and now concealed at a village near to the town of Kattra (the scene of Háfiz Rahmat Khán's defeat and death in the last century). Sending word to the Chief Commissioner at Agra, Mr. Wilson left a note for Gowan (written in the Greek character) with Mr. Bramly, which the latter promised to send on to Gowan with the Chief Commissioner's reply, when it arrived from Agra. The purpose of Wilson's note was to inform Gowan that, whatever might be the decision of the Government, he (Wilson) would surely be at a certain ford on the 28th, prepared to rescue the refugees. When the Chief Commissioner's answer arrived, one of the messengers took it, with Wilson's enclosed, to the village where Gowan and some six of his companions, adults and infants, were awaiting his return-with what anxiety may be partly imagined. When the envelope was hastily opened, nothing at first appeared but a precept from the Government offering a reward of ten thousand rupees "to any native who would escort in safety to Aligarh all the Christian refugees now lying concealed in Rohilcund." This was cold comfort; and Gowan, with sinking heart, was in the act of destroying the envelope when he felt the enclosure and read Wilson's Greek note. Great as had been his disappointment was the consequent reaction. It is on record that the seven forlorn creatures, who felt that they had passed from death into life, fell simultaneously upon their knees in the shed where they were lurking, and offered their tribute of pious thanks to the Almighty; and a historical painter could hardly desire a more pathetic subject for his art. Hastening, then, to his earthly protectors, the native villagers, Gowan consulted with them; and the result of the consultation was the despatch of a second letter, written in Greek like that to which it was a reply, and fixing another rendezvous for the 29th-the earliest date, as • it would seem, on which he could come down with his company to the river-side. Wilson received this note at 7 P.M. of the 28th. In another hour he had started with 100 horsemen and four fast elephants; and the native officer, Buland Khán, was the

only person to whom the secret of their destination was confided. It was a service of danger; Khán Bahádur had some five thousand men in the neighbourhood (some of whom soon afterwards fought only too well!), but Wilson secured the boats at the ford of Kuchla (the first that he had named to Gowan), amused the enemy with feints, and then, marching in the cold autumn night thirty miles down the river, reached the place where he expected the refugees, only to meet with fresh disappointment. To cut a long story short, Wilson reached the fort of Kádirganj early on the morning of the 31st, got a breakfast out of the "Nawáb" (as the man in charge called himself), by a mixture of boldness and conciliation, and had the pleasure soon after of receiving a cart, escorted by matchlockmen, and containing Gowan, with Sergeant and Mrs. Belcham, and their children. The good native officer, Buland Khán, when he saw the children, turned aside to hide his tears, and muttered, "And these are the darlings whom those infidels seek to murderGod's curse on them!" On the 2nd November Wilson's party marched with them into Aligarh, and the following morning brought them safely into Meerut. This is only one specimen of the wisdom and courage of this truly remarkable man, whose humanity was only equalled by his energy. First and last, Mr. Wilson was instrumental in rescuing sixty-four Christian refugees in Rohilcund; and surely, of all the gallant "Cucherry Hussars" of the time, none better deserved the honours that he received, or the subsequent prosperity that awaited him in his long retirement in New Zealand. The behaviour of his followers was excellent; and he lived for months among them, speaking Persian and Hindustani, and wearing the dress and accoutrements of a native officer. He told a tale of • his meeting Mr. Cocks in this disguise, which showed a vein of humour. On another occasion he rode up just in time to prevent his men being attacked by the daring Paterson Saunders, who mistook them for mutineers. Gowan also did good work through the winter campaign. It was not till May

that Wilson returned to Morádábád, which he had left as a fugitive nearly twelve months before; when he did return he was accompanied by Captain Gowan, and by Sergeant Belcham, promoted to Sergeant-Major. Khán Bahádur and his Diwán made good their escape, and-so far as I am aware-were never again authentically heard of.

It only remains to state briefly what was the state of popular feeling in Rohilcund at the time. It is Mr. Alexander's deliberate opinion that, neither from fact, document, or oral testimony, can it be inferred that there had been, out of the lines of the regiments, any organised conspiracy for the overthrow of the existing Government, or the establishment of one to take its place. The nature of the administration that ensued aids-in his opinion to disprove the idea of any pre-existing plot; though there might be deemed to be something suspicious about the early adhesion of the Hindu landholders. But it is quite certain that many Hindus-especially among the moneyed interestheld aloof from the first, and of the rest a good number soon fell away. No early communication with Dehli was traced, as would have been surely the case if the rising, as a political movement, had been pre-concerted; though after Khán Bahádur's usurpation had been consummated, he naturally aspired to the sanction of "Imperial" patronage and countenance.

Furthermore, both among Muslims and Hindus, there were not wanting many who preserved their fidelity under the most searching trials. Thus, Badr-ud-Din, the Kotwál, or Head Inspector of Bareilly, Amir Ali, and Zakaria Khán, of the Revenue Department, Abdullah Khán, Kotwál of Philibhit, and few native subordinates, accompanied their European officers to Naini Tál, and remained there with them, at considerable personal inconvenience to themselves, till the restoration of order in May 1858. Four other native officials remained in their districts, doing such service as was possible; like the former group they were all Muslims. Among non-official natives who either actively assisted the Government, or at least did not

assist the rebels, the Commissioner mentions seven prominent Hindus and a Muhamadan. Of the first three (Rajput landholders of Bijnaur district) he says that they "displayed valiant deeds against the common enemy"; adding that "all their strength, and all their pecuniary resources, were put forth to aid the Government and re-establish order"; when unsuccessful, two of them retired beyond the Ganges, the third falling into the hands of the rebels.

Others, it should be added, kept up a correspondence with the Commissioner at Naini Tál; and, though they may have been somewhat in the position of trimmers, it must be remembered that the mere act of writing to the British authorities at such a time was one of considerable danger, and if discovered would have cost them their lives.

CHAPTER XI.

CONCLUSION.

AND this brings me to the conclusion of my task. I have not thought it necessary to trace the doings of the civil officers beyond the confines of Hindustán Proper-or the North-West Provinces-of which alone I have personal knowledge, and in regard to which there are full civil official Narratives forthcoming. But I hope the reader will pardon me if—seeing that it was here that the revolt arose, and had its focus-I add a few words as to the probable origin of this great disaster. Frequent allusions have been made in the course of our narrative to discontents arising from the transfer of landed property under decrees of Court. But this painful consequence of civilisation would never by itself cause a general rebellion; so long, at least, as the Government was strong. We have seen Mr. Alexander's opinion as to the absence of evidence in respect of a general, pre-arranged, national rising; and we have, I think, had reason, in studying the other narratives, to concur in his view. Had there been such a wide-spread and well-organised plot, it would seem that one of two things must have occurred. Either those loyal tribes, and chiefs, who afterwards held aloof from the revolt or actively joined in its suppression, would have given information to the authorities when they were tampered with or else (if we are to suppose that they were left out) the conspirators and their emissaries must have acted with superhuman wisdom and vigilance in selecting those on whom they practised, and in keeping back all knowledge of what was going on from