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CHAPTER XI.

THE FIRST OUTBREAK OF REBELLION.

HE state of the country meanwhile grew

THE

more unsettled. Vague rumours reached me of intended risings, but none could be traced to rest on any sufficient foundation, beyond the fact that there was a common sense of coming disturbance.

The cause that led the mutinous regiment to expect help from the town, and to cling to it so pertinaciously, yet remained unsolved. None of the Political Agent's establishment, up to the minister residing therein, who had closed the gates the night of the mutiny, seemed conscious of anything wrong on the part of the Durbar, or in the country.

All that could be done was to watch and wait. By the end of October the uneasiness was reported

by my scouts to have become so general that I felt it right for the whole force to sleep under arms, the unarmed 27th regiment to be diligently watched, and all things to be in preparation to turn out, especially after nightfall, at a moment's notice. On November 15th the elder Raja called on the Political Agent to acquaint him that he had heard of an intention to attack our camp; but, as he stated this on mere rumour, not knowing if it were true, nor giving any clue to trace its origin, he was only bringing coals to Newcastle. Had his brother been our informant, I should at once have suspected a ruse, but the elder prince was indolent, quiet, and inoffensive, not likely to join in, or perhaps be trusted in any intrigue. The younger; brother, Chimma Sahib, on the contrary, was a man of energy, a true descendant of Siwaji, and highly popular in the country.

I took the precaution of increasing my patrols and picquets, and ordering certain sentries to mount loaded. Happily the European force had been somewhat increased both from Belgaum and Rutnagerry. So matters remained until De

cember 4. That afternoon, as I was sitting facing the entrance doorway, I observed a young man expostulating with the peon in waiting outside, and finding he wished to speak to me, directed his admission. On entering, he threw himself at my feet, saying: 'Sir, I have something to communicate to you in private.' As he was unarmed, and I liked the expression of his face, I took him apart, when he informed me that he had just left a body of insurgents, who had secretly gathered, to the number of five hundred, in the jungle of a village ten miles off; that he understood their purpose was to attack my camp; that he had left them on the plea of obtaining his parents' permission to join them; accordingly he said, 'I have come to you, as the Sirkar is my ma-bap' (literally, Government is my mother and father). I laughed, and replied, 'Surely the people are not such fools as to beard the lion in his den.' It's no laughing matter, Sahib,' he answered, 'what I say is true.' Further conversation convinced me he was in earnest; I therefore persuaded him to go back with a couple of my scouts, whom he could pass off as volunteers

joining with himself;` these were directed to return with all the information they could acquire.

The next day all three reappeared, confirming the intelligence; but as the name of the leader or leaders had remained concealed, they were sent back at once if possible to obtain it. They had found the insurgents in scattered groups concealed amongst the trees, their supplies being furnished from the neighbouring village, but none would say who had brought them together.

In the extreme uncertainty of the real feeling of the native soldiery, and of the whole country, and with much reason to suspect both, I had from the first thought it best to show no distrust, and therefore employed no guard during the day, and for night only a small party from the Local Infantry, for one sentry in the front of the house, and some half-dozen of the Durbar men for another in the rear; but I slept with a battery of small arms under my pillow and around my head. That same night, or rather about 2 A.M., I was aroused by the near clatter of horses' feet. Pistols in belt, I rushed to the doorway, and found that it was the Rissaldar

in command of the S. M. Horse, who informed me that his picquets had brought word of suspicious cries in the town, and that no reply was given from a gateway guard when challenged; he had therefore at once made his men fall in, and brought them to me for orders. I directed him to sweep round the town, sound all the gates, ending with the main one on the road leading to the camp, where I should be found collecting the troops, and would expect his report. If he could gain admittance, he was to hold one entrance.

This man, Rehman Khan, was a fine old warrior, who, when a lad, had fought on our side in 1817-18 against the Peishwa. He was a born cavalry soldier. On Lieutenant Kerr's departure with a hundred men of the S. M. Horse to watch the frontier of the Nizam's dominions, where trouble was apprehended, he became senior officer, and proved very efficient.

Sending tidings of what had occurred to the Civil Lines, and orders as to the movement of the Local Corps, I galloped into camp, and sounded the alarm.

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