DELHI IN THE HANDS OF THE MUTINEERS.

17

killed, and the place in a state of siege. It seems most extraordinary, for at Meerut there are only three Native Infantry regiments. They must have attacked the European soldiers as they were coming out of church, getting between them and their arms; or else, perhaps, our troops had marched over to defend Delhi, leaving Meerut at the mercy of the Native Infantry regiments. There has been no news since from Meerut. No dâk came in yesterday either from Delhi or Meerut, which is a bad sign.

Late last night (we only heard of it this morning) a message came from Delhi saying that all the regiments there had turned against their officers. The magazine on the banks of the river was blown up, it seems, by one of our sergeants, who sacrificed himself to prevent all the ammunition from falling into the hands of the Sepoys. We hear that Mr Frazer, the judge, is killed. Captain Douglas, Mr Beresford (Civil Service), Colonel Ripley, who commanded one of the Native Infantry regiments, and other officers have all been killed-murdered. Is it not dreadful?

The Chief is going down to Umballa to-day-Colonel Chester, Colonel Becher, and Captain Norman go also-together with his personal Staff. Keith, I am thankful to say, has not to go down; at least he has received no orders as yet. This is no time for Judge-Advocates, but for summary vengeance.

It is said that all the city of Delhi have risen, with the King at their head, and that the Sepoys have joined them. The ladies and the children in the city have been murdered; those in cantonments have escaped to Kurnaul, and are now on their way to Umballa. Government will now, too late, see the folly of leaving a large Native city like Delhi without any British troops, with the magazine-I believe the very largest in India -in the heart of the city. Of course they have taken that, and seized upon all the arms.

I hear that there is a general feeling among the Natives that our Government is trying to make Christians of them by these unclean cartridges, and by mixing with their attar (flour) beef and pig's bones finely ground. Some months ago I was sending some whole wheat to a little mill on a stream a short distance from Simla to be ground-it makes such nice brown bread. We had often found our bread gritty with dust. My ayah, when she heard that I was sending this wheat, asked me to send some for

18

ACCOUNTS FROM MEERUT.

her also, as there was a report in the bazaar that all the flour was mixed with the bones, finely ground, of cows and pigs. I laughed at her, and said, 'Ayah, what nonsense! Who says so?' She replied, 'It is quite true; all the bazaar people say so.' I thought it meant merely that the bunniahs (merchants) did it to increase the weight of their flour.

Friday morning, 15th May.-I went yesterday to see poor Mrs Nicoll. She was in great distress. She says all her hope for the safety of her husband rests on not having seen his name among those killed. She had heard nothing of or from him. The Bechers also are in great distress. Colonel Becher's only sister married Mr Hutchinson, a civilian at Delhi: they can get no tidings of them. Yesterday another message came from Meerut, better on the whole than was expected. The two Native Infantry regiments had turned upon their officers, and killed several-among others Major Macdonald of the 20th, his wife, and three children. We saw them constantly when we were at Meerut. The Native Infantry lines are some distance from the European; but directly it was known, the 6th Dragoons and the 60th Rifles marched upon them and soon sent them flying on the road to Delhi. The Carabineers lost six men, and the Rifles seven; but it seems so extraordinary that they did not pursue the wretches and cut them in pieces as they did the little children. General Hewitt's house at Meerut has been burned; also Mr Greathed's (the Commissioner), and several others. Mr Greathed and his wife were saved by their servants, who hid them in the garden.

All the British regiments have left the hills, and the Goorkha regiment at Jutogh was ordered yesterday to start early the next morning (this morning, the 15th). At four o'clock yesterday there was a report that they had refused to go, and that they would attack Simla and loot it instead. Our Commissioner (Lord William Hay) and others said it was merely report, and that the regiment was staunch; however, some of the Goorkhas were seen in the bazaar laughing and talking about the Delhi business, and when an Englishman passed he was hissed at. Another report had spread that they intended to go down as ordered, but would join either Europeans or Natives, whichever was strongest. Most of the English here, therefore, became alarmed; a meeting was held at 4 P.M., and it was decided that pickets should be