56 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



in the Institution until they are eighteen years of 

 age, if their fathers be alive, and until somehow or 

 other provided for should they be orphans. The 

 majority of the boys will, of course, become soldiers ; 

 but my belief is, that having been brought up in 

 the delightful climate of the Himalaya, they will, 

 aften ten or fifteen years, settle down in the various 

 stations and slightly elevated valleys in these hills 

 as traders and cultivators, and form the nucleus of 

 the first British colony in India. My object is to 

 give them English habits from the first, which they 

 have in most cases to learn, from being brought up 

 by native nurses from infancy. Part of the scheme 

 is to make the Institution support itself, and I am 

 very shortly going to start a farmyard. I have 

 already got a fine large garden in full swing; and 

 here you may see French beans, cabbages, straw- 

 berry plants, and fine potatoes free from disease. 

 I steadfastly refuse the slightest dash of colour in 

 admitting children. People may call this illiberal 

 if they please ; the answer is obvious. Half-castes 

 stand the climate of the plains too well to need a 

 hill sanitarium, and by mixing them with English 

 children you corrupt those whom you wish to 

 benefit." ^ 



In October 1847 the 1st Fusiliers — now the 1st 

 Munster Fusiliers — began their march from Sabathu 

 towards Cawnpore. Hodson naturally did not relish 

 the prospect of returning to mere regimental duty 

 in the plains, and the adjutancy which he had 

 meanwhile been led to hope for did not fall vacant 

 at the time expected. But his kind patron inter- 

 vened betimes on his young friend's behalf. Not 



^ Hodson of Hodson's Horse. 



