airs.

"It is strange that your soldiers fight so well when, as you tell
me, they never carry arms until they enter the army; while ours are
trained from childhood in the use of weapons. And your enemies, the
French, is it the same with them?"

"It is the same, Nana, so far as their civil life is concerned; for
none carry weapons or are trained in their use. There is one wide
point of difference. The French have to go as soldiers when they
reach a certain age, however much they may dislike it; while with
us there is no compulsion, whatever, and men enlist in the army
just as they might take up any other trade. There is, however, a
body called the militia. This, like the army, consists of
volunteers; but is not liable for service abroad, and only goes out
for a short period of training, annually. However, by law, should
the supply of volunteers fall short, battalions can be kept at
their full strength by men chosen by ballot from the population.
But this is practically a dead letter, and I am told that the
ballot is never resorted to; though doubtless it would be, in the
case of a national emergency."

"Ah! It is pleasant to be a minister in your country, with no fear
of plots, of treachery, or assassination. Were I a younger man, I
should like to visit England and stay there for a time so that, on
my return, I could model some of our institutions upon yours.

"But no; I fear that that would be too much for the most powerful
minister to effect. The people are wedded to their old customs, and
would not change them for others, however much these might be for
their benefit. An order that none, save those in the army, should
carry arms would unite the whole people against those who issued
it."

It was on the last day of 1797 that Nana Furnuwees made a formal
visit to Scindia, in return for one the latter had paid him, a few
days before. Michel Filoze, a Neapolitan who commanded eight
battalions in Scindia's army, had given his word of honour as a
guarantee for the minister's safe return to his home. The European
officers in the service of the Indian princes bore a high
character, not only for their fidelity to those they served, but
also for their honour in all their dealings and, though Nana would
not have confided in an oath sworn by Scindia, he accepted that of
Filoze without hesitation.

On his arrival near Scindia's camp the traitor seized him and, with
his battalions, attacked his retinue, amounting to about a