The obverse of this award showed a sepoy holding a Union Jack, whilst in the background the tents of the Indian camp were revealed. A Persian inscription filled the exergue (i.e. the section of the circular face of the medal cut off from the rest by a straight line). The reverse revealed a wooden British ship nearing the coast, presumably of Egypt. The date, MDCCCI, was added. The Turkish Sultan, also, gave a medal to the British soldiers who took part in this campaign. It is usually spoken of as "The Order of the Crescent." These early years of the nineteenth century brought the English into many unfortunate conflicts with our present allies, the French. No sooner was strife at an end in Egypt than we once more met our gallant rivals, this time in the Islands of Rodrigues, Bourbon, and Mauritius. It was in the years 1809-10, under the command of General J. Abercromby, who led the 6th and 24th Madras Infantry, also the 4th Bombay Infantry, and Vice-Admiral Bertie, who brought a squadron of ships, that a strong force met and defeated the French. The medal which was afterwards awarded to all natives who took part in the engagement was inscribed, "This medal was conferred in commemoration of the bravery and fidelity exhibited by the Sepoys of the English Company in the capture of the Islands of Rodrigues, Bourbon, and Mauritius in the year of Hegira, 1226." The date as reckoned by the English calendar was also given. The obverse revealed a sepoy standing with our national flag in one hand and a rifle in the other. A cannon was shown just behind him, whilst the background depicted an expanse of sea. Gold and silver pieces were struck by the Calcutta Mint. The following Order in Council of the year 1811 is of interest:-- "On the occasion of the approaching return from the late French islands of the volunteers from Bengal, Fort St. George, and Bombay, to the Presidencies to which they respectively belong, His Excellency the Vice-President in Council considers it to be no less an act of justice than of indispensable duty to record the high sense he entertains of the services performed by the native soldiery, who were employed in concert with His Majesty's troops in the reduction of the Islands of Rodriguez, Bourbon, and Mauritius. He is pleased to signify his approbation of the distinguished merits of the volunteers by conferring honorary medals on all the native commissioned and non-commissioned officers, troopers, sepoys, gaulundauze, and gun lascars employed on that service."