Tempo:
Europeanization of the Anny
251
domesticate themselves in the country and encouraged to marry native women; they were not allowed to quit service without the formal permission of the Maharajah; and they undertook to fight any nation against which the Durbar was at war, even though it was their own. The Durbar was only partially successful in persuading this flotsam and jetsam of Europe to call the Punjab their homeland. Although they showed no reluctance in conforming to the outward practices of the Khalsa (wearing their hair and beards unshorn, abstaining from eating beef and smoking tobacco) and enthusiastically 'domesticated' themselves by taking on harems of Kashmiri women, this conformity did not make them put out roots in the soil or develop loyalty to the state whose salt they ate. When they had made enough money, they left their wives, mistresses, and children frequently unprovided for and returned to their own countries. The Punjabis looked upon the Europeans as highly paid drillsergeants. Most of the state's conquests had been made before 1822 by men like Mohkam Chand, Hari Singh Nalwa and Misr Dewan Chand. Even after that date the effective command of the Durbar's campaigns was retained in Puajabi hands. The loyalty of Europeans was always suspect and very rarely were more than two allowed to be in the capital with their troops at the same time. 2 The names of some European officers deserve notice. The most eminent was the infantryman Ventura, who became a general and then vimi.ally commander-in-chief of the Durbar anny. He was later given the title Count of Mandi. Allard, who was a cavalier, did not achieve so much distinction as an officer, but became a great favourite of the Maharajah ('Quite a Suleiman 2 The distance at which Raajit Singh kept his Europeans was evidenced by the protocol observed at court. Although some of them attained the rank of general and were made governors of important districts, not one was ever allowed the privilege of a seat at formal functions. Ranjit Singh's attitude to his European officers was consistently distrustful. Once when sacking the German Mevius (self.styled Baron de Mevius) Ranjit Singh exploded: 'German, French or English, all these European bastard& are alike.'
251
domesticate themselves in the country and encouraged to marry native women; they were not allowed to quit service without the formal permission of the Maharajah; and they undertook to fight any nation against which the Durbar was at war, even though it was their own. The Durbar was only partially successful in persuading this flotsam and jetsam of Europe to call the Punjab their homeland. Although they showed no reluctance in conforming to the outward practices of the Khalsa (wearing their hair and beards unshorn, abstaining from eating beef and smoking tobacco) and enthusiastically 'domesticated' themselves by taking on harems of Kashmiri women, this conformity did not make them put out roots in the soil or develop loyalty to the state whose salt they ate. When they had made enough money, they left their wives, mistresses, and children frequently unprovided for and returned to their own countries. The Punjabis looked upon the Europeans as highly paid drillsergeants. Most of the state's conquests had been made before 1822 by men like Mohkam Chand, Hari Singh Nalwa and Misr Dewan Chand. Even after that date the effective command of the Durbar's campaigns was retained in Puajabi hands. The loyalty of Europeans was always suspect and very rarely were more than two allowed to be in the capital with their troops at the same time. 2 The names of some European officers deserve notice. The most eminent was the infantryman Ventura, who became a general and then vimi.ally commander-in-chief of the Durbar anny. He was later given the title Count of Mandi. Allard, who was a cavalier, did not achieve so much distinction as an officer, but became a great favourite of the Maharajah ('Quite a Suleiman 2 The distance at which Raajit Singh kept his Europeans was evidenced by the protocol observed at court. Although some of them attained the rank of general and were made governors of important districts, not one was ever allowed the privilege of a seat at formal functions. Ranjit Singh's attitude to his European officers was consistently distrustful. Once when sacking the German Mevius (self.styled Baron de Mevius) Ranjit Singh exploded: 'German, French or English, all these European bastard& are alike.'
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