CHAPTEE XII. 



Mutiny of the Bengal Army Outbreak at Indore and Mhow Murder of 

 Officers at Mhow Signs of Disaffection at Maunpore Retreat to the 

 Jungles Precautions against Surprise Return to Maunpore Visit the 

 Mhow Fort Reinforcements Assume Charge of Nimar District Colonel 

 Keatinge, V.C. Panther-traps Shaik Munnoo Cow slain by Panther 

 Unsuccessful Vigil Bear-hunt Munnoo shoots Hyaenas Wolf seen 

 Attack of Smallpox. 



THE year 1857 was a memorable one in India. The Bengal 

 Army, pampered, petted, and badly disciplined, rose in mutiny. 

 The officers of the army were not to blame. The system was 

 wrong. Eegimental officers had not sufficient power, and they 

 lacked support from the Commander-in-Chief and the Govern- 

 ment. Caste, in the army, was attended to ; and seniority 

 promotion in the ranks was the rule of the service. Indivi- 

 dual merit could not advance, nor individual incapacity retard, 

 the promotion of the Bengal Sepoy. The irregular cavalry 

 were insufficiently paid. Under these circumstances, it was not 

 to be wondered at that designing and discontented men found 

 in the army a willing tool in their schemes for the subver- 

 sion of the British power in India. 



The European force, throughout India, was also at this 

 period reduced to a minimum, owing to the Persian war and 

 other circumstances. The army rose in rebellion, but it lacked 

 cohesion and organisation. Its action was not simultaneous, 

 and the European officers, nobly backed by civilians of all 

 grades, had time, in many instances, for preparations for the 

 safety of themselves and their families. How they bore 



