1 60 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 guns manfully. Not only did Goolab Singh release
3 the Lahore prisoners, but presented each with a
4 sum of money. _ It was related, that a few European
5 soldiers straggled into the Sikh camp after the
6 action of Moodkee; they soon discovered their
7 mistake, but instead of being made prisoners or ill
8 used, each received a rupee and were allowed to
9 return to their own camp without molestation.
10 aac motives This forbearance on the part of the Sikhs to men
11 for forbear-
12 ance jowar’s whom they so much wished to destroy, may have
13 the prisoners.
14 arisen from motives of policy, and a wish to make
15 a favourable impression on the European soldiers,
16 and induce them to desert. Several European
17 soldiers were said to be in their ranks, both
18 Englishmen and Frenchmen; but no instance of a
19 desertion from the European regiments occurred
20 during the campaign, and the same was true as
21 regards the Native troops, with one or two solitary
22 exceptions. The kind treatment experienced by
23 the prisoners at Lahore is easily to be accounted
24 for, since the Ranee and Goolab Singh knew well,
25 that the retribution would be full and complete if
26 they injured them. In fact, they calculated on
27 their release and safe conduct to the camp of the
28 British as likely to make a favourable impression
29 on the Governor-general, at a time when the Sikh
30 government could expect but little clemency; and
31 their chance of this would be still further lessened,
32 had they dared to ill treat or put to death the
33 prisoners. We have given Lieutenant Biddulph’s
34 graphic and highly interesting account of his cap-