Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/555

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FYZ

477

the light cavalry had surrounded the regimental magazine, in oider, as they said, to protect it. It appears this was a preconcerted scheme for the 5th troop of the loth Irregular Cavalry sallied out, and instantly planted patrols all round the lines. I again visited the guns, but was refused admittance the suhahdar (the prime leader of the mutiny), Dalip Sing, telling me it was necessary to guard the guns, and he would take care of them requesting me to go to the quarter-guard and take my rest, and that nothing should happen to myself and officers so long as we remained with the regiment. A guard with fixed bayonets surrounded me, and escorted me to my charpoy. The officers of the regiment also were not allowed to move twelve paces without a guard following them.

" Two officers trying to escape were fired at by the cavalry patrols, and brought back into the lines. About sunrise on the 9th, the officers were allowed to take to the boats, myself and family alone remaining in cantonment. At 10 A. M. Subahdar Dalip Sing visited me, having previously placed sentries all round my bungalow. He stated he was sorry for what had occurred, but such was our fate, and he could not prevent it that the ressaldar of the oth troop of loth Irregular Cavalry was the leader, but that not a hair of our heads should be touched and that he (the subahdar) had come to order us a boat and get it prepared for us and he hoped we should pass down the river in safety, for he could not be answerable for us when the 17th Native Infantry arrived at Fyzabad. We remained in cantonments till 2 P. M., and during the course of the day the maulvi who had created a disturbance in the city of Fyzabad, and was confined in our quarter-guard until released by the mutineers, sent requesting my fullHe sent the subdress regimentals, which were delivered up to him. assistant surgeon of the dispensary to assure me how grieved he was that I should be obliged to flee, as through my kindness he had been taken much care of whilst confined three months in the quarter-guard of the at the same time regiment, and had been allowed by me his hookah requesting me to remain, and he would take care of me and my family. The sub-assistant surgeon begged me to pardon him for obeying the orders of those whom he now served that times were altered, and he must obey those who fed and clothed him.

now become an established fact the jailand the mutineers had undisputed possession of the city and cantonments but, unhke their comrades in disaffection in many other places, the men of the. two infantry regiments abstained from Not so, however, offering violence or insult to their European officers. with the troopers of the loth Irregular Cavalry, who held a council, and proposed to murder every officer, but were restrained by their more moderate fellows, who, on the other hand, informed their officers that they were free to leave, and might take with them their private arms and property, but no public property, as that all belonged to the King of Oudh. They then placed guards round the bungalows of the officers, to ensure their safety until they could leave, and stationed sentri«s over the magazines and public buildings they also sent out pickets from each regiment, The officers to prevent the townspeople and badindshes from plundering. made a last attempt to recall them to their duty, by appealing -to their "

The mutiny

guard had

of the troops had

left their post,