It happened, however, that some of the cartridges made at Serampore differed slightly in the colour of the paper to those formerly used, and though at Barrackpore, where there was the greatest discontent, it was explained that the difference was not the result of grease, and that not a particle of fat was used in their manufacture, the men continued to suspect their officers, and a chemical examination of the cartridges was ordered. The men were assured that there was no grease in the paper, and that there was no desire whatever to make them change their religion. But the emissaries of the conspiracy were continually busy in the ranks, and on the 25th of February a regiment of men on parade refused to receive their ammunition. The same night these men broke open the huts where their arms were piled, took possession of their ammunition, and carried arms and ammunition to their lines. Upon this the Colonel called out the cavalry and artillery, and, going to the parade-ground, demanded that they should lay down their arms. This was done, and the men dispersed. A Court of Inquiry determined that the regiment should be disbanded; but disaffection was so rapidly spreading, that 5,000 Sepoys were already in arms within sixteen miles of Calcutta. The European troops were sent for from Burmah, and the mutinous Native regiment was ordered to Barrackpore, with a wing of the 53rd Queen's Regiment, two troops of artillery, and twelve pieces of cannon, which had been sent into the cantonment.

On the 31st of March the mutinous regiment was marched into the square and there disbanded. The expenses of their journey were to be defrayed by the Government, and they were permitted to retain their uniforms; acts of clemency which they seemed to feel deeply, declaring that they had been misled by false reports, and petitioning to be re-embodied. Two days before this a private Sepoy, named Mungal Pandy, who seemed to have worked himself into a fury by an intoxicating drug called "bhang," came suddenly on parade with a loaded musket and fired at the Adjutant of the corps. He missed his aim, and the Lieutenant tried to seize him, but was wounded in the hand by a sword which the Sepoy now brandished. The Serjeant-Major, who went to the assistance of the Lieutenant, was also wounded, and his life was only saved by the assistance of another Sepoy, who

was rewarded for his good conduct. The intending assassin was tried by court-martial and condemned to be hanged, a sentence which was carried out, and acknowledged by the criminal to be a just punishment for his obedience to evil advisers. Still the mutinous spirit increased, and more alarming reports were now made. In Futtyghur a chowkejdar, or village policeman, had been seen to run up to another and give him two chupatties, or little unleavened cakes, the common food of the poorer classes. He ordered the man to whom he gave them to make ten more, and give two to each of the five nearest chowkejdars with the same order. He was obeyed, and in a few days the whole district was in commotion with chowkejdars running about with these cakes. They passed on from district to district with wonderful rapidity, and it was evident that the cakes were intended as some mysterious signal, the meaning of which was unknown except to the initiated, and perhaps only intended to keep up the excitement and expectation of the people. At the same time reports continued to be spread that the greased cartridges were to debase the Hindoos, and to help to force them to abandon their religion. This went on for two months, and on the 16th of May the Governor-General, Lord Canning, issued a proclamation contradicting these rumours, and warning the Natives from being led astray by false representations.

This, then, was the commencement of that Indian mutiny which forms such a dreadful page in the history of our Eastern Empire.

At the time of the outbreak there were in the Presidency only three European regiments at Burmah, and three at Peshawur, the eastern and western extremities of the Empire. In the Punjab, which absorbed the greater portion of the forces, there was a regiment at Lahore, at Sealkote, Ferozepore, Jullundur, Umballah, and Rawul Pindee; while the larger portion of the artillery was also in the Punjab territory with a large local army of Punjabees and Sikhs.

There were three European regiments at Simla, in the hills, and two at Meerut; but in Oude, a country just forcibly annexed, and swarming with a hostile population, there was only one. There was one regiment at Agra, one at Singapore, and one at Calcutta ; but Delhi, a place inhabited by bigoted

Mohammedans, surrounded by strong fortifications, and containing both military stores and treasures, was left unprotected by any European regiments, though there were three regiments of Native Infantry and a battery of Native Artillery in cantonments on the high ground about two miles to the north of the city.

At Meerut, which is about thirty-eight miles from Delhi, eighty-five men of the Native Cavalry were brought up on parade to be tried by court-martial for refusing to fire with the cartridges that had been supplied to them, which were of the same kind as they had been using for several months. They were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, and were marched off in chains to the gaol. The European troops at this station consisted of detachments of the 60th Rifles, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers), and the Bengal Artillery, who were posted about three miles from the Native camp. The court-martial was held on a Saturday, and on the next evening (that of Sunday) the Native regiments suddenly rose in furious mutiny, fired upon their officers, and at once marched off to the gaol to release the prisoners. The prison was set on fire, and above 1,000 convicts released. These, with the rabble of the town, joined the mutineers, and committed horrible atrocities on the European residents. Ladies and little children, as well as officers, were barbarously murdered, stripped, and their bodies hacked and slashed with swords.

When the alarm was first given the European troops were preparing for church-parade, but they at once marched on the Native lines and poured in a fire of grape and musketry. One regiment of Sepoy Infantry, and the cavalry which was also stationed there, fled in the direction of Delhi; and though the Carabineers pursued them and cut many of them down, a large number escaped. Had they been all killed the mutiny might not have been so terrible. But the night was dark, the bungalows had been set on fire, and the women and children required immediate protection. The 11th Native Infantry remained without taking any part in the mutiny. They even protected their own officers, but they did not attack the insurgents. They remained comparatively passive while the station was being reduced to a heap of charred ruins, and women and children were being cut to pieces, or

only effecting their escape by seeking some place of concealment. The murderer of one of the ladies, whose body was shockingly mangled, was afterwards captured, and at once tried and hanged without further delay, his body being afterwards burnt to ashes.

THE FIGHT FOR DELHI.

A.D. 1857. May 11th to Sept. 20th.

After

On Monday morning, the 11th of May, the Sepoys who had escaped from Meerut reached the walls of Delhi, the first to arrive being the vanguard of the 3rd Light Cavalry. These were but the forerunners of the great army of rebels which afterwards flocked from all quarters to the city. They entered the gates of Delhi without opposition, and immediately began to attack with swords and carbines every European whom they met. After several civil officers had been killed, notice was sent to the Brigadier, and the 54th Native Infantry, with two guns, was marched down from the cantonment. This regiment passed through the Cashmere-gate in good order, but directly it had reached the city and met some of the rebels, the Sepoys ran to the side of the road, and left their unarmed officers to the murderous fire of the enemy. shooting down all these officers, the mutinous cavalry Sepoys were received by the men of the 54th with signs of friendship, and the work of carnage commenced, the infuriated wretches, drunk with "bhang," riding up to their victims at full gallop and shooting them down without mercy. The residents then made their way in a frightened crowd to the Flagstaff-tower in front of the cantonments. A company of Native Infantry was stationed there, and a large party of ladies and gentlemen, together with several officers who were well armed, went up to a round tower which commanded the road to the palace. It was evident, however, that the regiment stationed there was also mutinous. In the afternoon the magazine in the city exploded, and this was the signal for the men at the flagstaff to rush to their arms and join the insurgents. When this was known, it was determined that all who could do so should escape, and most of the ladies got

away in conveyances, the gentlemen escorting them on horseback. Colonel Graves remained till the rest had gone off, and the larger number of the party reached Kurnaul in safety, while others sought a refuge at Meerut.

In the meantime the work of murder went on rapidly within the walls of Delhi. The Europeans who had fled to the palace to claim protection of the King were butchered there, with his knowledge, and in the presence of his sons. Men were shot down, ladies hacked to pieces after being beaten and insulted, and infants were tossed on the points of bayonets before the eyes of their mothers. No cruelty seemed too horrible for the mutinous wretches to perpetrate: and those English officers who, as a duty, stayed with their regiments in order to try to prevent their joining in these atrocities, were most of them sacrificed to the fury of the men.

In a fortified bastion near the Cashmere-gate a number of Europeans, mostly women and children, had sought for shelter, and it was supposed that the Native troops there would protect them; but towards the afternoon, when the place was quite full, these scoundrels began firing upon the lefenceless creatures, who had no means of escape. Some few got away by dropping down into the ditch from a bastion of the tower, and, with the help of two or three of the officers, escaped to the bushes and the jungle, whence they were afterwards rescued by an escort of cavalry from Meerut. In a house near the Great Mosque at Delhi a number of Europeans had taken refuge, and as they had no water to drink, they begged to be taken to the palace. The rebels swore that if they would lay down their arms, water should be given them, and that they should be taken in safety to the King. They did so, and were immediately seized, placed in a row, and shot without mercy.

The principal magazine in Delhi was under the care of Lieutenant Willoughby and Lieutenants Forest and Raynor. Directly they heard of the revolt, these officers ordered the gates to be closed and barricaded, while inside the gate leading to the barrack were placed two six-pounders, loaded with grape, beside which stood gunners with lighted matches in their hands ready to fire.

The principal gate of the magazine was defended by two guns with chevaux de frise on the inside, and two six-pounders