A biographical sketch of James Ranald Martin, Esq., F.R.S., surgeon in the Bengal Army, and late Presidency Surgeon and Surgeon to the Native Hospital of Calcutta.

Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical sketch of James Ranald Martin, Esq., F.R.S., surgeon in the Bengal Army, and late Presidency Surgeon and Surgeon to the Native Hospital of Calcutta. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    and without a drop of water. On this shocking line of march, he frequently saw* his fellow-sufferers leaping out of their dhoolies in a state of frenzy, and on reaching the Irawady, he found himself amongst the very few who then survived. His health was now completely broken down, and he was ordered to return to India for recovery. 1825-26. — One adventure, and only one, shall here be related, as it regards the character of the Native soldier of India. When Mr. Martin left the army in Upper Ava, on sick leave, Sir Archibald Campbell granted him an escort of three sick troopers, and a Havildar of the Body-guard, to guard a little Burmese boat down the Irawady to Rangoon, a voyage of some 400 miles. The river banks were at this time infested with the debris of the Burman armies, and robberies and murders were of daily occurrence. After sundry encounters, the little boat came, one afternoon, to a portion of the river where a sand island and a point of land jutting towards it made the river very narrow. On this point was seated a detachment of the enemy, elated by a recent success over a party of native Indian troops; and two human bodies, said to be of camp-followers, were being consumed by fire on the island, having, while in life, been rolled up in damp cotton. On nearing the point, the setting rays of the sun showed the Burmese to be well-armed, and British muskets were plainly visible amongst them. The Havildar of the Body-guard, a brave Mahometan, approached Mr. Martin, and said:—“ Sir, you are very weakly, and have had the fever badly to-day. If you will lie down under the thatched roof of the boat, we will show our red jackets, and fight these people with our carbines.” Mr. Martin looked at the scene before him, and, in a manner not to be questioned, ordered the Havildar to stand close to him and draw his sabre. The same order was given to the three troopers, placing each man in a position to act. The troopers were then told to cut down any of the native Burmese boatmen who should attempt to leap overboard, and the action was made to suit the words, so that the Burmese rowers should understand exactly what was meant. This they were not slow in compre-
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