English were killed all about the city wherever they were met with. The same day proclamation was made by beat of drum throughout the city, that God was the Ruler of the World, and that Bahadur Shah was sovereign of the country, and had the supreme authority. The next day, the 12th, when the troops from Meerut and those at Delhi had coalesced, the King took his seat on the throne, a salute of guns was fired, and Mahbub Ali Khan, the minister, was ordered to give the whole army a feast. Accordingly they were all supplied with confectionary, the native officers receiving in addition a present in money. Formerly a silver throne had been kept in the Hall of Special Audience, on which the King used to take his seat on special state occasions; but since the year 1842, the presentation of the usual offering by the agent of the Lieutenant-governor on occasion of interviews and salutes was disallowed. This throne was then removed and placed in a recess in the passage below the King's sitting-room, and since that time was in disuse till the 12th of May, when it was brought out again, and the King took his seat on it, as on a throne.

Question. Before the 11th of May, were any proposals sent by the army to the King?

Answer.-I don't know whether any direct proposals came to the prisoner, but the King's personal attendants sitting about the entrance to his private apartments, used to converse among themselves, and say that very soon, almost immediately, the army would revolt and come to the palace, when the government of the King would be re-established, and all the old servants would be greatly promoted and advanced in position and emoluments.

It being four o'clock the Court adjourns till 11 A. M. to-morrow.

FIFTEENTH DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Saturday, 13 February 1858.

THE Court re-assembled this day at 11 A. M. in the Hall of Special Audience in the Palace at Delhi. The President, Members, Interpreter, and Deputy Judge Advocategeneral are all present.

The prisoner is brought into Court, attended by his attorney, Ghulam Abbas.

Mukund Lal, the ex-King's Secretary, is called into Court, and examined on his former affirmation.

Examination by Judge Advocate-continued.

Question.-Who were the personal attendants of the King who used to talk in this way? Answer.-Basant Ali Khan, and the whole body of them.

Question.-How many days previous to the outbreak were they talking in this way? Answer.-Four days.

Question. According to your statement, it appears that Mirza Haidar Shikoh took part in the consultation relative to the correspondence with Persia; but it is known that the King complained against Mirza Haidar Shikoh for having calumniated him at Lucknow; how do you explain this.

Answer.—This was merely a deception adopted as a precaution against the chance of the true state of affairs coming to light, so that should such happen it might be brought forward as proof that there could be no combination, but on the contrary dissension between the two parties.

Question.-By whose orders were the ladies and children that were prisoners in the palace murdered?

Answer. These people were being collected for three days: on the fourth day, the infantry and cavalry soldiers, accompanied by Mirza Moghal, came to the entrance of the King's private apartments, and requested the King's permission to kill them. The King was at this time in his own apartments: Mirza Moghal and Basant Ali Khan went inside while the soldiery remained without; they returned in about 20 minutes, when Basant Ali Khan publicly and in a loud voice, proclaimed that the King had given his permission for the slaughter of the prisoners, and that they could take them away: accordingly the King's armed retainers, in whose custody the prisoners had been, took them from the place of confinement, and in conjunction with some of the mutinous soldiery, killed them.

Question.-Do you know anything further?

Answer.-After the fighting had commenced, whoever brought in the head of an European soldier, or officer, received a reward of two rupees.

Question. On any occasion was any soldier or officer taken prisoner and brought in alive?

Answer.-No.

Question.-Previous to this outbreak, had the Mahomedans entered into any conspiracy or combination to bring about this insurrection?

Answer. When the mutineers arrived here, the Mahomedans joined them at once :is it not to be inferred from this that some combination must have previously existed between them?-but it was only the lower and not the higher orders that joined them. Question. Can you name any men among the higher classes of the Mahomedans that did not join in rebellion against the British Government?-the King and all the princes most certainly did so.

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Answer.

Answer. My former answer was in allusion to the day of the outbreak, and not to any thing which occurred subsequently.

Question.-Who were the persons that were admitted to the private confidential conferences with the King?

Answer.-Mahbub Ali Khan, an eunuch and prime minister, Hasan Askari the priest, Zinat Mahall, the favourite queen, Nani Begam, the prisoner's daughter, Agha Begam, another daughter of the prisoner, and Ashraf-un-nissa, one of the King's wives, and when there was a necessity for anything being written, it was done by the King's special secretariat office under the direction of the physician Ahsan Ulla Khan, and a person who was by caste a Kayasth, but had the same name as myself, viz. Mukund Lal.

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Question.-Persian papers, Nos. 2, 3, and 4, arranged under the head of " Murder,” are shown to witness, and he is asked if he recognises the handwriting of them?

Answer.—I do not. They may have been written in the new office set up by Subadar Bakht Khan; one of his writers, a moulavy, used to prepare the papers and bring them to have the King's seal affixed.

Question.-Were you never admitted to the private confidential conferences of the King? Answer.-No.

Question.-How, then, did you become aware of what you have related, in reference to the mission to Persia?

Answer. I used to remain in attendance on Mahbub Ali Khan, the minister. I was a servant of the King, but was attached especially to the service of Mahbub Ali Khan, and used to hear some subjects of confidence from him.

Question.-Was it generally supposed in the palace that Hasan Askari had great influence with the King?

Answer. Yes, not only in the palace, but throughout the city also, it was known that Hasan Askari, the priest, and Mahbub Ali Khan, exercised the greatest influence over the King.

Question. Was not one of the daughters of the King a disciple of Hasan Askari, and was either of the two you have mentioned as admitted to the confidential conference the one alluded to?

Answer. A daughter of the King's, named Nawab Begam, the wife of Mirza Zaman Shah, had become a disciple of Hasan Askari, but she died 1 years ago; the other two I have named did not professedly become his disciples, but they always avowed great faith in his sanctity.

Question. Did the prisoner on any occasion go out of the palace for the purpose of encouraging the troops to fight against the English?

Answer. Yes, two days after the assault, viz., on the 16th September he went in an open litter in the direction of the magazine, at the head of the army; but had scarcely proceeded 200 yards beyond the palace, when he halted for an hour, and then returned, the army in the meantime dispersing.

Question. Do you know what induced the prisoner to halt after proceeding so short a distance, and to what was it generally attributed?

Answer. He had gone out with the army in order to dislodge the British from the city; when the troops became engaged, he stayed to encourage them.

Question.--Did the King habitually peruse the paper, called the "Sadik-ul-Akhbar"? Answer.--I can't say as to his always reading it; but this paper and others used to come to him.

Question.-Was there more than usual agitation and excitement among the Mussulmans of Delhi against the British rule some few months before the outbreak?

Answer.--I don't know.

Question.--Were you in the habit of reading the "Authentic News,” the “Sadik-ul

Akhbar?"

Answer.-- No, I never read it.

The prisoner declines to cross-examine.

Examined by Court.

Question.-Were any persons of the Hindu faith admitted to the private confidential conferences of the prisoner, except Mukund Lal Kayasth?

Answer.-No, no other Hindu was so trusted.

Question. Are you aware whether any emissaries were despatched from Delhi, after the outbreak, to induce the native regiments that had not at that time revolted, to come and join the mutineers in Delhi?

Answer-I don't know.

The witness withdraws.

Captain Tytler, of the 38th Native Infantry, is called into Court, and duly sworn.

Question. Did you on that day see or hear any carriage, such as is used for travelling post, go into the lines of your regiment; if so, state all the circumstances?

Answer.--Yes, about 3 P.M. on Sunday the 10th of May, I heard a bugle, and the sound

of

of carriage wheels pass my door. This being very unusual where I resided, I told a servant of mine to run out and see if any one was coming to my house. He went and returned immediately, and said it was a carriage with natives going towards the lines. My house being a corner one, the carriage was obliged to pass three sides of the grounds; so before it passed a second side, I directed the same servant to run to the lines and give my salaam to the subadar major of the regiment, and say I wanted to see him, for it occurred to me that he and the other native officers of my regiment who had been to Meerut on court martial duty, must be returning in this carriage. The servant returned shortly afterwards, and said, There are a great number of natives in the carriage from Meerut, but none belonging to our regiment, by which I distinctly understood he alluded to soldiers.

Question.-What did you witness on the 11th of May?

Answer.-On the morning of the 11th of May, I think about nine o'clock, one of my servants rushed into the room, and said, Lieutenant Holland had sent over to say that troops were marching on Delhi. I put on my uniform and went over to him. He joined me, and we then went together to Lieutenant Gambier, the adjutant, where we met Colonel Knyvett, commanding the regiment, Captain Gardner and the brigade-major, Captain Nicoll, and I then learnt that mutineers were marching from Meerut on to Delhi; and I was ordered to proceed at once to the lines, and take my own company along with Captain Gardner's. Completing them to the strength of 200 men, with the usual allowance of ammunition in pouch, I was then ordered to proceed to a house on the ridge above the new powder magazine, outside the city, and to be very particular that no body of men crossed over from the opposite side of the river. Captain Gardner and I went immediately to the lines; we found the men of our companies rather excited, and it was with some slight difficulty that we succeeded in completing each of our companies to 100 strong. A slight delay now took place in serving out the ammunition, and after sending repeatedly to the magazine to ascertain the cause, I went myself, and the khalassies said, "What can we do? the sepoys about here who have come for ammunition are quarrelling and squabbling with us about the cartridges and caps, and we cannot give either without counting them." I hurried the work and returned to the company. When the cartridges and caps were being served out, many of the men seized more bundles than they were entitled to; therefore, to prevent further delay at the time, I had these men marked, that I might punish them afterwards. Captain Gardner also remarked to me that the men of his company showed the same anxiety to secure more ammunition than they were entitled to. The order was now given to the companies to march. Both Captain Gardner and myself remarked the excited manner in which the men left the lines, shouting vehemently every now and then, and which neither of us could prevent. I wish here to record a circumstance that occurred on the morning of the 11th, but which I have omitted mentioning. There was a brigade parade that morning to hear the sentence of a general court martial read regarding a native officer, Ishwari Pandé, at Barrackpore, when I remarked a murmur of disapprobation throughout the whole regiment. Though it lasted but a few seconds, it struck me forcibly as something extraordinary, never having witnessed anything like it before. When we arrived at the house over the magazine, I placed sentries at different points which commanded the bend of the river. The rest of the men, after piling arms, I took into the house; it was a very hot day, and as some of our men had procured water melons and some sweetmeats, they brought them to us, and insisted on our partaking of them; both Captain Gardner and myself remarked the great attention our men were paying us. In the meantime, we were called out to see fires that were every now and then appearing in the city. Shortly after this, we heard a report of cannon. All this we could not account for. Captain Gardner remarked to me how lucky it was that our men seemed so well disposed, as we were convinced that there was something serious going on in the city, particularly as we remembered the fires that had broken out in Ambala and other places. We now remarked that our men were forming small groups in the heat of the sun. I ordered them to come in, and not expose themselves thus. They said, "We like being in the sun." I ordered them in again. When I went into one of the rooms, I remarked, for the first time, a native, from his appearance a soldier, haranguing the men of the companies, and saying that every power or government existed their allotted time, and that it was nothing extraordinary that that of the English had come to an end, according to what had been predicted in their native books. Before I could make a prisoner of him, the magazine in the city exploded, and then the men of the two companies, with a tremendous shout took up their arms and ran off to the city, exclaiming, " Prithivi Raj Ki Jai!" or "Victory to the Sovereign of the World."

Question.--Did you notice anything before the 10th of May, that led you to suppose that the sepoys of your regiment were disaffected? Answer.-No.

Question.-Did any other circumstance come to your notice from which you might infer that a disturbance at Delhi had been expected before it broke out?

Answer. Yes, one of my old servants, a man who had been about 26 years in our family, was about this time going on leave, and when I urged him particularly to return, he on several occasions, with a sorrowful expression, said, "Yes, sir, provided your hearth is still in existence," that is, provided you and your family are in a condition to give me service. He made use of these expressions about a week or 10 days before the outbreak. He left me about this time, and I have not seen or heard from him since.

The prisoner declines to cross-examine.

The witness withdraws.

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Serjeant

Serjeant Fleming, late Bazar Serjeant at Delhi, is called into Court, and duly sworn.

Examined by Judge Advocate.

Question.-Was your son some time before the outbreak here in May last in the habit of riding and exercising the horses of the prisoner's son, Jawan Bakht? Answer.-Yes, he had done so for five or six years.

Question.-What was the age of your son?

Answer.-He was about 19.

Question. A short time before the outbreak, did he complain to you of any language used to him by the prisoner's son, Jawan Bakht?

Answer-In the latter end of the month of April 1857, he came from Mr. Fraser's office, where he used to write, and told me that he had that day gone in the morning to the prime minister's house as usual, and had there seen the prisoner's son, Jawan Bakht, who resided in that quarter, and that this Jawan Bakht had then told him that he was not to come again; that he did not like to see the face of an English infidel, and that before many days he would have them all killed and under his feet. Jawan Bakht then spit at him. My son told Mr. Fraser of it at the time, but Mr. Fraser replied that he was a fool, and was not to listen to such nonsense. After this, as far as I recollect, about the 2d of May, the prime minister sent for my son, to pay him up, and on this occasion again, the prisoner's son, Jawan Bakht, abused him still more, saying he would have his head off in a few days. This son of mine was killed in the place here during the rebellion.

The prisoner declines to cross-examine.

The witness withdraws.

The court at half-past 3 p.m. adjourns till Tuesday, the 23d of February, to allow of other witnesses being sent for, and enable the interpreter to translate certain requisite papers.

SIXTEENTH DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Tuesday, 23 February 1858.

THE Court re-assembled this morning at 11 a. m. in the Hall of Special Audience in the palace at Delhi.

The President, Members, Interpreter, and Deputy Judge Advocate-general are all present.

The prisoner is brought into Court, attended by his attorney, Ghulam Abbas.

Captain Martineau, of the 10th Native Infantry, is called into Court, and duly sworn. Examined by Judge Advocate.

Question.-Were you at

ketry at the depôt there?

Answer.-Yes, I was.

Ambala from January till May 1857, as instructor of mus

Question -Did a detachment of sepoys from every native regiment in India attend at this depôt for the purpose of receiving instruction in musketry?

Answer.-Not from every native regiment, but five men from 44 of the native regiments

attended.

Question.-Had you any conversation with these men relative to some chapaties that were circulated to different villages in these districts before the outbreak?

Answer. Yes, I had frequent conversations with various sepoys on this subject. I asked them what they understood in reference to them, and by whom they supposed that they were circulated; they described them to me as being in size and shape like ship biscuits, and believed them to have been distributed, by order of Government, through the medium of their servants, for the purpose of intimating to the people of Hindustan that they should be all compelled to eat the same food; and that was considered as a token that they would likewise be compelled to embrace one faith, or, as they termed it, "One food and one faith." Question. As far as you could understand, was this idea generally prevalent among all the sepoys of the various detachments at the depôt?

Answer. It was prevalent, as far as I could judge, among all the sepoys of every regiment that furnished a detachment to the depôt at Ambala.

Question.-Was there any report of the Government having mixed ground bones with flour for the purpose of having it distributed to the sepoys, and so destroying their caste? Answer.-Yes, I first heard of this in the month of March. It was told me that all the flour retailed from the Government depôts for the supply of troops on the march was so adulterated.

Question.-Do you think the sepoys generally firmly believed in this?

Answer. I have seen correspondence from various men which the sepoys of the depôt voluntarily placed in my hands, the writers of which, themselves sepoys, evidently believed that such was the case.

Question. Did the sepoys ever speak to you about any other cause of complaint or points on which they sought information?

Answer. Their complaint or rather fear was this. They apprehended that Government was going forcibly to deprive them of their caste.

Question.

Question.-Did any of them ever speak about Government interference regarding the re-marriage of Hindu widows?

Answer.--Yes, they alluded to that as an invasion of their social rights.

Question-Did any of them refer to the annexation of Oudh, as a measure indicating that Government wished to annihilate all the native independent states?

Answer.-At Ambala the subject was occasionally alluded to, as if it were not agreeable to them; but subsequently at Karnaul some troopers of the 3d Cavalry, about a week after the mutiny, on my speaking to them about the revolt of their comrades, said to me, "You have conquered and absorbed everything in Hindustan, you have no more foreign countries to take, and now you have determined upon a crusade against our religion and our faith". I was on duty as commissariat officer at Karnaul at this time, and the men of the 3rd Cavalry, to whom I am alluding, were those that have remained faithful.

Question. Did you ever hear any of the sepoys speak complainingly of the efforts of English missionaries to convert natives to Christianity?

Answer.-No, never in my life; I don't think they cared one bit about it.

Question.-Were the cartridges which the sepoys were called on to use at the depôt at Ambala in any way greased?

Answer.-No, not as issued from the magazines. They were not allowed to touch any that had been greased previous to distribution; they greased their own cartridges with a composition of ghi, that is, clarified butter and bees' wax; these materials they themselves purchased from natives, whenever they pleased to get them.

Question.- Did you observe any difference in making complaints about forcible deprivation of their religion between the Hindus and Mussulmans?

Answer.-Yes, as far the cartridge question went the Mahomedan sepoys laughed at it; it was only the Hindus that made the complaints in reference to losing caste; but in regard to those who spoke of the annexation of Oudh as a grievance, I can't say whether they were Mahomedans or not.

The prisoner declines to cross-examine.

Examined by Court.

Question. Did you observe anything peculiar in the conduct of the sepoys under your command previous to the outbreak, or any intimation of what was about to take place? Answer. Yes, they told me in plain language that there would be an outbreak; and there was every evidence of it in nightly fires at Ambala. The first fire commenced on the very day we fired the first Enfield cartridge, and continued nearly nightly up to the 10th of May. We commenced using the Enfield cartridges on the 17th of April; the men themselves remarked that although Government offered large rewards to any one who would give information of the incendiaries, yet no one was found to do so; and that this was a certain sign of general dissatisfaction and some impending outbreak. I made a public report to the above effect to army head-quarters then present at Ambala, and I also made a private representation of the same kind to Captain Septimus Becher, assistant adjutant-general of the army.

The witness withdraws.

Mrs. Fleming, Wife of Serjeant Fleming, is called into Court, and duly sworn.

Examined by Judge Advocate.

Question. In the end of April last were you in the house of Zinat Mahall, the prisoner's wife, and did you there see his son Jawan Bakht?

Answer.-Yes.

Question.-Relate what passed on that occasion?

Answer.-I was sitting down with his sister-in-law, and Jawan Bakht was standing by with his wife. My own daughter, Mrs. Scully, was also present. I was talking with Jawan Bakht's sister-in-law, when Mrs. Scully said to me, " Mother, do you hear what this young rascal is saying; he is telling me that in a short time he will have all the infidel English under his feet, and after that he will kill the Hindus." Hearing this, I turned round to Jawan Bakht, and asked him, "What is that you are saying?" He replied that he was only joking. I said, "If what you threaten were to be the case, your head would be taken off first." He told me that the Persians were coming to Delhi, and that when they did so, we, that is myself and daughter, should go to him, and he would save us. After this he left us. I think this must have occurred about the middle of April, 1857.

The prisoner declines to cross-examine.

The witness withdraws.

Copies of newspapers written by Chuni Lal, news-writer, from the 11th to the 20th of May both dates inclusive) having been seized in his house, are here read in original, and the translation of them is also read and entered as follows:

NARRATIVE of Occurrences in Delhi, from 11th to 20th May 1857, both Dates inclusive,

in the Form of a Diary, by Chuni Lal, News-writer.

SOME time during the night of the 10th May 1857, Mr. Fraser received a letter from Meerut, intimating the mutinous conduct of the infantry and cavalry there; but he did not make any arrangements then. In the morning, intelligence arrived that the 162. N 3

3rd