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262 halted at Aurangábád. The rumour that Dehlí had fallen greatly aided his efforts to maintain order for a period of fifty-one days after the Mírath outbreak; but, on the 1st of July, he was attacked in the Residency by the native troops of Holkar. The native troops forming the garrison of the Residency either coalesced with the rebels or refused to act against them. No reinforcements, though they had been sent for, came from Máu; and after a brilliant defence of two and a half hours' duration Durand was compelled to evacuate the Residency, with his small European garrison and the eleven women and children under his charge. His first idea was to retreat on Máu, but as his native escort refused to follow him thither, he had no option, eventually, but to retire on Sihor. He and his companions reached that place on the 4th July. Thence he set out, with the briefest possible delay, to urge upon the commander of the Bombay column the necessity of making safe the line of the Narbadá, so as, to use his own words, 'to interpose a barrier between the blazing north and the smouldering south.'

On the night of the day on which Durand had been compelled to evacuate the Residency at Indur the sipáhís at Máu mutinied, killed three of their officers, and made their way to Dehlí. Captain Hungerford, who commanded the field-battery, remained in occupation of the fort of Máu, and assumed the duties of the Governor-General's Agent, until the arrival of Durand with the Bombay column enabled the latter to resume his duties.

The Mehidpur contingent remained passively loyal until November. On being attacked then by a rebel force superior in numbers, they displayed mingled cowardice and treachery. Ultimately the majority of them fraternised with the rebels. The station, however, was held for the British up to that period.