1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 353
2 5
3 the men laying down their arms as they came out
4 and giving up their names. * * * * They then
5 all passed through the town with their bundles
6 (containing clothes and cooking utensils) on their
7 heads, protected by extended files of sepoys, to an
8 appointed place of rendezvous under fort Mulkera.
9 Captain Goddard with three companies then
10 marched in, and the British colours were hoisted
11 upon the highest point,
12 “ All this was so sudden and unexpected among
13 the Native part of the community, that their as-
14 tonishment is said to have been indescribable.
15 Soondur Singh is represented as rather a fine but
16 debauched-looking man. The British force, we
17 hear, was to break up about the 31st May ; officers
18 and Europeans much disappointed at this result.
19 “ The fort was inspected by the political authori-
20 ties immediately after its surrender, and found to
21 have ten gates; the masonry massive but dilapi-
22 dated. It is believed that some guns and a party
23 of sappers and miners-would be left with the 44th
24 Native infantry. The 2nd grenadiers to escort the
25 guns back to the plains.”
26 Thus terminated the gallant defence of Kote
27 Kangra, much to the annoyance of the force sent
28 against it; and which, after encountering so many
29 difficulties in wending its way through rugged and
30 difficult roads, was obliged to return without firing
31 ashot! To the artillery the disappomtment must
32 have been great, thirsting as they naturally were
33 for an opportunity of showing the Sikhs what Bri-
34 VOL. II. 2: