THROUGH CRIMEAN SNOWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 22

THROUGH CRIMEAN SNOWS

AM) UNDER TNDTAX SKIES.

(Specially written for the Witness ( hristmas

Number of ISO/,.)

By DIN Ort NTS.

When I first met Henry Sinclair M'Kiy he had laid 'abide the bagpipes and claymore, donned the trousers in place of the kilt, and taken to the peaceable purBuits of inrlustriallife. Having passed unscathed through all the borrorß of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny, he had returned home, and like man} another old soldier, waR glad to find employment of a humble sort, at rather a humble wage. He was, in fait, at the period allnded to, attending to the engine in a stone-cut-ting and polishing establishment in the North of Scotland. His employer, though he was a pious man and a preacher at street coners, took an early opportunity of swindling M'Kay to the extent of a few hundreds of pounds he had saved in India, and then levanted to America, or some other part of this wicked world better suited to those of his kidney. This episode, however, did not soar M'Kay, for he was a man built after a cheerful pattern. The big, brawny frame, massive bead, and heavilybearded face of the old soldier were gifts given by kindly Mother Nature to"a man— not a grumbler. Like many of those "who have done good service in the army, he was slow to speak of his own experiences, but by his officers and comrades alike he was held in high esteem as a true man, a bora piper, and a brave and dauntless soldier

Born in Caithness, Henry M'Kay grew up enjoying the usual advai tagesot a Highland home— hard fare, frest air, and freedom. When our bold young Highlandman took the Queen's shilling and enlisted in the 93 rd Highlanders there werj rumours of war already in the air. Rumour soon crystallised into a crisis, and that was followed by a declaration of war against Russia. Io is a strange thing that our native land, whose pre-eminent place among the nations has been gained, and must be maintained, b>war, should never be prepared for it. In this connection the history of the Crimean Warbeatsthe record; but, of course, to go into the matter of official mal-administration would be out of place in this sketch.

Passing over the episodes that usually enBue upon the embarkation of troops for the seat of war we find that on September 13, 1854, tbe combined French and British fleets anchored off the shores of the Crimea. Next morniug the allied armies commenced to land on a long stretch of &andy beach in Euapatoria Bay. Owing to an official blunder no shelter of any kind was then available either for officers or the rank and file. Each man carried three days' food ready cooked in his haversack. Shortly after landing a fierce gale commenced to blow from the west, and before sunset rain was comiDg

geaerals rode^forward to examine th ejground, che army was halted, and everyone had a brief spall wherein to indulge in reflection. Anxiety was depicted on maoy a face, for all felt that something far out of the usual cjurse was about to happen. While officers s'.oool about in groups di-cussing the probible method of attack, or surveyed the distaat'foe through their field glasses, the rank and file were ousily employed in examining their rifles and iv arranging their dress and accoutrements, so as to secure the greatest possible free'lom of action.

I rfo began the day of the Alma, so also did ie not end. Who that takes a living part in ', it can describe a bai tie ? Of the units en1 gaged in it, surely he would be the most unfit who found time to gaz-3 about him while the fearful work was a-doing. No honest i soldier ever did or could tell much about 1 great battles in the thick of which he had 1 been. M'Kay, who weat up the heights of I Alma that day, and with his comrades* drove out the RusMans from their own redoubt, could only tell what others could tell of the i battle — that he saw all about him his comrades doing their duty, and his comrades told ' do less of him. Claymore and bayonet had j plenty of ghastly work to do, and thousands of stalwart Muscovites lay dead or ! maimed upon mother earth. Upon examinI iug the dead the Highlanders were astonished i to find that the Russians were not only very j " clean soldiers," but also exceedingly welli formed and finely-grown men. Their knap-

; sacks were found to contain a far superior

set-out of articles than those of our own soldiers, and the conteuts were arranged in

pols capture, but that .glory was long^ a getting, and the mean* ultimately expended in reduciag ths fortrass were nothiog less than terrific. It was through the aoovementimed passing chance of war that the 93rd A.rgyle and Sutherland Highlanders earned the distinct! va title of " The thin red line," and the privilege of being the unit/ infantry regiment bearing upon its calours the word Balaclava. Left practically to themselves the 93rd made their position as cimtortable and safe as possible. At some distance on the plain was camped th? heavy artillery of the British army, and near by were a few battalions of Turks engaged making entrenchments. Away below, on the road to Sebastopol, parties of sailors were passing and repassing, carrying ammunition and dragging heavy guns towards the front. The happy-go-lucky sailois worked with so much energy and will, and with so much more noise, attended witli mirth and laughter and frequent imprecations, than the soldiers were accustomed to, that " we thought them more like boys at play than men intent on serious work ; but, observing the cheerful example they set us, we were gradually brought back to a happier and more contented frame of mind."

At the end of about three weeks the bombaidment of Sebastopol commenced, and was kept up with tremendous vigour by the British batteries and fleet especially, during the first day. The thunder of the artillery and the report of a great explosion within the fortress caused many to think that the stronghold was about to fall into the hands of its assailants. But day after day passed,

wards Highland line at a briskj pace, which gradually increased to a gallop. Sir Colin ordered his Highland boys to reform line on the crest of the bill. Upon their flanks were the Tarks, who, as the enemy rapidly approached, grew uasteady, and at last fairly turned, broke, and bolted, followed by derisive cries from the 93rd. At this moment the chief rode along the front of the regiment, bidding them be " steady," for, if necessary, every man should have " to die where he stood." He was answered by the universal and cheery rpsponse, "Aye, aye, Sir Colin ; we'll do that."

In this instance the soldiers saw quite clearly what they had to do and expect. M'Kay used to say that they looked for nothing less than a hand-to-hand, bayonet-to-sabre struggle with the on-coming calvary, bus that with their dauntless and beloved old chief they would willingly attempt anything. Not only were they proud of him, but well they knew that he was proud ot them, and that he could trust them. Strict in every detail, every point of discipline, yet was he as a father to the brigade ; his life was their life, and his watchful care was always being exercised for their good. In hospital and in camp his visits to the tents ' were frequent and usually unannounced. lie , spoke their tongue, and often addressed them familiarly by their names. He was of their own kith and kin, understood their racial character aDd feelings, and , could rouse or quiet them at will with a few words, sometimes spoken kindly, but at other times sharply and emphatically. At that time the Highland regi-

down in torrents, drenchiug everything and everybody. Huddled in their great coats, privates and officers lay upon the ground with sand for a bed and a very wet blanker — the rain storm— for covering. Many a one «if those who thus spent their first night in the Crimea had ofcen before passpd a- comfortless nights upon bleak hillsides at home, and although thunderclaps woke them from their slumbers, in the morning they arot-u refreshed and hungry.

The First Division, including pa-t of the j 93rd, was already bivouacked upon high ground above the landing pace. Here the Highlanders found there were hardshios much worse than sleeping upon the bare earth amid wind and rain. According to one who is thoroughly competent to give an opinion, •' these troops consisted of a set. of the very finest soldiers ever t>ent into the field _ by Britain." Yet it is a fact that cholera destroyed hundreds of them owing to the absence of hospital accommodation of an adequate kind. Saortly after landing the army, having advanced towards Bilaclava, had its first brush with the foe, when the British cavalry and horse artillery attacked some Russian companies which had advanced to reconnoitre. This was the first shedding of blood in the campaign, out before nightfall ' of the next day the neighbouring hills were , Boakdd with the life blood of maay a gallant I fellow. The army bivouacked upon the banks of I the little river Bulganok. The night was beautifully calm and warm, in striking contrast to those that preceded it. The evening ration cooked and Baten, the men lay at rest about ttieir fires ; the moonless sky resplendant with stars, and not a cloud to b°t seen. , Nature seemed strangely to slumber, and on J such an occasiin ! Within a few miles of i each other lay two armies of picked men at rest, only, however, as a preliminary ti the work of slaughter and the endurance of mutilation and death. Without bugle call or beat of drum, tbe invading army was early astir and silently inoviog forward in battle order next morn- j ing. About 8 o'clock were sighted the low | hills among which flows the Alma. Upon the i hi-ights far in the distance, beyond the river ; wir,h its wooded banks, vineyard, and j pleasant - looking farmhouse?, the Russian array could be seen. Here, while the allied j

every instance with mathematical exactitude. There the owners of the knapsacks lay, however, in heaps, a pitiful sight for all, and an unexpected one for the gathering of Russian ladies who, from a neighbouring hill, looked on to " see the British army swept back into tbe sea." M'Kay like.i to tell, and his eyes twinkled as he did so, of the f j arful Hurry-scurrying of the ladies as they fled for their carriages and drove off helterskelter when it was seen how the battle was going. When the victorious army moved forward three days later they found many of the carriages lying smashed and wheelless by the roadside, the result of over-haste to return whence they came.

Apart from the sad sequel to every battle — the/) of comraies, mayhap relatives, lost — *,here ari usually a fnw curious episodes to record as a set-off. O.ie such, at least, occurred during the battle of the Alma. It is recorded in concise terms by Surgeongeneral Munro, then surgeon of the 93rd. He says : " I was standing watching the struggle near the great redoubt, when, to my surprise, a gentlemen in plain clothes approached me. He was a stout and rather heavy man with prominent features ; his face, bronz*d by exposure, was well covered by a dark brown beard and whiskers. He was on foot, and appeared to suffer much from the heat and from exhaustion, but was very observant of what wa» taking plaoe, and carried a note-book in his hand. He addressed me in the following words : 'This is a splendid sight I—one1 — one that I have been looking forward to very wearily for mon'.hs, and now I am satisfied and pleased ro see it ! ' He did not tell me who he was, and I never saw him again ; but he was so onservant that I concluded he was some enthusias'ic Briton taking notes for his amusement. Ie was not Dr Russel, whom I often saw afterwards in the Crimea and in India."

S >on aftar the Alma the allied armies marched forward and took possession of the town of Bilaclava iv faca of very slight re?istance. Here, much to their own chagrin, the 93rd were left to hold th« place and protect the vessels of the British fleet, which had arrived almost at the same moment as the troop* on shore. As events turned out the Highlanders had every reason to exult at being thus situated. Thay thought to lose their share in the glory of Sebasto-

and though a perfect rain of shoe and shell was poured upon the place it still withstood, and the aosauU developed into a regular siege, while it was seen that the armies would have •to winter in the Crimea.

At Balaclava clouds were gathering which, at first of the proverbial sizs of a man's haad, rapidly assumed ominous proportions. As, with " the stately step of the piper," M'Kay strode to and fro in the Highlander** camp, dispensing soul-stirring music ro his comrades, he aud they were interested to perceive small parties of Russian cavalry frequently appear to the north-east of the camp. Ie seemed evident that Russian troops were gathering there, but in what numbers of course no one knew.

In fact, until the morning of October 25 neither officara nor men kaew that within a few miles of the British camp a large fores ot Russian cavalry, artillery, and infantry was gathered. Early that morning the boom of a distant gun put everyone on the alert, and as answering shots resounded from the British guns it was soon understood that .serious work had biguu. Advancing in order of battle, under cover of a spirited fire kept up by their gunners, the Russians came on steadily, throwing out clouds of skirmishers as they approached. Upon them the Turks, from their redoubts, kept up a lively cannonade, which, however, did not deter the progress of the foe. Over the first redoubt the Rissians quickly swarmed, and as quickly as they scrambled in the Turks cleared out Toeir brethren in the other redoubts did not waic to b3 driven out, but left and catne streaming across the plain, pursued by cavalry in the direction of Hightauders' Hill, upon the crest of which the 93rd were drawn up in Hue two deep, with a small body of invalid Rifl} Brigade men under Captain Inglia. Shot and shell were soon flying amang the Highlanders, and a tew casualties occurred. Sir Colin Campbell, the revered commander of the Highland Brigade, noting this, ordered his men to lie down in shelter behind the crest of the hill. The few British guns did good work, compelling tbe Russian infantry to retire behind the captured redoubts.

As they did so a great mass of Russian cavalry came into view, riding slowly down towards the plain. As it moved on, a large body detached itself and advanced to-

ments were really Highland. Very often a large proportion of the men of a regiment

were drawn from one county or district, and it was no unusual thing for fathers, sons, uncles, and cousins to be found marching and fightiog side by side. Henry M'Kay was a soldier of this stamp. He came of a family that had inilitaryism in its blood. Both his maternal and paternal grandfathers were soldiers, aud in the Crimea one brother and seven cousins shared with him the perils of the campaign.

There stood cbe dauntless " thin red Hue " ready for the expected coming shock and struggle. Not a man among them seemed to have an anxious thought as to the critical position of tlie regiment. Failure muse have meant noc only defeat, but annihilation — nothing less in tbe circumstances. On thundered the Russian cavalry, now at the gallop. When Sir Colin thought they were within rifle shot he ordered a volley to be fired, but still the Muscovites dashed on, apparently unharmed, straight for the Highland line. A second volley had more effect, and confusion was visible in the enemy's ranks, and they swerved somewhat to the right.

At this critical moment the Highlanders " became a little, just a little, restive, and brought their rifles to the charge, manifesting an inclination to advance and meet the cavalry halfway with the bayonet." Bat the chief brought them sharply back to discipline. A little of his emphatic language made the men steady and quiet in a moment. At this instant one wing of the 93rd were ordered to change front and fire a volley, which, being at pretty close quarters, completed the discomfiture of the Russians, who wheeled about and rode back to their own army, followed by wild cheers of exultation from the 93rd, which ever >ince that day has been spoken of as the " Tnin red line," and alone amongst infantry rpgiments bears upon its colours the word 3 " B ihclava."

Naturally " the Highlanders were a good deal elated and proud to think that under their old chief and in sight of three armies they had stood in line only two deep to receive the charge of European cavalry."

Elsewhere in the battle field of Bikclava grear, things were being done that day. Hardly had the " Thin red line " repelled the force hurled against it, when, on the lower ground, the Scots Greys and Inniskilling Dragoons charged into and routed a hody of Russian cavalry, supported by guns and vastly outnumbering themselves. But the^e things are matters or history that " every s c hool boy knowß"orshould know, and need nor, be detailed here When the Turk-i-h 1) itlaliuua lied ifj cotifufrion they innde in the direction of Balaclava harbour, crying ♦ Ship Johnie 1 " as they ran down the hill and through the Highland ers camp. Here a sturdy Scotchwoman, wife of a 93rd man, was busily employed, indifferent to the din of batfcle raging above, in washing clothes and spreading them on the grass to bleach and dry. As the Turks atae racing through the camp, and she realised that they were flying from a danger that her own regiment was left to face alone, she seized a stout cudgel and lustily whacked the flying Moslems as they scampered over her newly-laid-out washing. And while she plied her stick she also nlied

her tongue,pouringoutupon the sonsof Islam a torrentot contamp 'uous invectives, all in broad Sc3tch, to the intense amusement of the soldiers within sight and hearing. This episode it*, I think, chronicled in " Kinglake's History of the Crimea"; but M'Kay saw it take place, and enjoyed telling the story afterwards. Incidents of this character were of more importance during the campaign than may be thought likely. They caused many a hearty lauga to echo over the desolate camps, and, as M'Kay said, that did his comrades a world of good sometimes when even the inspiriting "skirl" of his bagpipes hardly roused them.

Life in Crimean huts and trenches was bad enough with Russian shot and shell flying and bursting everywhere about, but mismanagement made matters infinitely worse than they needed to be. 111-clad, cold, and hungry brave men were doggedly doing their duty, while stupid, imcompgtent, and dishonest officials were living heedless at home, caring nothing for the welfare of the army in the Crimea. Sometimes there was bad food, and often no food at all. Sometimes when the camp larder had been empty for days there were plenty of supplies on shipboard, but nobody knew whose business it was to distribute them. Often enough when supplies of food and clothing were banded out they were as nearly useless as possible. Boots, in innumerable instances, had been tied up in twos, each of a different make, often of different sizes, and usually for the same foot I These were some of the incentives to do the terrible and incredible things requiiud of the araiy of the Crimean

The wonder is that the men did not revolt, and, leaving duty behind, return to annihilate the incompetent nonentities who were to blame for such blundering. It is a great blessing to be stupid sometimes and not to trouble about things. Very few of us care to read even so recent history as that of the Crimean War. When we do we feel as much ashamed of the disgraceful incapacity of statesmen and officials as we feel proud of the truly noble behaviour of the troops— English, Scotch, and Irish, who, while suffering every kind of hardship, still kept up the prestige of the British name. Even when the disgraceful state of affairs alluded to came to an end it was not the Government that ended it. It was the British public that, when it realised how the army before Sebastopol was cut down, by exposure, starvation, and disease, to half its original strength, sent shipload after shipload of neces*arießand luxuries, and unnecesf ariep, too, to the famished, half -naked, and wholeragged troops. Fnr-lined blankets and overcoats, buffalo robes, gloves, and all sorts of things were sent out — enough and more than enough for all Good underclothing was in such plenty that men who before had not a shirt among them could afford to throw things away after wearing them a week or so. There were few facilities for washing, and the mud usually reached to the ankles, and often to the kneep.

One charitable coterie, with plenty of good intentions no doubt, but very little judgment, sent, for ho.*pital use a lor. of spherical, red Dutch cheeses, almost as " hard a** cannon bails and indigestible as leather.' We sometimes hear certain folk accused of the folly of sending top boots and red coloured pocket handkerchiefs to the heathen, and this seems like an analogous instance. These cheeses disappeared, but never down the gullets of our soldiers. I have heard it whispered that, they were qaietly handed over ro the artillerymen, who rammed them in their cannon and shut them into Sebastopoll When the terrible winter had passed and summer came again, the shattered regiments were recruited, the army greatly increased, and the siege of Sebastopr>l was renewed with increased vigour. It continued during the entire summer, and after much hard fighting, in which all sections of i,he allied armies took an honourable part, the whole strength of the invading force was hurled against the great fortress Sef>astopool fell, the Russians fightirjg heroically to the last amid a heap of fiery and bluod-ttained ruins. The mighty stronghold, thus reduced to dust and ashes, tenanted only by crowds of woundtd men whom the Russians had left behind when they fled, was indeed a sad sight to look upon. So much bo that reflective men who bad helped to bring about the frightlul destruction recoiled from making a second vWt to the mournful place.

Before Christmas came round again the British troops were as well housed and comfortable as they should have been from the firsr. Capital wooden hufs hid been sent, oat to them ; ih r !>ad all necessaries in plenty and no haid work to do. Pil«s of books. &c, had been sent for the use of all ranks, and served to solace many a lonely hour. Then the bellicose Czar died, and another, less in love with war, reigned in his place. When, later, the armistice was agreed upon, parties of British officers and men made frequent excursions to places of interest in the neighbourhood of Sebastopol It was the exception ro return from these journeys without having met with some unexpected occurrence or out-of the-way incident. The people of the Crimea proper (Tartars) made the British very welcome in their home?, but while they chatted freely of their own domestic and personal affair?, they were extremely unw)llirg to speak of thtir Russian conquerors The Ru-sSan officers were almost invariably genial, pleasant, and free* in intercourse with their invaders. The Taitar and Russian ladies during their evening promenades displayed the s-elf-same coquetry and love of admiration as characterises the daughters of Eve in other parts of the world. Many of the Russian officers were excellent linguists, speaking French, English, and German almost as well as their native language.

They had not all acquired their knowledge of foreign tongues in the same way as one who was asked how be came to have so complete mastery over the EDglish language as to speak it without any trace of foreign accent.

" Oh," he said, " in my case it is easily explained, for before this war I lived quietly during many years in Scotland, and married a Scotch lassie."

On another occasion, at Yalta, some officers of the 93rd rode up to the inn, which looked much better from outside, and was found to be much better inride, than the Crimean inns generally. They were agreeably surprised as they drew rein to see issue from the inn door a buxom dame, who, smiling over her whole face and holding out both bands in kindly welcome, addressed them thus :

" How are you, gentlemen ? lam so glad to see you, for you briog with you memories of the old home and of old friends. Come in, and I'll order dinner for yon, and give you cod's liead and oyster sauce, just as if you were at home."

It was pleasant to be addressed thus in an out-of-the-way village of the Crimea, and pleasant to find an inn worthy of the name. The Crimean inns are dirty and inhospitable ; there are no private rooms, nor are there bedrooms or beds. The guests, gentle and simple, have the option of sleepiDg in their chairs or npon the floor. In the inn at Yalta English comfort was conspicuous from the absence of anything like it elsewhere. The landlady had come out from Home, as a young woman, with her father, who had been a carpenter in the employ of Prince Woronsoff; she had married a Russian freeman shortly after arrival, and was now well-to-do and mistress of the inn. But she still remembered with affection, and longed to re-visit her old English home.

Everyone knows, even if only from newspaper accounts of Jew hunts and persecution, that in Rn6Sia the children of Israel are an important part of the whole population — not perhaps that they are important numerically, rather is it that they understand and can apply the science of numbers to their own great advantage. In the Crimea there are not only Jews, bat Jewish commanities, and Jewish towns even. One such, the town of Tchoufut Kaleh, built along the very edge of

a stupendous cliff and overhanging a valley, is an exclusively Jewish place. Its denizens are known as Karraim Jewb — meaning, it is s iid, observers of Sci ipture. They differ trom other Jews in their repudiation of the Talmud and rabbinical commentaries, and by their strict adherence to the letter of " the law " as laid down in the Pentateuch. They are said to be descendants of those families of the tribe of Judah which remained in Babylon after the return from captivity to their own land of the main body of the tribe. Subsequently, however, thoße families are supposed to have left Babylon, travelled in a northerly direction, and Bettled in different countries, some few of them in the Crimea. Wnetber this be or be not their true history matters little to us; our soldiers at anyrate four>d them to be the soul of

courtesy itself, and while enjoying their hotpitality, had many opportunity of notiDg the adherence to customs strikirgly at variance with those commonly followed by their Russian neigh noun--. Thus the spring ot 1856 round ihe army nor only comparatively easily situated, but even with the possibility of recreation and amusement within reach. Officers and men of the Highland Brigade joined in many a bout at shinty and quoitp, and got up all kinds of Highland garaPß. Many went shooting in the scrub- clad gorges about Sfebast.opol, while orh> rs with scientific rastea went wandering to collect fossil shell.*, which are found in abundance in the sandstone reck, fiom which it is easy to pick them. Peace having been finally arranged, in June, the 93rd embarked onboard the Sidon and sailed for England. The voyage was a pleasant one, albeit both officers and men were tightly crowded. The men slept on deck in their uniforms, only onoe divesting themselves of them, when the captain kindly stopped the ship to allow them the luxury of a bathe in the sea. They landed in July at Portsmouth, and the day following were reviewed, along with a number of other corps from the Crimea, by the Queen and Prince Consort Thence they weut by rail to Dover heightp, and were encamped there along with the Black Watch and other corps till the end of September. Pret-umably thin was " to givH the people, and especially the Londoners, who came down in crowds, an opportunity of seeing some 5000 men in camp, a. sigbt whicb, in those daye, was very rare."

M'Kay and his comrades, early in spring of the following year, were onoe more at sea, this time en route for China, Britain having had a difference of opinion with the Celestials, against whom our Government had declared war. When the transports arrived at the Cape, however, they received fresh orders sending them on to India, where the native troops had mutinied and committed many frightful atrocities upon British residents, not only men, but women and children. Whoever owns the credit of deflecting the troops from the Cape to India did a happy thing, for had these soldiers gone elsewhere the work of suppression in India oould not have proceeded with success, and further frightful cruelties must have ensued. The vessel dropped anchor in the Hooghli upon the anniversary of the battle of the Alma, and the Highlanders were delighted upon the moment of their arrival to see their honoured old chief, Sir CoHd, sailing rapidly towards them in a small boat. It was an unexpected meeting on both hands, but intensely gratifying fco both parties. The regiment at the time numbered nearly 1100 men, all in the best physical condition, and enthusiastic in their devotion to the com-mander-in-chief.

When Sir Colin's presence near the ship was announced on board, M'Kay was taking his turn as regimental cook and baker— be was, in fact, in the very act of compounding a huge plum-pudding, up to his elbows in flour, treacle, raisinß, orange peel, and other things essential to the composition of good plum duff. Regardless of appearances, and quite heedless of flour, he rushed for his pipes and struck up "The Campbells are comir g," and in another moment the chief stood on deck. Passing a knot of officers who had gathered to bid him welcome, he strode up to his favourite piper and seized him heartily by the hand. " £ thocht," said M'Kay, " that you told us when you left us in the Crimea that you should never meet as again." "Aye," said Sir Colin, "an 1 so I thocht myßelf; but my country needed me, an' I cam." Of this and similar episodes which brought him into personal contact with his commander, M'Kay was very naturally proud, and during his life preserved the moßt powerful regard for the brave and simple-minded leader whom he had followed through many great battles and uncounted minor fights. When the Highlanders landed, which they did very promptly indeed, they stored all the heavy baggage that could be dispensed with

in Calcutta, and made all ready for rapidly doing what they had come to do. The first party that lan ied caused quite a eensation among the natives, for kilted soldiers had never been seen there before. The gagra wallahs (petticoat men) were rare birds to the Hindoos, and in a less degree to their own countrymen, who left their debks and counters and came in crowds to see the Highlanders, upon whom they could not but look with pride, and listen with pleasure to the sound ot the old familiar northern tongue, unbeard in its native purity for many long years. Numbers of the residents brought tankards of cool oeer, which the soldi* r.-, "gey an' drouthy " with the heat, nteded not pressing to empty. Soon the regiment was at Cawnpore, the blood of every man ooilicg wan the thirst for vengeance as they looked upon the *pot where their fellow-countrymen, women, and children had been murdered iv the most horrible ways conceivable. There si ill lay scattered upon the floor of the building where the women and children had been t.utchered scraps of dresses, tiny hhoes and slpp^r?, as well as those belonging— or which had belonged — to grown women ; fetaius of olood were everywnere upon walls and floor, and locks of brown and golden hair even. At one place, horrible to relate, it was certain tbat a little child had been transfixed upon a &teel hook let into the wall The m«-tal was found to be coated with dry blood, and on the wall were the conlused prints, in blood, of baoy hands. Can it be wondered at that when their timw came our men were often almost demoniac in their methods of retaliation, or that blowing mutineers from the mouths of guns was reckoned too ea>-y rather than too cruel a way of wreaking revenge upon captured mutineers ? To go over the main doings even of the Highland Brigade in Indi.i would be iinpoM-ible in this paper, alreaoy too long. Suffice it tj say that in the battle path whicu they trod throughout the land every section of the army only strove to outdo the other in valour and achievement. M'Kay was with his regiment at the Relief ot Lucknow, and whether there be any truth in the legend of Jeb-ie Brown or not, there can be no doubt tnat the shrill skirl cf thp Highlanders' pipes was the sweetest, most welcome sound the beleaguered folk had heard for many a day. As a matter of fact, M'Kay was one of the pipers who played the onset ar, the attack on the Begum Bagh— " the sternest struggle of

the siege," as Lord Clyde styled it. Many brave deeds were done that day, when the key of the enemy's position at Lucknow was assaulted and taken. One such was the feac of an officer of the 93rd named M'Bean. When the Highlanders entered the breach, M'Bean somehow found himself isolated, and surrounded by the enemy. Wielding his claymore and using his revolver with extraordinary dexterity, he laid eleien of his foes dead about him, and stood alone and unharmed. He was afterwards decorated with the Victoria Cross at a full parade of the regiment, by General Sir R. Garnett. The general, as he pinned the decoration on M'Bean's breast, wound up a eulogy of his bravery with the words : " This cross has been awarded to you for the conspicuous gallantry you displayed at the assault of the enemy's position at Lucknow, on which occasion you killed 11 of the enemy, by whom you were surrounded. And a good day's work it waß, sir." " Tutts," said M'Bean, forgetful he was on parade, and addressing a general, " tutts, it didna' tak' me 20 minutes." It took a long time and much hard fighting to wipe out old scores and finally suppress the mutiny in India. The weary marches were the greatest trials of the troops. Many a time, when by heat, dußt, and illnesses of various kinds— from cholera to jurjgle fever — the men were hardly able to drag one foot after the other, to come upon a body of the enemy was a perfect godsend. Even the doctor of the regiment declared that it was the one thing that really set the men up, and he devoutly wished that they could have an engagement every day. Of course, that was out of the question, but when a lot of mutineers were got to clo3e quarters, when the drums beat and the pipes gave out the music dear to the Highland heart, grey eyes gleamed and illness was forgotten for a time, while with grim determination another batch of the murderers of women and children were wiped out or dispersed. On many an occasion men who, utterly footsore and weary, had dropped out of the ranks and fallen behind owed their

lives to M'Kay, whose pipe strains were the solfi guide to oriog them into camp.

When at last peace was restored, M'Kay returned home and married, and he u*ed to say that of alt his engagements this was the one that had given him most satisfaction, and had been productive of the greatest happiness After his marriage he rejoined his regiment in India as pipe major, his wife accompanying him. While the regiment was marching from one station to another they chanced to pass through the Maharajah of Puttiala's territory, who invited the officers to au *jntertainment, raque^irjg them to bring their band with tnem. He received them with Oriental courtesy and entertained them sumptuously. While the hand played he paid little attention, but when the piper struck up a reel and strathspey his countenance tirightened and bis eyes sparkled. He listened with evident pleamre, and when they ceased to play exclaimed, "Beautiful! that in the music tor me. Can I get such a band ? Can I buy one?" He was informed that it miijht be possible to purchase the dit-charge of one of the pipers, and engage him to instruct his own men. The offer was placed in MvKay'a hands, who at once agreed to the very liberal terms offered try his Highness. Application was made for his discharge by purchase, and this having been sanctioned, M'Kay entered the service of the Maharajah, after having spent 1(5 years in thearmy. ihe Maharajah, at i hat time a lad about 19 years of age, was so anxious to greet his piper tbat when he knew he Mas coming he mcuuted one of his elephants and set out alone to meet him. He treated hire with a liberality far beyond the terms of his agreemeut. giving him a fine lioush to live in, a horse and buggy for his own use, several cows, poultry, and frequent presents of money. Young as the Maharajah was he soon learnt to respect and esteem M'Kay for his manly qualities and upright life, and bestowed a rank upon him tqual to that of the commander of his army. Tne army of Puttiala consisted of two regiments of horse and five of foot, with 14 pipers and a corresponding number of drumroeis trained by M'Kay. His Highness wished to dress the pipers in kilts, but M'Kay, who could not brook the idea of a black man weariag a kilt, insisted on trews, dnd carried his point. They were dressed in green cloth tunics and 93rd tartan trews. At a conference held at Umballa by the Governor-General in the year 18G9 Puttiala

attended with a strong force, respecting which the official report says :—": — " In equip- ■ ment and dtill it is very fair indeed. It is drilled by a man named M'Kay, formerly a 1 piper in the 93rd Highlanders. His work does him credit. The pipers played uncommowly well." A friend who met M'Kay on ! tbiß occasion thus describes his appearance : " I hardly recognised him, he was so magnificently arrayed. He wore a scarlet tunic 1 covered with gold lace, blue cloth trousers, with general officer's gold lace down the , seams, a splendid blue and gold turban on his head, and a broad, heavy sash to correspond ! round his waist. He looked uncommonly 1 well, and, I think, was pleased with his own | appearance." After being nearly five years in the Maharajah's service his health broke 1 down, and he was compelled, greatly to his j own regret and the Maharajah's, to return 1 Home. His Highness gave him a handsome i gift on leaving 1 . The Sikhs were warmly ! attached to him, and he and his wife always 1 spoke of them as the beet and kindest people ! they had ever lived amongst. ! At Puttialla there were no other Europeans, ! and life there had some peculiarities all its I own. The heat in summer was intense, and 1 very often tents were used as sleeping places in preference to indoors. Tigers were not unknown in the vicinity, and wolves were numerous and daring. They have been I known to stealthily enter a tent and carry a sleeping child away from its mother's side. To prevent such a thing from happening Mrs M'Kay used to securely fasten her little son's nightdress to her own, and for the rest trust to their dogs, which had the same kind of i set upon wolves as our terriers have upon rats. All the work of the household was done by men servants, whom caste only per- ( mitted to do one kind of duty. It was the j duty of one functionary to do the washing ; another attended to the horses; another acted as housemaid and also kept the courtyard in order ; while others did the cooking, and did it] well, the laundry work, and [so on. As to the'lMaharajah's characteristics, it is natural to infer that a young man' blessed

with half a dozan wive* would be rather subdued in mind than otherwise. The Prince, however, when the fit waa on him, could be lively enough to remind ur of some character from the " Arabian Nights." His six wives were superseded in bis affections by an extra matrimonial favourite of great bnauty and attractiveness. As a result of the scandal thus caused the Maharajah's people would not allow the lady to stay within the walls, and she was located in a residence without them. It is noteworthy that though the Prince held feudal power, yet his people had sufficient influence over his actions to prohibit him from enjoying the company of the favoured one. He, however, did not relish such interference, and risked a good deal to evade it. On several occasions when the spirit of freakishness was strong within him he laid aside his costly and bejewelled robe.-, disguised himself in clothes procured from t-ome poor subject, and went to the city gntt-F, demanding egress of his own guards. Upon being refused, his next proceeding would be to wrest a cudgel from one of the guards, lay about, him vigorously, and pass the. gate despite efforts made to stop him. But other, more noble, sides to hid character were not lacking. He was excessively generous and kind hearted; his efforts to promote education, sanitation, and all that tended to the wellbeing of his people were considerable. Unfortunately he died shortly after M'Kay returned to Scotland, but his son, who, I believe, married an Irish lady, reignß worthily in his stead.

When M'Kay left Puttialla with his wife and child many of thote whom he had taught, with child-like, touching devotion, ran arter the carriage till they dropped down from sheer exhaustion. He continued to receive letters from several whom he had taught to reao and write English for years after his return.

At home, Henry M'Kay never let drop the cause of those of hia old comrades who were worse off than himself. Owing very largely to his efforts the British Government were induced to grant small pensions to a number of old Crimea and Mutiny veterans who were ptrilously near to the workhouse. In many other ways bis kindly and practical nature found work to do, and when death snatched him he left many behind grievirg the loss of a true-hearted and noble friend.