The Brigadier thought it desirable that the Court-Martial should be composed of Native, rather than British, officers, as being likely to be looked upon by the prisoners as a more impartial tribunal, under the peculiar circumstances in which we were placed.  This was made possible by the arrival of the 1st Punjab Infantry—­Coke’s Rifles—­a grand regiment under a grand Commander.  Raised in 1849, composed chiefly of Sikhs and Pathans, and possessing Native officers of undoubted loyalty, the 1st Punjab Infantry had taken part in almost every frontier expedition during the previous eight years.  Its history was a glorious record of faithful and devoted service, such as can only be rendered by brave men led by officers in whom they believe and trust.[10] The Subadar-Major of the corps was a man called Mir Jaffir, a most gallant Afghan soldier, who entered the British service during the first Afghan war, and distinguished himself greatly in all the subsequent frontier fights.  This Native officer was made president of the Court-Martial.  The prisoners were found guilty of mutiny, and sentenced to death.  Chamberlain decided that they should be blown away from guns, in the presence of their own comrades, as being the most awe-inspiring means of carrying the sentence into effect.[11] A parade was at once ordered.  The troops were drawn up so as to form three sides of a square; on the fourth side were two guns.  As the prisoners were being brought to the parade, one of them asked me if they were going to be blown from guns.  I said, ‘Yes.’  He made no further remark, and they both walked steadily on until they reached the guns, to which they were bound, when one of them requested that some rupees he had on his person might be saved for his relations.  The Brigadier answered:  ‘It is too late!’ The word of command was given; the guns went off simultaneously, and the two mutineers were launched into eternity.

It was a terrible sight, and one likely to haunt the beholder for many a long day; but that was what was intended.  I carefully watched the sepoys’ faces to see how it affected them.  They were evidently startled at the swift retribution which had overtaken their guilty comrades, but looked more crest-fallen than shocked or horrified, and we soon learnt that their determination to mutiny, and make the best of their way to Delhi, was in nowise changed by the scene they had witnessed.

[Footnote 1:  The late General Sir Henry Daly, G.C.B.]

[Footnote 2:  Now General Sir John Coke, G.C.B.]

[Footnote 3:  Afterwards commanded by Lieutenant, now General, Sir Dighton Probyn, V.C., G.C.V.O., K.C.B.]

[Footnote 4:  The late Major-General Sir George Green, K.C.B.]

[Footnote 5:  The late Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Wilde, K.C.B., K.C.S.I.]

[Footnote 6:  The late General James Walker, C.B., sometime Surveyor-General in India.]

[Footnote 7:  Now General Sir George Bourchier, K.C.B.]