Page:Clyde and Strathnairn.djvu/45

Rh Major (afterwards Sir) Vincent Eyre effected their relief with a force of 200 men; an exploit which, like the defence, will bear comparison with the finest achievements of the time. 'The rout of the rebels was complete, and the road to Arrah was left as clear as though there had been no mutiny at Dinápur, no revolt in Behar.'

Notwithstanding such exceptional episodes, there was little to relieve the prevailing gloom in Bengal; for the districts immediately in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, and even the Presidency town itself, had not only been subject to serious panics but had witnessed instances of weakness and indecision on our part which may well be left unrecorded.

In Madras matters remained comparatively quiet. When the outbreak occurred, the military resources of the Southern Presidency were seriously reduced by the absence on service in Persia of the greater part of its European regiments, although the previous proportion of European to Native troops was smaller than it had been since the beginning of the century. There were barely five European infantry and one cavalry corps, distributed by wings at various places, to protect this large and important part of India. Considerations of a political nature increased the anxiety caused by military weakness. In Nágpur, only lately annexed, there were many persons of influence who were disaffected. Haidarábád was a source of grave anxiety; while within British territory the Muhammadans of Karnúl, Cuddapah, and Malabar were greatly excited by