1829.] Memoirs of John Shipp. 251 
snip a rupee to give me me a good and neat cut, such as became a full cor- 
poral. By evening parade my blushing honours came thick upon me. The cap- 
tain came upon parade, and read aloud the regimental orders of the day, laying 
great stress upon—‘ to the rank of corporal, and to be obeyed accordingly.” I 
was on the right of the company, being the tallest man on parade, when I was 
desired by the company to fall out, and give the time. I did so, and never 
did a fugleman cut more capers ; but here an awkward accident happened. In 
shouldering arms, I elevated my left hand high in the air ; extended my leg 
in an oblique direction, with the point of my toe just touching the ground ; 
but, in throwing the musket up in a fugle-like manner, the cock caught the 
bottom of my jacket, and down came brown Bess flat upon my toes, to the 
great amusement of the tittering company. I must confess, I felt queer ; but 
I soon recovered my piece and my gravity, and all went on smoothly till I got 
into the barracks, where a quick hedge-firing commenced from al! quarters ; 
such as,—‘ Shoulder hems !’—‘ Shoulder hems !’—‘ Twig the fugleman!’ This 
file-firing increased to volleys, till I was obliged to exert my authority by 
threatening them with the guard-house, for riotous conduct; but this only 
increased the merriment: so I pocketed the affront, as the easiest and most 
good-natured mode of escape ; my persecutors ceased, and thus ended my 
first parade as a non-commissioned officer. 
“Jn my new sphere of life I now felt that there was, unquestionably, some 
satisfaction derivable from being 
“¢ ¢ Clothed in a little brief authority.’ 
A corporal has to take command of small guards; is privileged to visit the 
sentinels whenever he pleases ; his suggestions are frequently attended to by 
his superiors ; and his orders must be promptly obeyed by those below him. 
There is certainly a pleasure in all this, and a man rises proportionately in his 
own esteem. In short, to confess the truth, I now looked upon a drum-boy as 
little better than his drum. 
« Full of the importance of my situation and duties, thus passed the time 
for nearly six months, at the end of which I was advanced to the rank of ser- 
geaut, and, shortly afterwards, to that of pay-sergeant, in the same regiment. 
The post of pay-sergeant is certainly one of importance, and he who holds it 
a personage of no smail consideration, He feeds and clothes the men ; lends 
them money at moderate interest and on good security ; and sells them watches 
and seals, on credit, at a price somewhat above what they cost, to be sure, but 
the mere sight of which, dangling from a man’s fob, has been known to gain 
him the character of a sober, steady fellow, and one that should be set down 
for promotion. Thus, at least, good may sometimes be educed from evil; and, 
as it is not my intention to enter into a detail of the chicanery practised among 
the minor ranks in the army, let it suffice that I never served in a company in 
which every individual could not buy, sell, exchange, lend, and borrow, on 
terms peculiar to themselves.” 
In the pursuit of Hoolkah, he gives an animated sketch of the Pin- 
daree :— 
“ Hoolkah, a native Pindaree, was at this time in full force, with about sixty 
thousand horse, and twenty-five thousand infantry, encamped a short distance 
from us, ever on the alert to watch our movements, and supported by Ameer- 
khan, and other self-created Rajahs. From the very nature of this service, 
against a flying enemy, thoroughly acquainted with the localities of the coun- 
try, we had but little chance of coming up with them. Any thing like a gene- 
ral eeeanent they studiously avoid: plunder only is their aim. In this 
way they pay themselves, giving their chiefs any great article of value that 
may fall into their hands ; that is to say, if they are known to have it. Their 
wives are excellent horse-women, and many of them goood shots with the 
matchlocks, and active swords-women. They are always mounted on the 
best horse, and it is not an unusual thing for them to carry one child before 
2K 2 
