From Pt. John Worlock 10th Royal Hussars. 
                    via Southampton

 To Mr. George Worlock, Codrington, Near Chipping Sodbury, Gloustershire
Kirkee September 14th 1846 Near Poonah
                                                           in course of time, if I should live

My Dear Father           I shall write to Mr. Hopkins and 
                                                 Bobbie Gould and few of my best friends. 

                   I do with pleasure, take my pen in hand to inform you that I arrived quite safe at Bombay, on the 1st of September and thank God in good health, which I hope you are enjoying the same blessing. We had a very good passage, rather rough sometimes but we could not expect anything else, as we crossed the Bay of Biscoe and doubled the Cape, it always is very rough. The 4 vessels that took us out, arrived within 7 days of each other. We that were there first, stayed at Bombay until the others landed and then we all marched up the Country. We marched 10 miles a day and slept in tents, which were very comfortable. We did march at 2 o'clock in the morning and there were the Kamils already and off with our tents. They were in and have them pitched before 6, which we were always in about that time, before the sun was up.

I thought it looked very curious to see the natives almost naked, all but a small scarf about the loins. Some of the higher class, the females would have a scarf over their shoulders.

The country is a wild open country, some places very mountainous.

The second days march was over a mountain 6 miles high and our tents were pitched 2 miles beyond it and there was a rather frightful desert. About 12 o'clock there were two of our men who went into this place, to see what sort of a place it was. But they were missing at 7 in the evening and then the troops began to be frightened. We all went as to the brink and 6 trumpeters kept sounding. We fired guns and in about an hour one of the men came to us and he said that he saw his comrade fall, he should think about 150 feet. This place is supposed to be 10 miles in depth but all brambles and trees growing out of the rocks. There were then about 50 of our men and 20 natives, who went in with lights, around about the place where this man said that he saw him fall. They stayed looking for him until 12 but could hear no tidings of him. We marched about the same time and left a party behind to look for him. They got some natives and went in well armed. They looked until 12 but could see no sign of him and then they marched in the same Evening. We then gave the poor fellow up altogether as a bait for the wild beast, but since we have been at Kirkee 4 natives brought to u,s carried him on their shoulders with things that they have got. A  purpose. He has been cut with the rock very bad and 3 of his ribs broken, after he fell. To where he landed he said he rolled nearly 2 miles before he could recover himself and there he stayed until morning. There was a waterfall running close by him or else I suppose he would have heard us. We all saw a great many Monkeys as large as a man but he said he saw a great many Tigers and he got up in a tree. From the blood that they smelled they sat and howled under the tree. The poor fellow was there for 2 days and 3 nights and he bathed in the stream and got a little up every day until he reached the top. Then he had about a mile to go before he reached the natives, he is now doing very well.

We caught several sharks and saw a great many whales and large sea birds.

They very seldom work any horses in the towns for drawing phaeoteon,  but always in the country two bullocks, I have seen as many as six drawing baggage or any heavy luggage. The cows they keep for breeding, milk and to kill. The Oxen they work as long as they are able, the same with the Mares they keep wild for breeding and the horses they work and all until we have got about 30 horses for the officers. Ours is not yet come. They are coming a long way from some breeding stud that is kept purposfully for the army and splendid creatures they are.

We want about 800 figs and oranges, we can get almost for nothing.The coin there is very curious.

You would not know if I was to tell you, it is a very fine barracks, there are no glass windows, there are sort of shutters and large sheds outside for us to parade. We go sporting morning and evening shooting lion, previder or jackell hunting. We have caught several in the barracks rooms at night and baited them the next day. We have one black servant for two men found by the East India Company, we pay nothing for them. All day we amuse ourselves at what game we like. There is a place about 4 miles away, there is 3 infantry regiments and two native cavalry. We can get leave for 3 days those that want to get acquainted with them.

It is now winter, the 4 wet months never a day without rain, more or less and I believe the other 8 months there is never any. The grass is burnt up now but still it is long and coarse. I hope you have had a good harvest.  I saw a newspaper, and I saw an account of a very heavy thunder storm. Tell me how Fitz got on with the young --------- I have often thought of him. I dare say cousin Ann and Grandmother thought it very hard that I did not go to see them, but I hope you did plead for me because you know that I   could not. Tell Mother I found Col. Johnston and there is another young fellow that lived at Mr. Hobson, he sends his best respects to Mr. Woods and all the Siston people. I suppose Lu is near getting married. I shall be glad of a newspaper as you like to send me one but I believe you must post it before 9 days old. Soldiering in India is what you might call soldiering, we have nothing to do except when called upon for the field. We will have a little to do for the first 12 minths breaking horses. Every man is to break his own except recruits. I suppose we will pass a   ------- out every 12 mths about 200. 5 men died on the march and 7 died on the passage. The 5 men took ill in the morning and died at night blue -colore- comes on through drink wine sherry  ---bottle brandy 8 and all I drink is sherry -all- bottled -all-- from England -7- a bottle. My dear Father I have no more to say at present, the overland mail starts on the 13th and I have not the time to write another, or else I should have wrote to Fitz. I shall write 2 or 3 next month. We can only send them once a month 6 weeks you will get this. I hope Mrs. C. Hockey is got over it. Give my best respects to Mr. Hopkins Cousin Ann and all my friends

Direct yours Mr. J.Worlock                            tell Mr. Read we did not
                     10th Royal Hussars                   put in at the Cape write 
                     Kirkee Nr. Poonah                    as soon as possible and 
                     Bombay East Indies                  tell me all the news I shall
                                                                    expect to hear W.Wickham is.

I hope this will find you all in good health, as it leaves me at present thank God. I hope that I shall live to see you all again and I hope I shall be promoted as soon as possible. Perhaps not this 12 months or two years or perhaps in 6 months, considering how there is a vacancy.Still I do consider that a Private Soldier is better off in India, than a sargent is in England, for we get capital living as good as ever I got in my life and that is what I like.

                             I hope good luck will attend us all.