into its present state by the Marquis of Hastings. The Park is beautifully laid out, and contains a small menagerie.’ Its most interesting feature is now Lady Canning’s tomb. Within the last few years commodious two-storied brick barracks have been constructed for the British troops, and have materially added to the health and comfort of the soldiers. The military bázár is situated a short distance from the Sepoy lines, and is carefully supervised by the authorities. The military force stationed in the cantonment on the 1st March 1873 was as follows:—English: 2 batteries of Royal Artillery, consisting of 15 officers and 253 non-commissioned officers and men; detachment of 62d Foot, consisting of 3 officers and 142 non-commissioned officers and men. Total strength of English troops, 18 officers and 395 non-commissioned officers and rank and file. Native troops: detachment of Governor-General’s Bodyguard, 1 Native officer and 12 non-commissioned officers and men; detachment of 1st Bengal Cavalry, 1 European and 3 Native officers, and 101 non-commissioned officers and rank and file; headquarters 10th Native Infantry, 4 English and 4 Native officers, and 232 non-commissioned officers and men; 27th Native Infantry, 7 English, 13 Native officers, 532 rank and file. Total Native troops, 12 English, 21 Native officers, 877 non-commissioned officers and men. Total of all ranks, European and Native, 1323.
Barrackpur has played an important part in two Sepoy mutinies, of which I condense the following account from Sir J. W. Kaye’s admirable work on the Sepoy War, vol. 1., pp. 266-269, 495 et seq.:—In 1824, during the Burmese War, Bengal troops were needed to take part in the operations, but a difficulty arose as to transport. The Sepoys had not enlisted to serve beyond the seas, but only in countries to which they could march. The regiments were therefore marched to the frontier station of Chittagong, and there assembled for the landward invasion of Burmah. Several corps had already marched, and the 47th Bengal Infantry had been warned for foreign service, and was waiting at Barrackpur whilst preparations were being made for its march. Meanwhile the British troops had sustained a disaster at Rámu, a frontier station between Chittagong and Arákán, and the news, grossly exaggerated, reached Lower Bengal. Strange stories found their way into circulation as to the difficulties of the country to be traversed, and the prowess of the enemy to be encountered. The willingness which the Sepoys had shown to take part in the operations beyond the frontier began to
