DEPUIS or DE LUST, a French soldier of fortune who came to Lahore in 1842, and was employed by the Sikh Darbar as a trainer of gunner recruits. Later, he was made commandant of a battalion, but, being found unfit for command, he was removed from service in 1844. He then proceeded to Shimla where he opened a school for teaching French and dancing.
BIANCHI, an Italian engineer, who arrived at Lahore in Sikh times. According to the Khalsa Darbar payrolls, he served the Sikh State and was employed in 1835 as a road engineer on a salary of 9 rupees per day. He constructed a road from General Ventura`s house to the Fort in Lahore. He was entrusted with the task of building a circular road enclosing the city and the fort of Lahore. However, he could not accomplish the task owing to illness. He proceeded to Italy, but died on the way.
