Page:Earl Canning.djvu/94

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88
EARL CANNING

visits to Delhi, Lucknow, Kálpi across the Jumna, and other important centres of native society. In the last week of April the latent fire blazed out. Out of ninety troopers of the 3rd Native Cavalry at Meerut, who were called upon to receive their cartridges for a parade, all but five refused to touch them. In vain their Colonel expostulated, upbraided, explained. The men were firm. The parade was broken up, a court-martial ordered, the due complement of officers — all natives — was assembled to investigate this flagrant breach of discipline.

At Calcutta it appeared as if the excitement was subsiding. There had been no more outbreaks at Barrackpur. The mutinous Sepoy of the 34th N.I. and the native officer of the Quarter Guard had been hanged in presence of all the troops of the cantonment, the latter with his last breath confessing his guilt and warning his comrades against disloyal behaviour. So satisfied was General Hearsey with the state of the cantonment that, on May 7th, he reported that he no longer required the European troops, which had been sent there to guard against disturbance; and the Government were preparing to send back the 84th Regiment, which, on the first occurrence of disturbance, had been brought over from Burma.

At Dumdum the detachment in the rifle depôt had proceeded to ball practice without any symptoms of disaffection. At Siálkot the new rifle drill was proceeding quietly. Sir J. Lawrence, who visited