242
The Indian Mutiny
ficent fighters the Sikhs of the Punjaub, and the fierce Afghans of the north-western mountains. Both gave us from time to time terrible lessons; but British patience and courage triumphed over all. As we conquered them, so we enrolled in our Indian army all the best fighting men of these various races, of that army the Sikhs are now the backbone; but the Afghans have still to be kept at bay beyond the northern mountains. They are the ‘tigers from the North’; and, if our rule were for a moment taken away, they would sweep down and slay and enslave all the defenceless dwellers on the plains.
The Indian Mutiny, 1857.In 1857 our carelessness and mismanagement of this vast Empire, together with the religious fear inspired among the Indians by the introduction of European inventions such as steam and railways, brought about the most serious danger that ever threatened British India, a mutiny in our Indian army. The instigator of the revolt was a man who claimed to be the representative of the old Mahratta rulers; the rebels took Delhi, the oldest capital city of India, and set up a shadow of an Emperor. They perpetrated terrible cruelties upon defenceless English women and children. But Southern India remained perfectly loyal and quiet; so did several of the old native princes; while the gallant Sikhs and the Ghoorkas of Nepaul came to our help in crowds. British troops were poured in as fast as possible, though in those days that was not very fast. The siege of Delhi and the relief of Lucknow were the greatest feats that were performed; and the names of John Lawrence, John Nicholson, Colin Campbell and Henry Havelock became for ever immortal. When the Mutiny was finally put down in 1858 the Crown took over the