Page:Views in India, chiefly among the Himalaya Mountains.djvu/149

Rh his fathers. Notwithstanding his apparent desire to maintain a good understanding with the Christian rulers of India, it is confidently asserted, that during the panic that prevailed in the north-western portion, when our army was before Bhurtpore, Runjeet Singh consulted the French officers in his service respecting the policy of invading the Company's provinces, and co-operating with the other native powers to drive the British out of India. In the event of a Russian invasion, he would in all probability take a decided part against us; but circumstances will change greatly upon his death, an event that may be expected at no very remote period. The decease of Runjeet Singh will give rise to three great parties; namely, that of the legitimate son, Kanuck Singh, that of Sheir Singh, governor of Cashmere, and that of Dahan Singh, the favourite. Possibly two of these parties will unite, but, at all events, great confusion and anarchy must prevail for a considerable period; every petty chief will turn marauder, and encroachments will take place on the territory of the protected states. The Indian government will have the choice of either taking possession of the Punjab, or keeping up an army of ten thousand men on the left bank of the Sutlej.

The army of Runjeet Singh has been disciplined under the command of two French officers of very distinguished merit, who have introduced the tactics and system of their own nation; and, in consequence, the French legion of cavalry, and the regular infantry, are said to be in a high state of field efficiency. Besides these troops, the Ghora Churrahs of the body guard, are, perhaps, the most effective regulars in India; their men are all Seiks of good family, and receive liberal pay; they are splendidly equipped, their arms, consisting of swords and matchlocks, being mounted in silver. There is also a Ghoorka battalion, and about four thousand irregular cavalry attached to the army. The artillery consists of sixty pieces of horse, and a hundred and twenty heavy guns; most of the latter being in the different forts. The Seik army moves rapidly, and all baggage is conveyed on camels, elephants, horses, and mules. The French legion of cavalry was entirely formed by General Allard, their system being that of the French lancers; the men are much attached to their commandant, and these troops only require a few more European officers, to be nearly on a par with our regular native cavalry. General Allard, a man of high character and conciliatory manners, was a distinguished officer in the imperial army of France; he adopted the Seik costume, allowed his beard to grow, and married a native woman. The regular infantry are under General Ventura, and are also disciplined in the French drill, the words of command being chiefly French; they are armed with firelocks and bayonets, and are regularly paid and clothed. General Ventura served under Eugene Beauharnois in Napoleon's Russian campaign; he is a brave, intelligent officer, but violent in his temper, and not popular in his manners.

Runjeet Singh's own personal body-guard consists of a kind of legion of honour, composed of picked men, arrayed in gorgeous dresses and rich armour, and considered to be the élité of the army. These troopers are all tried shots, and at eighty yards very seldom fail to hit a small brass pot with a matchlock. The horse artillery of Runjeet's army consists of guns of small calibre, and their field equipment resembles that of our late fort batteries, and consequently such field-pieces would be utterly unable to cope with our horse artillery; still, as these guns are drawn by horses, their fire would be always available, which is not the case with bullock artillery.