the infliction of the heaviest punishment. The wretched troopers were not subjected to any corporeal sufferings, but the regiment whose name they had made a by word of reproach was struck out of the list of the Bengal army. The native officers and privates present on the day of disgrace were dismissed the service, and rendered incapable of ever re-entering, or being employed in any way under Government: the remainder were draughted into other cavalry regiments. The dismissal of the degraded officers and men was carried into effect, with all the marks of ignominy usual on such occasions.
But, though marked by this scandalous instance of defection, the battle of Purwan was not only honourable to the British arms, but important in its consequences. Sir Robert Sale, having pushed forward his infantry, successively dislodged the enemy from all their strong positions, and drove them to a distance, though unable to keep up a long pursuit. The victory, however, was so complete that Dost Mahommed galloped from the field of battle, and surrendered himself to the power with which he had no longer the means of contending. He was sent off for India, under a strong escort, on the 12th of November, accompanied by his numerous family, consisting of nearly 700 persons, of whom about one-half were females. He was allowed to visit Calcutta, where the Governor-General received him with much respect and courtesy. Three lacs of rupees, or about £30,000 a-year, were allotted to him; and he took up his residence at Mussooree, on our north-west frontier, where he remained till 1843. Fourteen of Dost Mahommed's sons also surrendered, Akbar Khan alone holding out against us to the end.
In another quarter the British arms met with a fearful misfortune, to which we must now revert. Lieutenant Walpole Clark, a young officer of distinguished zeal and bravery, left the fort of Kahun, which had been occupied by the English, for the purpose of procuring supplies, having with him a small party of infantry, a few horse,
