The Seven Cities of Delhi
four hundred tllungas of Scindia's old army, and a corps of najibs, or matchlock men. The old walls of Shah Jahan were crumbling into ruins, in many places there was no parapet, no ditch had yet been made, and houses permitted an enemy to advance right up to the walls. The inhabitants were scarcely friendly, the palace
retainers decidedly unfriendly, and eight companies of the small force had to be detached to garrison the palace. The resident was Colonel Ochterlony ; the military commander, Colonel Burn, who had been summoned, with his battalion, from Saharunpur.
The available troops were drawn out three miles on the Muttra road, and soon prisoners of Colonel Monson's detachment, shockingly muti- lated, announced the near approach of the enemy, on hearing of which the irregular cavalry and the najibs either deserted or mutinied. They met with prompt punishment, nine of the ringleaders being blown from a gun; but it was evident that their assistance was not to be counted on. Not one of the regular Sepoys showed a bad spirit, but they were few in number to receive the attack of the formidable Mahratta force, which arrived on the 7th of October, and quickly drove the defenders within the walls. At this juncture the resident received256
