The black (native) officers of Merath cantonment said: Sahibs are going to distribute new cartridges on June 10. Secret letters were dispatched to other cantonments. Letters said: Try and dissuade the English from giving out new cartridges. If they do not pay heed, cut down every Englishman. Take possession of ammunition, treasury, and set the the cantonment afire. Forward the letter after reading to the next cantonment.
And therefore (the old Soldier said), we are returning home. You are from Deccan. If you are planning to go up North, most certainly you would come to grief. It's desirable that you go back.
We discussed the situation with our companions. It was agreed that we aren't martial men. We are poor brahmins. If the blacks are set to fight for the cause of religion, no harm will come to us. Hence, we rose early next morning the resumed the journey.
A few sepoys met us on the way. They too were a little worried. They said to us: Reach Indore by June 10. Next morning when the journey resumed, the menfolk got down from carts and continued on foot. Because it was the 10th, and we were passing Mahu cantonment. A mile off the Cantonment, gunshots were heard. Smoke was billowing from that direction. Our party was scared.
Mahu Cantonment is very big, being located in the centre of Hindustan. It was ablaze.
It was an hour before noon then. Wind was stoking the big tongues of fire. There was commotion and chaos. About hundred and fifty Englishmen were posted in the cantonment; all of them dead by now.
Some two hundred men came up, and surrounded our caravan.
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