1 A. D. 1822. VENTURA AND ALLARD ENTERTAINED. 133
2 this satisfaction, Runjeet Singh gave to the two
3 French officers assurance of employ ; and houses in
4 Labor, with handsome salaries, were at once assigned to
5 them. Monsr. Ventura was an Infantry Colonel in the
6 French service, Monsr. Allard had similar rank in the
7 Cavalry. They were both set to instruct troops in the
8 European method of exercise and manoeuvre. The native
9 commandants were at first extremely jealous of the favor
10 shown to these Europeans, and of their exercising any
11 authority or command ; more especially because on
12 Runjeet Singh's asking their opinion of the troops in
13 their present condition, they had expressed themselves
14 very slightingly as to their state of discipline and drill.
15 At first they were employed on the troops at the capital,
16 which were under Runjeet's own eye, and Monsieur
17 Allard received orders to raise a corps of Dragoons, to
18 be disciplined and drilled like the Cavalry of Europe.
19 These officers by their conduct won further confidence in
20 the course of time, and some others, particularly Monsieur
21 Court, who was brought up at the Polytechnic Institu-
22 tion at Paris, have followed, and joined them in subsequent
23 years. Ventura is now (1833) employed with upwards of
24 10,000 men in a separate command of importance towards
25 Mooltan, and there is a perfect confidence and good
26 understanding between him, and those serving under
27 him. The feeling is, however, still so adverse to Euro-
28 peans on the part of the Sirdars, as to make the
29 situation of these officers very hazardous and delicate
30 in the event of Runjeet Singh's decease. Monsieur
31 Ventura, moreover, in 1829, had a quarrel with the
32 heir-apparent, Khuruk Singh, which was with difficul-
33 ty adjusted, and the consequences of which will be