ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 195 



themselves, both before and after the storm burst on them, 

 is now a matter of history. I do not think the British name 

 in India lost aught of its prestige by the mutiny of 1857. 



I was recovering from my encounter with the bear, and 

 about the middle of June I was able to go about with my arm 

 in a sling. Meanwhile we daily received the most alarming 

 accounts of the progress of the mutiny. Station after station 

 rose, and the advance of the rebellion was marked by terrible 

 deeds of bloodshed. 



Indore, the head-quarters of the agent to the Viceroy for 

 Central India, is fourteen miles north of Mhow. It was 

 garrisoned by detachments of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, 

 of the Bhopal Contingent ; of infantry of the Malwa Contingent ; 

 and of the Bheel corps all natives : together with some guns 

 and cavalry in the service of the Maharajah Holkar, whose 

 capital lay about two miles from the British cantonment. 

 The garrison at Mhow consisted of a horse battery manned by 

 Europeans, the 23d Bengal Native Infantry, and a wing of the 

 1st Bengal Cavalry. Notwithstanding the assurances of some 

 officers of their confidence in the fidelity of their men, I 

 felt, with many others, that the native troops, at both stations, 

 were only waiting their opportunity to break out. My trusty 

 henchman, Bappoo, had mingled freely with the men in the 

 lines at Mhow, and knew their feelings, and he warned me to 

 be prepared for the worst. 



About the 20th of June I was ordered to proceed down 

 the road to the limit of my charge, and make preparations for 

 the advance of a small column which was on its way up from 

 Bombay. This column was, however, diverted, for the pur- 

 pose of quelling a mutiny at Arungabad ; and, after making 

 my arrangements at the Nerbudda, I returned to my own 

 house at Maunpore. I was accompanied by an officer of the 



