PATNA DURING THE MUTINY. 175 



from Cawnpoor, Lucknow or Delhi, we soon were bright again, for 

 we reahzed no danger to ourselves ; putting the utmost faith in 

 Tayler, Col. Rattray and his Sikhs. 



We had a Mess, and persons of all denominations joined it, but it 

 was chiefly composed of officers and members of the Civil Service. 

 I managed it with fair success, but it was difficult to please every 

 candidate for food. I told my native clerk to paste complaints into 

 a book, which I have by me now ; and those which appeared worthy 

 of comment, or amusing, my clerk read out in a very solemn 

 manner, and with well-rounded periods, in lieu of sherry and bitters, 

 when we all assembled for dinner in the evening. I select the 

 following specimen, which certainly prima facie appears to militate 

 against my alleged fair management. But the writer, who was 

 much addicted to pig-sticking, riding races, and irregular hours, was 

 prone to see a mountain in a mole-hill : 



" Dear Lockwood, 



"The Khansaman (native butler,) declines to give me any 

 breakfast. At six this morning he sent me what he called a ' beefy- 

 steak cut from a pampered ox,' but not wanting food at that unearthly 

 hour, I told my fellow to take it back. He also sent me some beastly 

 toast. Now I do want breakfast at a reasonable hour, he says, acting 

 under your orders, I must pay for two breakfasts. I haven't had one 

 yet ! Is this the boasted English jurisprudence you civilians talk so 

 much about } These servants of yours are most exasperating fellows, 

 for they give me nothing, though they keep on charging me as though I 

 had everything I want." 



At the Mess, every evening, all kinds of projects were started for 

 amusement. Hunting, shooting, athletics, and occasionally we 

 would have a dance — sthe Lancers being most affected — in which 

 all were obliged to join. We wore no coats, but Garibaldi jackets 

 of gaudy colours, and leather belts, in which our revolvers, hardly 

 ever laid aside, were stuck, and high untanned leather boots, of 



