COLONEL STEINBACH-CAPTAIN DE LA FONT. 351

trace whatever of scientific skill or of unity of design. In his opinion Colonel Hurbon's influence and authority did not extend beyond a regiment or a brigade.

Colonel Hurbon is chiefly interesting as having been the only European officer who actually served with the Sikh army against the British.

XV. COLONEL STEINBACH.

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Steinbach commanded an infantry regiment in the Sikh army, and wrote a little book about the Panjab. In the mutiny of the Sikh army in 1843 Colonel Steinbach narrowly escaped with his life. It is related that the men of his regiment adopted a most unpleasant method of showing their dislike and contempt for him.

He subsequently entered the service of Maharaja Gulab Singh, and commanded his army at the time of the second Sikh war.

XVI. CAPTAIN DE LA FONT.

Auguste de la Font was aide-de-camp to General Ventura, and in that capacity was in attendance on the General at Peshawar in 1839. When Ventura was prevented by the intrigues which followed the death of Ranjit Singh from proceeding to Kabul in command of the Muhammadan contingent of the Khalsa army, Captain de la Font acted as staff officer to Colonel Wade. In this capacity he rendered good service both in action at the taking of Fort Ali Masjid, and subsequently in aiding to

keep the peace between the Khalsa contingent and Colonel Wade's somewhat unruly force.

At the siege of Lahore (described by Colonel Gardner) De la Font is said to have nearly gained access to the fortress by mining, when the operations were brought to a termination by Dhyan Singh.

XVII. CAPTAIN M'PHERSON.

This gentleman, described as "a respectable officer," after serving in Ranjit Singh's army, entered the service of the Nawab of Bhawalpur, who gave him command of a regiment of regular infantry.

Captain M'Pherson served with the Bhawalpur contingent in Sir Herbert Edwardes's campaign against Multan, and was killed at the head of his regiment at the battle of Sadusam on July 1, 1848. He was buried on the following morning with military honours.

XVIII. AND XIX. MESSRS CAMPBELL AND GARRON.

These gentlemen are mentioned by Masson the traveller as commanding regiments in the Sikh army. They are included in Gardner's list, but there is no further information concerning them.

Mr Campbell is very probably identical with the gallant officer of that name who raised Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk's Hindustani regiment, and was deserted by the Shah at Kandahar on the occasion of his defeat by Dost Muhammad. Mr Campbell's conduct was most gallant:

he was severely wounded, and was succoured by Dost Muhammad, whose service he entered. It is stated that his daughter is still living at Kabul.

Mr Garron may stand for Carron, a secret agent of the British Government, and a man of strange adventures.

Of the remaining officers but few particulars are to be gleaned.

Messrs Alvarine (23), Hommus (24), and Amise (25) died at Lahore at different periods. Hest (26), the Greek officer, was murdered in the streets of the same city. Captain De la Roche (27) was killed there by a fall from his horse.

Dubuignon (28), described as an estimable young man, was in the service of the Begum Sumroo. There he was picked up by General Ventura, who was visiting India for the good of his health. Ventura treated him with great kindness, and eventually married him to his own sisterin-law.

John Holmes, No. 29 on the list, and the last of whom any particulars were given, was a man of mixed parentage. He was a worthy old soldier, and passed for a Christian, at Peshawar, when Sir Herbert Edwardes was there, though he had more than one wife. John Holmes did good service with Edwardes and Van Cortlandt in the advance on Multan in 1848, and was eventually murdered by some of his own men. His family sent in a claim for compensation to the Indian Government, in which were specified, among other dependants, two mothers.

354

LIST OF CHARACTERS IN PANJAB HISTORY, FROM THE DEATH OF RANJIT SINGH TO THE BRITISH ANNEXATION.

No.

SOVEREIGNS.

1. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, died June 27, 1839.

2.

3.

Kharrak Singh (son of No. 1), deposed, and subsequently poisoned, November 5, 1840.

Nao Nihal Singh (son of No. 2), killed, Nov. 5, 1840. 4. Maharani Chand Kour (widow of No. 2 and Regent), murdered by order of No. 5, June 1842.

5. Maharaja Sher Singh (son of No. 1), murdered by No. 15, September 15, 1843.

6. Maharaja Dhulip Singh (son of No. 1), deposed, March 29, 1849.

PRINCES, MINISTERS, ETC.

7. Kashmira Singh (son of No. 1), killed by the Sikh army, July 1843.

8. Peshora Singh (son of No. 1), murdered, August 1844.

9. Partab Singh (son of No. 5), murdered by No. 15, Sept. 15, 1843. 10. Chet Singh (Minister to Kharrak Singh), murdered by No. 11, October 8, 1839.

11. Raja Dhyan Singh (Prime Minister), mur

dered by No. 15, September 15, 1843,

12. Raja Gulab Singh, afterwards Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir,

13. Raja Suchet Singh, killed by the Sikh army, March 1843,

the Dogra brothers.

14. Hira Singh (son of No. 11), killed by the Sikh army, December

21, 1844.

15. Ajit Singh, Sindhanwalia,

16. Lehna Singh, Sindhanwalia,

brothers, killed by the Sikh army, September 1843.

17. Pandit Julla (Secretary to No. 14), killed by the Sikh army,

December 21, 1844.

18. Jawahir Singh (uncle of No. 6), killed by the Sikh army, Sep

tember 21, 1845.

19. Maharani Jindan (mother of No. 6), banished.

INDEX.

'Abode of Snow, the,' by Andrew Barakzai chiefs of Peshawar, the

Burial, mode of, in Kafiristan,
89.

Allard, General, 185 et fn., 300, Burnes, Sir Alexander, 4, 159.