He wished that the
appointments to the posts of officers in the new force should be made
by the rajah, who should lend an ear to the advice of his usual
councillors; but that, once appointed, they should be under his
absolute command and control, and that he should have power to dismiss
those who proved themselves indolent and incapable, to promote active
and energetic men, wholly regardless of influence or position.
The next morning, Charlie and his four assistants set to work to drill
the three hundred men of the garrison, taking them in parties of
twenty. They were thus able, in the course of a few days, to pick out
the most active and intelligent for the sub-officers; and these, with
the existing officers of the body, and the new ones appointed by the
rajah, were at once taken in hand to be taught their duty.
For a month, the work went on steadily and without interruption, and
from morn till night the courtyard echoed with the words of command.
At the end of that time, the twenty officers and forty sub-officers
had fairly learned their duty. The natives of India are very quick in
learning drill, and a regiment of newly-raised Sepoys will perform
manoeuvres and answer to words of command, in the course of a
fortnight, as promptly and regularly as would one of English recruits
in three months.
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