FROM FATHIGARH TO CAWNPORE. 311 



his men were givins; their commander " much occu- 

 pation and annoyance." The rascals, he compLains, 

 "will not discriminate between an enemy's property, 

 which is fair game, and that of the villagers and 

 cultivators of the soil. I have several times been 

 obliged to bring them up with a sharp hand to save 

 myself from discredit. I sent three sowars to-day 

 to the brigadier with evidence and proof enough to 

 hang them, but he begged me to dispose of the 

 matter summarily myself; but as I did not choose 

 to be judge, jury, and hangman all in one, they 

 saved their lives at the expense of their backs, 

 though I believe the punishment was greater to 

 me than to them, for I abhor Hogging, and never 

 resort to it but in the extremest cases. Still I must 

 be obeyed by these wild hordes coiUe que coute; 

 and when reason and argument fail, they must 

 learn that I will not weakly refrain from sterner 

 measures. I am happy to find Sir Colin ready to 

 back me a outrance, so as to maintain discipline." 



" I had to go over to see the chief yesterday," 

 he writes on January 19, "and did not return till 

 night. I also saw good Colonel Seaton and Becher, 

 who (the last) starts in a da}^ or two for home and 

 England." 



" Our friend Colonel Seaton," he writes on the 

 23rd, "is to have command of a district to be 

 formed of Aligarh, Fathigarh, Mainpuri, and the 

 post at Miran-ke-Serai. It is a very honourable 

 and important post ; but he would prefer, and I for 

 him, a more active command," 



From Fathigarh on the 26th Hodson's Horse 

 marched with Adrian Hope's brigade towards 

 Shamsabad against a strong body of rebels who 



