The regiment performed garrison duty at Fort William from August to December, during which time Major Cotton, the regimental quarter-master, and sixty-two non-commissioned officers and soldiers died.
Having been placed on the Bombay establishment, the regiment embarked from Calcutta under Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, and arrived at Bombay on the 1st of February, 1809. It was destined to occupy quarters in the province of Guzerat,--a peninsula formed by the Arabian sea and the gulfs of Cambay and Cutch, and proceeding to Surat,--a city situate on a fertile plain, on the left bank of the Tappi river,--it was there mounted on horses of a superior description, furnished by an eminent native dealer, named Soonderjie, for 450 and 500 rupees each.
While the regiment was stationed at Surat, four troops were detached against the followers of a Mahomedan fanatic, who called himself Jesus, the son of Mary, and had collected much treasure. The inhabitants of the village of _Burding_, having joined this fanatic, refused to pay tribute, and the detachment of the SEVENTEENTH, under Major Supple, formed part of the force sent to reduce them to obedience to the law. As the dragoons approached the village, an immense crowd of these enthusiasts was discovered, and they were summoned to surrender, and to give up their leader; but they refused, with loud shouts in anticipation of victory. A feint attack was made to intimidate them, but they threw clouds of dust in the horses' faces, and dared the dragoons to the encounter. The soldiers then charged; the fanatics fought with spears, and with small hatchets, or javelins, fixed to the end of bamboos, twelve or fourteen feet in length, with which they inflicted severe wounds; but they were overpowered, and cut down or dispersed. Their leader, and four of his companions, escaped, with their treasure, on swift camels. On the arrival of some infantry and guns, the village was razed to the ground. One corporal and two private soldiers were killed; all the officers, several private soldiers, and many of the horses were wounded: Lieutenant Adams had his helmet cut to pieces from his head.
[Illustration: 17th Light Dragoons. Officers' Breakfast Mess Baggage arriving on Camp Ground. (17th Lancers.) [To face page 56. ]