18 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
upon the next of kin esteemed most worthy to under- 
take so desperate a command. Many of these gangs 
of desperadoes were well mounted ; and upon one occa- 
sion, a body of regular troops, commanded by British 
officers, was successfully resisted by a detachment of 
those predatory hordes. With a much smaller number 
they cut their way through the sepoy ranks, and effect- 
ed their retreat in spite of the vigilance and activity of 
their enemies, who had been despatched into the pro- 
vince of Moradabad, for the purpose of apprehending 
them. Those plunderers were so well acquainted with 
the jungles, that when pursued, they plunged into their 
deepest recesses, where a regular force was unable 
to follow them ; and being familiar with the different 
fords of the rivers, they often came upon their enemies 
when least expected, and having thrown them into 
confusion, occasionally slaughtered great numbers with 
scarcely any loss to their own party. The inhabitants 
were so intimidated by their repeated successes in this 
way, that they could not be induced to act against 
foes so formidable, and whose ferocious retaliation they 
greatly dreaded. 
About five or six and twenty years ago, one of these 
clans of robbers amounted to upwards of four hundred ; 
and it is commonly known in India how soon a well- 
organised force of this description may be augment- 
ed in districts where the idle and profligate abound, 
ready to unite with any party who will lead them to 
plunder, with no other impediment than the chance of 
fighting for it. 
” The Rohillah insurgents,” says Bishop Heber,* 
* Journal, vol. ii. pp, 120, 1, 2. 
