[55] Died 1805.
[56] During the early wars by the East India Company the troops employed by it comprised men of various European nationalities, besides natives of the United Kingdom.
[57] The officer alluded to, familiarly known as “Paddy” Graves, parodied a well-known soldiers’ song of Peninsular days after this manner:—
“The Sixty-second Springers all—are
Going to march unto Umballah—r;
And the Buffs, that gallant band—are
Going to their native land—are.
Love, farewell.”
[58] In subsequent years large numbers of them were converted to Christianity; colonies established by them in Cachar and Assam.
[59] In 1757 a stately range of two-storied barracks for “European” troops were erected at a cost of £302,278, the rupee then worth 2s. In 1834 they were abandoned on account of high rates of sickness and mortality among their occupants; average admission rate of 13 years per 1,000 strength, admissions 2,196, deaths 82. Of certain endemic diseases treated the rates of deaths to admissions were:—fever, 1 in 21; dysentery, 1 in 10; hepatitis, 1 in 9.
[60] Then sixteen years of age. His grandfather, Jaffer Ali, Wuzzeer of Suraj ood Dowlah, Nawab of Bengal, a member of the Imperial family of Delhi, whom Lord Clive defeated at Plassee in 1757. It is related that on that occasion Jaffer Ali bribed a number of Suraj ood Dowlah’s troops; with them he deserted his chief and went over to the English side. Subsequently the Nawab was assassinated, and Jaffer Ali raised to a position he had no right to claim. Thenceforward the Nawab of Moorshedabad was an “ally” of the British Government.
[61] Plassee. From Palasa, “dâk tree,” or Butea frondosa.
[62] Kulnah is 164 miles from the Sandheads.
[63] Now, after an interval of fifty-two years, I still am proud to call him friend. Alas! since the above was written he has passed away.