Adventures of an Officer in the Punjaub Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 edition. Excerpt: ...regiment, if needed, would stand to be mowed down by his guns until not a man remained. And, further, that the example of such men and the esprit d'armee had spread throughout the native troops, and that consequently there are Sephai corps that have done, and would again do, as the best of the Europeans. 1 When this book was lying in an unfinished state, two or three years ago, a gentleman, who had served in the Kabul campaign, made some observations, which seem to me worth inserting here, though the intervening time has so mightily altered the position of affairs. The opinion of an intelligent eye-witness, formed at the time and on the spot, may help to the future solution of those causes which led to the reverses that the British arms sustained in Kabul. " I only wish from my heart that our Government would remember the opinion Bellasis expresses as to the relative power of European and native troops, and act upon the principle in Afghanistan. Two squadrons of dragoons at Kandahar and two at Kabul--fellows that won't be refused--to serve as an edge and an example to Shah Shujah's ' Jan Bazes.' Four batteries of European artillery, and four good European regiments, fresh from Europe or the colonies, without any Indian prejudices as to equipage and camp-followers, and prepared to rough it a little if necessary, would be amply sufficient for our military occupation in Afghanistan. " Our Hindustani troops might then safely be withdrawn, and besides an enormous saving in extra batta being thus effected, (sepoys draw sometimes four and five rupees extra per month, as compensation for rations, while Europeans have only half a pound of beef daily), we should be saved that excessive dislike and detestation which the Afghans entertain towards us, in...