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Chapter II – Jhansi and Bundelkhand

The events which were occurring at the period at which we have arrived at Allahabad, Kanhpur, Banaras, and in the Mirath division have been already related. From those quarters there came no light to Agra. From others, within and without the circle of the North-Western Provinces, issued those menacing demonstrations which forced at last a decisive policy on the Government. These have now to be noticed.

In writing the history of the mutiny in the North-Western Provinces, it has to be borne in mind that three central positions stand out, each distinct from the others, and each attracting to itself separate attacks, unconnected with the others.

Three central points in the north-west

These three central positions were Agra – the point aimed at by the mutineers on the right bank of the Jamnah – by those, in a word, issuing from Central India:– Kanhpur, connected henceforth intimately with Oudh:– and Dehli, attracting the rebels from Rohilkhand and the northern part of the Duab. To preserve, then, unbroken the narrative of the events affecting Agra as a main central point, it is necessary that I should leave for a future chapter the stations and districts on the left bank of the Jamnah, and endeavour to concentrate the attention of the reader on Bundelkhand, on Central India, and on Rajputana.

Jhansi

The town of Jhansi lies a hundred and forty-two miles south of Agra. It is the capital of the province of the same name. The history of this province has been peculiar. Amid the general plunder and robbery which accompanied the break-up of the Mughul empire under the successors of Aurangzib, a portion of Bundelkhand belonging to the dominions of the Rajah of Urcha had been appropriated by one of the Maratha officers serving under the Peshwa, and to

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him confirmed by sanad.

Its early history

The territory so appropriated, containing nearly three thousand square miles and a population of about a quarter of a million, was called after the chief town within its borders, Jhansi. As long as the power of the Peshwa lasted the Maratha officer and his successors ruled Jhansi as vassals of that prince. But on the downfall of the Peshwa in 1817 the territories possessed by him in Bundelkhand and elsewhere were ceded to the British. Amongst these territories was Jhansi, the ruler of which, known under the title of Subahdar, accepted the protection of the British, and agreed to pay an annual tribute of seventy-four thousand rupees of the currency of his State. In return the British Government declared him hereditary ruler of the country. The name of the Subahdar with whom this arrangement was concluded was Ram Chand Rao. Fifteen years later the British Government, to mark their approval of his rule, exchanged his title of Subahdar for the higher rank of Rajah. Ram Chand Rao enjoyed his new dignity for three years and then died without issue (1836).

The Rajah had died, and had left no direct heir, natural or adopted. But in the guarantee given eighteen years before the State had been declared to be hereditary in his family. It was therefore, incumbent upon the British Government to acknowledge as Rajah the member of that family nearest in relationship to the deceased. Ultimately the choice fell upon Rao Ragunath Rao, his uncle.

This man was incapable, and a leper. After three years of unpopular rule he died, and the throne became again vacant.

Disputes regarding the succession

There were several claimants to succeed him. Their pretensions were examined by a commission appointed by the Governor-General of India, and after a long interregnum all but one were pronounced invalid. The excepted claim was that of Baba Gangadhar Rao, brother of the deceased. He, therefore, was nominated Rajah.

Meanwhile the revenues of the country had been falling. During the reign of the leper there had been practically no government. Everywhere disorder had been rampant. Baba Gangadhar Rao was not the man to remedy this state of things. He, too, was an imbecile, and it was conjectured that under his sway, disorder, far from being checked, would be increased tenfold.

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British agency introduced

Under these circumstances, the British Government stepped in as the paramount power, and resolved to carry on the administration of the country by means of British agency. To the Rajah an annual allowance was granted, and he was informed that the government of the country would only be made over to him when it should appear that he was fit to conduct it properly.

The Rajah restored

That happy period arrived in 1843. By the exertions of the British officers the country had been restored to more than its former prosperity. It was then made over to the Rajah, subject to a small cession of territory in commutation of the annual payment previously made for the support of the Bundelkhand legion.

He dies without heirs

Baba Gangadhar Rao ruled Jhansi for eleven years neither very wisely nor very well. He died in 1854 without heirs. He was the last male descendant of the family to which the British Government in 1817 had guaranteed the right of succession. The Governor-General of the day, Lord Dalhousie, was of opinion that the treaty of 1817, whilst it did guarantee the right of succession to the members of a certain family, gave no right of adoption, after the disappearance of that family, to the widow of its latest representative. He was fortified in this view by the opinion of the commission appointed by Lord Auckland in 1838, and which had unanimously rejected the pretensions of all the claimants excepting one. And now that one had died, childless.

Jhansi is declared a lapse

Lord Dalhousie, therefore, in spite of the protestations of the widow of the deceased Raja, declared the State of Jhansi to have lapsed to the paramount power.

Anger of the Rani

This happened in 1854. The three years which had passed between that date and the period of which I am writing had in no way reconciled the Rani to a policy which she regarded as unjust to herself, and insulting to the family of her late husband. On the contrary, the year 1857 found her brooding over her griefs and panting for revenge.

The British Government regarded her anger and her remonstrances with careless indifference. They did what was even worse, they added meanness to insult. On the confiscation of the State, they had granted to the widowed Rani a pension of £6000 a year. The Rani had first refused, but

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had ultimately agreed to accept this pension.

The British Government takes no pains to mollify her

Her indignation may be imagined when she found herself called upon to pay, out of a sum which she regarded as a mere pittance, the debts of her late husband.

Bitter as was her remonstrance against a course which she considered not less as an insult than as a fraud, it was unavailing. Uselessly she urged that the British had taken the debts of the late ruler with the kingdom of which they had despoiled her. Mr. Colvin insisted, and caused the amount to be deducted from her pension. Other grievances, such as the slaughter of kine amid a Hindu population, and the resumption of grants made by former rulers for the support of Hindu temples, whilst fomenting the discontent of the population with their change of masters, formed subjects for further remonstrance; but the personal indignity was that which rankled the most deeply in the breast of this high-spirited lady, and made her hail with gratitude the symptoms of disaffection which, in the early part of 1857, began to appear amongst the native soldiers of the hated English.

Garrison of Jhansi in 1857

The garrison of Jhansi was composed entirely of native troops. There was a detachment of Foot Artillery, the left wing of the 12th Regiment of Native Infantry, the head-quarters and right wing of the 14th Irregular Cavalry. Jhansi is a walled town, overlooked by a stone fort surmounted by a round tower. The cantonment lay outside, and at a little distance from, the town. Within its limits was comprehended a small fort, occupied by the artillery and containing the treasure-chest, called the Star Fort. The troops were commanded by Captain Dunlop, of the 12th Native Infantry. The political and administrative officer was Captain Alexander Skene.

The Rani is encouraged by the Mirath revolt

The account of the events at Mirath on the 10th of May produced the effects which might have been expected on the mind of the Rani of Jhansi. Her hopes at once revived. From the doors of her palace there started at once confidential servants towards the sipahi lines. These returned with reports fully responding to her highest hopes. The time so eagerly longed for was approaching. Her task, then, was to lull the English into security. It would appear that in the political officer, Captain Skene, she had soft material to work upon.

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Throws dust into the eyes of the officials,

She succeeded so well in impressing the mind of this gentleman with a conviction of her loyalty, that she obtained from him permission to enlist a body of armed men for her own protection from any attack from the sipahis! This permission obtained, she rapidly invited the old soldiers of the State to rally round her, at the same time that she secretly caused to be unearthed heavy guns which had been buried at the time of her husband’s death.

Meanwhile, Captain Skene, utterly unconscious of the impending danger, was reporting to his Government his confidence n the state of affairs at Jhansi.

who trust her, and the sipahis

Neither from the native soldiers of the Company, from the levies of the Rani, nor from the nobles of Jhansi, did he apprehend the smallest disturbance. Captain Dunlop and his brother officers were almost equally trustful. Reports were made to them from time to time regarding the difficulty felt by spies in their attempts to enter the lines of the men. The fact that difficulty should have been experienced was, in their eyes, a sufficient proof of the fidelity of the sipahis. Besides, Captain Dunlop trusted the irregular cavalry, and he felt satisfied that with their aid he could suppress in the bud any outbreak on the part of the other native soldiers.

Incendiarism at Jhansi

The burning of the bungalows occupied by the English officers at Jhansi, the invariable precursor of a rising, did not disturb the serenity of Captains Skene and Dunlop. A fire, which occurred on the 1st of June, was attributed to accident. But on the afternoon of the 5th of June an event occurred the bearings of which it was impossible to mistake.

June 5

The sipahis seize the Star fort

A company of the 12th Regiment of Native Infantry, led by one of its native sergeants, and cheered on by The native gunners of the battery, marched straight into the Star Fort, and announced their intention to hold it on their own account. Captain Dunlop rushed instantly to the parade ground, accompanied by his officers. The remaining four companies of the regiment professed themselves highly indignant at the conduct of the rebellious company, and they and the cavalry declared they would stand by their officers. The following morning they were paraded. They repeated their protestations. Captain Dunlop was then proceeding to prepare measures to bring the revolted company to reason. Whilst engaged in these preparations at the quarter-guard of his regiment he was visited

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by Captain Skene, and by his assistant, Captain Gordon. After these had left him, Dunlop wrote some letters and posted them himself. But on his way back from the post office he was shot dead by his own men.

In fact the preconcerted day had arrived. The capture of the Star Fort on the 5th had simply been a feeler to test the officers. Finding on the following morning that these were as credulous as they had been the preceding day, the sipahis resolved to strike at once.

June 6

The affair develops into mutiny

The afternoon of the 6th, then, the Rani, escorted by her new levies, came from her palace, and went in procession towards the cantonment. As she issued from the town, a Mulla54 called all the true believers to prayers. This was the signal. The cavalry and infantry at once rose in revolt.

The mutineers kill their officers

They met Captain Dunlop, as already stated, on his return from the post office, shot him dead, and with him another officer, Ensign Taylor. Then the Irregular Cavalry scoured the plain with loaded carbines in pursuit of others. The sergeant-major Newton was their next victim. To him succeeded, in the list of victims, Lieutenant Turnbull, of the Survey, an officer of the highest promise, who, however, did not succumb until he had made his assailants pay dearly for their treachery. Lieutenant Campbell, the only officer with the Irregular Cavalry, was wounded, but being well mounted, he succeeded in reaching the larger fort in safety.

Some officers occupy the larger fort

Meanwhile, Captains Skene and Gordon had returned to that larger fort. There also were the wife and two children of the former; Lieutenant Burgess, of the Survey Department; Dr. McEgan, 12th Regiment of Native Infantry, and his wife; Lieutenant Powys, of the Canal Department, his wife and child; Mr. W. S. Carshore, collector of Customs, and his family; Mr. T. Andrews; Mr. R. Andrews and family; Mrs. Browne and her daughter; Mr. Scott and family; Messrs. Purcell, two brothers; two brothers Crawford; Mr. Elliot, Mr. Fleming, and others in the subordinate departments of the Government, chiefly Eurasians, and whose names I have been unable to ascertain. The total number, including women and children, was fifty-five.

The sipahis having killed all the officers on whom they

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could lay hands, marched with loud shouts towards the fort overlooking the town. But Captain Skene and his comrades had not been inattentive spectators of the scene in cantonments. They had bestirred themselves with the instinct of self-preservation to defend their position.

which they prepare for defence,

Rifles had been distributed; the ladies told off to cast bullets and to cook; piles of stones had been heaped up behind the gates, and positions allotted to each member of the garrison.

and repulse the sipahis

When, therefore, the rebels approached the fort, they were received with so well directed a fire that they fell back in confusion to prepare renewed efforts for the morrow.

The resource now available to the besiegers lay in the guns which the Rani had unearthed. During the night these, and the smaller matériel from the cantonment, were placed in position. On their side, too, the English had held a council of war. A successful defence seemed impossible.

Send three envoys to treat with the Rani,

Guns, provisions, a continued supply of water, were all wanting. It was decided, then, at that council to send three of the garrison under a safe conduct to treat with the Rani for the retirement of the men, women, and children within the fort, to a place of security in British territory.

June

On the morning of the 7th, Messrs. Andrews, Scott, and Purcell, issued from the fort. They were almost immediately seized by the rebels, and conveyed by them to the palace. The Rani by this time had become thoroughly intoxicated with the success that had been achieved. Declaring that “she had no concern with the English swine,” she ordered her followers to conduct the three prisoners to the Risaldar, commanding the Irregular Cavalry, to be dealt with as he might direct.

who has them killed

This was equivalent to their death-warrant. The Englishmen were then dragged out of the Palace. Mr. Andrews was killed before its gates by a native who was supposed to harbour a grudge against him; the two others were dispatched beyond the walls of the town.

The rebels renew their attack,

The rebels then renewed their attack on the fort, but again without success. The guns had not been brought up. On the following morning (the 8th) this operation was attempted, and soon after daybreak a brisk cannonade was opened against the walls. But whether from

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want of skill, or from defect in the guns, not a single brick was displaced by the fire55. A stray shot, however, carried off Captain Gordon.

but are repulsed

The fire of the musketry from the fort did, meanwhile, a great deal of execution, and the rebels were deterred from approaching too near to its gates.

The garrison discovers traitors within

Hope was now beginning to dawn upon the fated garrison, when, as if the overwhelming force outside was not a sufficient foe to contend against, they discovered treachery within the fort. Certain native servants had been admitted for the performance of menial offices. Two of these men, in concert with the rebels outside, were found in the act of opening the door of a secret passage communicating with the town. Lieutenant Powys. who discovered them, shot one man dead, but was himself cut down by the other. Captain Burgess avenged him in a second, and the two traitors were laid prone side by side in a ditch.

This attempt frustrated, the garrison attempted to open communication with Nagod and Gwaliar. But the bold men (Eurasians) who attempted to carry out this resolve were intercepted and killed. Provisions now began to fail; ammunition was becoming scarce – assistance from outside seemed impossible. Despair seemed to clutch at the smallest chance of escape. Just at the moment one seemed to present itself.

The rani offers terms

The Rani and the sipahis had been baffled by the unexpected resistance offered. What if it should continue? What if these Europeans had supplies of which they knew nothing? Their own guns had failed: assault was dangerous; would it not be advisable to get these bold men into their power by soft promises, and then to make away with them?

This idea, so consonant to the principle of Asiatic warfare, had no sooner been entertained than it was acted upon. The Rani sent messengers to the fort under a flag of truce, demanding a parley. Captain Skene responded.

which are accepted

The native messengers then declared that the Rani wanted only the fort; that if the Europeans would lay down their arms and surrender the position they held, they should be escorted to some other station. These terms having been

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affirmed by the most solemn oaths, Captain Skene, on behalf of the garrison, acceded to them. They seemed indeed to offer the only chance of life. The members of the garrison then laid down their arms, and walked out of the fort.

Massacre of the garrison

Then commenced the last act of the drama. No sooner had the Europeans issued from the fort than the rebels fell upon them, bound them, and carried them to a garden, called the Jokan Bagh. Arrived there they were halted near a cluster of trees. The word then passed that the Risaldar had ordered them to be massacred. The prisoners, disarmed and bound, were then ranged in three lines, the first containing the adult males, the second the adult females, the third the children. Then, suddenly, the head native official of the gaol raised his sword, and cut down Captain Skene. This was the signal. The murderers then went to work, each armed with a lethal weapon. The captives were pitilessly hewn down. Not a man, woman, or child, survived that afternoon’s butchery.

Such was the massacre of Jhansi. A doubt has been raised as to the complicity of the Rani in the atrocious deed. But it must be remembered that not only was it the Rani who had instigated the slaughter of the three envoys sent by Captain Skene the morning after the investment, but it was she who profited by the slaughter. She wished to be rid of the English that she might seize the principality which she considered to be rightfully her own, and she hesitated not at the means by which they were moved from her path.

The Rani bribes the sipahis

Her conduct after the massacre disclosed the passion of her soul. For a moment it seemed very doubtful whether she would not quarrel with the sipahis about the division of the spoil. To coerce her the latter even threatened to bring upon the scene an illegitimate relation of the late Rajah as a rival. But the Rani was a very clever woman. The sipahis had their price, and she was prepared to pay it. She wanted the title, – they the coin.

and is proclaimed Rani of Jhansi

She gave them the coin; whereupon they proclaimed her Rani of Jhansi. She proved herself a most capable ruler. She established a mint, fortified the strong places, cast cannon, raised fresh troops. Into every act of her government she threw all the energy of a strong and resolute character. Possessing considerable personal attractions, young, vigorous, and not afraid to show herself to the multitude, she gained a great influence over

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the hearts of her people.

Her great abilities

It was this influence, this force of character, added to a splendid and inspiring courage, that enabled her some months later to offer to the English troops, under Sir Hugh Rose, a resistance which, made to a less able commander, might even have been successful.

Naogaon

The right wing of the 12th Regiment of Native Infantry, the left of the 14th Irregular Cavalry, and a detachment of Native Artillery, – constituting in fact a moiety of the regiments, of each of which one wing was located at Jhansi – were, during this period, stationed at Naogaon, about two hundred miles eastward of the former station. The station was commanded by Major Kirk, of the 12th Native Infantry. At Naogaon perfect confidence reigned up to the 23rd of May. On that day, however, a sipahi reported the presence in the lines of suspicious characters. The report of the sipahi caused considerable excitement. It related to natives of Bundelkhand, men not connected with the sipahis, who were supposed to harbour a design to massacre the British officers. By some the story was credited, by others it was disbelieved. It had, however, this apparently most gratifying result, that the sipahis manifested towards their officers a warmth of affection which touched to the quick those who were the objects of it.

Precautions taken by the authorities

During the week that followed, although many circumstances occurred well calculated to rouse suspicion, the confidence of the British officers never wavered. They slept every night in their lines, and took every opportunity of showing unlimited trust in their men. But on the 30th of May reports of intentions expressed by the native gunners to rise were again rife. Four men, proved to be implicated in this plot, were dismissed from the station, and subsequently to that night Major Kirk took the precaution to have the guns of the battery brought in front of the quarter-guard of the 12th Regiment.

News arrives from Jhansi

Quiet now seemed to be restored. On the morning of the 5th of June the men of four companies of the 12th even volunteered to serve against the rebels. Those of the 5th company were about to express a similar wish, when suddenly an express arrived from Jhansi, written by Captain Dunlop, with the information that the artillery and infantry at that place had mutinied. This intelligence caused great excitement amongst the native soldiers,

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but it elicited from them, especially from the infantry, enthusiastic expressions of fidelity to their officers.

Quite assured regarding his men, Major Kirk at once took steps to open communications with Jhansi and Lalatpur. For four days nothing occurred to disturb public order.

June 9

On the 9th, however, the news of the mutiny of the four companies of the 12th at Jhansi and of the murder of Captain Dunlop and Ensign Taylor reached the station. The following day brought tidings still more disastrous.

Further intelligence from that place

The native magistrate of Mau Ranipur wrote that morning to Major Kirk to inform him of the murder of every European in Jhansi, and that he had received an official order to the effect “that the Rani of Jhansi was seated on the throne, and that he was to carry on business as hitherto.”

The sipahis at Naogaon mutiny

The effect of this news was electric. At sunset of that day as the guards were being paraded three Sikhs of the 12th Regiment came to the front, shot the native sergeant-major through the head, and seized the guns. The English sergeant-major, fired at ineffectually, fled to the mess-house to warn the officers. The latter hurried down to the lines. But by this time the farce of loyalty had been played out. The officers arrived in time only to see their sipahis, the cavalry troopers, and the artillerymen, in full revolt.

In vain were these adjured to remain faithful. The furor was on them. There was nothing, then, for the Europeans and their families to do but to retire, if retirement were still possible. They attempted it, accompanied by a number, increased ultimately to eighty-seven, of their men who still remained faithful.

The British leave the station

The story of that retirement has been written by four of the survivors. It is a story of misery and suffering hardly to be surpassed. First it was decided to move on Chhatarpur, but in the darkness of the night the fugitives took by mistake a road which branched off to Garauli. This mistake saved them. The mutineers, counting upon their choosing the Chhatarpur road, followed the fugitives, after they had plundered the station, in that direction. Other rebels had been sent to occupy different points in the main line of retreat, and, they, too, were waiting for the disheartened Europeans. The mutineers, finding these

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men on the road, and learning that our countrymen had not passed, retraced their steps. The fugitives, mean while, making mistake after mistake as to the road, still pressed onwards, and were fortunate enough to reach Chhatarpur by a circuitous route, unmolested, by daybreak the following morning.

Are well received at Chhatarpur

Chhatarpur was the capital of a small State of the same name, governed by a Rani. This lady behaved well and loyally. Though pressed by her Muhammadan advisers to follow the example set at Jhansi, she rejected their counsel, and showed her intention to defend the English to the utmost of her power.

The fugitives halted at Chhatarpur the 11th and 12th. On the last named day, two officers, Captain Scott and Lieutenant Townshend, were sent into Naogaon to reconnoitre the state of affairs there. Strange to say, these two Europeans succeeded, by the simple discharge of their guns, in re-asserting British authority there for the few hours they remained. They returned, however, the same evening.

June 16

Their sufferings after leaving Chhatarpur

The fugitives left their hospitable quarters at Chhatarpur on the night of the 12th, and marched in the direction of Allahabad. Hearing, however, on the 16th, of the mutinies at Bandah and Hamirpur, they changed the route on the 17th to Kalinjar. That night they found their progress stopped by bandits who occupied a pass it was necessary they should traverse. The bandits demanded money. The British officers wished to force the pass. The faithful Sipahis, assenting at first, recommended in the end that the money should be paid. It was paid. But next morning before daybreak, as the party was preparing to move on, the bandits commenced a fire upon them. The faithful Sipahis began to fire wildly in return, but with the exception of ten or twelve, they speedily dispersed. All attempts to rally them were vain. The fugitives were now deserted. One of their number, Lieutenant Townshend, fell shot through the heart. The others, returning the bandits’ fire, moved as best they could in one direction – whither they knew not. Fortunately the road they had taken led them back to the hospitable territory of Chhatarpur. Across the border the bandits did not follow them, and though some villagers fired at them, they reached the village of Kalrai at 3 P.M.

Not all of them, however. Townshend had been shot through the heart; Major Kirke and Mrs. Smalley, and a native, had

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succumbed to sunstroke or apoplexy.

Their losses

The women and children had been brought on with the greatest difficulty. The officers had given up their horses, and on these the non-combatants had been laden like so many sacks. On that day and on those that followed many of these poor creatures perished, and had to be left by the wayside.

Are terribly reduced in number

There was no safety for the English at Kalrai. The majority of them – for some, and all the Eurasians, elected to remain behind – pushed on to Mahoba. By this time the party was reduced to seven officers, one sergeant, two civilians, three women, two children56, – with nine horses amongst them. The other Europeans had either been killed, had died, or had stayed behind at Kalrai.

The fugitives moved on again on the 20th of June; but they were attacked on their way and dispersed.

Further sufferings

The subsequent sufferings which some of them endured were extraordinary. Dr. Mawe, Lieutenant Barber, Lieutenant Ewart, and Mrs. Smalley’s child, died of sunstroke or fatigue. Sergeant Kirchoff, assaulted by the villagers, was left for dead, but ultimately escaped. Captain Scott saved Mrs. Mawe’s child, carrying it in front of him whilst Mrs. Smalley sat behind.

Reach Bandah

The villagers, especially those in British territory, were found generally most hostile. But for the generous kindness of the Nawab of Bandah and of the Rani of Azigarh not one of the fugitives would have escaped. The Nawab and the Rani did more than protect them in their States, – they used every means in their power to assuage the hostility of the villagers. To them alone was it due that a remnant of the party which had fled from Naogaon succeeded ultimately in reaching territory still possessed by the British57.

I have spoken in the preceding narrative to the generous conduct of the Nawab of Bandah. But Bandah was itself a military station. There was quartered a detachment of the 56th Regiment of Native Infantry. These men, in correspondence

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with their brethren of the 12th, were equally tainted. Learning betimes of the successful outbreak at Naogaon they followed its example. Rising on the 14th of June, and making common cause with the troops of the Nawab, they plundered the treasury and went off to join their comrades.

Generous conduct of the Nawab of Bandah

The Nawab was able to save the lives of the officers. He extended the same protective power to the Europeans who had escaped from Hamirpur, and to those likewise who had fled across the Jamnah from Fathpur. The time, however, was to arrive when the Nawab, like Sindhia and the Hindu princes of Rajputana, would find himself unable to contend any longer against the excited passions of his followers. True, however, to his British Suzerain, he extended hospitality and protection to every European fugitive as long as he could do so, and when the insubordination of his troops rendered it impossible for him to afford them further protection, he caused his guests to be safely escorted to territory still owning the British rule.

Fidelity of the 50th N. I.

There was one station in Bundelkhand, and only one, in which the native troops stationed did not then mutiny. This was the station of Nagod. The regiment there quartered, the 50th Native Infantry, stood firm for a time, fourteen men in the whole regiment having alone shown symptoms of disaffection. But the time was to come when the entire regiment was to give way. How and when this happened will be recorded in the fifth volume.

Footnotes

54. “Mulla:” a Muhammadan lawyer, a doctor of religion.

55. Narrative of a native of Bengal attached to the office of the Collector of customs at Jhansi.

56. Their names were, Captain Scott, Lieutenants Ewart, Barber, Jackson, Remington, and Franks, Dr. Mawe, Mrs. Mawe and child, Mr. Harvey Kirke, Mr. Langdale, Mrs. Smalley and child, Sergeant Kirchoff and wife.

57. There are most interesting narratives of these events by Captain Scott, Mrs. Mawe, Lieutenant Jackson, Sergeant Kirchoff, and Mr. Langdale. Of the men left behind at Kalrai, forty-one persons, drummers, buglers, and their families, ultimately reached Bandah in safety.

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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