1 HISTORY OF THE: SIKHS. 301
2 kee, will bear comparison with any succession of
3 operations in modern times. The rapid move-
4 ment of the Loodianah force was equally con-
5 spicuous. In one day, Brigadier Wheeler reached
6 Busseean, a distance of thirty miles! Such marches
7 in Europe might be looked upon as nothing ex-
8 traordinary : but we must take into account the
9 hot, burning sun of India, which even in December
10 is very trying, and apt to induce fatigue; and the
11 nature of the roads must not be lost sight of, when
12 speaking of marches in the north-western pro-
13 vinces of India. None but those who have traversed Difficulties of
14 the roads leading from Umballah to Loodiana, and rope tag
15 from thence to Feerozpore, can estimate the labour vise
16 and toil of walking ankle-deep in sand for a succes-
17 sion of days with a hot sun over head; and the
18 incessant calls for the bheesties or waterman’s
19 water-bag, “showed how harassing such marches
20 were. .
21 The successful prosecution and termination of
22 the war were the themes of the British Parliament,
23 when voting thanks to the Governor-general, Com-
24 mander-in-chief, and the army of the Sutlej. Nor
25 were the bravery and endurance of the Governon
26 general passed over in silence. These, though
27 known to eye-witnesses on the field of battle, were
28 disclosed to the people of England through the
29 means of a private communication, very happily in-
30 troduced by Sir Robert Peel in a most eloquent
31 and brilliant speech on the occasion; and we are
32 glad to see the weight attached by the Governor-