CHAPTER  III
 

BEHAR
 

n
 

The province of Behar and its capital, Patna, did not remain
aloof from the wave of Revolution which was sweeping over
the North-Western Provinces, Allahabad, Agra, and Bengal.
Of the different districts in the province, the chief towns were
Gaya, Arrah, Chapra, Motihari, and Muzzafferpore. The army
to control the province was stationed near Patna, in the town
of Danapur. There were the 7*^, 8*^, and 40*^^ native infantry
and, to keep these in check, there were the European artillery
and a European regiment, all under the command of Major-
General Lloyd; besides, there was the 12*^ native cavalry
regiment under Major Holmes stationed near by, at Sigwali.

The historical town of Patna was the centre of the powerful
Wahabi sect of the Moslem religion. The English commissioner,
Tayler, was certain that Patna would take part in the Revo¬
lution of 1857, and he therefore kept a close watch on the
leaders of that sect. The town of Patna which thoroughly
hated the English yoke had started a secret society with the
object of overthrowing the English power as far back as 1852.
This secret society had amongst its members influential and
rich merchants, bankers, and Zemindars, a fact which gave the
society immense funds for its work. As prominent Moulvies
accepted leading positions in the society, the work soon assumed
a grave and religious turn. They had correspondence and
communication with the secret society at Lucknow as well as
with the Sepoys at Danapur. The whole town of Patna, from
the   police   officers   down   to   humble booksellers, was anxious
 

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