sanitation, nor indeed of putting them into practice if the knowledge existed. Sickness was rife, and the Sepoys shrank from advancing into what they had reason to regard as a region of plague. Nor were minor considerations wanting to fan disaffection. High pay had to be given to carriers, drivers, and camp followers to induce them to serve, and the high caste soldiers felt aggrieved at receiving less than the common coolies. The regimental officers did their best under most trying circumstances. They helped the men out of their own pockets. But strait-laced officialdom at headquarters was inflexible. Insubordination must be put down with a high hand. The men were under engagement to provide their own carriage, and government declined to relieve them of the responsibility. Lady Amherst must relate the miserable sequel in her own words:
'November, 1824. On the evening of October 31, General Dalzell informed Lord Amherst that a mutinous spirit had manifested itself among the troops in the cantonment, that the 47th Native Infantry had refused to march, and had demanded increase of pay, and in short seemed resolved to resist their officers. Early on the morning of the 1st, General Dalzell went up to the Commander-in-Chief, and before 3 o'clock that day himself and all his staff arrived at Barrackpur. Soon after, the bodyguard, consisting of 300 men, went up in a boat to overtake General Cotton's regiment. It had proceeded thirty miles up the river, but arrived here [at Barrackpur], as did the Royals from Calcutta, by 11 at night. Some artillery also arrived from Dum-Dum; the house was therefore well guarded on all sides and all
