forty one years in india

8/17/2019 Forty One Years in India

1/735

Project Gutenberg's Forty-one years in India, by Frederick Sleigh Roberts

This eBook is for the use of anyone anyhere at no cost and ith

al!ost no restrictions hatsoe"er# $ou !ay co%y it, gi"e it aay or

re-use it under the ter!s of the Project Gutenberg &icense included

ith this eBook or online at #gutenberg#net

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


2/735

Indian Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 32 rupees January ", 18!.

Third Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. January ", 18!.

Fourth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. January ", 18!.

Fifth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. January 1", 18!.

Sith Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. January 16, 18!.

Seventh Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s January 21, 18!. Ei!hth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. January 2!, 18!.

"inth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. February 3, 18!.

Tenth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. February 8, 18!.

Eleventh Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. February 12, 18!.

Twelfth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. February 1!, 18!.

Thirteenth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. February 23, 18!.

Fourteenth, Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. February 26, 18!.

Fifteenth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. #arch 8, 18!.

Siteenth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. #arch 18, 18!.

Seventeenth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. $pril 6, 18!.

Ei!hteenth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. $pril 28, 18!. "ineteenth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. #ay 31, 18!.

Twentieth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. July !, 18!.

Twenty%first Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. July 31, 18!.

Twenty%second Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. $u!ust 28, 18!.

Twenty%third Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. September 21, 18!.

Twenty%fourth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. &ctober 21, 18!.

Twenty%fifth Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. "ovember 18, 18!.

Twenty%sith Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. 'ecember 1",18!.

Twenty%seventh Edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. January ", 188.

$ raille type edition for the blind # "early ready.$

Twenty%ei!hth edition, two volumes, demy octavo, 36s. #ay 11, 188.

Twenty%ninth Edition, one volume, small demy octavo # "ow ready.$

Frontispiece

%plate 1&


3/735

FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS V.C.

Froma hoto!raph by #essrs* ourne and Shepherd*

FORTY-ONE YEARS IN INDIA


4/735

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"


5/735

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


6/735

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


7/735

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


8/735

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.


9/735

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


10/735

@#'" 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!##


11/735

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#$


12/735

+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


13/735

'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!##


14/735

CHA*TER II

H#$ a2a&"3Ba6 &" I"%&a3Alla'aba% a"% Ca"'a"&3

D

:9

CHA*TER V

T' $b/la ;


15/735

F#!&2't #( S&! H"!/ Ral&"#"3T' $balla Du!ba!

CHA*TER I

T' Lu'a&3T' Lu'a& ;

E"2la"%3A $t&"2 #(


16/735

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"


17/735

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;


18/735

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*!


19/735

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"


20/735

%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


21/735

+.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


22/735

%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


23/735

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. @


24/735

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. @


25/735

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&


26/735

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


27/735

+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


28/735

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


29/735

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,


30/735

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+.


31/735

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.


32/735

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


33/735

da, and there +et a cousin in the ;ur(e epart+ent, *ho had been suddenl ordered

to


34/735

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


35/735

-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,


36/735

+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


37/735

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


38/735

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


39/735

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


40/735

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.


41/735

)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


42/735

@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


43/735

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


44/735

) 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


45/735

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


46/735

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


47/735

-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.


48/735

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


49/735

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.

18E6


50/735

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.


51/735

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


52/735

CHA*TER V.

18E6


53/735


54/735

@+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


55/735

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


56/735

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


57/735

) 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.


58/735

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


59/735

)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


60/735

@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


61/735

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


62/735

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


63/735

*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


64/735

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.

)


65/735

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

forty one years in india

Documents