164 Twelve Years’ Military Adventure. [ Fes. 
« But, as only two wooden ones, and a very few basket-boats could be 
procured, we were obliged to set to and make a good number of the latter 
class ourselves. Though their construction is rude and simple, consisting 
merely of a round wicker-work basket, about ten feet in diameter, shaped 
just like a saucer, and covered with hides, they are capable of trans- 
porting artillery ; but no attempt is ever made to put horses or cattle into 
them. In fact it is not necessary; for, with a little management, the horses 
are made not only to swim with the boat, but to drag it after them. For this 
purpose two horses are generally taken with each boat, having a watering 
bridle in their mouth, and a rope attached to the mane close to the withers. 
Their heads being turned the right way, which’is the only difficult part of the 
job, they make for the opposite bank without hesitation, dragging by the 
rope, which is tied to their mane, and held by some person in the boat. It is 
altogether a gallant sight. Their eager look, their inflated nostrils, and the 
occasional dashing of their forelegs above the water, produce an effect which 
might not unaptly be compared to the foaming team which fabulists have 
yoked to the car of Neptune. 
« Indeed, if it had not been for the cavalry horses, I know not how we 
should have crossed the river ; for, besides being nearly half a mile in width, 
full from bank to bank, and running at a most rapid rate, the wind blew so 
strong against us, that not a single boat which attempted to cross without a 
horse succeeded ; and, as it was, the stream generally carried them half a 
mile down the river before they could gain the opposite bank. There were 
very few instances of the horses attempting to turn back when once there 
heads were fairly turned in the proper direction, notwithstanding the great 
distance they had to swim, and the load they had to draw; so that very few 
of these noble animals were lost. The elephants in general took the water 
well, though one or two of them could not be persuaded to go in of their own 
accord; two or three of the strongest of their own species were therefore sent 
to compel them. These, after having given the refractory gentlemen a sound 
drubbing with sticks, which they held in their trunks, fairly shoved them into 
the water, and did not quit them till they were landed on the opposite bank. 
It was a curious sight to witness, and perhaps the strongest instance of the 
power of man over the brute creation that can well be imagined. Their 
manner of swimming is curious. ‘The whole of the body is immersed in the 
water, sometimes to the depth of two or three feet, and occasionally they send 
their trunk up to the surface for a fresh supply of air. Thus their keeper has 
no very pleasant birth of it, being sometimes soused over head and ears. 
Camels cannot be persuaded to go into the water at all: and it is consequently 
necessary to lash them to the side of the boat. Bullocks will swim well, but 
cannot be used like horses for dragging the boats.” 
It was the author’s misfortune to be in the immediate neighbourhood 
of Vellore, when the mutiny, which occasioned so much bloodshed, 
took place there. Two battalions, one of the Ist and the other of the 
23d regiment of the Madras army, had conspired to gain possession of 
the garrison, which they meant to keep in the name of Futteh Hyder, 
one of Tippoo’s sons. The plot had been so well arranged, that at first 
it succeeded entirely :— 
* About four o’clock, the battalion of the 23d regiment having fallen in on 
their parade by order of their native officers, as if preparatory to the drill, 
and ball-cartridge having been served out to them, as if for practice at the 
target, a body of the sworn mutineers belonging to the 1st regiment, who had 
been told off for that purpose, marched silently down to the main-guard, 
which was composed partly of Europeans, the massacre of whom was to be 
the signal for the general movement. As soon as this party had approached 
sufficiently near to give assistance if necessary, the sepoys of the main-guard, 
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