&"&!3Ma/"= %at'3A tall-tal6 t#!/3A$$u"&t"
!u&!%3A "&2't $a!'3T' a%5a" #" Lu6"#3S&!
C#l&" #u"%%3T' atta6 #" t' S&6a"%a!ba2'3H!#&
%%3T' 4t' *u"0ab I"(a"t!/
19
CHA*TER IV
H"!/ N#!$a"3T' S'a' Na0a(3T' $-'#u3*la"t&"2
t' (la23A $$#!abl $t&"23T' R&%"/
18?
@
19
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'aa!%#u %ut/
CHA*TER VI
Dat' #( +"!al Ha5l#63A
3T' Nat&5 a!$/3+!a% a!t!&%23L&$&t% "u$b! #(
B!&t&' t!##
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CHA*TER II
H#$ a2a&"3Ba6 &" I"%&a3Alla'aba% a"% Ca"'a"&3
D
:9
CHA*TER V
T' $b/la ;
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F#!&2't #( S&! H"!/ Ral&"#"3T' $balla Du!ba!
CHA*TER I
T' Lu'a&3T' Lu'a& ;
E"2la"%3A $t&"2 #(
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S'#!t#$&"2 #( $/ #lu$"3Att&tu% #( t' B#!%! t!&b
CHA*TER LVI
T' )u!a$ 5all/3C#"(l&t&"2 " #( t' "$/3A"
a
?1
CHA*TER LVII
Al&6'l3T!a'!/ #( t' t!&b$"3T!a"
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3D'-&-Maa"2 2#!23T' "$/ 2&5 u t' l&<
CHA*TER LII
+u&%&"2 &"t!ut"3V&&t t# t' Bala H&a!3Ya6ub )'a"
ab%&at3T' *!#la$at"3A%$&"&t!at&5 $au!3
E;
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CHA*TER LVIII
T# &$"6&" atta6% "a! C'a!a&a3S&! D#"al% Sta!t !a'
)abul3D&((&ult& &t' Ab%u! Ra'$a"3Ab%u! Ra'$a"
4:
CHA*TER L
A((a&! at )a"%a'a!3T' Ma&a"% %&at!3Rl&( (!#$
)abul u22t%3A (#! #!%!% (!#$ )abul3*!
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D&tu!b&"2 at" #( Ru&a3Ab%u! Ra'$a" )'a"
3T' Raal *&"%& Du!ba!
3"$&ta6abl l#/alt/ #( t' Nat&5
CHA*TER LV
T' Bu!$a ;
14
CHA*TER LVII
D(" a"% M#b&l&at" C#$$&tt3T' T!a"
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%plate 3&
*IEAR )OTAL.
LIST OF ILLSTRATIONS
I. *ORTRAIT OF FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS
KFro+ , Potogr,p ./ Bo*rne ,n" Seper"$ Si+l,$ engr,!e"
*pon 0oo" ./ #1 'esire
*A+E
Frontispiece
II. THE )ASHMIR +ATE AT DELHI O!er List o2 'ontents
III. THE *EIAR )OTAL O!er List
o2 Ill*str,tions
IV. *ORTRAIT OF +ENERAL SIR ABRAHAM ROBERTS, To 2,ce
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+.C.B.
KFro+ , Potogr,p$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ #1 'esire
p,ge 1
V. *ORTRAIT OF BRI+ADIER-+ENERAL >OHNNICHOLSON, C.B.
KFro+ , P,inting ./ J1R1 Dic-see in possession o2 te Re!1
',non Se/+o*r$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ %eorge Pe,rson
To 2,ce p,ge ?:
VI. *ORTRAIT OF MA>OR-+ENERAL SIR HARRY
TOMBS, V.C., +.C.B.
KFro+ , Potogr,p ./ Messrs1 %rillet ,n" 'o1$ engr,!e" *pon
0oo" ./ S0,in
To 2,ce
p,ge 84
VII. *ORTRAIT OF LIETENANT-+ENERAL SIR >AMES
HILLS->OHNES, V.C., +.C.B.
KFro+ , Potogr,p ./ Messrs1 Bo*rne ,n" Seper"$
engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ %eorge Pe,rson
To 2,ce
p,ge 9
VIII. @OR-+ENERAL SIR
ILLIAM MANSFIELD KLORD SANDHRST.
KFro+ , Potogr,p t,-en in In"i,$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./
To 2,ce
p,ge 1
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%eorge Pe,rson
II. *ORTRAIT OF MA>OR-+ENERAL SIR >AMES
OTRAM, +.C.B.
KFro+ , P,inting ./ To+,s Brigstoc-e$ R1A1$ engr,!e" *pon
0oo" ./ %eorge Pe,rson
To 2,ce
p,ge 188
III. *ORTRAIT OF BRI+ADIER-+ENERAL SIR HENRYLARENCE, ).C.B.
KFro+ , Potogr,p t,-en ,t L*c-no0$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./
S0,in
To 2,ce
p,ge 194
IV. *LAN TO ILLSTRATE THE RELIEF OF LC)NO,IN 187
To 2,ce
p,ge 198
V. *LAN OF CAN*ORE To 2,ce
p,ge :8
VI. *LAN OF THE EN+A+EMENT AT )HDA+AN> To 2,ce p,ge :14
VII. *ORTRAIT OF +ENERAL SIR SAMEL BRONE,
V.C., +.C.B., ).C.S.I.
KFro+ , Potogr,p ./ Messrs1 Elliott ,n" Fr/$ engr,!e" *pon
0oo" ./ %eorge Pe,rson
To 2,ce
p,ge ::8
VIII. *LAN TO ILLSTRATE THE SIE+E AND CA*TRE
OF LC)NO, IN 188To 2,ce
p,ge :?
I. *ORTRAIT OF LADY ROBERTS KIFE OF SIR
ABRAHAM ROBERTS.
KFro+ , S-etc ./ ',rpenter$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ #1'esire
To 2,ce
p,ge ::
. *ORTRAIT OF HIS ECELLENCY EARL CANNIN+,
).+., +.C.B., +.M.S.I., VICEROY AND +OVERNOR-
+ENERAL OF INDIA.
To 2,ce
p,ge :78
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KFro+ , Potogr,p ./ Messrs1 M,/,ll$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./
S0,in
I. THE STORMIN+ OF THE CONICAL HILL ATMBEYLA BY THE 11ST FOOT KBEN+AL
FSILIERS.
KFro+ , S-etc ./ %ener,l Sir Jon A"/e$ %1'1B1$ R1A1$
engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ #1 'esire
To 2,ce p,ge :88
II. @
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ORDERLIES.
KFro+ , #,ter&colo*r S-etc ./ 'olonel #oo"torpe$ '1B1$
R1E1$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ #1 'esire
p,ge ?4
VIII. ONE OF +ENERAL ROBERTS=S *ATHAN
ORDERLIES.
KFro+ , #,ter&colo*r S-etc ./ 'olonel #oo"torpe$ '1B1$
R1E1$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ #1 'esire
To 2,ce
p,ge ?
I. THE ENTRANCE TO THE BALA HISSAR3THE
LAHORE +ATE AT )ABL.
KFro+ , Potogr,p$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ #1 'esire
To 2,ce
p,ge 41:
. S)ETCH SHOIN+ THE O*ERATIONS IN THE
CHARDEH VALLEY ON DECEMBER 1TH AND 11TH,
1879
To 2,ce
p,ge 44
I. *LAN TO ILLSTRATE THE DEFENCES OF
SHER*R AND THE O*ERATIONS ROND )ABL INDECEMBER, 1879
To 2,ce
p,ge 44
II. CROSSIN+ THE JAMBRA) )OTAL.
KFro+ , P,inting ./ te 'e!,lier Des,nges$ engr,!e" *pon
0oo" ./ #1 'esire
To 2,ce p,ge 48
III. *LAN OF THE ROTE TA)EN FROM )ABL TO)ANDAHAR
To 2,ce
p,ge 484
IV. S)ETCH OF THE BATTLE-FIELD OF )ANDAHAR To 2,ce
p,ge 49:
V. @
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VI. *ORTRAIT OF HIS ECELLENCY THE MARIS OF
DFFERIN AND AVA, ).*., +.C.B., +.C.M.+., +.M.S.I.,+.M.I.E., F.R.S., VICEROY OF INDIA.
KFro+ ,n engr,!ing ./ te Fine Art Societ/ o2 , portr,it ./ te
l,te Fr,n- Holl$ R1A1$ re&engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ %eorge Pe,rson4
To 2,ce
p,ge :
VII. *ORTRAIT OF HIS HI+HNESS ABDR RAHMAN,
AMIR OF AF+HANISTAN.
KFro+ , Potogr,p$ engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ S0,in
To 2,ce
p,ge 4
VIII. MA* OF CENTRAL ASIA To 2,ce
p,ge I. *ORTRAIT OF LADY ROBERTS OF )ANDAHAR.
KFro+ , Potogr,p ./ Messrs1 Jonson ,n" Ho22+,nn$
engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ %eorge Pe,rson
To 2,ce
p,ge 14
L. *ORTRAIT OF HIS ECELLENCY THE MARESS
OF LANSDONE, ).+., +.C.M.+., +.M.S.I., +.M.I.E.,
VICEROY OF INDIA.
KFro+ , Potogr,p ./ Messrs1 'o0ell$ Si+l,$ engr,!e" *pon0oo" ./ S0,in
To 2,ce
p,ge :4
LI. *ORTRAIT OF FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS ONHIS ARAB CHAR+ER =VONOLEL.=
KFro+ ,n Oil&p,inting ./ ',rles F*rse$ +,"e 2ro+ ,n
Inst,nt,neo*s Potogr,p$ ,n" engr,!e" *pon 0oo" ./ E1
#/+per
To 2,ce
p,ge ?
%ae 1&
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FORTY-ONE YEARS IN INDIA.
CHA*TER I.
Fort ears ao the departure o- a cadet -or )ndia *as a +uch +ore 18E2 serious a--air
than it is at present. nder the reulations then in -orce, lea(e, except on +edical
certi-icate, could onl be obtained once durin the *hole o- an o--icer's ser(ice, and
ten ears had to be spent in )ndia be-ore that lea(e could be taken. ;+all *onder,then, that ) -elt as i- ) *ere biddin 4nland -are*ell -or e(er *hen, on the 2Gth
Februar, 18E2, ) set sail -ro+ ;outha+pton *ith Calcutta -or + destination.
;tea+ers in those das ran to and -ro+ )ndia but once a +onth, and the -leet
e+ploed *as onl capable o- transportin so+e 2,"GG passeners in the course o- a
ear. This does not include the Cape route but e(en takin that into consideration, )
should doubt *hether there *ere then as +an tra(ellers to )ndia in a ear as there are
no* in a -ortniht at the bus season.
ship *as the eninsular and Driental Co+pan's stea+er -ipon, co++anded b
Captain oresb, an exo--icer o- the )ndian Na(, in *hich he had earned distinction b his sur(e o- the 0ed ;ea. @ -e* @ddisco+be -riends *ere on board, lea(in
4nland under the sa+e depressin circu+stances as +sel-, and *hat *ith *ind and
*eather, and the thouht that at the best *e *ere biddin -are*ell to ho+e and
relations -or ten lon ears, *e *ere anthin but a cheer-ul part -or the -irst -e*
das o- the (oae. Houth and hih spirits had, ho*e(er, reasserted the+sel(es lon
be-ore @lexandria, *hich place *e reached *ithout incident beond the custo+ar
halts -or coalin at 5ibraltar and alta. @t @lexandria *e bade adieu to Captain
oresb, *ho had been +ost kind and attenti(e, and *hose raphic accounts o- the
di--iculties he had had to o(erco+e *hilst +asterin the na(iation o- the 0ed ;ea
ser(ed to *hile a*a +an a tedious hour.
Dn landin at @lexandria, *e *ere hurried on board a lare +astless canal boat,
shaped like a Nile dahabeah. )n this *e *ere to*ed %ae 2& up the ah+oudieh canal
-or ten hours, until *e arri(ed at @t-ieh, on the Nile thence *e proceeded b stea+er,
reachin Cairo in about sixteen hours. 9ere *e put up at ;hepherd's 9otel -or a
couple o- das, *hich *ere +ost en/oable, especiall to those o- the part *ho, like
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+sel-, sa* an eastern cit and its picturesue and curious baaars -or the -irst ti+e.
Fro+ Cairo the route la across the desert -or ninet +iles, the road bein +erel a
cuttin in the sand, uite undistinuishable at niht. The /ourne *as per-or+ed in a
con(eance closel rese+blin a bathin+achine, *hich acco++odated six people,
and *as dra*n b -our +ules. -i(e -ello*tra(ellers *ere all cadets, onl one o-
*ho+ #Colonel =ohn ;te*art, o- @rd(orlich, erthshire$ is no* ali(e. The transit took so+e eihteen hours, *ith an occasional halt -or re-resh+ents. Dur baae *as
carried on ca+els, as *ere the +ails, caro, and e(en the coal -or the 0ed ;ea
stea+ers.
Dn arri(al at ;ue *e -ound a*aitin us the &riental , co++anded b Captain o*ell.
@ nu+ber o- people +et us there *ho had le-t 4nland a +onth be-ore *e did but
their stea+er ha(in broken do*n, the had no* to be acco++odated on board ours.
Be *ere thus (er incon(enientl cro*ded until *e arri(ed at @den, *here se(eral o-
the passeners le-t us -or ?o+ba. Be *ere not, ho*e(er, +uch inclined to co+plain,
as so+e o- our ne* associates pro(ed the+sel(es decided acuisitions. @+onst the+
*as r. #a-ter*ards ;ir ?arnes$ eacock, an i++ense -a(ourite *ith all on board, and
+ore particularl *ith us lads. 9e *as -ull o- -un, and althouh then -ortse(en ears
old, and on his *a to Calcutta to /oin the 5o(ernor5eneral's Council, he took part in
our a+use+ents as i- he *ere o- the sa+e ae as oursel(es. 9is career in )ndia *as
brilliant, and on the expiration o- his ter+ o- o--ice as +e+ber o- Council he *as
+ade Chie- =ustice o- ?enal. @nother o- the passeners *as Colonel #a-ter*ards ;ir
=ohn ?loo+-ield$ 5ouh, *ho died not lon ao in )reland, and *as then on his *a
to take up his appoint+ent as Auarter+aster5eneral o- Aueen's troops. 9e had ser(ed
in the 3rd
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Fort Billia+, or had one to sta *ith -riends, and the onl other @rtiller+an
#;te*art$ *ent direct to u+u+, *here he had a brother, also a unner, *ho, poor
-ollo*, *as +urdered *ith his oun *i-e -i(e ears later b the +utineers at
5*alior. ) *as still +ore depressed later on b -indin +sel- at dinner t.te%/%
t.te *ith a -irstclass speci+en o- the results o- an )ndian cli+ate. 9e beloned to +
o*n rei+ent, and *as oin ho+e on +edical certi-icate, but did not look as i- hecould e(er reach 4nland. 9e a(e +e the not too pleasin ne*s that b stain in
that drear hotel, instead o- proceedin direct to u+u+, ) had lost a da's ser(ice
and pa, so ) took care to /oin earl the -ollo*in +ornin.
@ -e* ears be-ore, u+u+ had been a lare +ilitar station, but the annexation o-
the un/ab, and the necessit -or +aintainin a considerable -orce in northern )ndia,
had reatl reduced the arrison. 4(en the s+all -orce that re+ained had e+barked -or
?ur+a be-ore + arri(al, so that, instead o- a lare, cheer +ess part, to *hich ) had
been lookin -or*ard, ) sat do*n to dinner *ith onl one other subaltern.
No ti+e *as lost in appointin +e to a Nati(e Field ?atter, and ) *as put throuh the
usual laborator course as a co++ence+ent to + duties. The li-e *as dull in the
extre+e, the onl (ariet bein an occasional *eek in Fort Billia+, *here + sole
dut *as to superintend the -irin o- salutes. Nor *as there +uch in + surroundins
to co+pensate -or the prosaic nature o- + *ork. Fort Billia+ *as not then *hat it
has since beco+e7one o- the healthiest stations in )ndia. Auite the contrar. The +en
*ere cro*ded into s+all badl(entilated buildins, and the sanitar arrane+ents
*ere as deplorable as the state o- the *ater suppl. The onl e--icient sca(eners *ere
the hue birds o- pre called ad/utants, and so reat *as the dependence placed upon
the exertions o- these unclean creatures, that the oun cadets *ere *arned that an
in/ur done to the+ *ould be treated as ross +isconduct. The ine(itable result o- this
state o- a--airs *as ende+ic sickness, and a deathrate o- o(er ten per cent.
per annu+.1
Calcutta outside the Fort *as but a drear place to -all back upon. %ae "& )t *as
*retchedl lihted b s+ok oilla+ps set at (er rare inter(als. The slo* and
cu+brous palankin *as the ordinar +eans o- con(eance, and, as -ar as ) *as
concerned, the (aunted hospitalit o- the @nlo)ndian *as conspicuous b its
absence.
) +ust con-ess ) *as disappointed at bein le-t so co+pletel to +sel-, especiall b
the senior +ilitar o--icers, +an o- *ho+ *ere personall kno*n to + -ather, *ho
had, ) *as a*are, *ritten to so+e o- the+ on + behal-. nder these circu+stances, )
think it is hardl to be *ondered at that ) beca+e terribl ho+esick, and con(inced
that ) could ne(er be happ in )ndia. Borst o- all, the prospects o- pro+otion see+ed
absolutel hopeless ) *as a supernu+erar ;econd
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o--icer in the list o- the ?enal @rtiller had ser(ed o(er -i-teen ears as a subaltern.
This stanation extended to e(er branch o- the )ndian @r+.
@ destructi(e ccloneThere *ere sinularl -e* incidents to enli(en this unpro+isin stae
o- + career. ) do, ho*e(er, re+e+ber one rather notable experience *hich ca+e to
+e at that ti+e, in the -or+ o- a bad cclone. ) *as dinin out on the niht in uestion.5raduall the *ind re* hiher and hiher, and it beca+e e(ident that *e *ere in -or
a stor+ o- no ordinar kind. Conseuentl, ) le-t + -riend's house earl. @ Nati(e
ser(ant, carrin a lantern, acco+panied +e to liht +e on + *a. @t an anle o- the
road a sudden ust o- *ind extinuished the liht. The ser(ant, *ho, like +ost
Nati(es, *as uite at ho+e in the dark, *alked on, belie(in that ) *as -ollo*in in
his *ake. ) shouted to hi+ as loudl as ) could, but the uproar *as so terri-ic that he
could not hear a *ord, and there *as nothin -or it but to tr and +ake + o*n *a
ho+e. The darkness *as pro-ound. @s ) *as *alkin care-ull alon, ) suddenl ca+e
in contact *ith an ob/ect, *hich a ti+el -lash o- lihtnin sho*ed +e *as a colu+n,
standin in exactl the opposite direction -ro+ + o*n house. ) could no* locate
+sel- correctl, and the lihtnin beco+in e(er +o+ent +ore (i(id, ) *as enabled
to rope + *a b slo* derees to the +ess, *here ) expected to -ind so+eone to
sho* +e + *a ho+e, but the ser(ants, *ho kne* -ro+ experience the probable
e--ects o- a cclone, had alread closed the outside Ienetian shutters and barred all the
doors. ) could /ust see the+ throuh the cracks enaed in +akin e(erthin -ast. )n
(ain ) baned at the door and called at the top o- + (oice7the heard nothin.
0eluctantl ) beca+e con(inced that there *as no alternati(e but to lea(e + shelter
and -ace the rapidl increasin stor+ once +ore. bunalo* *as not +ore than
hal- a +ile a*a, but it took +e an ae to acco+plish this short distance, as ) *as onl
able to +o(e a -e* steps at a ti+e *hene(er %ae E& the lihtnin sho*ed +e the *a. )t
*as necessar to be care-ul, as the road *as raised, *ith a deep ditch on either side
se(eral trees had alread been blo*n do*n, and la across it, and hue branches *ere
bein dri(en throuh the air like thistledo*n. ) -ound extre+e di--icult in keepin
+ -eet, especiall at the crossroads, *here ) *as +ore than once all but blo*n o(er.
@t last ) reached + house, but e(en then + strules *ere not uite at an end. )t
*as a (er lon ti+e be-ore ) could ain ad+ittance. The ser(ant *ho had been
carrin the lantern had arri(ed, and, +issin +e, i+ained that ) +ust ha(e returned
to the house at *hich ) had dined. The +en *ith *ho+ ) chu++ed, thinkin it
unlikel that ) should +ake a second atte+pt to return ho+e, had care-ull -astened allthe doors, +o+entaril expectin the roo- o- the house to be blo*n o--. ) had to
continue ha++erin and shoutin -or a lon ti+e be-ore the heard and ad+itted +e,
thank-ul to be co+parati(el sa-e inside a house.
? +ornin the *orst o- the stor+ *as o(er, but not be-ore reat da+ae had been
done. The Nati(e baaar *as co+pletel *recked, lookin as i- it had su--ered a
-urious bo+bard+ent, and reat ha(oc had been +ade a+onst the 4uropean houses,
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not a sinle (erandah or outside shutter bein le-t in the station. @s ) *alked to the
+ess, ) -ound the road al+ost i+passable -ro+ -allen trees and dead birds, chie-l
cro*s and kites, *ere so nu+erous that the had to be carried o-- in cartloads. 9o* )
had +ade + *a to + bunalo* *ithout accident the niht be-ore *as di--icult to
i+aine. 4(en the colu+n aainst *hich ) had stu+bled *as le(elled b the -ur o-
the blast. This colu+n had been raised a -e* ears be-ore to the +e+or o- theo--icers and +en o- the 1st Troop, 1st ?riade, ?enal 9orse @rtiller, *ho *ere
killed in the disastrous retreat -ro+ abul in 18"1. )t *as a-ter*ards rebuilt.
u+u+ in ruins *as e(en +ore drear than be-ore the cclone, and ) -elt as i- )
could not possibl continue to li(e there +uch loner. @ccordinl ) *rote to +
-ather, bein hi+ to tr and et +e sent to ?ur+a but he replied that he hoped soon
to et co++and o- the esha*ar di(ision, and that he *ould then like +e to /oin hi+.
Thus, thouh + desire to uit u+u+ *as not to be i++ediatel rati-ied, ) *as
buoed up b the hope that a de-inite li+it had no* been placed to + ser(ice in that,
to +e, uninterestin part o- )ndia, and + restlessness and discontent disappeared as i-
b +aic.
9o+esickness)n ti+e o- peace, as in *ar, or durin a cholera epide+ic, a soldier's +oral
condition is in-initel +ore i+portant than his phsical surroundins, and it is in this
respect, ) think, that the subaltern o- the present da has an ad(antae o(er the
ounster o- -ort ears ao. The li-e o- a oun o--icer durin his -irst -e* +onths o-
exile, be-ore he has -allen into the *as o- his ne* li-e and +ade -riends -or hi+sel-,
can ne(er be (er happ but in these das he is encouraed b the -eelin%ae 6& that,
ho*e(er distaste-ul, it need not necessaril last (er lon and he can look -or*ard to
a rapid and eas return to 4nland and -riends at no (er distant period. @t the ti+e )
a+ *ritin o- he could not but -eel co+pletel cut o-- -ro+ all that had hitherto
-or+ed his chie- interests in li-e7his -a+il and his -riends7-or ten ears is an
eternit to the oun, and the -eelin o- loneliness and ho+esickness *as apt to
beco+e al+ost insupportable.
The cli+ate added its depressin in-luence there *as no oin to the hills then, and as
the *ear +onths draed on, the oun straner beca+e +ore and +ore dispirited
and hopeless. ;uch *as + case. ) had onl been -our +onths in )ndia, but it see+ed
like -our ears. /o, there-ore, *as unbounded *hen at last + +archin orders
arri(ed. )ndeed, the idea that ) *as about to proceed to that rand -ield o- soldierl
acti(it, the NorthBest Frontier, and there /oin + -ather, al+ost reconciled +e to the
disappoint+ent o- losin + chance o- -ield ser(ice in ?ur+a. arrane+ents *ere
soon +ade, and earl in @uust ) bade a lad oodbe to u+u+.
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CHA*TER II.
Bhen ) *ent to )ndia the +ode o- tra(ellin *as al+ost as pri+iti(e18E2 as it had been
a hundred, and probabl -i(e hundred, ears be-ore. ri(ate indi(iduals -or the +ost
part used palankins, *hile o--icers, rei+ents, and dra-ts *ere usuall sent up countr
b the ri(er route as -ar as Ca*npore. )t *as necessaril a slo* +ode o- proression
7ho* slo* +a be i+ained -ro+ the -act that it took +e nearl three +onths to et
-ro+ u+u+ to esha*ar, a distance no* tra(ersed *ith the reatest ease and
co+-ort in as +an das. @s -ar as ?enares ) tra(elled in a bare to*ed b a stea+er
7a per-or+ance *hich took the best part o- a +onth to acco+plish. Fro+ ?enares to
@llahabad it *as a pleasant chane to et upon *heels, a horsedJk ha(in been
recentl established bet*een these t*o places. @t @llahabad ) *as +ost kindl
recei(ed b r.
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Co+pan, the *ere o- +ani-icent phsiue, and their uni-or+ *as sinularl
handso+e. The /acket *as +uch the sa+e as that no* *orn b the 0oal 9orse
@rtiller, but instead o- the busb the had a brass hel+et co(ered in -ront *ith
leopard skin, sur+ounted b a lon red plu+e *hich drooped o(er the back like that
o- a French Cuirassier. This, *ith *hite buckskin breeches and lon boots, co+pleted
a uni-or+ *hich *as one o- the +ost picturesue and e--ecti(e ) ha(e e(er seen on a paraderound.
The +etalled hih*a ended at eerut, and ) had to per-or+ the re+ainder o- +
/ourne to esha*ar, a distance o- 6GG +iles, in a palankin, or doolie.
)ncidents o- the =ourneThis +anner o- tra(ellin *as tedious in the extre+e. ;tartin a-ter
dinner, the (icti+ *as carried throuhout the niht b eiht +en, di(ided into relie-s
o- -our. The *hole o- the eiht *ere chaned at staes a(erain -ro+ ten to t*el(e
+iles apart. The baae *as also con(eed b coolies, *ho kept up an incessant
chatter, and the procession *as lihted on its *a b a torchbearer, *hose torchconsisted o- bits o- ra tied round the end o- a stick, upon *hich he continuall
poured the +ost +alodorous o- oils. )- the palankinbearers *ere (er ood, the
shu--led alon at the rate o- about three +iles an hour, and i- there *ere no delas,
-ort or -ort-i(e +iles could be acco+plished be-ore it beca+e necessar to seek
shelter -ro+ the sun in one o- the dJkbunalo*s, or resthouses, erected b
5o(ern+ent at con(enient inter(als alon all the principal routes. )n these bunalo*s
a bath could be obtained, and sorel it *as needed a-ter a /ourne o- thirteen or
-ourteen hours at a le(el o- onl a -e* inches abo(e an exceedinl dust road. @s to
-ood, the 0hansamah, like '+ine host' in the old countr, declared hi+sel- at the outset
prepared to pro(ide e(erthin the heart o- +an could desire *hen, ho*e(er, the
tra(eller %ae 8& *as sa-el cornered -or the rest o- the da, the menu in(ariabl
d*indled do*n to the ele+entar and uni(ersal 'sudden death,' *hich +eant a
*retchedl thin chicken, cauht, decapitated, rilled, and ser(ed up *ithin t*ent
+inutes o- the +eal bein ordered. @t dinner a (ariet *as +ade b the chicken bein
curried, acco+panied b an unli+ited suppl o- rice and chutne.
) *as lad to be able to break the +onoton o- this lon /ourne b a (isit to a hal-
sister o- +ine, *ho *as then li(in at the hillstation o- ussoorie. The chane to the
deliht-ul -reshness o- a 9i+alaan cli+ate a-ter the Turkishbathlike at+osphere o-
the plains in ;epte+ber *as +ost rate-ul, and ) thorouhl en/oed the -e* das )
spent in the +idst o- the lo(el +ountain scener.
next station *as +balla. There ) -ell in *ith t*o other troops o- 9orse @rtiller,
and beca+e +ore than e(er ena+oured *ith the idea o- belonin to so splendid a
ser(ice. Fro+ +balla it *as a t*o nihts' /ourne to
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da, and there +et a cousin in the ;ur(e epart+ent, *ho had been suddenl ordered
to
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and niht. Dne e(enin about eiht o'clock ) *as disappointed at not ha(in co+e
across the usual resthouse lihts could be seen, ho*e(er, at no reat distance, and )
proceeded to*ards the+ the turned out to be the ca+p -ires o- a Ca(alr rei+ent
*hich *as haltin there -or the niht. ?ein hal- -a+ished, and -earin that +
cra(in -or -ood *as not likel to be rati-ied unless so+eone in the ca+p *ould take
pit upon + -orlorn condition, ) boldl presented +sel- at the -irst tent ) ca+eacross. The occupant ca+e out, and, on hearin the strait ) *as in, he *ith kindl
courtes in(ited +e to enter the tent, sain, 'Hou are /ust in ti+e to share our dinner.'
host turned out to be a/or Cra*-ordCha+berlain,3 co++andin the 1st )rreular
Ca(alr, the -a+ous ;kinner's 9orse, then on its *a to esha*ar. @ lad *as sittin
at the table7rs. Cha+berlain7to *ho+ ) *as introduced ) spent a (er pleasant
e(enin, and in this *a co++enced another euall areeable and lastin -riendship.
CHA*TER III.
18E2
4(en the lonest /ourne +ust co+e to an end at last, and earl in No(e+ber )
reached esha*ar. -ather, *ho *as then in his sixtninth ear, had /ust beenappointed to co++and the di(ision *ith the te+porar rank o- a/or5eneral. Dld as
this +a appear at a period%ae 1G& *hen Colonels are superannuated at -i-tse(en,
and a/or5enerals +ust retire at sixtt*o, + -ather did not consider hi+sel-
particularl unluck. @s -or the authorities, the e(identl thouht the *ere to be
conratulated on ha(in so oun and acti(e an o--icer to place in a position o-
responsibilit upon the NorthBest Frontier, -or a+onst + -ather's papers ) -ound
letters -ro+ the @d/utant5eneral and Auarter+aster5eneral expressin hih
satis-action at his appoint+ent to this di--icult co++and.
Bith + Father at esha*ar )t *as a reat ad(antae as *ell as a reat pleasure to +e to be*ith + -ather at this ti+e. ) had le-t )ndia an in-ant, and ) had no recollection o- hi+
until ) *as t*el(e ears old, at *hich ti+e he ca+e ho+e on lea(e. 4(en then ) sa*
(er little o- hi+, as ) *as at school durin the reater part o- his so/ourn in 4nland,
thus *e +et at esha*ar al+ost as straners. Be did not, ho*e(er, lon re+ain so his
a--ectionate reetin soon put an end to an -eelin o- shness on + part, and the
enial and kindl spirit *hich enabled hi+ to enter into and s+pathie *ith the
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-eelins and aspirations o- +en ouner than hi+sel-, rendered the ear ) spent *ith
hi+ at esha*ar one o- the brihtest and happiest o- + earl li-e. )n one respect
particularl ) bene-ited b the intercourse and con-idence o- the ear in uestion.
-ather spoke to +e -reel o- his experiences in @-hanistan, *here he co++anded
durin the @-han *ar -irst a briade, and then ;hah ;hu/a's continent. The
in-or+ation ) in this *a athered reardin the characteristics o- that peculiar countr, and the best +eans o- dealin *ith its still +ore peculiar people, *as
in(aluable to +e *hen ), in + turn, t*ent-i(e ears later, -ound +sel- in
co++and o- an ar+ in @-hanistan.
4le(en ears onl had elapsed since the -irst @-han *ar, *hen + -ather *ent to
esha*ar and -ound hi+sel- aain associated *ith se(eral @-han -riends so+e had
altoether settled in the esha*ar district, -or nearl all o- those *ho had assisted us,
or sho*n an -riendl -eelin to*ards us, had been -orced b ost aho+ed han,
on his return as @+ir to abul, to seek re-ue in )ndia. Dne o- the chie- o- these
un-ortunate re-uees *as aho+ed s+an han, ;hah ;hu/a's Bair, or ri+e
inister. 9e had been (er inti+ate *ith + -ather, so it *as pleasant -or the+ to
+eet aain and talk o(er e(ents in *hich the had both plaed such pro+inent parts.
s+an han died so+e ears ao but (isitors to )ndia *ho tra(el as -ar as esha*ar
+a still +eet his sons, one o- *ho+ is the Co++andant o- the hber 0i-les,
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+ENERAL SIR ABRAHAM ROBERTS, +.C.B.
From a hoto!raph*
-ather had also been on ter+s o- inti+ac *ith ost aho+ed hi+sel- and +an
other +en o- in-luence in abul, -ro+ *ho+, *hile at esha*ar, he recei(ed +ost
interestin letters, in *hich anxiet *as%ae 11& o-ten expressed as to *hether the
4nlish *ere a+icabl disposed to*ards the @+ir. To these co++unications +
-ather *as al*as care-ul to send courteous and conciliator replies. Thecorrespondence *hich took place con-ir+ed hi+ in his -reuentl expressed opinion
that it *ould be reatl to the ad(antae o- the 5o(ern+ent, and ob(iate the necessit
-or keepin such lare arrisons on the -rontier, i- -riendl relations could be
established *ith the @+ir, and *ith the neihbourin tribes, *ho +ore or less looked
to the 0uler o- abul as their Chie-. -ather accordinl addressed the ;ecretar to
the 5o(ern+ent o- )ndia, and pointed out ho* success-ull so+e o- the +ost
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experienced @nlo)ndian o--icials had +anaed barbarous tribes b kindness and
conciliation.
-ather *as pre(ented b illhealth -ro+ re+ainin lon enouh at esha*ar to see
the result o- his proposals, but it *as a source o- reat satis-action to hi+ to learn
be-ore he le-t )ndia1 that the *ere appro(ed b
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one *as allo*ed to (enture beond the line o- sentries *hen the sun had set, and e(en
in broad daliht it *as not sa-e to o an distance -ro+ the station.
4xcite+ents o- a Frontier ;tation)n the autu+n o- 18E1 an o--icer7Captain Frank 5rantha+, o-
the 8th Foot7*as ridin *ith a oun lad on the ichni road, not -ar -ro+ the
@rtiller uarteruard, *hen he *as attacked b -i(e hill+en. 5rantha+ *as*ounded so se(erel that he died in a -e* das, the horses *ere carried o--, but the
irl *as allo*ed to escape. ;he ran as -ast as she could to the nearest uard, and told
her stor the alar+ *as i(en, and the *ounded +an *as brouht in. The oun lad
*as called upon shortl a-ter*ards to identi- one o- the supposed +urderers, but she
could not reconie the +an as bein o- the part *ho +ade the attack ne(ertheless,
the +urderer's -riends *ere a-raid o- *hat she +iht re+e+ber, and +ade an atte+pt
one niht to carr her o--. Fortunatel, it *as -rustrated, but -ro+ that ti+e, until she
le-t esha*ar, it *as considered necessar to keep a uard o(er the house in *hich
she li(ed.
Fro+ all this + readers +a probabl think that esha*ar, as ) -irst kne* it, *as not
a desirable place o- residence but ) *as (er happ there. There *as a ood deal o-
excite+ent and ad(enture ) +ade +an -riends and, abo(e all, ) had, to +e, the no(el
pleasure o- bein *ith + -ather.
18E3
Father's ;ta-- )t *as the custo+ in those das -or the 5eneral co++andin one o- the
larer di(isions to ha(e under hi+, and in chare o- the 9eadAuarter %ae 13& station, a
senior o--icer stled ?riadier. ;oon a-ter ) *ent to esha*ar, ;dne Cotton2 held
this appoint+ent, and re+ained in it -or +an ears, +akin a reat reputation -or hi+sel- durin the utin, and bein e(entuall appointed to the co++and o- the
di(ision. The t*o senior o--icers on + -ather's sta-- *ere
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a-ter *e *ere all ali(e, nearl the *hole o- the part ha(in taken part in the
suppression o- the utin, and -i(e or six ha(in been *ounded.
Fro+ the ti+e o- + arri(al until the autu+n o- 18E3, nothin o- +uch i+portance
occurred. ) li(ed *ith + -ather, and acted as his @idedeca+p, *hile, at the sa+e
ti+e, ) did dut *ith the @rtiller. The 2nd Co+pan, 2nd ?attalion, to *hich ) beloned, *as co+posed o- a -ine bod o- +en, *ho had a rand reputation in the
-ield, but, bein so+e*hat troubleso+e in uarters, had acuired the nickna+e o- 'The
e(il's D*n.' ?ecause o- the unusuall ood phsiue o- the +en, this co+pan *as
selected -or con(ersion into a ountain ?atter, *hich it *as thouht ad(isable to
raise at that ti+e. ) *as the onl subaltern *ith this batter -or se(eral +onths, and
thouh + co++andin o--icer had no ob/ection to + actin as @..C. to + -ather,
he took ood care that ) did + rei+ental dut strictl and reularl.
@ Floin aradeDne (er pain-ul circu+stance sta+ped itsel- on + +e+or. ) *as
oblied to be present at a -loin parade7the onl one, ) a+ lad to sa, ) ha(e e(er had to attend, althouh the barbarous and deradin custo+ o- -loin in the ar+
*as not done a*a *ith until nearl thirt ears later .E @ -e* ears be-ore ) /oined the
ser(ice, the nu+ber o- lashes *hich +iht be i(en *as li+ited to %ae 1"& -i-t, but
e(en under this restriction the siht *as a horrible one to *itness. The parade to *hich
) re-er *as ordered -or the punish+ent o- t*o +en *ho had been sentenced to -i-t
lashes each -or sellin their kits, and to a certain ter+ o- i+prison+ent in addition.
The *ere -ine, handso+e oun 9orse @rtiller+en, and it *as hate-ul to see the+
thus treated. ?esides, one -elt it *as producti(e o- har+ rather than ood, -or it tended
to destro the +en's sel-respect, and to +ake the+ co+pletel reckless. )n this
instance, no sooner had the t*o +en been released -ro+ prison than the co++itted
the sa+e o--ence aain. The *ere a second ti+e tried b Courtartial, and
sentenced as be-ore. 9o* ) loned to ha(e the po*er to re+it the -i-t lashes, -or ) -elt
that sellin their kits on this occasion *as their *a o- sho*in their resent+ent at the
ino+inious treat+ent the had been sub/ected to, and o- pro(in that -loin *as
po*erless to pre(ent their repeatin the o--ence. @ parade *as ordered, as on the
pre(ious occasion. Dne +an *as stripped to the *aist, and tied to the *heel o- a un.
The -indin and sentence o- the Courtartial *ere read out7a tru+peter standin
read the *hile to in-lict the punish+ent7*hen the co++andin o--icer, a/or
0obert Baller, instead o- orderin hi+ to bein, to the intense relie- o-, ) belie(e,e(er o--icer present, addressed the prisoners, tellin the+ o- his distress at -indin
t*o soldiers belonin to his troop brouht up -or corporal punish+ent t*ice in a little
+ore than six *eeks, and addin that, ho*e(er little the deser(ed such lenienc, i-
the *ould pro+ise not to co++it the sa+e o--ence aain, and to beha(e better -or
the -uture, he *ould re+it the -loin part o- the sentence. )- the prisoners *ere not
happ, ) *as but the cle+enc *as e(identl appreciated b the+, -or the pro+ised,
and kept their *ords. ) did not lose siht o- these t*o +en -or so+e ears, and *as
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al*as rati-ied to learn that their conduct *as uni-or+l satis-actor, and that the
had beco+e ood, stead soldiers.
The Co++issioner, or chie- ci(il authorit, *hen ) arri(ed at esha*ar, *as Colonel
ackeson, a *ellkno*n -rontier o--icer *ho had reatl distinuished hi+sel- durin
the -irst @-han *ar b his *ork a+on the @-ridis and other border tribes, b *ho+he *as liked and respected as +uch as he *as -eared. urin ;hah ;hu/a's brie- rein
at abul, ackeson *as continuall e+ploed on political dut in the hber ass
and at esha*ar. Dn the breakin out o- the insurrection at abul, he *as
inde-atiable in -or*ardin supplies and +one to ;ir 0obert ;ale at =alalabad,
hastenin up the rein-orce+ents, and +aintainin ?ritish in-luence in the hber, a
task o- no s+all +anitude *hen *e re+e+ber that a reliious *ar had been
proclai+ed, and all true belie(ers had been called upon to exter+inate the Ferinhis.
Bhile at esha*ar, as Co++issioner, his duties *ere arduous and his responsibilities
hea(7the +ore so as at that ti+e%ae 1E& the @-han inhabitants o- the cit *ere in a
danerous and excited state.
ackeson's @ssassinationDn the 1Gth ;epte+ber, 18E3, *e *ere horri-ied to learn that
ackeson had been +urdered b a reliious -anatic. 9e *as sittin in the (erandah o-
his house listenin to appeals -ro+ the decisions o- his subordinates, *hen, to*ards
e(enin, a +an7*ho had been re+arked b +an durin the da earnestl enaed
in his de(otions, his praercarpet bein spread *ithin siht o- the house7ca+e up
and, +akin a lo* salaa+ to ackeson, presented hi+ *ith a paper. The
Co++issioner, supposin it to be a petition, stretched out his hand to take it, *hen the
+an instantl pluned a daer into his breast. The noise conseuent on the strule
attracted the attention o- so+e o- the do+estic ser(ants and one o- the Nati(e o--icials.
The latter thre* hi+sel- bet*een ackeson and the -anatic, and *as hi+sel- slihtl
*ounded in his e--orts to rescue his Chie-.
ackeson linered until the 1"th ;epte+ber. 9is death caused considerable
excite+ent in the cit and alon the border, increasin to an alar+in extent *hen it
beca+e kno*n that the +urderer had been haned and his bod burnt. This +ode o-
disposin o- one o- their dead is considered b aho+edans as the reatest insult that
can be o--ered to their reliion, -or in thus treatin the corpse, as i- it *ere that o- #b
the+$ a hated and despised 9indu, the dead +an is supposed to be depri(ed o- e(er
chance o- paradise. )t *as not *ithout care-ul and deliberate consideration that this
course *as decided upon, and it *as onl adopted on account o- the deterrent e--ect it
*ould ha(e upon -anatical aho+edans, *ho count it all ain to sacri-ice their li(es
b the +urder o- a heretic, and thereb secure, as the -ir+l belie(e, eternal
happiness, but loathe the idea o- bein burned, *hich e--ectuall pre(ents the
+urderer bein raised to the dinit o- a +artr, and re(ered as a saint e(er a-ter.
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)t bein ru+oured that the athans intended to retaliate b desecratin the late
Co++issioner's ra(e, it *as arraned that he should be buried *ithin canton+ent
li+its. @ +onu+ent *as raised to his +e+or b public subscription, and
his epitaph6 *as *ritten b the 5o(ernor5eneral hi+sel-.
;hortl be-ore ackeson's +urder + -ather had -ound it necessar%ae 16& to o to thehillstation o- urree the hot *eather had tried hi+ (er +uch, and he reuired a
chane. 9e had scarcel arri(ed there, *hen he *as startled b the ne*s o- the
traed *hich had occurred, and at once deter+ined to return, not*ithstandin its
bein the +ost sickl season o- the ear at esha*ar, -or he -elt that at a ti+e o- such
danerous excite+ent it *as his dut to be present. @s a precautionar +easure, he
ordered the 22nd Foot -ro+ 0a*al indi to esha*ar. This and other steps *hich he
dee+ed prudent to take soon put an end to the disturbances.
The =o*aki 4xpedition No sooner had +atters uieted do*n at esha*ar than the =o*aki
@-ridis, *ho inhabit the countr i++ediatel to the east o- the ohat ass, bean toi(e trouble, and *e *ent out into ca+p to select a site -or a post *hich *ould ser(e
to co(er the northern entrance to the pass and keep the tribes+en under sur(eillance.
The reat chane o- te+perature, -ro+ the intense heat he had underone in the
su++er to the bitter cold o- No(e+ber nihts in tents, *as too se(ere a trial -or +
-ather. 9e *as then close on se(ent, and thouh apparentl acti(e as e(er, he *as -ar
-ro+ *ell, conseuentl the doctors stronl ured hi+ not to risk another hot
*eather in )ndia. )t *as accordinl settled that he should return to 4nland *ithout
dela.
@ ;trane rea+;hortl be-ore his departure, an incident occurred *hich ) *ill relate -or the bene-it o- pscholoical students the +a, perhaps, be able to explain it, ) ne(er
could. -ather had so+e ti+e be-ore issued in(itations -or a dance *hich *as to
take place in t*o das' ti+e7on onda, the 1!th Dctober, 18E3. Dn the ;aturda
+ornin he appeared disturbed and unhapp, and durin break-ast he *as silent and
despondent7(er di--erent -ro+ his usual briht and cheer sel-. Dn + uestionin
hi+ as to the cause, he told +e he had had an unpleasant drea+7one *hich he had
drea+t se(eral ti+es be-ore, and *hich had al*as been -ollo*ed b the death o- a
near relation. @s%ae 1!& the da ad(anced, in spite o- + e--orts to cheer hi+, he
beca+e +ore and +ore depressed, and e(en said he should like to put o-- the dance. )
dissuaded hi+ -ro+ takin this step -or the ti+e bein but that niht he had the sa+e
drea+ aain, and the next +ornin he insisted on the dance bein postponed. )t
see+ed to +e rather absurd to ha(e to disappoint our -riends because o- a drea+
there *as, ho*e(er, nothin -or it but to carr out + -ather's *ishes, and inti+ation
*as accordinl sent to the in(ited uests. The -ollo*in +ornin the post brouht
ne*s o- the sudden death o- the hal-sister at
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@s + -ather *as reall (er un*ell, it *as not thouht ad(isable -or hi+ to tra(el
alone, so it *as arraned that ) should acco+pan hi+ to 0a*al indi. Be started
-ro+ esha*ar on the 2!th No(e+ber, and dro(e as -ar as No*shera. The next da *e
*ent on to @ttock. ) -ound the in(alid had bene-ited so +uch b the chane that it *as
uite sa-e -or hi+ to continue the /ourne alone, and ) consented the +ore readil to
lea(e hi+, as ) *as anxious to et back to + batter, *hich had been ordered onser(ice, and *as then *ith the -orce asse+bled at ?aidkhel -or an expedition aainst
the ?ori (illaes o- the =o*aki @-ridis.
@ Tpical Frontier Fiht9a(in said -are*ell to + -ather, ) started -or ?aidkhel earl on
the 2th No(e+ber. @t that ti+e there *as no direct road to that place -ro+ No*shera,
nor *as it considered sa-e to tra(el alone alon the slopes o- the lo*er @-ridi hills. )
had, there-ore, to o all the *a back to esha*ar to et to + destination. ) rode as
-ast as relas o- horses could carr +e, in the hope that ) should reach ?aidkhel in
ti+e -or the -un but soon a-ter passin No*shera ) heard uns in the direction o- the
ohat ass, and realied that ) should be too late. ) *as (er disappointed at +issin
this, + -irst chance o- acti(e ser(ice, and not acco+panin the ne*l raised
ountain Train #as it *as then called$ on the -irst occasion o- its bein e+ploed in
the -ield.
The ob/ect o- this expedition *as to punish the =o*aki section o- the @-ridis -or their
+an delinuencies durin the three pre(ious ears. Nu+erous +urders and raids on
the ohat and esha*ar districts, the plunder o- boats on the )ndus, and the +urder o-
a 4uropean apothecar, *ere all traced to this tribe. The had been blockaded, and
their resort to the salt+ines near ?ahadurkhel and to the +arkets o- ohat and
esha*ar had been interdicted, but these +easures produced no e--ect on the
recalcitrant tribes+en. =ohn #a-ter*ards
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The sections o- the tribe li(in nearest our territor areed to the -irst and third o- our
conditions, no doubt because the -elt the *ere in our po*er, and had su--ered
considerabl -ro+ the blockade. ?ut the ?ori @-ridis *ould +ake no atone+ent -or
the past and i(e no securit -or the -uture, althouh the ad+itted ha(in robbed and
+urdered our sub/ects. There *as nothin -or it, there-ore, but to send a -orce aainst
the+. This -orce consisted o- rather +ore than 1,EGG +en, ?ritish and Nati(e. The@-ridis +ade no stand until *e reached their +ain position, *hen the o--ered a stout
resistance, *hich, ho*e(er, pro(ed o- no a(ail aainst the allantr o- the 5uides and
66th #no* 1st$ 5urkhas. The ?ori (illaes *ere then destroed, *ith a loss to us o-
eiht +en killed and thirtone *ounded.
;u--icient punish+ent ha(in been in-licted, our -orce retired. The rearuard *as
hotl pressed, and it *as late in the e(enin be-ore the troops ot clear o- the hills.
The tribes+en *ith *ho+ *e had /ust +ade -riends sat in hundreds on the rides
*atchin the proress o- the -iht. )t *as no doubt a reat te+ptation to the+ to attack the 'in-idels' *hile the *ere at their +erc, and considerable anxiet *as -elt b
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) had had a reat deal o- -e(er durin + eihteen +onths' residence at esha*ar, and
in @pril, 18E", ) obtained six +onths' lea(e to ash+ir. ) tra(elled vi3 urree to
@bbottabad, alon the route no* *ell kno*n as the '5ullies.' 9ere ) *as /oined b
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a-ter rane o- sno*capped +ountains disclosed the+sel(es to our (ie*, risin hiher
and hiher into the air, until at last, to*erin abo(e all, Nana arbat" in all her
spotless beaut *as re(ealed to our astonished and delihted ae.
Be could not et beond haan. Dur coolies re-used to o -urther, allein as their
reason the daner to be dreaded -ro+ a(alanches in that +onth but ) suspect that -ear o- hostilit -ro+ the tribes -urther north had +ore to do *ith their reluctance to
proceed than dread o- -allin a(alanches. Be re+ained at haan -or t*o or three
das in the hope o- bein able to shoot an ibex, but *e *ere disappointed *e ne(er
e(en sa* one.
Be retraced our steps *ith considerable reret, and reached 9abibulai5hari on the
31st a. 9ere *e recei(ed a second o--icial docu+ent -ro+ @bbottabad. )t
contained, like the pre(ious letter, *hich *e no* looked at -or the -irst ti+e, orders
-or our i++ediate return, and *arnins that *e *ere on no account to o to haan.
;ince then haan has been +ore than once (isited b ?ritish o--icers, and no* aroad is in course o- construction alon the route *e tra(elled, as bein a +ore direct
line o- co++unication *ith 5ilhit than that vi3 ash+ir.
Be +ade no dela at 9abibulai5hari, but started at once -or the lo(el Iale o-
ash+ir, *here *e spent the su++er, a+usin oursel(es b +akin excursions to all
the places o- interest and beaut *e had so o-ten heard o-, and occasionall shootin a
bear. The place *hich i+pressed +e +ost *as artund,E *here stand the picturesue
ruins o- a once reno*ned 9indu te+ple. These noble ruins are the +ost strikin in
sie and position o- all the existin re+ains o- the past lories o- ash+ir.
Fro+ artund *e +ade our *a to Ierna, the celebrated sprin *hich is supposed
to be the source o- the =helu+ ri(er. The ohul 4+peror @kbar built there a su++er
palace, and the arches, on *hich it is said rested the pri(ate apart+ents o- the lo(el
Nur =ehan, are still (isible.
The Iale o- ash+ir Be *andered o(er the beauti-ul and -ertile
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certainl does re+ind one o- the '?ride o- the ;ea,' both in its picturesueness and
#*hen one ets into the s+all and tortuous canals$ its unsa(ouriness. 4(en at the ti+e
o- *hich ) a+ *ritin it *as dilapidated, and the houses looked exactl like those
+ade b children out o- a pack o- cards, *hich a pu-- o- *ind +iht be expected to
destro. D- late ears the reater part o- the cit has been in/ured b earthuakes, and
;rinaar looks +ore than e(er like a card cit. The reat beaut o- the place in thosedas *as the *ooden brides co(ered *ith creepers, and a *ith booths and shops o-
all descriptions, *hich spanned the =helu+ at inter(als -or the three +iles the ri(er
runs throuh the to*n7no*, alasL -or the artistic tra(eller, no +ore. ?ooths and shops
ha(e been s*ept a*a, and the creepers ha(e disappeared7decidedl an ad(antae
-ro+ a sanitar point o- (ie*, but destructi(e o- the uaint picturesueness o- the
to*n.
The -loatin ardens are a uniue and (er prett characteristic o- ;rinaar. The lake
is no*here deeper than ten or t*el(e -eet, and in so+e places +uch less. These
ardens are +ade b dri(in stakes into the bed o- the lake, lon enouh to pro/ect
three or -our -eet abo(e the sur-ace o- the *ater. These stakes are placed at inter(als in
an oblon -or+, and are bound toether b reeds and rushes t*ined in and out and
across, until a kind o- stationar ra-t is +ade, on *hich earth and tur- are piled. )n this
soil seeds are so*n, and the crops o- +elons and other -ruits raised in these -ertile
beds are extre+el -ine and abundant.
The +ani-icent chunartrees are another (er beauti-ul -eature o- the countr. The
ro* to a reat heiht and irth, and so luxuriant and dense is their -oliae that ) ha(e
sat readin and *ritin -or hours durin hea( rain under one o- these trees and kept
per-ectl dr.
The i++ediate (icinit o- ;rinaar is (er prett, and the *hole (alle o- ash+ir is
lo(el beond description: surrounded b beauti-ull*ooded +ountains, intersected
*ith strea+s and lakes, and a *ith -lo*ers o- e(er description, -or in ash+ir
+an o- the oreous eastern plants and the +ore si+ple but s*eeter ones o- %ae
22& 4nland +eet on co++on round. To it +a appropriatel be applied the ersian
couplet:
'@ar -ardos barui a+in ast, ha+in ast, ha+in ast'
#)- there be an 4lsiu+ on earth, it is this, it is this$.
The soil is extre+el producti(e anthin *ill ro* in it. ut a stick into the round,
and in an extraordinar short space o- ti+e it beco+es a tree and bears -ruit. Bhat
*ere *e about, to sell such a countr -or three uarters o- a +illion sterlinM )t *ould
ha(e +ade the +ost per-ect sanatoriu+ -or our troops, and -urnished an ad+irable
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-ield -or ?ritish enterprise and coloniation, its cli+ate bein as near per-ection as
anthin can be.
9o* sad it is that, in a countr '*here e(er prospect pleases, onl +an' should be
'(ile'L @nd +an, as he existed in ash+ir, *as (ile7(ile, because so +iserable. The
aho+edan inhabitants *ere bein round do*n b 9indu rulers, *ho seied alltheir earnins, lea(in the+ barel su--icient to keep bod and soul toether. Bhat
interest could such people ha(e in culti(atin their land, or doin an *ork beond
*hat *as necessar to +ere existenceM 9o*e(er hard the +iht labour, their e--orts
*ould bene-it neither the+sel(es nor their children, and so their onl thouht *as to
et throuh li-e *ith as little exertion as possible7in the su++er sittin in the sun
absolutel idle the reater part o- the da, and in the *inter *rapped up in their
blankets, under *hich *ere concealed curious little (essels called 0an!ris, holdin
t*o or three bits o- li(e charcoal. 4(er ash+iri still carries one o- these 0an!ris, as
the +ost econo+ical *a o- keepin hi+sel- *ar+.
4arl in ;epte+ber *e said oodbe to the happ (alle and returned to esha*ar,
*here ) re/oined the ountain ?atter.
)n No(e+ber, to + reat deliht, ) *as i(en + /acket. @t -irst + happiness *as
so+e*hat da+ped b the -act that the troop to *hich ) *as posted *as stationed at
+balla. ) did not *ant to lea(e esha*ar, and in the end ) had not to do so, as a
(acanc +ost opportunel occurred in one o- the troops o- 9orse @rtiller at that
station, *hich *as i(en to +e.
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used to tr + hand at ridin the+ all in turn, and thus learnt to understand and
appreciate the a+ount o- ner(e, patience, and skill necessar to the +akin o- a ood
9orse @rtiller 'dri(er,' *ith the additional ad(antae that ) *as brouht into constant
contact *ith the +en. )t also uali-ied +e to ride in the o--icers' tea+ -or the
rei+ental brake. The brake, it +ust be understood, *as dra*n b six horses, each
ridden postilion -ashion b an o--icer.
troop *as co++anded b Captain ?arr, a dear old -ello* *ho had seen a ood
deal o- ser(ice and *as +uch liked b o--icers and +en, but hardl the -iure -or a
9orse @rtiller+an, as he *eihed about se(enteen stone. Dn a troop parade ?arr
took up his position *ell in ad(ance and +ade his o*n pace, but on briade parades
he had to con-or+ to the +o(e+ents o- the other ar+s, and on these occasions he used
to tell one o- the subalterns as he alloped past hi+ to co+e 'le-t about' at the riht
ti+e *ithout *aitin -or his order. This, o- course, *e *ere al*as care-ul to do, and
b the ti+e *e had co+e into action ?arr had cauht us up and *as at his post.
urin the *inter o- 18E"EE ) had se(eral returns o- esha*ar -e(er, and b the
beinnin o- the sprin ) *as so reduced that ) *as i(en eiht +onths' lea(e on
+edical certi-icate, *ith orders to report +sel- at ian ir at its expiration, in (ie*
to + oin throuh the ridin course, there bein no 0idinaster at esha*ar.
) decided to return to ash+ir in the -irst instance, and thence to +arch across the
9i+alaas to ;i+la.
Dn + *a into ash+ir ) *as -ortunate enouh to -all in *ith a (er areeable
tra(ellin co+panion7
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there, *as about to i(e up his co++and, and Colonel 5rant,! *ho had been his
@d/utant5eneral, had le-t not lon be-ore.
The onl thin o- interest to +sel- *hich occurred durin the +onth ) re+ained at
;i+la *as that ) lunched *ith Colonel @rthur ?echer, the Auarter+aster5eneral. )
think ) hear + reader sa, 'Not a (er re+arkable e(ent to chronicle.' ?ut that lunch*as a +e+orable one to +e indeed, it *as the turninpoint in + career, -or + host
*as ood enouh to sa he should like to ha(e +e in his depart+ent so+e da, and
this +eant a reat deal to +e. =oinin a depart+ent at that ti+e enerall resulted in
re+ainin in it -or the reater part o- one's ser(ice. There *as then no li+it to the
tenure o- sta-- appoint+ents, and the ob/ect o- e(er a+bitious oun o--icer *as to
et into one depart+ent or another7political, ci(il, or the ar+ sta--. -ather had
al*as i+pressed upon +e that the political depart+ent *as the one to aspire to, and
-ailin that, the Auarter+aster5eneral's, as in the latter there *as the best chance o-
seein ser(ice. ) had cherished a sort o- (aue hope that ) +iht so+e da be luck
enouh to beco+e a eput @ssistantAuarter+aster5eneral, -or althouh ) -ull
reconied the ad(antaes o- a political career, ) pre-erred bein +ore closel
associated *ith the ar+, and ) had seen enouh o- sta-- *ork to satis- +sel- that it
*ould suit +e so the -e* *ords spoken to +e b Colonel ?echer +ade +e supre+el
happ.
)t ne(er entered into + head that ) should et an earl appoint+ent the -act o- the
Auarter+aster5eneral thinkin o- +e as a possible recruit *as uite enouh -or +e. )
*as in no hurr to lea(e the 9orse @rtiller, to *hich ) *as proud o- belonin, and in
*hich ) hoped to see ser(ice *hile still on the -rontier. ) le-t ;i+la (er pleased *ith
the result o- + (isit, and (er rate-ul to Colonel ?echer, *ho pro(ed a ood -riend
to +e e(er a-ter, and ) +ade + *a to ian ir, *here ) *ent throuh the ridin
school course, and then returned to esha*ar.
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the troops should lea(e their nurser, and tr as -ar as possible to practise in peace
*hat the *ould ha(e to do in *ar. ;dne Cotton *as ne(er tired o- explainin that
the +achiner o- *ar, like all other +achiner, should be kept, so to speak, oiled and
read -or use.
@ ;ta-- @ppoint+ent drea+ o- a sta-- appoint+ent *as realied +ore uickl than ) hadexpected. )n the earl part o- 18E6 the ;ur(eor5eneral applied -or the ser(ices o-
t*o or three experienced o--icers to assist in the sur(e o- ash+ir.
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about the Husa-ai plain -or three *eeks. The chie- di--icult *as the absence o-
*ater, and ) had to prospect the countr e(er a-ternoon -or a su--icient suppl, and to
deter+ine, *ith reard to this sine 4u3 non, *here the ca+p should be pitched the
next da. Dn one occasion the best place ) could disco(er *as bet*een t*o and three
+iles o-- the +ain road. There *as no di--icult in reachin it b da, but ) *as a-raid
o- so+e +istake bein +ade *hen *e had to lea(e it in the s+all hours o- the+ornin, -e* thins bein +ore be*ilderin than to -ind one's *a in the dark -ro+ a
ca+p pitched in the open countr *hen once the tents ha(e been struck. )t *as +
dut to lead the colu+n and see that it +arched o-- in the riht direction kno*in
ho* anxious the ?riadier *as that the ne* round should be reached *hile it *as
cool, and the +en be thus sa(ed -ro+ exposure to the sun, ) *as care-ul to note +
position *ith reard to the stars, and to explain to the o--icer *ho *as in orders to
co++and the ad(ance uard the direction he +ust take. Bhen the ti+e ca+e to start,
and the ?riadier *as about to order the buler to sound the +arch, ) sa* that the
ad(ance uard *as dra*n up at riht anles to the *a in *hich *e had to proceed.
The o--icer co++andin it *as positi(e he *as riht, and in this he *as supported b
?riadier Cotton and so+e o- the other o--icers ) *as euall positi(e that he *as
*ron, and that i- *e +arched as he proposed, *e should -ind oursel(es se(eral +iles
out o- our course. The ?riadier settled the uestion b sain ) *as responsible -or
the troops oin in the riht direction, and orderin +e to sho* the *a. The countr
*as per-ectl bare, there%ae 2!& *as not a tree or ob/ect o- an kind to uide +e, and
the distance see+ed inter+inable. ) heard opinions -reel expressed that ) *as on the
*ron road, and at last, *hen the ?riadier hi+sel- ca+e up to +e and said he
thouht ) +ust ha(e lost the *a, ) reall bean to *a(er in + con(iction that ) *as
riht. @t that +o+ent + horse stu+bled into a ditch, *hich pro(ed to be the boundar o- the +ain road. ) *as i++ensel relie(ed, the ?riadier *as delihted,
and -ro+ that +o+ent ) think he *as satis-ied that ) had, *hat is so essential to a
Auarter+aster5eneral in the -ield, the bu+p o- localit.
)n Dctober the @rtiller +o(ed into the practice ca+p at Cha+kanie, about -i(e +iles
-ro+ esha*ar. )t *as intended that *e should re+ain there -or a couple o- +onths,
but be-ore the end o- that ti+e ) had to /oin the 5eneral at 0a*al indi, *here he had
one on a tour o- inspection. ?ein anxious not to shirk + rei+ental dut, ) did not
lea(e Cha+kanie until the last +o+ent, and had but one da in *hich to reach 0a*al
indi, a distance o- one hundred +iles, *hich ) acco+plished on horseback bet*een !a.+. and 6 p.+., onl stoppin at @ttock a short ti+e -or re-resh+ent.
This tour *ith 5eneral 0eed ended + sta-- duties -or a ti+e, as the sur(e in
ash+ir had co+e to an end and
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CHA*TER V.
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@+ir's possessions in @-hanistan, and ne(er inter-ere *ith the+ *hile the @+ir
enaed si+ilarl to respect ?ritish territor, and to be the -riend o- our -riends and
the ene+ o- our ene+ies.'
The 5o(ernor5eneral had at -irst resol(ed to entrust to 4d*ardes the dut o- +eetin
the expected 4n(o -ro+ abul, and orders to that e--ect *ere issued. ?ut 4d*ardes,+ore anxious -or the success o- the neotiations than -or his o*n honour and lor,
*rote to
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disappoint+ent and disaree+ent, it *ould, at an rate, put the relations o- the ?ritish
5o(ern+ent *ith the @+ir, as reards 9erat, upon a clear -ootin.'
Bar *ith ersiaBhile this discussion *as oin on, the ad(ance o- a ersian ar+ -or the
purpose o- besiein 9erat, coupled *ith the insults o--ered to the ?ritish -la at
Teheran, led to the declaration o- *ar bet*een 4nland and ersia. The Chie- Co++issioner *as there-ore directed to tell the @+ir that he *ould be paid a
periodical subsid to aid hi+ in carrin on hostile operations aainst ersia, sub/ect
to certain conditions. Dn recei(in these instructions, the Chie- Co++issioner
directed 4d*ardes to in(ite the @+ir to an inter(ie*. ost aho+ed accepted the
in(itation, but be-ore the auspicious +eetin could take place
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enae+ents durin the troublous das o- the utin *hich so uickl -ollo*ed this
alliance, *hen, had he turned aainst us, *e should assuredl ha(e lost the un/ab
elhi could ne(er ha(e been taken in -act, ) do not see ho* an part o- the countr
north o- ?enal could ha(e been sa(ed. ost aho+ed's o*n people could not
understand his attitude. The -reuentl ca+e to hi+ durin the utin, thro*in
their turbans at his -eet, and prain hi+ as a aho+edan to seie that opportunit -or destroin the 'in-idels.' '9ear the ne*s -ro+ elhi,' the ured 'see the di--iculties
the Ferinhis are in. Bh don't ou lead us on to take ad(antae o- their *eakness,
and *in back esha*arM'3
?ut ) a+ anticipatin, and +ust return to + narrati(e.
The clause o- the treat *hich interested +e personall *as that relatin to ?ritish
o--icers bein allo*ed to (isit @-hanistan, to i(e e--ect to *hich a ission *as
despatched to andahar. )t consisted o- three o--icers, the brothers 9arr and eter
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) recollect the co++andin o--icer o- the EEth, the Nati(e )n-antr corps at this
station, *ho had ser(ed all his li-e *ith cleanlookin, closelsha(en 9industanis,
pointin *ith a look o- conte+pt, not to sa disust, to so+e ;ikhs #a certain
proportion o- *ho+ had been under recent orders enlisted in rei+ents o- Nati(e
)n-antr$, and expressin his reret that he could not et the+ to sha(e their beards
and cut their hair. 'The uite spoil the look o- + rei+ent,' he said. )n less than t*o+onths' ti+e the 9industanis, o- *ho+ the Colonel *as so proud, had broken into
open +utin the despised ;ikhs *ere the onl +en o- the rei+ent *ho re+ained
-aith-ul and the co++andin o--icer, a de(oted soldier *ho li(ed -or his rei+ent,
and *ho i+plored that his +en +iht not ha(e their ar+s taken a*a, as he had
'i+plicit con-idence' in the+, and *ould 'stake his li-e on their -idelit,' had blo*n his
brains out because he -ound that con-idence +isplaced.
%plate E&
BRI+ADIER-+ENERAL >OHN NICHOLSON, C.B.
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Froma paintin! by J*-* 'ic0see
in
possession of the -ev* 5anon Seymour*
=ohn Nicholson
'@ illar o- ;trenth on the Frontier'To*ards the end o- @pril ) *as ordered to report on the
capabilities o- Cherat #no* *ell kno*n to all *ho ha(e been stationed at esha*ar$ as
a sanatoriu+ -or 4uropean soldiers. ) spent t*o or three das sur(ein the hill and
searchin -or *ater in the neihbourhood. )t *as not sa-e to re+ain on the top at niht,
so ) used to return each e(enin to the plain belo*, *here + tent *as pitched. Dn
one occasion ) *as surprised to -ind a ca+p had risen up durin + absence uite
close to + tent. ) disco(ered that it beloned to
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)t *as the end o- @pril *hen ) returned to esha*ar -ro+ Cherat, and rapidl ettin
hot. Dn the strenth o- bein a [email protected]., ) had +o(ed into a better house than )
had hitherto been able to a--ord, *hich ) shared *ith
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@t esha*ar there *as not the slihtest suspicion o- the extent to *hich the e(il had
spread, and *e *ere uite thunderstruck *hen, on the e(enin o- the 11th a, as *e
*ere sittin at +ess, the teleraph sinaller rushed in breathless *ith excite+ent, a
telera+ in his hand, *hich pro(ed to be a +essae -ro+ elhi 'to all stations in the
un/ab,' con(ein the startlin intellience that a (er serious outbreak had occurred
at eerut the pre(ious e(enin, that so+e o- the troopers -ro+ there had alreadreached elhi, that the Nati(e soldiers at the latter place had /oined the +utineers, and
that +an o--icers and%ae 3E& residents at both stations had been killed.
ro+pt @ction at esha*ar
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intellience, but actuall +uch ouner than the a(erae o- 5eneral o--icers
co++andin stations in )ndia.
@t once, on hearin o- the utin, 4d*ardes, actin in unison *ith Nicholson, sent to
the posto--ice and laid hands on all Nati(e correspondence the letters the thus
secured sho*ed but too plainl ho* necessar *as this precaution. The nu+ber o- seditious papers seied *as alar+inl reat the *ere -or the +ost part couched in
-iurati(e and eni+atical lanuae, but it *as uite su--icientl clear -ro+ the+ that
e(er Nati(e rei+ent in the arrison *as +ore or less i+plicated and prepared to /oin
the rebel +o(e+ent.
@ stron interest attaches to these letters, -or the brouht to liht %ae 36& the true
-eelin o- the Nati(es to*ards us at the ti+e, and it *as e(ident -ro+ the+ that the
sepos had reall been +ade to belie(e that *e intended to destro their caste b
(arious unhol de(ices, o- *hich the issue o- conta+inatin cartrides *as one. The
seeds o- disa--ection had been so*n b aitators, *ho thouht the sa* anopportunit -or realiin their hope o- o(erthro*in our rule, +aintained as it *as b
a +ere hand-ul o- 4uropeans in the +idst o- a (ast population o- @siatics. This -eelin
o- antaonis+, onl uessed at be-ore, *as plainl re(ealed in these letters, ne(er
intended to +eet the 4uropean ee. ;o+e corps did not appear to be uite so uilt as
others, but there could no* be no doubt that all *ere tainted *ith disloalt, and that
none o- the 9industani troops could an loner be trusted.
)n the a-ternoon o- Tuesda, the 12th a, ) recei(ed a note -ro+ the 5eneral
co++andin the di(ision directin +e to present +sel- at his house the -ollo*in
+ornin, *hich ) accordinl did. ?esides 5eneral 0eed ) -ound there the ?riadier,;dne Cotton the Co++issioner, 9erbert 4d*ardes the eput Co++issioner,
=ohn Nicholson ?riadier Ne(ille Cha+berlain, and Captain Briht, eput
@ssistant@d/utant5eneral, *ho, like +sel-, had been su++oned to record the
decisions that +iht be arri(ed at.
This +eetin *as a +ost +o+entous one, and ) re+e+ber bein reatl i+pressed
*ith the cal+ and co+prehensi(e (ie* o- the situation taken b 4d*ardes and
Nicholson. The had alread been in co++unication *ith the Chie- Co++issioner,
and had, pre(ious to the +eetin, recei(ed a telera+ -ro+ hi+ appro(in enerall
o- the se(eral proposals the conte+plated. =ohn
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62 uns.3 )n all stations Nati(e troops preponderated, and in so+e there *ere no
4uropean%ae 3!& soldiers at all.
@ ?old olic4d*ardes and Nicholson a(e it as their opinion that the onl chance o-
keepin the un/ab and the -rontier uiet la in trustin the Chie-s and people, and in
endea(ourin to induce the+ to side *ith us aainst the 9industanis. The undertook to co++unicate, reardin the raisin o- le(ies and -resh troops, *ith their -riends and
acuaintances alon the border, *ho had pro(ed such staunch allies in 18"8", *hen
*e *ere -ihtin *ith the ;ikhs. 9o* nobl these loal +en responded to the de+and
+ade upon the+, and ho* splendidl the -rontier and un/ab soldiers *ho+ the
brouht to our assistance beha(ed, *ill be seen herea-ter.
The o(able Colu+n@+onst other +atters o- i+portance, it *as proposed b those t*o
able soldierci(ilians, 4d*ardes and Nicholson, that 5eneral 0eed, as the senior
o--icer in the un/ab, should /oin the Chie- Co++issioner at 0a*al indi, lea(in
?riadier Cotton in co++and at esha*ar that a o(able Colu+n, co+posed o- reliable troops, should be oranied at so+e con(enient place in the un/ab," prepared
to +o(e in an direction *here its ser(ices +iht be reuired that the 9industani
rei+ents%ae 38& should be scattered as +uch as possible, in order to pre(ent
danerous co+binations that a detach+ent o- un/ab )n-antr -ro+ ohat should
replace the 9industani sepos in the -ort o- @ttock, *hich *as a (er i+portant
position, as it contained a +aaine, and co(ered the passae o- the )ndus and that a
s+all uard o- athan le(ies, under a tried and trust -rontier Nati(e o--icer, should be
placed in chare o- the @ttock -err.
@ll these proposals *ere cordiall and unani+ousl areed to b the +ilitarauthorities present.
The uestion o- the co++and o- the o(able Colu+n *as then discussed. )t *as
considered essential that the o--icer selected should, in addition to other necessar
uali-ications, ha(e considerable experience o- the countr, and an inti+ate
kno*lede o- Nati(e soldiers. )t *as no ordinar co++and. Dn the action o- the
o(able Colu+n *ould depend, to a reat extent, the +aintenance o- peace and order
throuhout the un/ab, and it *as -elt that, at such a crisis, the best +an +ust be
selected, irrespecti(e o- seniorit. )t *as a position -or *hich Cotton and Nicholson
*ould ha(e i(en +uch, and -or *hich the *ere *ell uali-ied, but there *as
i+portant *ork -or the+ to do at esha*ar. Ne(ille Cha+berlain *as a(ailable, and
there *as a eneral consensus o- opinion that he should be appointed. )t *as
necessar, ho*e(er, to re-er the +atter to the Chie- Co++issioner, *ith a reuest that
he *ould sub+it it -or the orders o- the Co++anderinChie-. This course *as
adopted, and in a -e* hours a repl *as recei(ed -ro+ 5eneral @nson no+inatin
Cha+berlain to the co++and. anxiet as to the Co++anderinChie-'s decision
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*as (er considerable -or ?riadier Cha+berlain, to + in-inite deliht and
astonish+ent, had o--ered, in the e(ent o- his bein appointed, to take +e *ith hi+ as
his sta-- o--icer7the +ost *onder-ul piece o- ood -ortune that could ha(e co+e to
+e + readers +ust i+aine + -eelins, -or it is i+possible -or +e to describe
the+. +ost sanuine hopes see+ed about to be +ore than realied -or thouh the
serious aspect o- a--airs see+ed to pro+ise the chance o- acti(e ser(ice, ) littlethouht that ) should be luck enouh to be e+ploed as the sta-- o--icer o- such a
distinuished soldier as Ne(ille Cha+berlain.
Bhen the +eetin *as o(er ) *as ordered to take the se(eral +essaes, *hich Briht
and ) had *ritten out, to the teleraph o--ice, and see the+ despatched +sel- as the
disclosed +ore or less the%ae 3& +easures that had been decided upon, it *as
necessar to a(oid an chance o- their -allin into the hands o- Nati(e clerks. Dne o-
the +essaesE contained a su++ar o- the proceedins o- the council, and *as
addressed to the co++andin o--icers o- all stations in the un/ab, *ith the (ie* o-
i+partin con-idence, and lettin the+ kno* *hat steps *ere bein taken -or the
protection o- the ?ritish residents throuhout the pro(ince. This dut ha(in been
carried out, ) returned ho+e in a not unpleasant -ra+e o- +ind, -or thouh the crisis
*as a ra(e one, the outlook loo+, and the end doubt-ul, the excite+ent *as reat.
There *ere stirrin ti+es in store -or us, *hen e(er +an's po*ers *ould be tested,
and the hope-ulness o- outh inclined +e to look onl on the briht side o- the
situation.
@n @nnoin Dccurrence euani+it *as so+e*hat disturbed later in the da b an
occurrence *hich caused +e a ood deal o- annoance at the ti+e, thouh it soon
passed a*a. Nicholson ca+e to + house and told +e that the proceedins at the
+eetin that +ornin had in so+e unaccountable +anner beco+e kno*n and he
added, +uch to + disust, that it *as thouht ) +iht perhaps ha(e been uilt o- the
indiscretion o- di(ulin the+. ) *as (er anr, -or ) had appreciated as +uch as
anone the i++ense i+portance o- keepin the decisions arri(ed at per-ectl secret
and ) could not help sho*in so+ethin o- the indination ) -elt at its ha(in been
thouht possible that ) could betra the con-idence reposed in +e. ) denied +ost
positi(el ha(in done so upon *hich Nicholson suested that *e should proceed
toether to the teleraph o--ice and see *hether the in-or+ation could ha(e leaked out
-ro+ there. The sinaller *as a +ere bo, and Nicholson's i+posin presence andaustere +anner *ere uite too +uch -or hi+ he *as co+pletel co*ed, and, a-ter a
-e* hesitatin denials, he ad+itted ha(in satis-ied the curiosit o- a -riend *ho had
inuired%ae "G& o- hi+ ho* the authorities intended to deal *ith the crisis. This *as
enouh, and ) *as cleared. The result to +e o- this unpleasant incident *as a
deliht-ul increase o- inti+ac *ith the +an -or *ho+ abo(e all others ) had the
reatest ad+iration and +ost pro-ound respect. @s i- to +ake up -or his +o+entar
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in/ustice, Nicholson *as kinder to +e than e(er, and ) -elt ) had ained in hi+ a -ir+
and constant -riend. ;o ended that e(ent-ul da.
@t that ti+e it *as the custo+ -or a sta-- o--icer, *ho had chare o- an 5o(ern+ent
propert, to ha(e a uard o- Nati(e soldiers in chare o- his house. That niht it
happened that + uard *as -urnished b the 6"th Nati(e )n-antr, a rei+ent *ith a particularl bad reputation, and *hich had, in order to i(e e--ect to the +easures
proposed at the +ornin's +eetin, been ordered to lea(e esha*ar and proceed to the
outposts. The intercepted letters sho*ed that this rei+ent *as on the point o-
+utinin, and ) could not help -eelin, as ) la do*n on + bed, *hich, as usual in
the hot *eather, *as placed in the (erandah -or the sake o- coolness, ho* co+pletel )
*as at the +erc o- the sentr *ho *alked up and do*n *ithin a -e* -eet o- +e.
Fortunatel, he *as not a*are that his rei+ent *as suspected, and could not kno*
the reason -or the sudden order to +arch, or + career +iht ha(e been ended then
and there.
)
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The substitution o- a ne* ri-le -or the old +usket *ith *hich the sepos had hitherto
been ar+ed entailed a di--erent kind o- drill and in order that this drill should be
speedil learned b the *hole Nati(e ar+, depots *ere -or+ed at con(enient places
-or the instruction o- %ae "1& selected +en -ro+ e(er corps, *ho, on beco+in
pro-icient, *ere to return and instruct their o*n rei+ents. Dne o- these depots *as at
u+u+, and as earl as the 2"th =anuar 5eneral 9earsa, co++andin theresidenc di(ision, reported to 9eadAuarters that he percei(ed an 'unpleasant
-eelin' a+onst the Nati(e soldiers learnin the ne* drill, caused b a belie- instilled
into the+ 'b desinin persons, +ost likel ?rah+ins,' that the *ere to be -orced to
e+brace Christianit, and that -or the -urtherance o- this ob/ect the ne* ballcartrides
recei(ed -ro+ the arsenal at Fort Billia+ *ere reased *ith the -at o- pis and co*s,
*ith the intention o- (iolatin the reliious pre/udices and destroin the caste o-
those *ho *ould ha(e to bite the+.
@ little later (arious acts o- incendiaris+ took place at other stations in the co++and,
and 9earsa beca+e +ore than e(er con(inced that there