404 
VELLORK 
Craddock seems to have felt the danger ; and had it not been for an 
unfortunate confidence in officers, whose long period of service, and 
greater experience, he naturally concluded must have given them 
a fuller knowledge of the native character, he would probably 
have prevented all discontent, by leaving the dress of the sepoys as 
he found it. 
It would have appeared strange in any former time, that all 
these hazards should have been braved for a circumstance of no 
importance whatsoever; the alteration in the form of a turban, 
which was neither to protect the wearer from injury, nor even in- 
convenience, but was merely to make him look prettier on parade. 
Is it not mortifying to behold our gallant soldiers, much more fre- 
quently regarded as playthings, to gratify the vanity and caprice 
of their Colonels, than as men destined to defend them by their 
exertions ? 
I cannot quit this subject without observing, that if any alteration 
in the dress of the sepoy is necessary, I am convinced that it may 
be easily carried into effect by an application to the Brahmins, 
on whose recommendation it would be adopted by all the Hindoos, 
hot only without a murmur, but even with satisfaction. 
The thermometer in the evening was 89° in the shade. The 
season is so far advanced, that the night is the only time in which 
travelling is supportable ; I therefore determined to take advantage 
of it to reach the Gauts, hoping that when on the table land, the 
heat would not be so great. The gentlemen of the fort continued 
their kind attentions to the last, and lent me fifteen palanquin boys, 
as being better than any I could hire. At nine I set off, and 
travelled most comfortably all night. 
