Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th RegimentShipp, John
History
Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th Regiment
Shipp, John
India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947 -- Biography; Shipp, John, 1784-1834
This is the description of the people inhabiting those beautiful
mountains, on which the eye could dwell, and always find something new
to feast on. This very fort of Callenger had, but a short time before,
been stained with the purple stream flowing from Christian bosoms. It
was in the storming of this fort, that his Majesty's 53rd regiment of
Foot suffered so severely before they succeeded in planting Old
England's banner on its proud top. On the summit of the edifice is a
monument, which was erected to the memory of the brave fellows who fell
in the assault of this place.
We remained here three or four days, visiting this fort; and the oftener
we went up, the more we were astonished how it was possible our troops
could have got in on the occasion alluded to. To us who merely journeyed
for amusement up its stupendous sides, the ascent was most difficult,
and by the time we had gained its summit we were exhausted. That a fort
like that of Callenger, often attempted by legions of native armies,
should have been taken as it was, was matter of amazement to all who
beheld it. It had once, we understood, been taken by stratagem in the
following manner. A native rajah, who was going to war, solicited the
governor's permission to lodge his treasures and family there as a place
of security during the war. The governor, no doubt actuated by the hope
of the ultimate possession of the treasures, readily granted the
required asylum, for which purpose a hundred doolies, or covered
palanquins, were to be sent up on the following morning. The infatuated
and blinded governor, his soul burning with the prospect of gain,
slumbered on his couch of supposed safety. Each of these palanquins was
to be permitted to carry one female belonging to the rajah's family;
but, instead, each in reality contained a soldier dressed in the
habiliments of the female sex, and veiled to hide his huge moustaches.
To each of those doolies were eight bearers; in the palanquins were
their arms, hidden from view. Those hundred doolies went up without the
slightest suspicion, and they were ranged around the governor's house.
The sequel may be readily guessed: no sooner were the supposed bearers
relieved of their loads than they flew to arms, and thus got possession
of the fort of Callenger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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