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and the distinctions won by both regiments in well-fought battles But it was of no avail the side of their European comrades. men heard them respectfully ; but when the officers"had finished addressing them, they stated that they were now under the orders of their native
loyalty,
by the
the 22ndRegiment had been appointed
- that the subahdar-major of
to the command of the station ; and that each corps had appointed one of its own officers to be chief, from whom only they could now receive orders. officers
" At about half-past 10 at night we passed the camp of the 17th regiment but in rounding a sandbank came upon a picket of the mutineers, and were advised by our sepoys and boatmen to leave the boat and creep
along the side of the sandbank, and that the boat should be brought round to meet us. We accordingly did so, and crossed the sandbank, being out nearly two hours. When the boat came round at midnight, we crossed over the river to the Gorakhpur district. "
We began our flight towards Gorakhpur on foot, with only the clothes we
Our ayah (woman-servant) and khitmatgdr (table attendant) on. accompanied us. We stopped often under trees and at wells, and had proceeded about six miles (it being now 10 o'clock), when we halted at a village, and, having got a draught of milk, prepared to rest during the heat of the day. We were, however, soon disturbed, for a horseman advanced over the country, armed to the teeth, having a huge horse-pistol in his hand, which he cocked, and levelling it at my head desired me to follow him to the camp of the I7th Native Infantry, and make no delay, for he was to get a reward of Rs. 500 for each of our heads. We had not retraced our steps for more than a mile when a lad joined us who was known to the horseman, which determined the latter to make us quicken our pace. The lad, however, persuaded him to let us drink water and rest near a village and while so doing, he sent a boy to bring men to our rescue. It appears that a nd,zim (Mir Mahomed Husen Khan) had a small fort close by, about three-quarters of a mile off. The nazim immediately sent out ten or twelve footmen armed, who, on coming up, directed us to follow them, and also led the horseman by the bridle, having disarmed him. One of the men sent out for our rescue greatly abused me, and, looking at his pistol and priming, swore he would shoot those Englishmen who had come to take away their castes and make them Christians. About midday we reached the fortified dwelling of the nazim, and were ushered into the place where he was holding a council. He bade us rest and take some sharbat, assuring us that no harm should happen to us and he rebuked his insolent retainer for hinting that a stable close by would do for us to dwell in, as we should not require it long, he being prepared to kiU the dogs. The nazim again rebuked him and told us not to fear, for he would not suffer us to quit till the road was open and we could reach Gorahkpur in safety. On the second day the nazim, fearing that the scouts of the 17th would give intelligence that Europeans were hid in his fort, made us assume native dresses the zanana clothed my wife and daughter, and the nazim clothed me. He then dressed up a party in our English clothing and sent them out with an escort about nine at night to deceive his outposts and also the villagers. They returned about midnight in their had
