Page:The Lucknow album 1874 by Darogha Ubbas Alli.djvu/54

 weak points and strengthened them, to the best of their power, so that the defences became, day after day, more and more formidable. On the re-occupation of Lucknow, the several earthworks forming outposts, batteries, &c, were levelled, an embankment was raised and a ditch dug, encircling the whole entrenchment, giving it the appearance of a fortified camp ground, but entirely destroying the original appearance of the lines of defences, and, so far, consigning to oblivion the important reminiscences and interesting associations which, at least in the memory of the present generation, will remain attached, and deeply engraven on the hearts of the survivors. Sir Colin Campbell declared the Bailie Guard to be a " false position" and his opinion should have been sufficient to deter the authorities from giving the spot the appearance of a preparation for future defence. When this error was pointed out to Lord Canning, both in a political and military point of view, he permitted the ruins to remain as they stood, and the whole of the enclosure to be laid out in ornamental, floral walks. The Bailie Gfuard is now consecrated ground. The bodies of the brave men and women who fell during the siege and were buried there, were, after the final relief, torn from their graves by the mutineers and scattered about, the whole place was dug up in the mad search for treasure, so that on the re-occupation not a trace of the graves, and indeed hardly a vestige of the original order of things remained. However the place is now very prettily laid out, there is a well kept cemetery and, without these pleasant additions to such a mournful spot, the ruins themselves are more than sufficient to repay the visit of the most indifferent tourist.