60 WANDEKINGS OF A 



On approaching Loodiana* the landscape becomes really 

 beautiful. Mango-topes, and fields of grain and sugar-cane, 

 cover the plains, while here and there are seen the strong- 

 holds of the old Sikh chieftains. 



The road leads through the field of Aliwal, on which we 

 encamped. 



It has been said that the descriptions of the Peninsular 

 battles received additional grandeur from the spirit-stirring 

 pen of the talented narrator — that many who witnessed them 

 could scarcely recognise them when dressed in the glowing 

 language of the soldier-historian. Much has been said of 

 Aliwal, but candid witnesses give a far different account from 

 that written at the time. 



I wandered over the field with one who had been present 

 at the engagement ; he assured me, and his testimony has 

 been corroborated by many others, that a fruitful imagina- 

 tion was at work when the official account was drawn up. 

 His words were : — 



"Aliwal was the lattle of the despatch, for none of us 

 knew we had fought a battle until the particulars appeared in a 

 document, which did more than justice to every one concerned." 

 But the public gulped it down, and, like many of our 

 Indian battles and Indian blunders, the final issue of the 

 struggle disarmed criticism. 



As an Irishman would say, " We gained a disadvantage at 

 Budiwal," by the baggage of the army falling into the hands 

 of the enemy ; that no exaggeration could weU turn into a 

 victory; but shortly afterwards, a few shots, and the charge of a 

 squadron or two in pursuit of a host of retreating Sikhs, were 



• Bishop Heber, in hia Jowmal, says, •" Lions are met with near Loodiana 

 and Almorah." I cannot vouch for such being the case with reference to the 

 latter locality, but certainly no lions arc seen nowadays in any part of the 

 North-west Provinces. 



