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pears necessary to relate them a little more particularly, lo form a 

 judgment of the state of the garrison, and the anxiety of the com- 

 manding officer. On the 11th of January three veteran sepoys, 

 two recruits, six artificers, with many inhabitants deserted, and six 

 sepoys died. On the following day nearly as many more followed 

 their example. A Malawar recruit being taken in the act, was 

 condemned to death, and a proclamation issued through the corps, 

 that if no more deserted their comrade should be pardoned; but 

 the sentence would most certainly be executed on the first deser- 

 tion. This compassionate intention was frustrated the very night 

 the gibbet was erected, by the escape of two regulars, three of the 

 Onore corps, and another Malwar, who carried off the sentry with 

 them. The strong ties of caste and consanguinity were thus dis- 

 solved by general misery, and all social considerations gave way 

 to self-preservation. Disease was now so prevalent, that hardly 

 one man in the fort remained untainted ; eight or ten died daily, 

 and so soon became offensive, that a number of graves were con- 

 stantly kept in readiness ; but the dogs, savage with hunger, gene- 

 rally tore up the dead bodies at night, and strewed the outworks 

 with their mangled remains. 



Two days afterwards a jemautdar deserted with two regulars from 

 the sepoy corps, followed by four officers and three privates of the 

 Malwars. The fate of their comrade, confined under sentence of 

 execution, had been hitherto suspended from motives of clemency. 

 Stern necessity now dictated the severe example. In such a try- 

 ing situation, that discipline, whose perfection lies equally distant 

 from wanton cruelty, and more destructive compassion, compelled 

 the unfortunate wretch to be hanged in front of the Malwar bat- 



