१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

THE ERUPTION
such determined people could be seduced by bribery. The
war was a war of principle, and though Neill offered re-
wards of thousands of Rupees for the heads of even minor
leaders, the penurious peasants themselves were unwilling
to help him. An English officer of the time has expressed
his surprise at this noble stand for the sake of principle.
He writes of one village : “ The magistrate offered a re-
ward of one thousand rupees for the head or the person
of the leader of rebels who is well-known to the natives ;
yet, such is their hatred towards us that no one would
give him up ! ¹⁵ Let alone betraying the leaders, it was
considered, at that time, a great sin even to sell for money
any commodity to the English. If anyone did commit
that offence, he was immediately given a harsh punish-
ment by the community. “ Anyone who had worked for
the Europeans, these murderers killed. So, if the popula-
tion is to a man against us, we should stand but a bad
chance. A poor baker was found with his hand cut off
and his nose slit, because he had sent in bread to us.”
This is the report of the 23rd of June. Simply because the
baker gave bread to the English, the villagers cut off his
hands and nose. When this national and armed boycott
was proclaimed, the misery of the Feringhis knew no
bounds. It is true they had taken the fort of Allahabad.
But, they found it impossible to move even a step one way
or the other. They could get neither oxen, nor carts, nor
even medicine ! No dolies for sick soldiers and no men
to lift them ! There were sick men lying about in various
places. Their shrill cries were so fearful that some Eng-
lish women died by hearing them. The days were hot.
And the trick of the Revolutionaries in rising in June, so
that the Englishmen might die of heat also, now came to
be understood. All Englishmen were busy bathing their
heads in cold water ! Besides, the provisions always fell
short. Nobody could be found who would sell even a
grain of corn to the English. “ Up to to-day, we have
15. Charles Ball's Indian Mutiny, Vol. 1.
202