Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 1.2.6

1.2.6

" and a full half of them will desert on hearing of his death — " well. Sir, and the other half ? well, the other half — are they ' not Hindostanies ? and at all events we are such multitudes " here — with each a brick-bat in our hands, we could knock them " down to a man." These and the like expressions I heard at that very time in one of the best companies in Moorshoodabad. Two days after, as a Regiment of Sepoys on its way to Chunar-ghur, was marching through the City at day-break, I went out, and was standing to see it pass by, the Regiment halted ; and a few men from the centre ran into a dark lane, and laid hold of a hen and some roots : the people screamed. " Do not make so much noise," said one of the men in his Bodjpooria Idiom ; " we go to-day with the Frenghees, but " we are all servants (tenants) to Cheyt-Sing, and may come back " to-morrow with him ; and then the question will be not about " your roots, but about your wives and daughters." The street, although the main thorough-fare, could admit but six men in front, and there had been two halts more, in which time I had opportunities of hearing such suspicious words and expressions, that I resolved to write a letter to Colonel Ironside on that subject. But two days having been accidentally spent in determining upon the expediency or propriety of the letter, I thought it better to take counsel from time itself, and I went to pay my respects to that Commander who kept me to dinner.