A History of the Mahrattas v1.c5.s1.3

v1.c5.s1.3

After a period of study at the cadet establishment in Bombay, he obtained a commission as Ensign on April 23, 1807, and was posted to the 1st Battalion of the 1st Bombay Native Infantry (Bombay Grenadiers). In July, 1808, he took part with his regiment in the storming of Mālia, a fortified stronghold of freebooters in Kāthiāwār, where he displayed conspicuous gallantry. Two years later he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and became adjutant and interpreter of his regiment, in which, by reason of his knowledge and capacity, he exercised a greater influence than his seniority indicated. This preferment nearly involved him in a duel with a brother officer. While still a lieutenant he attracted the notice of Mountstuart Elphinstone, then Resident at the court of the Pēshwā in Poona, and became, together with Captain Pottinger, his assistant and devoted friend. Elphinstone had no mean opinion of his capabilities, and spoke of him in later years as ‘a man of much ability and, what is more, much good sense.’