Narrative of the Life and Travels of Serjeant B——

by Robert Butler

My first acquaintance with W. H. was after we came to Wallajahbad; and we used to spend many a happy hour together when in barracks, and even upon the march, talking over old stories, and singing the songs of our native land,—"which softened our hardships,—cheered our lonely hearts,—brought to our recollection the images of those friends from whom we had departed, while fond hope whispered that we would yet revisit these scenes,—converse with these friends,—and renew these joys. In this sadly pleasing retrospect, and joyful anticipation, we lost the sense of our sorrows, and journeyed onward with increased vigour." Neither did the day of the Lord pass by us altogether unimproved; for then we used to meet together for religious conversation, and particularly upon the Sabbath evenings, when I was waiting for tattoo-beating, in the front of the barracks[12]. But, alas! poor man, he gradually lost the relish for divine things, by forming a connexion with some debauched characters; and keeping company with these jovial fellows, as they are called, he soon became a very different man.

However, I never had reason to think, neither did I ever hear, that he was guilty of those enormities with which the other person has been too justly charged; and when I expostulated with him about his conduct, he took it always apparently in good part, and promised to do better; but after repeatedly repenting in a kind of a way, and as often "returning like the dog to his vomit," he avoided my company altogether; and at any time when I went to see him, if he observed me coming in at one barrack-room door, he would immediately go out at another, being unable to answer to me for his conduct; and my presence grieved him, as it called to his mind the many happy hours of profitable and innocent enjoyment we had spent in one another's company. So true it is that guilt is a coward, and that "the wicked flee when no man pursueth."

At last he was seized by the flux, in Trichinopoly, where, as I mentioned, J. F. also died. He had been in the hospital a considerable time before I knew of his illness; and when I went up to see him, I observed that he was drawing very near his end. The agony he endured at that time was pressing the sweat through every pore of his body. Yet he was perfectly sensible; for when I spoke to him, he answered me in a very rational manner. But if the Lord be pleased to continue to me my reason and memory, until I also depart from this vale of tears, I think I will remember his last words until that hour.—After conversing a little with him, and when about to take my leave, I said to him, if it was the will of God that we should never again see one another in this world, I hoped we would meet in another and a better world. He answered me in the few following, but awfully important words, "I know how I am, but I know not how I may be;" taking (as good Mr. Boston expresses it) a leap in the dark, not knowing whether he should land in heaven or in hell. After making inquiry the next morning, I learned that his spirit returned to God who gave it about two hours after I left him. Having gone from our world, we cannot, we ought not, to follow him any farther; only this I will say, that he has received his sentence from him who can do him no wrong; for, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Now, from what we have seen of the life and death of these poor men, we may justly conclude that "the way of transgressors is hard." It was the saying of an old divine, that it required a person much harder labour to be damned than to be saved. We must acknowledge the idea to be just, although it may appear to be strangely expressed. But certain and true it is, that although these ways may seem right unto a man while he is walking in them, yet the end thereof is death. Now, although these persons whom I have just mentioned did not shoot themselves nor any of their comrades, yet the reader will easily perceive, by their conduct, the bad effects of evil principles and evil practices, which evidently led to the commission of such crimes as I have too justly charged upon some of the regiment.

CHAPTER IX.

We left Masulipatam to proceed towards Madras, upon the 30th July, 1811, nothing taking place upon the march that I shall trouble you with. When we came to St. Thomas's Mount, (the place where the field force was formed,) it was expected that we were to take the duty of Fort St. George again; but, after being encamped, and in suspense for eight days, we were ordered to proceed to Trichinopoly.—This was a march of four weeks farther; so we left the Mount, and commenced our route towards that place upon the 17th of August, that day three years we left it, to take the field with the centre division of the army. I can hardly entertain you with any new thing upon our march, but an anecdote or two about the elephant. These useful animals, as I said before, carry the soldiers' tents upon the line of march, the oldest in the service generally taking the lead of the rest, carrying a white flag fastened to his load, the rest falling in quite naturally behind him: and I also stated that they follow the regiment or the army; and at no time, that ever I knew of, go before them. And I also, upon the field force, stated that the men frequently fall behind when the journey is very long; being unable many of them to sustain such fatigue. So one day, when we were hard travelled, a young lad who was scarcely able to draw the one foot past the other, (as we say,) was deliberating upon lying down upon the side of the road, and giving it up for a bad job, the leader of the elephants coming up with his white flag, before he was aware, (as they make no noise upon a sandy road,) quietly took the firelock from his shoulder, and gave it to the keeper, who was upon the neck of the animal, where they always ride, as upon a horse's back, carrying a small tomahawk, by which they direct him; but this is seldom needed, as they know every thing almost by the word of command. As I said, he took the firelock from the poor wearied soldier, and gave it to his keeper. The lad being much frightened, not knowing but the elephant intended knocking out his brains with it, gave a fearful stare, and ran off as quickly as his wearied limbs could carry him; but this alarm put fresh spirits into him, and perceiving that the benevolent animal meant him no harm but good, by easing him of his principal load; he came to the camp ground in company with his new acquaintance, whom he every now and then eyed with a look of uncertain satisfaction. I had this story from Serjeant Gray, who commanded the rear guard, a man whom I could believe as firmly as if I had witnessed the whole scene myself. But this is nothing very wonderful, in that truly wonderful animal; for the elephant attached to my own company and I got so very intimate upon the march, that he would not pass the tent of which I had charge, unless I came and spoke with him. Our friendship originated in this way; I used always to keep a piece of rice cake for him, when we could get it to ourselves for money; and while he was getting his morsel in the morning, the men of the tent would be packing the baggage on his back, and thereby we were generally first ready for the march, which was no small matter in our favour.

I could tell you many such stories, which I find more pleasure in, than telling you of men shooting themselves and one another; but these may serve as specimens. Although these creatures are possessed of most wonderful patience, as well as sagacity, yet they can be irritated, as I will make appear. I intend just to state one incident in proof of this, and then I have done with them. It is customary in this country to appoint a soldier of each European regiment to take care that the elephants are attended to upon the march, both with regard to work and provisions; and this person is generally a non-commissioned officer, who receives the appellation of elephant major. A serjeant who held this situation in the 30th regiment, one day loaded a poor fatigued animal with abuse, which he thought he was not at all entitled to. The elephant, observe you, did not immediately avenge himself of his adversary; but coolly waited his proper opportunity, and, in the course of the march, seeing his friend the serjeant at a distance, he embraced the moment when the water of a rice field was flowing across the road, filled his trunk with the sludge, and making up to the serjeant, who happened to have on a new suit of clothes, and of which he seemed to be very vain, he lodged the contents of his trunk upon the proud fellow's coat, and effectually spoiled its new gloss.

Upon this march, which, being in the rainy season, exposed us to constant wet, we crossed four rivers in boats; viz. two branches of the Kistna, and two branches of the Cauvery, which overflowed its banks at the time. We were obliged to lie by the side of the last mentioned river some days before we durst venture over, as the basket boats, formerly described, could not withstand such a current; but at last we got over with a considerable degree of difficulty and danger, though without any material damage. I had frequently, upon this march, taken up the resolution of the young man just mentioned, to give it up in despair; and had it not been for that kind of unconquerable spirit I seemed to be possessed of, I certainly would have made application for a doolie, which at this time was hardly to be obtained. I was, indeed, very near dying outright one day. The faithful companion of my toils, who used every means in her power for my benefit, prepared always (if possible) a draught for me when I came to the camp ground; but on this day it would not go down. She entertained very unfavourable hopes of me for some time, but, as the Lord would have it, after I rested a little, I was somewhat recruited; and being near the river last mentioned, we had a respite for a day or two, and being thereby something refreshed, I made out the march, which was four hundred and eighty-five miles, without the help of a doolie. The reader would not at all be surprised to hear of men dying, and giving up, upon a march in this country, if he could form a just idea of their hardships. On the very night before this, there was such a dreadful hurricane, that we could neither sit nor lie, but were obliged to stand and hold the poles of our tents, to keep the wind from carrying them away; and many of the tents were blown down, notwithstanding all the efforts of their inmates to support them; for the pins and cords were no security against the irresistible power of the airy element, but gave way like stubble before the sweeping blast. The ground, on which we had frequently to lie, was so deluged with the rain, that we were often up to the ankles in mud. All we could do in this case was to clear it away with a momatee, (a kind of scraper;) but, after all, the wet ground was a very unwholesome, uncomfortable bed. Our provisions, as I have mentioned before, were mutton and rice; and, had they been good, we would have had no just cause to complain; but, how could the sheep be in good condition in this country, when they live one half of the year upon the roots of grass, not a blade being to be seen during that time, except what grows by the sides of rivers or tanks? and marching them about with the army, you may be sure, did not at all improve their condition. I have looked at a chattie pot, (all their cooking utensils are made of earth, like our tiles or cans,) where half a sheep has been boiled, and, I assure you, there was not a vestige of fat to be seen: and then, the rice being cleaned and cooked in the open air, was always less or more mixed with sand. The only refreshing article we received was our two drams of liquor, which was a very acceptable beverage mixed with water; but I need not labour to make you enter into my feelings, for that would be impossible, unless you had experienced what I have done. However, I would not advise you to try the experiment to gratify your curiosity, or you may think it dear bought; and, in all probability, never come home to tell the tidings. I must say, indeed, that I was quite overjoyed when we received the route to go to India; but if I had known beforehand what I was to be subjected to in that country, I think, and not without cause, that I never would have been able to support the afflictions and hardships which fell to my lot; but the Lord, who is infinitely wise and merciful, in the exercise of that wisdom and mercy, has hid both the pains and pleasures of his dependent creatures from them, that "in the day of prosperity they may be moderately joyful, not knowing how soon afflictions may overtake them, and that in the day of adversity they may consider that the Lord may yet have many even temporal blessings in reserve for them;" and by thus "setting the one over against the other," we may keep an equal, humble, and dependent mind; and thereby act under the injunction of the apostle, namely, to "weep as though we wept not, and rejoice as though we rejoiced not; and buy as though we possessed not; knowing that our time here is short, and that the fashion of this world passeth away."

We reached Trichinopoly upon the 5th October. This march, upon the whole, was the most severe I experienced in India, but it was the last I ever travelled upon foot. I was not long in Trichinopoly till I found the effects of my former troubles; for I was seized with a liver complaint, and a general debility of the nervous system, which rendered me totally unfit for duty. I lingered long in this delicate state, and the doctor proposed sending me home, but the commanding officer was unwilling to part with me, still hoping that my disorder would take a favourable turn. My leading fifer was ordered to do my duty, and I had full liberty to walk about when able, wherever I pleased, and to amuse myself in any way I thought proper. In a word, I continued in this weakly state for about a twelvemonth, when it was found necessary that I should be invalided.

While we lay here, I received an addition to my family, in consequence of my wife having stood godmother for a child belonging to a serjeant of the regiment. But to enable you to understand the story properly, it will be needful to give you an outline of the mother's history, which I will do in as few words as possible.