Chapter V

Old companionship at Meerut--General Arbuthnot and the
16th--Grand turn out--A bet won--40th leave for home--9th
Lancers for Umballa--Natives with tattoo bring in fruit and
vegetables--Description of the Mango--Sedanna--The Begum or Queen,
a pensioner of the Company--Something of her life--Persuades
the Rajah to fly--Feigning assassination caused him to stab
himself--Proclaimed Queen by her army--Marries a French
Adventurer--Visit to our Camp--Her palace--Rumours of an invasion
of our territory by the Shieks near Ferozepoor--Lord Gough at
Umballa--News from the Punjaub--The Rannie or Queen had dethroned
Dulep Sing--Ordered to Punjaub--Sketch of the Sing dynasty--Three
French officers revolutionize the army and bring under the French
model--They possess the whole of the Punjaub Peshwa--An eye on
Bengal--Advised to become allies--Treaty with Lord Auckland--The
Queen makes away with the three eldest sons--Her paramour, Lal
Sing--Confines the youngest in the harem--Lord Gough at Mudkee Sir
R. Sale killed--Ferusha--50th and 62nd Foot--Ignorance at Meerut
of all their movements--March on the Sutledge--Sad evidences _en
route_ of late havoc 78