1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 95.
2 Ochterlony, and an Adams, shewed that the Native
3 troops of their days were, at least, a match for any
4 power opposed to them. The men were steady,
5 brave soldiers, obeying implicitly the orders of their
6 European officers, between whom and the men the
7 freest intercourse existed. The officer commanding
8 a company knew every sipahee personally, while
9 the commanding officer of the regiment was so
10 associated with the interests and welfare of his men
11 as to be looked up to with a species of filial rever-
12 ence. The position of affairs is somewhat changed.
13 The bonds which united the Native soldier to his officers do not
14 officer have been sundered. The means whereby Same in tue
15 same influence
16 the former was made to look with esteem and respect Nfves’ as
17 on his commander no longer exist, for the indepen- °°"
18 dent power of the latter has been curtailed, and
19 the sipahee is drilled and taught the mechanism of
20 the art of war, without an attempt being made to
21 enlist his feelings in the cause. He consequently
22 takes but little interest in the service, and merely
23 looks upon it as a means of present livelihood and
24 future comfort. Many officers in the Native army
25 do not know even the names of their Native officers,
26 (the Subedars, Jemadars, &c.); and a wide chasm
27 has separated the two classes.
28 When a dislike to any particular duty arises, it
29 spreads throughout the whole ranks: it is in vain
30 that the commanding officer urges his men to a
31 sense of their obligations; they are sulky and sullen,
32 and refuse to obey officers whom they hardly know,
33 except by name. We need only instance the