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96 native regiments and the neighbouring city of Patna, itself a hotbed of Muhammadan fanaticism and a dangerous nucleus of Muhammadan intrigue. It was a portion of the line of communication at which difficulties were likely to occur, and where, in fact, the gravest perils did subsequently present themselves.

A little further to the westward our imagined traveller would have come to the holy city of Benares, the stronghold of Bráhmanism. Here were three native regiments, without a single European soldier to control them, the excitable inhabitants of the city, or the turbulent population of the surrounding country.

Next on the line of communication was Allahábád, at the junction of the Ganges and Jumna, commanding the eastern entrance of the tract of country which lies between the two rivers — known locally as the Doáb — thus dominating the North-Western Provinces, the neighbouring districts of Oudh to the north and the Rájputána frontier on the southern bend of the Jumna. Its position gave it enormous military significance; but Allahábád was without a European soldier.

At Cawnpur, on the right bank of the Ganges, 140 miles from Allahábád, the traveller would have found four native regiments, and a European force represented by fifty-nine Artillerymen, and a small party of invalids. Its defenceless condition was the more unfortunate, as there was an unusually