ARTILLERY SERVICE UNDER “JOHN COMPANY ” 
7 
the case was pending. 
Daring the practice season, the officers inhabited a large building 
standing on a raised mound, known as Dum Dum House. The men’s 
tents were pitched in the compound, and the natives’ in the “ Montague 
Lines,” on the ground now occupied by the Nya Bazaar, called after 
Lieutenant Montague, the Adjutant who marked them out. 
In March 1777 , the 4 th Company was inspected twice, first 
^ J by the Governor-General, Warren Hastings, and then by 
the Commander-in-Chief, General Clavering. The Governor who 
was excessively pleased, published an order, thanking all concerned, 
for their good performance. The General, though he only formally and 
coldly thanked the Commandant (whom he cordially disliked)—said 
afterwards, that he had reviewed most of the King’s Regiments, but 
had never seen any perform better. Colonel Pearse, the Commandant 
speaking of this inspection says :—“ Not one circumstance had I to 
“ lessen the pleasure I received from the good performance of my Corps, 
“ as a battalion of infantry, as a battalion of Artillery with sixteen can- 
“ nons, and a body of Artillery on service in their batteries; for we 
“ went through all these exercises equally well.” 
jyyg In 1778 , a reorganization of the Artillery was ordered, in 
which Golundaz or native companies took a considerable 
part. Hitherto, as want dictated, company after company had been 
added to the establishment, but the Artillery was now formed into an 
independent brigade of one European Regiment and three native 
battalions. 
The European consisted of seven Field and one mounted or Garri¬ 
son company. The Lascars were all reduced. 
ItjrjQ The new organization was not destined to remain long in 
force, for inMarch, 1779 , General Sir Eyre Coote arrived from 
England, to succeed the late General Clavering as Commander-in- 
Chief, and shortly afterwards it was announced that he had brought 
authority to disband the Golundaz. Economical and advantageous to 
the public service as the system of employing native artilleryman 
was, alarm was taken by the Court of Directors and the home Govern¬ 
ment, at the supposed danger of teaching the natives the art of gun¬ 
nery, and by Minutes of Council dated November 23 rd, 1779 , issued 
in accordance with instructions from Leadenhall Street, the Golundaz 
were ordered to be disbanded. 
In the reorganization of the Corps, consequent on these changes, 
it was formed into two European battalions of five companies each, 
and to each company was attached a battalion of Lascars of six com¬ 
panies, numbering 330 of all ranks. They were to be instructed in 
and to perform all the usual services of artillery, with the exception 
of loading and pointing guns and mortars. They were clad in a 
uniform consisting of f angas ’ or short tunics, padded with cotton 
according to the weather, jangiyas or short white drawers, and 
turbans, and armed with a light pike so constructed as to form 
Chevaux-de-frise if necessary. 
