1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHs. 135
2 eventual success of the British arms against the
3 Sikhs,
4 It was not, however, at Loodianah alone that flare preva
5 panic had seized the inhabitants; even at Suba-stations of
6 Subathoo and
7 thoo, Simla, and Umballa, the greatest alarm pre- Simla.
8 vailed. At the first mentioned place, the gallant
9 young officer (Lieutenant Williamson,) who had
10 been left in charge of the depdt of the Ist Euro-
11 pean light infantry, had made the most judicious
12 arrangements for its defence, and the few guns
13 there, were placed in a position capable of sweep-
14 ing the parade which commanded the road up the
15 hill. He was assisted in his preparations by the
16 advice of an old and experienced officer (General
17 Tapp), whose long residence in the hills at once
18 suggested the best measures to be adopted ; and
19 there is little doubt, that had the Sikhs reached
20 Subathoo, they would have met with a warm
21 reception from the handful of Europeans left there,
22 and the gallant little Goorkhas, who had been sent
23 as a guard to the place. At Simla the panic was,
24 if possible, still greater, as the place possessed’ con-
25 siderable inducements for the pillaging propensities
26 of the Sikhs. One and all of the European
27 residents were ready to leave the station, and cross
28 the hills to Mussooree; the baggage mules even
29 stood ready, and the hardy Ghoonts were in re-
30 quisition for a safe and speedy flight.
31 Though the hill stations had reason to expect
32 a visit from the Sikhs, their descent on Umballa
33 was considered so much more certain, that an imme-