CHAPTER V.

Old companionship at Meerut--General Arbuthnot and the 16th--Grand turn out--A bet won--40th leave for home--9th Lancers for Umballa--Natives with tattoo bring in fruit and vegetables--Description of the Mango--Sedanna--The Begum or Queen, a pensioner of the Company--Something of her life--Persuades the Rajah to fly--Feigning assassination caused him to stab himself--Proclaimed Queen by her army--Marries a French Adventurer--Visit to our Camp--Her palace--Rumours of an invasion of our territory by the Shieks near Ferozepoor--Lord Gough at Umballa--News from the Punjaub--The Rannie or Queen had dethroned Dulep Sing--Ordered to Punjaub--Sketch of the Sing dynasty--Three French officers revolutionize the army and bring under the French model--They possess the whole of the Punjaub Peshwa--An eye on Bengal--Advised to become allies--Treaty with Lord Auckland--The Queen makes away with the three eldest sons--Her paramour, Lal Sing--Confines the youngest in the harem--Lord Gough at Mudkee Sir R. Sale killed--Ferusha--50th and 62nd Foot--Ignorance at Meerut of all their movements--March on the Sutledge--Sad evidences _en route_ of late havoc 78