'Subedar', 1850 (c)

Watercolour on Oriental paper, by a Company artist, Punjab, 1850 (c).

The British were highly impressed by the Sikh soldiers they fought against during the Sikh Wars. Under Ranjit Singh these men had been trained by European officers, and some Sikh soldiers had served with Company forces and then deserted. Here the subadar (senior officer) wears European-style uniform.