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A COMPREHENSIVE
HISTORY OF INDIA.
'''^M&'^'^^
>s5."'
\-
GLASGOW/^
EDINBURGH
LONDON.
^H^ /-V'
COMPREHENSIVE
HISTORY OF INDIA,
CIVIL,
By
henry BEVERIDGE,
Esq,
ADVOCATE.
VOLUME
IIL
*yT'^
I>Xucgm-Xii)n.8;.
LONDON:
BLACKIE AND SON, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS,
AND GLASGOW AND EDINBUEGH.
E.C.;
^
GLASGOW:
W.
G.
BLACKIE AND
CO., PEINTEh.^,
VILL AFIELD.
;t
<fr
-.-
CONTENTS.
VOL.
III.
BOOK
VII.
FROM THE OPENING OF THE TRADE TO INDIA TO THE EXTINCTION OF THE COMPANY
AS A COMMERCIAL BODY.
CHAPTER
I.
PAGE
Company's charter by Act 53 George III. c. 155 Its leading proviEarl Moira governor- general Hostilities with Nepaul Repulses at
sions
lines at RamKalunga Its capture Combined attacks defeated The Ghoorka
Renewal
of the
Marley Invasion of
lities
of
Ramghur Subsequent
Kumaon Malaun
Retreat
operations
in
of General
peace Hosti-
Cutch Disturbances
Capture of Hatras,
at Hydei\a1
CHAPTER
II.
Determination to put down the predatory system Relations between the Guicowar
and the PeishwaMission of Guugadhur Sa.stree His assassination Trimbukjee
at Tanna Proposed
Dainglia, the Peishwa's favourite, accused and imprisoned
and
Nabobs
of
the
alliance with
Saugur Subsidiary alliance with NagBhopaul
of plunder
The governor-general's policy in regard to them New treaty with Scindia New
alliances Apa Sahib, Rajah of BerarTrimbukjee Dainglia escapes from Tanna
Proceedings at Poonah New treaty with the Peishwa,
CHAPTER
34
III.
General preparations The army of Hindoostan The army of the Deccan First movements Treaties with Scindia and with Ameer Khan Rupture with the Peishwa
Battle
Peishwa
Raighur Storm
of
Nagpoor Capture
of
Chanda Surrender
of Bajee
Row The
last of the
Peishwas,
62
CHAPTER IV.
with Cheetoo
Barbarous races in India Apa Sahib among the Gonds His
Cheetoo's death Capture of Aseerghur Settlements with native powers Central
India Hindoostan Rajpootana Termination of the war Affairs of Cutch
flight
Treaty with the Ameers of Scinde Relations with the Guicowar, Oude, and
Hyderabad Connection with Palmer and Company Close of the administration
of the
Marquis
of Hastings
....
106
CONTENTS.
vi
CHAPTER
PAGE
Mr. Canning, appointed governor-general, resigns Lord Amherst appointed Mr. John
Adam's interim administration Lord Amherst installed Misunderstandings with
Commencement
Expedition
Subsequent
of
hostilities
military operations
dis-
in
jiersed
in
hostilities,
128
CHAPTER VL
State of
administration,
..............
CHAPTER
lyg
VII.
Thuggee Internal
190
CHAPTER
Approaching expiry
of the
disturbances in Assam,
VII L
g-Q
BOOK
VIII.
CHAPTER
the Indian
in
of the
CHAPTER
251
IL
Dost Mahomed-Its
failure-The Tripartite
Treaty-The siege of
expedition to the Persian Gulf-The Simla
manifesto
Herat-The
269
CONTENTS.
vii
CHAPTEE III.
The giege of Hei'at Lord Auckland's policy Demonstration in the Persian Gulf The
Tripartite Treaty The Simla manifesto The army of the Indus Invasion of
317
Afghanistan^
CHAPTER
IV.
Dost
Mahomed Commencing
management
PAGE
Disasters,
Outbreak
............
disturbances
363
CHAPTER Y.
Sale at Jelalabad Conflicts in the
Afghanistan
Operations in different parts
at
Pass
Nott
Candahar
Views
of
the Indian government Conclusion
Khyber
of Loi'd Auckland's administration Lord Ellenborough governor-general Proof
430
CHAPTER VL
Relations with Scinde Lord
Napier Capture
of
it
Emaumghur British
residency at
EUenborouo-h
D
Sir
460
Henry Hardinge
affairs in the
ency
CHAPTER VIL
measures Threatening
governor-general His
first
Punjab
State
of the court of
Lahore
territories
and commencement
of hostilities
aspect of
of the British
first
hill
Punjab war
campaign
The Earl
CHAPTER VIIL
Second Punjab
485
nuggur
CHAPTER
A
of
Annexation
of
505
IX.
Burmah Claims
government Changes
.....
of the British
government
Oude Termination
of the
Annexation
of
in India as the
Marquis
of Dal-
Company,
530
CONTENTS.
yiii
BOOK
IX.
CHAPTER
I.
PAGE
spirit prevalent
among
the Bengal
sepoys-
nor-general
553
CHAPTEE II.
The progress of the mutiny Vigorous measures of repression in the Punjab Outbreaks
of
government
to
Siege of Delhi
CHAPTER III.
Wilson
to
Nujufghur
Repulses Death
of
Sir
CHAPTER
....
611
IV.
Successes of General Neill at Benares and Allahabad The British besieged in Lucknow
Death of Sir Henry LawrenceArrival of troops from Persia General Havelock appointed to the command of a relieving force His brilliant victories Third
Cawnpoor massacre Campaign in Oude New victories The Ganges recrossed
Battle of Bithoor,
626
CHAPTER
Mutiny
at
V.
Reinforcements
commander-in-chief
command Continued
siege of
G44
Cawnpoor attacked by the rebels Victory of Cawnpoor Other successes in the Doab
The auxiliary force from Nepaul General Outram in Oude Final march upon
Lucknow Its capture Subsequent operations in Behar,
Oude, and Rohilcund
The campaign in Central India,
664
Campbell's
CHAPTER VL
CHAPTER VIL
Proposed change in the government of India Change of
ministry Lord Canning's
Oude proclamation Lord
Ellenborough's despatch Extinction of the East India
Company The
General Index,
mutiny Conclusion,
685
-^^
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME
III.
Khatmandoo and
.....
of Ghoorkas,
Group
154
159
at Donabew,
Group of Burmese,
166
171
12
14
David Ochter-
.15
......
10
21
Defile
.24
...
...
Town and
Temjiles of Dwaraka,
Hatras, the Fort of Dyaram, 1817,
Portrait of
View
View
of
Thomas Monro,
Chanda,
of Talneer in 1818,
Portrait of
70
71
.77
83
.87
.90
95
of
Portrait of
Rajah
of Cutch,
Group
View
of
.114
Honourable
.
Moimtstuart
.
Wagars,
of the
A Ryot,
115
Hill-fort of Bhooj,
Portrait of the
Elphinstone,
Rammohun Roy,
Pass of Boondee,
Yogis- Fakir, or religious mendicant,
Portrait of
Town and
or native servant,
.146
212
223
224
225
the Sutlej,
.....
Portrait of
Lord Macaulay,
Muttra
Portrait of Right
.....
....
....
247
250
252
271
....
of Surat,
Portrait of Sir Alexander
273
275
278
279
283
289
293
298
302
Portrait of Dost
237
246
258
of Amritser,
View
234
227
228
G.C.B.,
144
186
189
191
129
185
197
206
A
A Chuprasi,
183
of
View
Usurper
126
Durjan
of Simla,
calfe,
Mysore,
of
Sal, the
46
99
Malligaum, West and South Sides,
Portrait of Sir John Malcokn,
.103
The Fort
.....
....
Howdah
38
...
....
View
55
169
32
....
Silver
Sing, Prince of
Odeypoor,
Plan of Operations at Poonah,
Seetabaldee Hills and Nagpoor Residency,
Plan of Operations against Nagpoor,
152
27
29
.......67
Maharana Bheem
PAGE
151
Lord Castlereagh,
Bumes,
Mahomed Khan,
h
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
View
313
Group
318
Portrait of
Ishind of Karrak,
325
of Canilahar,
Portrait of
Afghan
View of
Portrait of
Golden Tlirone
of
Fort of Bukkur,
The Bolan
Pass,
of Quettah,
3J4
351
353
339
Kunjeet Sing,
....
....
355
357
360
Town and
365
Tomb
of
Fort of Klielat-i-Ghiljie,
Portraits of Khan Shereen Klian and
....
Mahomed,
370
Pass of NufFoosk,
Beloochees on the look-out,
View
of
Macnaghten,
.....
Mahomed
to Sir
W.
Portrait of
374
View
381
Plan
397
Portrait of
418
422
Fort,
made
Delhi,
Portrait of
429
j
View of Jelalabad,
Portrait of Major-general Sir Robert Sale
432
G.C.B.,
Fort of All Musjid, in the Khyber Pass,
433
435
Portraits of British
jah's
Wilson, G.C.B.,
......
.....
.....
....
Henry Lawrence,
Major-general Sir Henry Havelock,
Portrait of
441
Gass}'ara, or Grass-cutters,
451
View of Futtehpoor,
The " Slaughter-house," Cawnpoor,
Well at Cawnpoor,
Fortified House at Arrah,
Portrait of General Sir James Outram, G.C.B.,
Portrait of General Sir John Inglis, G.C.B.,
.....
at Tezeen,
died,
Village of Urgundeh,
Portrait of Lieutenant-general
454
456
Sir
Charles
463
Napier,
Portraits of Jleer
The King
.....
....
of Gwalior,
Interior of the
....
465
469
471
View
478
481
Portrait of
483
Fort of Saugor,
Arms of the East India Company,
485
499
500
502
506
514
516
518
520
520
531
533
552
554
574
585
588
593
602
603
605
Archdale
438
Tower
497
499
609
Brigadier- general Sir
Janbaz Cavalry,
Portrait of General Pollock,
1st
496
Officer of the
416
......
Lucknow,
407
414
Mahomed Khan's
Portrait of Sir
391
395
....
....
....
388
....
.....
378
Ramnuggur,
Maharajah Dhuleep Sing,
of Mouhnein,
Temporary Stockade, Martaban,
of the Battle of
372
375
Surrender of Dost
.......
tan,
Plan
Tlie
....
Fort of Ferozepoor,
Share Sing and his Suite,
489
493
494
Outpost at Sobraon,
The Entry to Lahore,
Sikh Guns, Shields, &c.,
329
Shah Shnjah-ul-Moolk,
PAGE
W.
.....
....
328
......
320
of Sikhs,
.....
....
.....
Alumbagh,
of Cawnpoor,
Jung Bahadoor,
Chuttur Munzil Palace, Lucknow,
613
618
624
628
630
632
633
638
639
645
647
650
652
658
659
662
664
666
670
673
680
709
69
3
Drawn
Longitade
Kast
^y Edvt'^Wellor.F.R.G.S.
BLAf KTE *
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LOl^BON.
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LONDOISr.
PLA1< OF
EILHI
yyith
the
Siege operations
1857.
i>ne British
BJLA.CCIK
Mile
COMPREHENSIVE
HISTORY OF INDIA
BOOK
VII.
CHAPTER
I.
at
Hostilities
with
Nepaul Repulses
Kalunga Its capture Combined attacks
governor- general
tlefeated The Ghoorka lines at Ramghur turned Capture of Ramghur Subsequent operations
-Retreat of General Marley Invasion of Kumaon Malaun captured Negotiations for peace
Hostilities renewed Peace concluded Proceedings in Cutch Disturbances at Hyderabad
and Bareilly Capture of Hatras.
A.n. isos.
tinuance of then* monopoty was strenuously opposed, particularly by the large commercial towns, whicli naturally desired
to share in the traffic to the East, and insisted that with
Proposed re
qpT the
'
c.
last
it
inconvenient regulations
l)y
it
just subjects of popular complaint; and it was foreseen by all parties that, in
any new charter that might be granted to the Company, concessions at once more
committee to inquire into the state of the affairs of the East India Companj^
Mr. Dundas, on the part of the Board of Control and the crown,
suggested to
-^ Vol.
III.
197
newalof the
Company's
charter.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
A.D.
i8i.i.
"
[Book VII.
The
Opposing
had no
difficulty in
directors.
for
country."
lated,
that did not confine the Company's monopoly of trade exclusively to China, and
throw it open within all their other limits to his majesty's subjects at large in
He also proposed the adoption of some method for contheir own vessels.
solidating the
India.
These views were so diametrically opposed to those of the directors that they
declared their determination not to acquiesce in them, and as there was not as
yet an}^ absolute necessity for immediate action, the conferences were in the
Negotiations
subject
meantime dropped.
In the cud of 1811
with India, under such restrictions as might be deemed necessary, was regarded
by ministers as a settled point, and that no charter would be granted which
did not concede
The
now
directors,
of the kingdom.
the Company's
generally
Chap.
I.]
would seem that ministers, when they first invited the directors to a
discussion of the subject, were not unwilling to have confined the import to
London, and thus continued the Company in possession of all their warehousing
It
Had
advantages.
a.d. isis.
Failure of
negotiations
between
and the
directors.
the theatre, that a renewed charter might have been obtained, nearly on the
very terms on which they were at length petitioning that it should be granted.
It
was now
their
own
members
grasping
of the
nection as
The Earl
by
They had
too late.
spirit.
new
cabinet, influenced as
much perhaps by
political con-
of Buckinghamshire,
governor of Madras,
whom
as
time in informing the directors that the import as well as the export trade
must be opened, though the former would necessarily be subjected to some
intended chiefly for the prevention of smuggling. All hopes of a
successful compromise were in consequence abandoned by the proprietors, who,
restrictions,
on the 5th of May, held a general court, in which they adopted a series of
resolutions, and drew largely upon their imaginations in depicting the misery
and ruin which must ensue by allowing any place but London to import
Ministers, so far from being alarmed at this gloomy
directly from India.
closed
the
discussion on the 4th of January, 1813, with a kind of
picture,
menace
to the
be dispensed with. The proprietors, equally resolute, not only repeated their
former resolutions, but on the 22d of February presented a petition to parliament, deprecating any extension of the import trade from India to the outports
of Great Britain, and praying for a renewal of the privileges granted by the
charter of 1793.
Nothino;
'^
to
commence the
^
and accordinMy
& J on
the House of Commons
struggle,
&&
it
was
Most of the
proposed to embody in an act renewing the Company's charter.
and
the
discussed
were
then
both
novel,
questions
dangers apprehended by the
one party, and the expectations entertained by the other, made it necessary
Information was sought
for the legislature to proceed with the utmost caution.
from
all
quarters,
were supposed most competent to give it. In the debates which afterwards
ensued, there were few speakers of eminence in either house who did not
deliver their sentiments,,
so
Discussion
'
much importance as
to justify the
revived..
HISTORY OF INDIA.
A,D. 1813.
Parliamentary debates
nil
of
renewal
Com-
pany's
charter.
[Book VII.
tlie
now
possesses
much
historical interest,
nothing more
is
and
53 Geo.
III.
which, while
155,
c.
by
to be
April, 1814.
After declaring
torial acquisitions
of the
Company,
them "without
that
now
the
terri-
in possession
un-
and
Ireland, in
or to
Lord Castlereaoh.
F.ain a portrait by
Sli-
Thomas Lawience.
Company
charter.
to
any
rights,
franchises,
Terms of new
first
section, to
declare
it
ex-
pedient that "the right of trading, trafficking in and adventuring in, to and
from all ports and places within the limits of the said United Company's present
charter, save and except the dominions of the Emperor of China, should be
majesty's subjects in common with the said United Company,
subject to certain regulations and provisions, but that the existing restraints
respecting the commercial intercourse with China should be continued, and the
open to
all his
on in vessels of not
by orders in council.
The above provisions for opening and regulating the trade with India constitute the main features in the act, but there were others not of a commercial
nature which met with strenuous
opposition, and were denounced by many as
in
the
if
not
extreme,
dangerous
absolutely incompatible A^dth the existence of
Chap.
J.J
power in India
expressed and
originally
as it
now
pledged the legislature to nothing more than the following simple pro
position: Tliat "it is the duty of this countr}^ to promote the interest and
a.t). isis.
Leading
of
new
cliarter.
act, it
happiness of the native inhabitants of the British dominions in India, and such
measures ought to be adopted as may tend to the introduction among them of
useful knowledge,
and of
religious
in further-
maintained."
above purposes,
"
of
iiir-igoing
to
and remaining
jjiii
should
who
residents.
r-
for
permission to
in the event of refusal,
apply
it,
to the
Board of
ments of
tlie
said
Company
finally to dispose of
it.
and parts
and
aforesaid, in their
restrictions as are
now
in
among
Education.
was, was not permitted to do the good which might have been expected
from it, and instead of being employed in instructing the natives
generally,
continued for many years to be pai'tly paid away to learned Mahometans and
as
it
Hindoos, for explaining and inculcating their respective dogmas, and partly
allowed to accumulate, as if expenditure for native education were impracticable
or useless.
The only
section -iQth, it
was provided
that, if his
Religion,
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
6
AD.
1813.
rrovisioniu
^'support"
ofachurdi
establish-
ment
[Book VII.
the great seal, "to erect, found, and constitute one bishopric
letters-patent under
and one archfor the whole of the British territories in the East Indies,"
rr*
in
^laim
was put
in for the
patoSe.
directors.
The ouly other sections of the act which it is necessary to notice are the 80th,
which increased the patronage of ministers, or rather removed the ambiguity
which previously attached to
it,
of governor-general, governors,
hibited the
and
directors
proprietors,
fi'oni
the originally
granting a gratuity of more than 600 and the 90th, by which
limited by
gratuitous services of the board were to be paid by salaries, which,
the act of 1703 to an aggregate of 22,000, were henceforth not t(; exceed
Commencement of
EariMoira's
"^^
tiou.'"'^
trenched deeply on the revenues, and a considerable amount of financial embarrassment had ensued.
In order to meet the demands for retrenchment the
to be deplored,
were not
states
it
its
far
more than a
fair
amount
of
satisfactory,
and
that, particularly
hostilities
had already become all but inevitable. This was the state of Nepaul, with
which the British arms had not hitherto come into direct collision,
The
state of
Nepaul.
territories of
1
-,
period, skirted the northern British frontier, including that of Oude, for about
700 miles, in a direction from north-west to south-east, and extended back-
Chap.
STATE OF NEPAUL.
I.]
a.d. i813.
will be necessary.
to the
is
so
of
it
headed by Rajpoot
a
established
Hindoo
colonists,
complete
ascendency.
chiefs
by the usual
were followed
results.
ally absorbed
As
or
all
the
the
detail,
of Nepaul.
mountain
tribe of
original
ofxepaui.
HISTOEY OF JNDIA.
8
A.D. 1813.
Ghoorka
firxlpauL
sole master.
the
name
the
common
[Book VIT.
of Ghoorkas, at
designation of
1771 by his son Pratap Sing, who suran inftmt son Rana Bahadur, under the
and his brother Bahadur Sah.
(niardianship of his widow Rajendra Lakshmi,
Though a regency could hardly have been in itself favourable to advancement,
the fact however is, that the career of conquest commenced by the founder of
Pritlil
the
in
left
was obliged
Ghoorka
rajah.
This, however,
was
First British
intercourse
witii
^'
Ne-
'
Nepaul.
The Rajah
Ghoorka
rajah.
When
justice of the cause, nor of the relative strength of the contending parties,
and
than that an
advantageous trade had been carried on between the rajah's country and that
of Berar,
military expedition, undertaken solely with such sordid views, experienced the
fate which it deserved.
Captain Kinloch, to whom the command was intrusted,
much more
than he had imagined, applied for reingrant them, because all the troops they
could muster were required to maintain the contest witli
Hyder, recalled the
but
with
the
same disregard of justice which they had manifested
expedition
forcements.
The
difiicult
council, unable to
throughout, seized some rich and fertile lands of the Ghoorka rajah, bordering
on "the Bettea country, which was in
quiet possession of the vizier" (Nabob of
in
order
"to
Oude),
indemnify the charge already incurred." In other words,
they first make war upon the Ghoorka rajah who had never off*ended them,
because they hoped it would prove
profitable, and when they are repulsed,
themselves
for
their
own injustice by seizing a valuable portion
they indemnify
of his territory.
It is rather
singular that this expedition, though directly at
variance with the course of
policy which the directors were constantly incul-
Chap.
STATE OF NEPAUL.
I.]
marked approbation.
renew the expedition till the state of your forces would better admit of it,
and to hold in your possession lands taken from the Ghoorka rajah as an
indemnification for the expenses we had been put to and they may be of use,
a.d. 1813.
British
against
^"^p-^"^-
should
it
their
expectations,"
Intercourse with Nepaul, when next attempted by the Company, was of a
In 1792, apparently in consequence of the Chinese invasion,
pacific character.
Pacific inter-
course
the Rajah of Nepaul, who must now have been the same as the Ghoorka rajah,
though the Bengal government appears not to have been aware of the fact,
The
political benefits
to
their
Bahadur having attained majority, assumed the government. One of his first
acts was to put his uncle to death, as a punishment for the thraldom in which
he had kept him during his guardianship. This might perhaps have been
pardoned, but his whole
his subjects rose in
of his son.
He
life
was so
dissolute,
and
retired to Benares,
have improved him, he was permitted after two years to return. His old
habits returned with him, and provoked a conspiracy of his principal nobles,
who murdered him in open council, and placed his half-brother. Shir Bahadur,
upon the
much
far to the
possible.
The encroachments of the Ghoorkas, when they first commenced, were justiWe have already seen that
fied by a plea which was probably not unfounded.
in 17G7, rich and fertile tracts belonging to the Ghoorka rajah were seized by
the Company without the least semblance of justice, and therefore, when the
Ghoorkas alleged that the tracts which they had occupied originally belonged to
Nepaul, there cannot be a doubt that, in regard at least to some of them,
the allegation was strictly true.
In regard to others of them, again, there is
just as little doubt that they were justly characterized as encroachments; and
hence, as there
Vol. IIT.
was
right and
wrong on both
sides,
Ghoorka en
A.U. 1814.
[Book VII.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
10
rajah, in
him
lands by the
cupation of the disputed
This was posiBritish government.
by
force.
final
any
resistance,
Ghoorkas.
of the
fully alive to the importance
step which
FaUure of
negotiations
with the
Ghoorkas.
In
an assembly of the principal chiefs the question of peace or war was formally
discussed, and after long debate settled, but by no means unanimously, in
favour of the
latter.
pro-
crastinating course which had hitherto been so successful, but did not hesitate
to avow their readiness to yield the disputed territory rather than to fight for
it.
There was a danger, they argued, that some of the hill rajahs might prove
and leave the passes open for the advance of an hostile force.
treacherous,
They
encounter:
"
We
must prepare to
have hitherto
fight tigers."
No enemy had
whereas the British had been obliged to retire from the small fort of BhurtThat was but the work of man, and yet the Biitish had failed in all
poor.
Hostilities
deolareil.
What
it
likelihood, then,
delay by the governor- general, who, being at this time on a tour to the
northern provinces, issued a manifesto, dated Lucknow, 1st November, 181 4.
It
was addressed
causes which
to the friends
made war
and
allies of
inevitable.
The army assembled to carry on the war mustered about 34,000 men, of
whom rather more than 12,000 were irregular
troops and native contingents.
The plan of campaign was not to advance in one combined
but in four
force,
Chap.
l.J
GHOOEKAS.
11
Moira made
his
arrangements as follows:
the
Ghoorka
';
was
first division,
a.d. isu.
pianiaid
Earuioira
to attack the
p^ign"
-isainst the
Ghoorkas.
3500 men, under General Gillespie, was to occupy the valley of Dehra Doon,
situated above the first range of hills, and lay siege to the fortress of Jytak,
in the province
of
Ghurwal
General Hood, was to start from the Goruckpoor frontier, and advance through
Bhotvval and Sheeoraj to Palpa; the fourth division, mustering nearly 8000
men, under General Marie}', was to march through Makwanpoor directly upon
Khatmandoo, the
to force their
capital.
way
At
toward the eastern extremity of Nepaul, beyond the Coosy river, Captain
Latter, with a local and a regular native battalion, was not only to defend the
opportunity offered, to assume the offensive. The whole Ghoorka
force did not exceed 12,000 regular troops, scattered along the whole length of
frontier, but, if
their frontier.
nable fastnesses, and their native courage animated them to a defence which,
though it could not ultimately avail, protracted the war, and inflicted repeated
disasters
on their invaders.
national,
and bands of
many
up in
As
which was
of a detached
hill,
feet in height,
and had
its
This
summit
steep sides
covered with jungle. The position was naturally strong, but little had been
done for it by art, the whole fort consisting of a quadrangular stone building,
It was
to which access had been rendered difficult by means of stockades.
garrisoned by 600 men, under Balbhadra Sing, a leader of tried ability and
courage. Colonel Mawbey on arriving before the place, and receiving a defiance
in answer to his summons, began to prepare for the siege, and' having by very
serious reinilses at
Kaiunga.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
12
A T).
1814.
[Book VII.
was fixed
The
make a
to
considerable circuit,
reached them
attack was
had
when
fired.
heard
it,
or, if
Serious repulses of
the British
by the
Ghoorkas
at Kaluuga.
was
arrived.
Be
this as it
it
may,
who were
probably aware of the intended assault, disdained to wait for it, and taking advantage
of the absence of the others, made a vigIt
orous sortie on the remaining column.
men might be able to
swept them
fire as
off"
by whole
files,
and
made
it impossible to
When thus foiled they attempted to
plant the ladders.
the
and
an
outwork
In this they were equally
which
defended.
carry
gateway
and
had
no
alternative but to seek the cover of some huts in the
unsuccessful,
vicinity.
now
General Gillespie's impatience had already cost his men dear it was
Irritated at the previous failure, nothing would
;
satisfy
him but a renewal of the attempt. At the head of three fresh companies
and a company of dismounted dragoons, he
who hung
his sword,
and
calling
upon them
men
of the 53d,
to follow,
when
division to
The battering
set out
Chap.
I.]
13
Somewhat
in a spirit
a.d,
asu
men were
forbidden to load their muskets, and carry the breach by the bayonet alone.
They reached it, not without considerable loss, but, on attempting to mount,
Within the breach, at the
wei'e appalled at the sight which presented itself
Fresh re
Till
l^P
fl
Kaiunga.
bottom of a precipitous descent of about fourteen feet, part of the garrison stood
ready to encounter them with spears and pikes, while the other part stood
behind armed with matchlocks and other
made an
effort to
overcome this
resistance,
missiles.
and di'ew
The
assailants scarcely
where, from some unaccountable mismanagement, the}^ remained for two hours,
The loss was dreadful exceeding in
completely exposed to the enemy's fire.
After all this loss and
killed and wounded the whole number of the garrison.
mode
of attack which
itsuuimate
capture.
such a feeble band, breathing an air which had been rendered pestilential by
the number of unburied dead, a longer defence was impracticable, and the fort
was evacuated. The besiegers, whom it had cost so dear, immediately demolished
it.
Besides the
ominoiis
comnience-
actual loss sustained, the relative positions of the combatants were changed, mentof
The invaders, who, from their superiority both in numbers and in discipline,
doomed
Such
reflections naturally
tended
now
Mawbey
communications between the east and west, and at the same time encourage
any of the hill chiefs who were disposed to throw off their allegiance to the
HISTORY OF INDIA.
14
A.D. 1814.
Progress of
war with the
(J
huorkas.
[Book VII.
mand by
the son ot
situated at a lower level to the south of the fort, Ranjor Sing Thapa,
Amar
General
Martindale
repulsed at
had
The
fort
force,
of Jytak, strongly
situated in the
''
''
Jytak.
by
ravines.
noitring, saw nothing inore hopeful than to depi^ive the garrison of their supply
of water, which appeared to be drawn from springs situated at some distance
below the
fort,
which having failed to take the enemy by surprise, were defeated in succession
with severe loss. General Martindale, in consequence of this new disaster, was
obliged to suspend operations
The
and wait
for reinforcements.
which were at
still
farther
and
would doubtless have proved equally disastrous, had not
greater skill been
The Sutlej, after a long course to the
displa3^ed in surmounting them.
west, makes an abrupt turn to the south, and thus with its left bank ibrms, in
least equally great,
Chap.
two
1. 1
15
tract lying
to
Amar bmg
of General
oohteriony,
first
and lowest of
In two days,
effect, tliat
on the 6th
tlie
outwork
abandoned.
The pass being now open, no diffieulty was experienced in reaching its
snuimit;
but
it
was only
to
come
^"""^'^^'^^
^^^'^'''''^''^''^''^TaSrp^SeT^^l^''''
in sight of another
obstacle of a
more
turn
till
seemed to be the point from which it would be most easy to assail them, he
determined on the erection of a battery. The labour of
transporting heavy
ordnance had again to be endured, and occupied twenty daj^s. Much of it
proved
to be labour lost, for the
battery
was
To remedy
this blunder,
descended in great force from their heights and placed themselves across his
Here the lieutenant and
path.
Fortunately a small stone inclosure was near.
his party gallantly
them
to
Foi-tof
''"^
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
16
A.D. 1814.
Repulse at
Ramghur.
[Book A^T.
and a large
reinforcement sent from the battery was obliged to share their flight,
had fallen before a strong detachment from the
proportion of the whole party
This affair, magnified by
their pm^suers.
checked
camp anived, and effectually
effect of the advanmoral
tended to counteract the
into a
^^^^
enemy
victory,
lines,
when he
him
to
resume
it
This period of
the pi-esence of a British force had emboldened to throw off the Ghoorka
Ou thc 26th of Dcccmber, after nearly a month had been devoted to
Amvaiofre-yoke.
in oroemen
^-^j^^g^g uscful kbours, the cxpccted reinforcements arrived.
They consisted of the
whom
2d battalion of the 7th native infantry and a levy of Sikhs. General Ochterlony, feeling again strong enough, immediately resumed the offensive by
sending off a detachment to spread along the enemy's rear and threaten his
communications with Arkee and Bilaspoor, by occupying a low range of hills
sive,
Arnold with a division to watch the enemy's movements, and proceeded with
the main body towards a mountain ridge, the occupation of which would place
Sutlej
fort of
Malaun.
At
who had
Rajah
These troops, under the
early joined him and rendered valuable service.
command of Captain Ross, took possession of the heights above Bilaspoor,
Capture of
Ramghur.
of Hindoor,
between whose rajah and that of Hindoor a deadly feud had long existed.
The succcss of tliesc combined movements soon appeared.
Amar Sing,
.
convinced that his position was no longer tenable, left a garrison in the fort of
Ramghur, and hastened with his whole remaining force to the ridge on which
Malaun
stands.
Colonel Arnold, thus left at liberty, moved round the opposite
extremity of the ridge to co-operate with General Ochterlony, and during the
march received the submission of the Rajah of Bilaspoor, as well as gained
separated from
it
ravine.
and only
Chap.
I.]
17
all
tlieir
before
retire
him
till
on the
1st of April,
m their possession.
T-r
isis.
investment
"' Malaun.
An
The
middle of December.
Wood was
his
W.N.W.
field
before the
march northwards in
of
Khatmandoo.
General
Wood's
operations,
In
it
route, proceeded
He
carry
it.
His retreat,
task of preventing the Ghoorkas from making incursions across the frontier.
Even in this he was not successful. The Ghoorkas found little difficulty in
Under these
penetrating at many points and committing great devastation.
circumstances the best thing which occurred to him was to retaliate, and he
was rejieatedly seen vieing with the Ghoorkas as to the amount of injury
which they could mutually inflict on the unoflfending inhabitants whose misfortune it was to dwell on either side of the boundary between British India and
After persisting for a time in this petty and ignominious warfare,
Nepaul.
the insalubrity of the climate began to tell seriously on the health of the troops,
was
also the
finally
f
succeeded, the
peace.
all
the four,
IT
and
it
was
it
was
It assembled at Dinapore,
Bettia.
To
clear the
for
its
Major
way
Bradshaw had been previously detached against the Ghoorka posts in the
Vol.
III.
199
General
Marley's
operations.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
IS
A.D. 1815.
General
optrlvUonB.
[Book VII.
posts
Their injudi-
ciousnatme.
^^,^^^^1^
ordered him
instructions
to leave his
guns
in the rear,
mander
to
whom
British troops
had been
intrusted,
and
all
on the
left.
realized.
retreat.
resist,
con-
saw no
Nothing but the weakness of the enemy prevented the catastrophe which
cowardice thus predicted.
The effect however was to enable the Ghoorkas to
recover nearly the whole of the Tirai, and to
carry their incursions once more
into the British territories.
General Marley's mode of conducting the war had
Chap.
I.J
GHOORKAS.
19
lie
had
m consequence
a.d. isis.
sudden
or even
of
command.
dis-
appearance
of General
imbecility than any he had yet furnished by suddenly disappearing from the
camp before daylight, without giving the troops any notification of his intention,
The
absence of such an officer could not cause any permanent inconvenience, and as
the division had received reinforcements which raised it to the number of 13,000,
While the
was now better prepared than ever for offensive operations.
temporary command was held by Colonel Dick, an affair took place which threw
the enemy into great alarm and inflicted on him considerable loss. Lieutenant
it
Pickersgill, while
of 400 Ghoorkas,
who
fell
in with a party
and followed him in the direction of the British camp. Colonel Dick, on hearing
the firing, sent forward a troop of 100 irregular horse, and followed in person
all
'
alarm
The
among
affair,
though in
itself
much
the Ghoorkas, that they hastily retired from their advanced posts,
to be again occupied by the British.
at
Considering the pusillanimous course which General Wood had followed
the head of his own division, one is at a loss to account for the infatuation
for this
When
still
he
a month
He
thought
marchiug and countermarching as if for the mere purpose
of assuring himself that the Ghoorkas had really abandoned the lowlands, and
had no intention of disputing the possession of them, he returned to the frontier,
otherwise,
and
after
and placed the army in cantonments. The advance on Khatmandoo, the great
once seriously
object of the campaign, was thus abandoned without having been
and
better results
was
In
other
displayed,
quarters greater activit}^
attempted.
was
Captain (now Major) Latter, who, with his small detachment,
stationed on the banks of the Coosy, not only accomplished the defensive object
were obtained.
Rajah Chautra Bam Sak, who had been compelled to yield to the Ghoorka yoke,
was with his people groaning under it, and ready to embrace any opportunity
The advance
mandoo
abandoned.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
20
AD.
1.815.
Operations
111 ivumaon.
[Book VII.
which promised the means of deliverance. The inhabitants of the adjoining proDislike to the rule of the Rajah of
yince of Ghiirwal were similarly affected.
had induced them to countenance a Ghoorka invasion, but having soon
Serinagur
|.^^^^j ^^^^^
were
ao-ain
to
stances
account,
after
raising
an irregular force
of about 3000 men, began on the 15th of February, 1815, to ascend the hills in
He was
irregulars
by another body
of
the Ghoorkas
were driven successively from all their posts, and obliged at last to concentrate on the ridge on which Almora stands.
Captain Hearsay, after commen-
defeated,
Subjugation
and Ghnr"
''
and taken
prisoner.
his prisoner in
An
pass.
Ghoorkas
lost their
flight.
front of
his fidelity.
Ochteriony's
successes.
effects,
'='
seizing all the enemy's posts and confining them to the heights of Malaun, he
determined to break through the line of their defences. These stretched
along
the
right, an(I
the fort of
Chap.
I.]
Surajgliur on the
left.
Still farther to
21
much
less elevation
than Malaun, stood the fort of Ratanghur which had been captured by Colonel
At some distance on the slope below Malaun lay the Ghoorka cantonArnold.
nients protected
by
strong stockades.
ad.
]815.
General
successes.
along the ridge between Malaun and Surajghur, the Britisli commander
detected two assailable points, E,yla and Deothul, the possession of which would
enable liim to cut off Malaun from most of
gallantly attacked
dependent outworks.
its
R3la was
To
detachments were sent from opposite directions against the cantonments. The
one moved off from the column advancing to the attack of Deothul, while the
other proceeded from the fort of Ratanghur.
diversion
was proposed,
raucli
more appears
Tliougli nothing
to
Disaster sus
taineii
two
by
Britisli de-
tachment.
more than a
The
detachment from Ratanghur was in consec^uence thrown into complete confusion by a furious onset, and pursued by the Ghoorkas with great slaughter.
till
the evening,
footino^, so far as to
its
when
was withdrawn.
it
he able to remain on
On
the capture of
The
enemy
possession of Deothul
that a fierce struggle
was
so
foreseen,
and
as
far as
possible provided
place on tlie
was headed by Bhakti Sing Thapa, a distinand supported by Amar Sing in person. At daybreak
6th of April.
Attach
CTi
Deothul.
was
It
HISTORY OF INDIA.
22
A.D.
1S15.
TheGhoorka
peiui"
repulsed,
tlie
[Book VII.
and
its
two
to order a charge
post, seized the opportunity
was completely
with 500 of his countrymen, and Amar Sing collecting his scattered troops
He was now so completely crest-fallen that he offered
retu-ed into Malaun.
field
any
scarcely
Capture of
Malaun
fol-
lowed by a
it.
tlie
8tli
of
privations of a rigorous blockade, left the fort without arms, and gave themAs a show of resistance continued, the
selves up to the nearest British post.
Its destructive effects convinced
breaching battery again opened on the 10th.
Amar Sinof of the uselessness of further resistance, and he sent his son on the
all
the
By
the convention
be allowed to return to Nepaul with their personal property and their arms.
Many
service,
for peace.
for
duty
in the
highland
districts.
....
Negotiations
,
view
Kumaon, and Gaj Raj Misr, the Gooroo or spiritual teacher of the
Rajah Rana Bahadur, was summoned from his retirement at Benares, and
missioner in
late
whom
the
at
Khatmandoo.
When
made known
jected particularly to the cession of the Tirai, which, by stripping the nobles and
ministers of their jaglures, would leave them without
support, as well as deprive
the country of the main source from which its
were obtained,
supplies of
grain
and
tlie
it
was
all
feared,
CHAr.
I.]
all
GHOOEKAS.
23
a.d. isie.
Treaty con-
point in dispute
matter more
the
cooll}',
not ratified
Nopaijeso
ratification,
the commissioners
received a letter from the regent, informing them that through the influence of
Amar Sing Thapa the war party was again in the ascendant. After such an
evasion, it might have seemed that the only dignified course left was to declare
the negotiation at an end and recommence hostihties.
Strange to say, the
present of the very districts which had been the whole cause of the war.
The
satisfied
pro-
tracted war.
made
it
when
been willing to purchase peace on any terms, began to question the propriety
of even desiring it.
The negotiation was indeed nominally continued, but
every day made it more and more apparent that the real object was to spin out
the time
till
This conviction
Rene^vaiot
HISTORY OF INDIA.
24
A.D. 1816.
tempted.
[Book VII.
General
Ochterloiy
makes
his
way by an
other pass.
of Hustings.
to
Ochterlony, leaving the fourth brigade at the mouth of the ravine, began
ascend it with the third brigade, he himself leading at the head of his majesty's
87th regiment, by a path so narrow as seldom to aftbrd room for more than a
single
open,
After proceeding thus for some distance, the ground became more
a water-course was entered, and found to lead to the base of a steep
file.
till
acclivity about
300
feet
high.
With
infinite
difficulty,
by laying hold
of
boughs and projecting rocks, the advance clambered up, and by eight in the
morning had gained the summit. It was ten at night before the rest of the
On
their stockades,
On
level about
two miles
CiiAr.
1.]
25
done wrong in retiring, no sooner saw the position occupied than they returned
to
it.
As
it
of
General
'=^'*'^''^"y-
men from
the heights.
tained with their usual dauntless valour, proved unavailing, and they were
On the day after this affair the first
finally repulsed with a very heavy loss.
brigade, under Colonel Nicolls, arrived.
of
stockaded,
it
it.
struggle.
The successes with which the new campaign had opened liad changed the
views of the Nepaulese chiefs, and the peace party once more predominated.
Hence, as Sir David Ocliterlony was preparing for the siege of Mukwanpoor,
ceased,
but not
till
article,
which
stipulated that the ceded territory should include the valley of the Raptee,
and
it
whom
with great reluctance, because, as it was justly argued, the pensioned lords
would be more likely to favour British interests than those of their own sove-
to
reign.
Much
Mr. Gardner,
gratification
was
therefore felt
authorized
200
The treaty
ratified
xepa'Lse.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
26
A.D. 1S16.
It
must
still
all
[Book VII,
Result of the
NepaiUese
which made
all
The
made it impossible for these two states to go to war with each other, as they
ceased to be contiguous, and therefore could not engage in hostilities without
violating territory which belonged to the Company, or which the Company
was pledged
to protect.
Ghoorkas
toforeisn
courts.
when deprived
that,
offer of
a large sum,
During the
flattered
them-
They
emperor's tributaries, and partly on this ground, and still more on the false
allegation that the English were making war upon them, merely because they
were at an
wisdom of the
English ;" and the Ghoorka statement was declared to be manifestly false,
because the English, if
they had wished to invade the Chinese dominions,
could have found a nearer route than
through Nepaul. The authorities in
England, though doubtful at first of the necessity of the war, and of the wisdom
of the plan
adopted in conducting
crown
testified
Chap.
STATE OF CUTCH.
I.J
27
Marquis of Hastings, and on the commander the baronetage ah-eady mentioned, ad.
while the courts of directors and proprietors not only concurred in unanimous
votes of thanks to them and the officers and men engaged, but bestowed on Sir
isis.
state of
cutch.
marsh
Row
of
posed only so far as seemed necessary to protect the territories of the Guicowar from
Cutch depi'edation. The contest seemed terminated by the death of Hans-raj in 1809, and
Arab Mercenaries
the consequent undisputed ascendency of his competitor, but in 1813 the confusion became worse than ever. In that year, both Futteh Mahomed and the Row
died,
The Row, who had embraced MahomeMahometan wife. The Jhaneja Rajpoot, of
tanism,
left
a son, Bharmalji,
by
government almost ceased to exist. The chiefs thereand not satisfied with the narrow limits of
the villages,
was thus ravaged,
became necessary,
was an
and under
their protection,
it
which
left
after
previously prevailed was scarcely diminished, since the new sovereign, so far
from suppressing the marauders, made common cause with them, and even
Britiish in-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
28
A.D. 1816.
British interposition
ill
aftUirs
of Cutcli.
[Book VII-
whom
assume more formidable dimensions, had been nipped in the bud, was directed to
advance into Cutch for the purpose of punishing this overt act of hostility, and
Military
operations,
In
be necessary to prevent a repetition of it.
taking such measures as might
of thcsc objects he crossed the Runn in December, 1815, and prop^^^.g^^j^j^gg
It was held by a son of the late Futteh Mahomed,
ceeded towards Anjar.
who made
friendly professions,
tlie
lie to
them, by
To punish
his
treachery, batteries
was
effected,
Anjar, and ceding along with it the small port of Juner, on the Gulf of Cutch.
The Eow, deterred by this first result of the campaign, prevented the capture of
his capital
by a timely
bound him
not only to defray the expenses of the war, and compensate for the devastations
of his marauders, but to assist in putting them down, and acknowledge himself
Pacification
a British tributary
of 7000.
full
and subjecting
their harbours
Nizam's
dominions,
and
Moolk, had ceased to interfere in public business, and found more congenial
employment in grovelling indulgences. The Nizam's sons did not bear their
exclusion from office so coolly, and compensated themselves by becoming the
heads of riotous brawlers and
The two youngest sons in
contending factions.
particular,
steps
difficult
Chap.
I.]
On
anticipated.
and
and deemed
it
a.d. isis.
heavy
which ensued, the defence of the princes was
fire,
29
iiisun-eo-
Hyderabad.
yoke,
Town and
could arrive.
He
TEiitLEa of JJvvakaka.
Another disturbance,
in more trivial causes, thi'eatenecl to proThe inhabitants of India dread nothingj; so much as
orificinatino;
.
results.
and have an
ea.sy
when
it
presents itself
explanation,
when
it is
remembered how much they have suffered from the extoi'tion of their rulers,
and how often occasion has been taken to convert some small assessment,
imposed ostensibly for some distinct and temporary purpose, into a permanent,
The land had always been the main source
indefinite, and oppressive burden.
was entirely
different,
in 1813,
opposition
oftheHindoostonew
HISTORY OF INDIA.
30
A.D. 1S14.
tlxatioirt
Benares,
[Book VII.
it.
At
that they would never return to their homes till the tax was
This passive resistance was more effectual than any violent outbreak
could have been in convincing the government of the necessity of yielding, and
^j^^^ declared
removed.
the idea of increasing the public revenue by a house tax was abandoned.
Government though defeated was very unwilling to acknowledge it, and in
the following year endeavoured to establish the principle of a house assessment
by
confining
it
to police purposes,
ment, by leaving
it
and giving
it
wards by means of committees of their own selection. At first, the only cities
so assessed were Dacca, Patna, and Moorshedabad, but when the precedent was
means
by
this
felt,
re-
Bareilly.
oppositiou of Bareilly
was not
pay
so easily overcome.
its
its
from the Centre of the Rohilla country, contained among its inhabitants not a
fallen from high rank and wealth into comparative
insig-
The injustice
by which Warren Hastings sold them to the Nabob of Oude.
which they had suffered on this and on otlier occasions still rankled in their
hearts, and as it was impossible that they could feel any real attachment to a
government which had so used them, they were ready to lay hold of any real or
imaginary grievance which would enable them to give free vent to their dissatisfaction.
The military and turbulent propensities of the population generally,
easily induced them to take part in any commotion however occasioned, and
there were besides several local causes of
The kotwal, or head of
animosity.
the police, obnoxious to the Mahometans
he was a Hindoo,
because
merely
they kept aloof from all friendly intercourse with him. The materials being
thus prepared, any spark was sufficient to excite the
conflagration.
was
its
increased amount.
This was
Chap.
INSUEEECTION AT BAEEILLY.
I.J
subjected to
was
it
light
31
The
it.
already mentioned.
keep as
many
new
effect of the
conferring
leave
rate
was
obnoxious
TlOllCG
JXS-
sessment at
^"''''^'"^
benefit.
No
it
a.d. isis.
This, however,
To dismiss their
what
considered
subject
they
degradation; and a tax which threatened
to compel them to do this was not only disliked as a burden, but repudiated
last step
them
as
an
to
insult.
The attempt
by means
of committees of Attempt
to
the inhabitants having entirely failed in Bareilly, the magistrate ordered the
and levy
kotival to apportion
it
at his
own
discretion.
In performing this
task, which must under any circumstances have been attended with much difficulty, he is said to have proceeded with the greatest harshness, threatening the
lower orders with the stocks, and the higher with chains and imprisonment.
While the whole city was thus in a ferment, and the popular indignation at its
woman.
throughout Rohilcund.
on being thus appealed
to the magistrate's
to,
must lodge her complaint before the proper court in due form. The excitement
and irritation were too great to be appeased by a regular process, and the mufti
greatly increased both, by declaring that, if justice was to be so dispensed, no
man's
life
or honour
and assumed
was
safe.
so threatening
made
his escape.
A general
idle.
The
force at their
to
420
men, with two guns, while reinforcements were hastening forward by forced
insuiTection
A.D. 1815.
iMsunection
at liareiiiy.
32
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book VII.
proclaimed.
in proceeding to extremes,
moment
Aic
by Lieut-colonel Fitzolarence.
Disturb-
ances in
Doab.
tlie
which requires to be noticed at present. The locality was the Doab. The talookdars there had managed, during the anarchy which prevailed, to seize large tracts
of property to which they
had no
legal claim,
and
to exercise
powers of jurisdic-
which converted them into petty sovereigns. Under the license thus permitted them they had multiplied the numbers of their military retainers, and
The
erected forts which they held as their own in defiance of all authority.
tion
may
easily be imagined.
The people
CiiAP.
I.]
33
appealed in vain to the paramount power, and it was soon seen that all efforts to
them would be unavailing, unless the strongholds in which their oppresIt was necessary to begin
sors had entrenched themselves were dismantled.
with an example, and for this purpose Dyaram, as zeminadar or talookdar of
a.d. isie.
relieve
most refractory.
districts,
was
town and a
fort,
and
about
the former
on an eminence, and so
inclosed
by a wall and a
fortified
with walls, towers, and bastions, as to be regarded as a place of conDyaram's whole force was about 3500 cavalry and 4500
ditch,
and the
district of Alighur,
latter perched
siderable strength.
He made
infantry.
pulsion would
suffice.
fort.
The
siege of
powder magazine
and
at midnight of the
conviction
shell
2d of March he consulted
his
upon
own
by quitting the fort with a small body of retainers, who, though discovand attacked by a body of dragoons, fought their way, and made good
safety
ered,
Dyaram's escape
little
more
resistance
loss
was
offered,
the fort produced such an effect on the other talookdars, that they hastened to
o'ive in
their submission.
Vol. tit.
201
capture of
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
34
CHAPTER
down
Determination to put
Mission
of
Gungadhur
Sastree
His
II.
assassination
Tanna Proposed
Nagpoor
[Book VII.
The
Pindarees
Saugur
of
alliances
phmder The governor-general's policy in regard to
Apa Sahib, Eajah of Berar Trimbukjee DaingUa escapes from Tanna Proceedings at Poonah
New
the time
when
the Nepaulese
war commenced
it
was foreseen
fts^ssii^^s^ had indeed left the native states to cany on their quarrels in
own way, and thus involved them in interminable intestine dissensions, but
their
had not thereby secured the territories of the Company from aggression, or
While the strong
enabled them to dispense with a large military establishment.
wcrc permitted with impunity to prey upon the weak, and none felt secure but
it
Eflfeot of
the
policy of
non-inter-
who were
...
by force, all idea of amicable and legal settlement was necessarily abandoned, and a species of general anarchy prevailed.
As a necessary consequence the predatory system, which had always been one of
those
arms had inspired deterred the marauders from venturing on incursions into
their territories.
It was impossible, however, that it could
operate as a permanent restraint, and as soon as the means of plunder became deficient in the parts
of Central India where the
principal predatory hordes had established their
Necessity of
abamion
ingit
head-quarters, the Company's frontier was no longer held sacred, and both their
alHcs and their immediate subiects were pillafjed without mercy.
The policy
previously in fashion,
when
it
de-
attempt
through.
futility
plan was soon demonstrated. It was impossible thus to guard the frontier, and
had it been possible, the permanent
expense which it entailed was far greater
than would suffice to follow the marauders into their own haunts and com-
POLICY OF NON-INTERFERENCE.
Chap. IL]
them.
pletely extirpate
The
otfensive,
35
therefore,
a.d. 1814.
promised to be effectual;
Necessity of
policy of
ference.^'^'
and this could only be done by taking measures which could not be reconciled
with the policy of non-interference.
The question, therefore, which the home
authorities were called upon to decide was, whether this policy was to be perit had
engendered, or whether a
more manly and vigorous policy which the Marquis of Wellesley had adopted, and which, if it had been followed out, would
sisted in,
notwithstanding
return should be
made
all
to the
this
Before the
received, several
The
rejlations
r*
unsatisfactory state.
sterling.
By
Relations
between the
Peishwaand
government had become bound to arbitrate in the settlement of these claims, and a most complicated accounting had taken place
courts, the British
without producing any practical result. The Peishwa would fain have taken
the matter into his own hands and made good his claims by force.
This, howhe
could not do witliout an open violation of the treaty of Bassein, and
ever,
The
district of
Ahme-
dabad was shared between him and the Guicowar, but the whole was in possession of the latter on a ten years' lease, which was about to expire.
A new
arrangement was hence absolutely necessary, and the Peishwa had declared
his determination not to relet, but to enter into actual
possession.
The court of Baroda at this time gave full scope for intrigue. Anand Row,
the nominal sovereign, was in a state bordering on idiotcy, and a younger
For this position
brother, Futteh Sing, administered the government as regent.
he was mainly indebted to British influence, and consequently felt the necessity
of being in a great measure subservient to it.
The party opposed to him natua different course, and thus gave rise to two factions who were
constantly striving to thwart each other.
Gungadhur Sastree, Futteh Sing's
rally followed
state of
the court of
the latter.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
36
A.D. 1S14.
Guicowar.
[Book Vii.
him that
It
the claims.
If,
instead of corresponding
by
letter,
Poonah and confer personally on the subject, there was ground to hope that
many of the difficulties which now stood in the way would be easily removed.
The
proposal,
when made by
Guugadhur
Sastrcc's fears
Bajee Row,
istration
own
creatures to levy
Trimbukjee's arrogance kept pace with his elevation, and he forthwith began to take such an
active and prominent part in all
public business, as
his
the government.
Thus
be,
installed,
as the
to be boldly
maintained
and British
secretly
So
little,
indeed,
must
influ-
either be
was Trimbuk-
(jiAr.
11. J
o7
a.d. isu.
known
and were openly and favourably received at the public audience. They claimed
authority to act, and produced as their credentials a letter which the imbecile
The
P^tue negoPoonah.
which had been commenced there simultaneously with that at Poonah, would
have been frustrated, and it was therefore determined to
in all })robability
This could only be effected b}^ convincing him that the object of
might yet be accomplished. The obstacles he was assured were only
detain him.
his visit
little
To give effect
factorily arranged.
which he complained was reversed,
the utmost
deference
was paid
to his
friendship.
-,.-,.-,
justified suspicion,
Tninbiikjee's
duplicity.
It
was granted
and
he con-
tinued the negotiation more on his own responsibility than with any concurrence on the part of the British government.
In a short time he seemed to
seem that
own
all this
flattery
.
Sastree's Gungadhur
.
ndelity to his
master.
from sacrificing the Guicowar's interest, he had made a far better bargain for
hiiu tiian could have been
From some cause, however, not easily
anticipated.
Sastree's eu-
tangiemems.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
AD.
isu.
it,
and declared
when
the settlement
his determination to
[Book VII.
was submitted
make
to him, refused to
In this dilemma Gungadhur Sastree took the course which was the
at
the time, but was sure to prove the most difficult in the end.
He
easiest
ung'iements.
Guiigadhur
ever.
concealed the fact of Futteh Sing's refusal, and had recourse to a series of
evasions for the purpose of accounting for the non-ratification.
all.
Bajee
Row
set out
Nor was
this
Hindoo
pilgrimage,
situated 100 miles north of Poonah, with the intention of preparing for
11^
wr"
celebration there.
its
Though
Annual, 1S40.
between the marriage and the settlement, Gungadhur Sastree had determined
that the one should not take place without the other, and he was thus
by his
evasions allowing the Peishwa to proceed with
preparations for a marriage
ment
to the
Peishwa.
havc been greatly increased when Gungadhur Sastree had the manliness to
tell the Pcishwa that he could not allow his wife to visit at the
palace of
in
of
the
notorious licentiousness which was permitted
Poonah,
consequence
within
it.
professions
of
Chap.
GUNGADHUR SASTREE
II.]
ASSASSINATED.
39
and hence, after the pilgrimage to Nassik was completed, he at once accepted
an invitation to accompany the Peishwa to Punderpoor, another celebrated
situated on the Beema, 112 miles south-east of Poonah.
of 1iiiloTiinao-e,
nlace
o
o
^
'
'
the circumstances which ought to have increased his caution had only
increased his confidence, he left the greater part of his escort behind, and took
As
if
a.d. isis.
Barbarous
murder of
cungadhur
he returned
home
He
more
unarmed attendants.
still
On
retired,
a third invitation,
still
set out
more
urgent, the
way.
what seemed
fate.
The moment they reached him one of them struck him with
had concealed a sword. Others
this atrocious
there as
if
visit
the murderers appear just to have left him when they issued from the temple
to do the deed ; and he was still there when they returned to it, with the bloody
it
it
was done.
The
quent conduct.
Mr. Elphinstone, who had accompanied the Peishwa to Nassik, and seen enough
him that his presence was no longer desired, had turned aside to visit
the caves at Ellora, and was there when the news of the murder reached him.
to satisfy
Common
the
own
Perpetrators
HISTORY OF INDIA.
40
vindication,
A.D. 1815.
could not do
and nothing
less,
less
[Book VII,
would
satisfy
the British
it
Tlie Britis!
had guaranteed.
Mr. Elphinstone, after preparing for the worst by ordering the division of
the Hyderabad force stationed at Jaulna to advance to Seroor, only forty miles
resident
at Poonali
accuses
Trimbukjee
of Gungadhmsastree's
it
on the Gth
that though
guilt,
it
was the
of the
festival
by
under cover
stealth,
Dakshin,
when thousands
of
The
resident's inquiries
Row
of the Sastree.
On the
"
On
all
my
conviction
of Trimbukjee Dainglia's guilt, and I call upon your highness to apprehend him,
as well as Govind Row Burdojee and Bhugwunt Row Gykwar (Sitaram's
agents from Baroda, who were deeply implicated), and to deposit them in such
Even if your highness is
custody as may be considered safe and trustworthy.
sufficient
ground
it
for confining
may
be immediate.
tlie
midst of your highness's court a Brahmin has been massacred almost in the
temple during one of the greatest solemnities of your religion and I must
not conceal from your highness that the impunity of the perpetrators of this
;
than
Conduct of
'
was only
insinuated,
unable to
summon up
course,
He
and was
any decided
him
Chap.
II.]
number
41
and seemed
a.d. isis.
conduct of
so bent
on trying
to the
of his troops,
hostilities, that
common cause with Trimbukjee, the resident, who had hitherto been acting on
own responsibility, was confirmed in the course he had pursued, by a letter
his
perpetual confinement would be his worst punishment, intimated his determination to hold him responsible for the consequences of continuing to screen him,
trial,
the two governments, and the calling in of the subsidiary force to Poonah.
The Peishwa, whose cowardice was notorious, was intimidated by this menace,
and yielded a reluctant compliance so far as to send ofi" Trimbukjee to the hillfort of
south.
This, however,
was
considered as evasion,
He
is
at last
uompelieJ
todeiiverup
off"
Bombay. Sitaram's
agents, delivered at the same time, were ultimately placed at the disposal
of the Guicowar.
The Peishwa endeavoured to avenge himself for the humilia-
two
by which he hoped
into the
confederacy.
down
to put
11
Minto had laboured to accomplish, but the reluctance of the rajah, who
saw that it would be equivalent to a renunciation of independence, could not
be overcome, and his
final refusal,
delayed by a
alliance
Company's
Vol. III.
frontier,
though
it
difficult for
rroposed
witiiNaboi.s
of Bliojiaul
andsausm-.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
42
AD.
1815.
Proposed
stitution of the
aUiances
withNabobs
[Book YII.
It
this purpose
barrier
between them.
thus thrown in their way, that they had recently united their armies for the
purpose of conquering and partitioning Bhopaul.
Nothing but the talents and
desperate courage of the Nabob Vizier Mahomed had prevented them from
effecting their object,
to
apprehend that
ensuing season they would again unite their forces and renew the
And there was nothing to prevent them, since the non-interference
campaign.
the
in
policy of the
Terms
offered to
them.
Sucli
Company
was the
left
them
in
no fear of interruption.
Bhopaul when, in consequence of the
....
state of matters in
general was directed to the importance of framing some new defensive line.
In this no difficulty was anticipated from the nabob himself, as he had become
sensible of his inability any longer to withstand the Mahratta combination, and
had made urgent application to the British government for aid. In addition
to the mutual benefits to be derived from the alliance, he could also point to
the services which one of his predecessors had rendered to the Company during
the celebrated overland route of a body of troops sent by Warren Hastings
under Colonel Goddard from Calpee to Bombay. These services, which, when
the non-intervention system prevailed, it was deemed politic to forget, it was
now
to
ment
Bhonsla, and a perpetual guarantee for the future; the nabob to be left in
complete independence in the management of his internal administration; the
for a
all
connection
with the rindarees, and not to negotiate with other powers except in concert
with the British government, abiding by its arbitration in all differences with
them."
As
above terms,
all
Chap.
any of
for
SCINDIA'S DESIGNS
II.]
his territories
him and
now
43
Terms
restored.
ON BHOPAUL.
nearly- the
were to be recovered
same were proposed to the Nabob of
to be so
Saugur,
nearly arranged that Mr. Strachey, the
resident at Scindia's court,
himself
authorized formally to communicate
thought
the fact to that chief
In consequence of this communication, others to the
same effect were made to the courts of Poonah and
a.d.isis.
viiiances
oftiilj^i"
""''^'"^ur.
Nagpoor.
would be
Bhopaul as a violation of subsisting treaties. Bhopaul was one of his dependencies, and it had been expressly stipulated between him and the Company
that he should be at perfect liberty to deal with them as he
thought fit without
being interfered with.
reducing Bhopaul
It
to submission
Prute=stuf
Scindia
against
these alliances.
in
in
new
campaign, and therefore for the Company to step in at such a time, and
exclude him from his just rights by calling Bhopaul an
ally, was tantamount to
a
a declaration of war.
He would
injustice,
with his preparations against Bhopaul, regardless of the intimation winch had
been made.
them ready
He had
move on the shortest notice he had ordered the Nizam's subto move from Jaulna to Ellichpoor, and the Peishwa's subsidiary
to
sidiary force
precautions
it is
not unlikely that Scindia would have carried his threats into
hostilities sooner than abandon the hope of making
He
claims
adependency.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
44
A.D. 1S16.
Alliance
trated by
the duplicity of the
nabob.
[Book YH.
out the time in labouring ineffectually to prove that the British government
had no right to enter into alliance with Bhopaul. His objections were for the
most part re-echoed by Ragojee Bhonsla. The most curious part of the whole
which became the subject of so much argument and
is, that the alliance itself,
Scindia's
Bhopaul, with the view of ascertaining whether he might not make better
terms than those which the Company had offered him. The governor-general,
on discovering this duplicity, was so indignant that he abruptly closed the
negotiation,
Nagpoor, which happened within a week of each other, the former on the l7th,
and the latter on the 22d of March, 1816. In both cases a son succeeded, but
while the new nabob, Nuzur Mahomed, possessed no less talent and more
honesty than his father, the new rajah, Purswajee Bhonsla, was so weak, both
in body and mind, as to be altogether incapable of conducting the government.
The question of a regency was therefore immediately raised, and led to disputes,
of which the governor-general did not scruple to avail himself, in order to effect
the subsidiary alliance which had so long been desired.
By supporting the
claim of Modajee Bhonsla, better known as Apa Sahib, the nephew of the late
rajah, he secured his elevation to the office of regent, and with it an influence,
which, it was hoped, would be productive of great advantages.
Apa Sahib
accordingly, as soon as he
Subsidiary
alliance
with his
successor,
Apa
Sahib.
was
powerful party which originally opposed, and was still able to thwart him, was
to form a close alliance with the British
government. The subsidiary alliance
was no sooner proposed than he acceded to it, and concluded a treaty on the
27th of May, 1816, by which the Company undertook to protect the rajah
against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to maintain for that purpose a
subsidiary force, consisting of a regiment of native cavalry, six regiments of
infantry, and a complete company of European artillery, and the rajah engaged,
besides paying seven and a half lacs as the annual
expense of this force, to
maintain an
efficient
this treaty
British
allies,
and
to
nesrotiate
with
About the
was concluded, the new Nabob of Bhopaul made
Chap.
II.J
45
overtures for an alliance, on terms similar to those which had been offered to
his father, but the governor-general, either because his indignation had not yet
sufficiently cooled down, or because he thought that the Nagpoor alliance had
rendered one with Bhopaul unnecessary, met the overtures coldly, and gave the
nabob to understand that, in regard to his territories, it was his intention to
maintain the
strictest neutrality
and
a.d. isie.
suiwidiarjalliance
with Nag^''
indifference.
under the
crossed
within a march of
Nagpoor.
made
their
halted,
its
unpopu-
surprise which
had been produced by their arrival in the vicinity. The concluhad been kept a profound secret, and was not even suspected,
was formally proclaimed only the day before the troops made their
It is natural to infer that there was good ground for this secrecy,
appearance.
and that the treaty was concealed because it was foreseen that its terms would
till
it
not be relished.
opposition to
it,
It
who
now
were
their adhesion to
Apa
critical
position of
sahib.
insuffi-
battalions
now
some account
were to be directed.
We
name
is
chiefly distinguished
description,
by serving with-
Tiie preda-
tory systen;.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
46
A.D. 1S16.
The Pin(larees
predatory
[Book VII.
nation.
ascendency in
the
Deccan,
When
foe.
the
however, they never allowed their supposed allegiance to interfere with their
-]
,..'-.-.<'.
^"''->'>i--^J%-*^^-t^j^^^^i^.'.,':^vr
interest,
dering expeditions.
readj^ to join
amount of plunder.
far the
most numerous,
first
obtained their
by two
brothers,
beginning of November; and having collected their own followers, and all
vagabond adventurers who chose to join them, set out at the end of the rains
so well as to
moved with
Chap.
THE PINDAEEES.
II.]
47
they were not disposed to risk an encounter with regular troops, they
endeavoured to fall by surprise on each district marked out for plunder, and
to comijlete the
^
work
of being
of devastation before there was any danger
o
o
carrying out this plan, no time could be lost, and hence,
In
Hon-id
.y
overtaken.
a.d. isie
tortures
inflicted
by
the Pin-
as the speediest
means of
and abomination
darees.
down, and at
Boiling oil and burning-
it
air,
spear.
It is almost
add that the mothers themselves, and all other females who
could tempt brutahty, were subjected to treatment worse than death.
The two chiefs, Heeroo and Burun, died in 1800, and left sons who fol-
unnecessary to
'
lowed in their
fathers' footsteps.
It
was
Leader
darees.
followed
hke
himself in
during a famine to a Pindaree. As he grew up, he distinguished
the durra, or Pindaree company, to which his master belonged, and in 180i
stood so high in the estimation of Dowlut Row Scindia, that he gave him a
Two years after he fell
title of Nabob.
jaghire and conferred upon him the
and was imprisoned by Scindia, who did not restore him to liberty
he had been four years in prison, and purchased release by the payment of
He afterwards returned to his jaghire, and again ingratiated
a heavy ransom.
into disgrace,
till
himself so
much with
him
Kureem Khan,
m
.
Rohilla,
and
Dowlut Row
compelled him to
service of
and
first
Scindia,
when
that chief
convention of
Kurdla.
it
added to his
laid
to a
respectability, procured
of
the Pin-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
48
AD.
1S16.
""
in that territory,
him
Kiueem
leacirrofthe
Pmdarees.
rescmblcd him
more
still
^s his
pj-Qp^^.j^iQ^
powcr
Khan
them by
creating
If in these respects he resembled Clieetoo, he
iucrcascd, Scindia,
which he
to suspect that he
useful dependant,
rival.
[Book YII.
of
received.
him only
as
In
an
began
There were certainly some grounds for this suspicion, since Kureem
had begun to act as if he contemplated the establishment of a regular
Not contented
sovereignty.
tolerate in
To put
His
seizure
by
Scindia.
his
He had
of
Kureem Khan's
in vain
abilities.
found, he said,
Sunnuds, or
grants in addition to those that had previously been promised.
deeds of grant, and a rich dress of investiture, were ordered to be prepared, and
Full of hope, he proceeded
nothing remained but to complete the ceremony.
on the appointed day with a few attendants to the Mahratta camp. He was
received with singular honour, and seemed on the eve of having all his wishes
fulfilled, when Scindia on some pretext quitted the tent, and a body of armed
men rushed
in
their prisoner.
The
success of this
first
Chap.
II.]
Sliujahalpoor,
where
49
the greater
off
His
Gwalior.
a.d. isn,
and
treasure.
His mother, however, saved them by hurrying
with everything of value to the westward, and obtaining an asylum with
Zalim Sing, Nabob of Kotah. Kureem Khan was carried off as a prisoner to
the territories
impnson-
Kureem
retaliating,
his
nephew
The effect
was
offer of a
his release
quentde^"^^
^ ^'^'
had the disposal of that of Cheetoo, who having formerly been under great
obligations to him, and having moreover like himself wrongs to avenge on
Scindia,
really formidable.
assembled
This
to take part in
is
stated
his
territories.
The
battalions of infantry
This
orreat
He was
of Pindarees
who
than 60,000.
the
nearer
truth, when he
certainly
is
states
tion.
of this union was to increase the Pindaree force to an extent which made
effect
it
was ready
newly
prosperity of
all descriptions,
...
less
besides several
.,
..
into the territories of
Ragojee Bhonsla,
from which, owing to the notorious feebleness of the government, a rich booty
with little risk was anticipated.
Cheetoo, on whom Ragojee had recently conferred several jaghires, was unwilling to forfeit them by taking part in such an
and the quarrel became so bitter that the union was broken up.
While thus weakened, Kureem Khan was attacked by Jagoo Bapoo, a general
whom Scindia had sent against him, and so completely defeated that his durra
incursion,
to
Vol. III.
203
His incursioninto
theNagpooi
territory.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
50
A.D. 1812.
Durraof
Khlu
dis-
persed,
[Book VII.
wary nabob, unwilling to commit himself further, advised him to seek the protection of Ameer Khan, who received him with many professions of friendship.
They could not have been sincere, for he shortly after, under pretence of recommending him to Toolsah Bai, then regent of Holkar's dominions, handed him
^^^^ ^^ j^j^ agent GufFoor Khan, by whom he was detained as a prisoner for
three years.
During this interval his nephew Namdur Khan had exerted himkeep up his durra, but on his return he found it so much diminished,
that he consented to hold only a secondary place, by uniting it to the durra
of Dost Mahomed, and Wasil Mahomed, the two sons of Heeroo.
These, as
self to
tory.
ritory.^
Adding
to these
For many years the Pindarees confined their depredations to the neighbourThose of
ing territories of the Peishwa, the Nizam, and the Rajah of Berar.
^^ rajah, as the weakest, suffered most severely, and he was more than once
own
In
their expeditions
but after a pusillanimous policy was adopted, the hope of impunity tempted
aggression, and in January, 1812, a body of Pindarees belonging to Dost
from Benares and Allahabad compelled them to change their route, and make
the best of their
it
a province of Nagpoor.
The quantity of
certain that this was only the first of a series of forays,
In
this
cund
way a
to the
was formed, stretching from the frontiers of BundelCambay. It was impossible, however, that such a line could
line of posts
Gulf of
it,
it,
or
strong,
laid
Chap.
II.]
51
waste the dependencies of Surat; while other bodies, carrying their depredations
and east, entered the Northern Circars, and carried off a rich booty
a.d. isie.
Devastr.tions
to the south
penetrated to
One
pindarees.
for eight
it
the above eight days, 182 persons had been slain, 505 wounded, and 3633
tortured.
The comparative impunity with which the Pindarees had escaped in March,
lucursioiis
The population, despairing of by them
181 G, tempted them to return in December.
being able to offer any resistance, fled to the neighbouring hills and thickets, temtory/
and left their villages and homes at the mercy of the marauders, who had parRenewed
One
allowed, however,
repeatedly came so near as to inflict severe punishment on the main body; other
detachments intercepted them in their retreat, and when at last they reached
the defensive system, and parties were not wanting, both at home and in India,
to oppose the adoption of more vigorous measures.
These, however, were now
and
the
most
in
a
competent judges concurred in recomminority,
decidedly
mending
offensive operations.
Earl Moira had never had any doubt on the subject, and had from the
very first urged the suppression of the predatory hordes as essential to the prosperity and permanent tranquillity of the country.
evil."
home
from the secret committee, dated 29th September, 1815, expressly prohibited the supreme government "from engaging in plans of general confederacy
and off'ensive
the Pindarees, either with a view to their utter
letter
operations against
Timid
the
home
'^^*'i''*''^"-
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
52
A.D. ibi6.
'
Timid coun-
homfau-^
ral continued to
general
Qjj|.j(.g^]^ ^j^(j
Tastations.
who in 1816 had become president of the Board of Control, dictated instructions
in which the following passages occur: "We are unwilling to incur the risk of
war for the uncertain purpose of extirpating the Pindarees. Extended
a
thorities in
Piudareede-
[Book VII.
military combinations
we cannot
chieftains
it is
added:
"We
enter-
tain a strong hope that the dangers which arise from both these causes, and
which must, perhaps, always exist in a greater or less degree, may, by a judi-
in
of other states,
may
hostile confederacy
These crude notions, and the pusillanimous policy which they recommended,
when
by
The
indig-
nant reply of the governor-general deserves to be quoted: "When the honourable committee suggest the expedient of engaging one portion of the Pindarees
to destroy
association, I
am
we have been
am satisfied that nothing could have been more repugnant to the feelings of the
honourable committee than the notion that this government should be soiled
The bolder
EaiiMciia
ly adopted*
that
tlic
admit that "they were not intended to restrain the governorthe exercise of his judgment and discretion upon any occasion when
instructions, as to
general in
actual war upon the British territories might be commenced by any body of
marauders, and where the lives and properties of British subjects might call for
protection."
Any
Chap.
THE EAJPOOTS.
II.]
53
upon the new policy thus indicated, and prepared to negotiate the new alliances
which it would be necessary to form before any reasonable hope could be
entertained of suppressing the predatory system.
The Pindarees, though the
most
most numerous and
atrocious, were by no means the only depredators.
some form entered largely into the military system of the Mahand
rattas,
many of the troops professedly belonging to Scindia and Holkar
were marauding mercenaries, who trusted much more to plunder than to regular
Depredation in
a.d. isie.
other de-
Cldes^tL
^''"^'''''^''^
pay, and were ever ready when dissatisfied with the one or the other to change
masters, or to assume independence and create disturbances merely for the purThe desertion of the alliances which the Marquis
pose of profiting by them.
of Wellesley had formed
was a
fare, and bands of Patau mercenaries, sometimes in the name of Mahratta chiefs,
but more frequently without thinking it necessary to employ any pretext,
began to roam over the territories from which protection had been withdrawn,
as if that withdrawal had declared them to be a common prey.
Ameer Khan,
whom we
have already seen at the head of these marauders, having fixed upon
Rajpootana as the principal sphere of his operations, kept the whole country
in a state bordering
on anarchy.
chiefs
easy for him to play the one against the other, and thus enrich and
aggrandize himself at the expense of all. In order to show how much the
made
it
general tranquillity
detail will
be necessary.
The
the names of their respective capitals, Odeypoor, Joudpoor, and Jeypoor.
is
the
Rana
of
from
as
he
claimed
direct
descent
called,
chief, or,
Odeypoor,
Rama, and accordingly took precedency of
all
when
till
the succession opened to them, did not think themselves fully installed
he had recognized them by bestowing an ornament worn \ipon the forehead.
This recognized pre-eminence of the Rana gave him much more political weight
than he could have derived from his territory, which, situated in the south of
Rajpootana, was throughout rugged, and, with a few exceptional spots, far from
The Mogul, though he often tried, failed to make him tributary, and
he maintained his independence to the last. Immediately to the west beyond
the Aravali Mountains lay the territory of Marwar, or of the Rajah of Joudpoor,
fertile.
who belonged
to the
his descent
from a
state of Raj-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
54
A.D. 1S03.
The three
leading Raj-
poot states.
[Book VII.
Mahometan
conquest.
He possessed some fertile tracts, particularly towards his south frontier, but all
In the reign of
the rcst of his territory was little better than a sandy desert.
the Mogul as their superior, and held high office
rajahs acknowledged
of
at his court, till the bigotry
Aurungzebe compelled them to throw off the
Akbar the
by
irrigation
under profitable
culture,
till
his death in
to the cultivation of his literary tastes, more especially the science of astronomy, his proficiency in which is attested by his astronomical tables drawn up
at
^\^qj^ ^q
The original
bccomc the prey of comparatively ignoble enemies.
is so singular and characteristic, as to be not undeserving of a
cause of quarrel
short narrative.
by
was
Joudpoor
The
celebrated.
Rajah of Jeypoor was next preferred and all the preliminary arrangements
having been made, an escort of 3000 troops had actually proceeded to Odeypoor to bring the princess home, when Man Sing, now Rajah of Joudpoor,
the
stepped in and claimed her as his wife, insisting that after she had been
;
it
would bring
indelible disgrace
As no time was
upon him
to be lost,
to
Man
Sing took the most effectual means to prevent the marriage with Jugat Sing,
by attacking and routing the troops which he had sent to escort the princess
from Odeypoor.
of
Man
him
fierce
as his son-in-law.
Chap.
THE RAJPOOTS.
II.]
55
concerns of
its
chiefs.
isos.
Feuds
Rajah of Joudpoor, but notwithstanding this formidable combination, the Rajah r" p1,ot
''^^^'"
of Jeypoor was still in hopes of being able to maintain his ground, as he had,
in
'^
December, 1803, concluded a treaty with Lord Lake, by which the integrity
of his territories
In this
Company.
guarantee
broken
the
of
reed.
case,
however, the
proved a
Company
and
as
if
this
for
injustice
cancelling
it,
visit
to
was
The
first eff'ect
him to a
from Holkar, whom he was obliged
of this desertion
buy
off"
to subject
at the price of
twenty
lacs of
rupees.
In consideration of
whicli
the
rival
this sum,
Man
to interfere in the
war
by Jugat Sing, but opposed by a powerful body of his own subjects, who,
disgusted by his tyi-anny, had risen in support of another claimant to the
was obliged to shut himself up in the citadel of Joudpoor. Scindia, who
had been bought off" by the Rana, had also agreed to remain neutral, but both
he and Holkar, while keeping their engagements in the letter, laid no restraint
throne,
Ameer Khan
in particular, considering it
should
be annihilated, compelled
Sing's power
to
raise
the
of
Jugat Sing
siege
Joudpoor, and hasten home to the defence of his
own dominions. The Rana, though he took no part in the war between the
Man
much from
two
rajahs, suffered so
and
them
as equals,
Ameer Khan,
that he made
were only making them the prey of a common enemy, offered to submit
which having, as
they justly argued, succeeded to the place of the Mogul emperor, ought not to
decline his duties, one of the most obvious and important of which was to inThe
terpose authoritatively for the maintenance of the general tranquillity.
warprotheTrd^'*'''""'*
HISTORY OF INDIA.
56
AD
1808
Horrible
reSncUing
dissensions
among Rajpootohiets
[Book VII.
now
^j^^
in favour
father, deprived of all other support, was driven to enlist the services of Ameer
Khan, and assigned to him a fourth of his revenues as the permanent hire of
and unprincipled as
still
his
remove
its
cause
by putting
tlie
princess to death.
Man
yourself to get for me Khalee Row (a coveted tract of territory), from Rajah
of
after
shall
have
contrive
to
rid
my daughter
you
get
Sing, I will in that case
gone, using such
means
odium
as possible."
The means
adopted were to mix poison with his daughter's food. The quantity taken
proved insufficient, but the princess, divining what had been intended, sent to
her father to say that
if
Tragical fete
Koomaree.
was no
deemed
She
accordingly dressed herself in gay attire, and procuring a bowl of poison, drank
"
Her
This is the marriage to which I was foredoomed."
it off, cxclaimiug,
mother, unablc to survive the tragical fate of her beloved daughter, died shortly
after of a broken heart.
The father continued to live and reap the full fruits
lamentations burst from every quai'ter, and expressions of pity at her fate
were mingled with execrations on the weakness and cowardice of those who
could purchase safety on such terms."
The
difficulty of finding
any redeeming
trait in this diabolical atrocity, will justify the insertion of Sir John's narrative
of the conduct of " Sugwant Sing, chief of Karradur, who, the moment he
heard of the proceedings in the palace, hastened from his residence to Odeypoor, and dismounting from a breathless horse, went unceremoniously into the
presence of his prince,
apparent
affliction.
'
whom
Is the princess
dead or
alive?'
was
gation; to which, after a short pause, Adjeit Sing repHed. by entreating him
not to disturb the grief of a father for a lost child.' The old chief immediately
'
unbuckled his sword, which, with his shield, he laid at the feet of the Maharana, saying, in a calm but resolute tone
My ancestors have served yours for
more than thirty generations, and to you I cannot utter what I feel, but these
'
arms
shall
"
service.'
his
Chap.
word.
THE RAJPOOTS.
II.]
Though he
57
his a.d.
isie
'
subordinate
prindplii*'''^"
of which some account has been given, there were many others, some of
like those of Bikaneer and Jessulmeer,
though of great extent, situated
so far to the north and west, and of so sterile a character, as to be almost
beyond
ties,
them
eastern frontier,
and
of comparatively small
extent, but
was the only one of these whicli had a subsisting alliance with the Company;
but it was perfectly obvious that until they were all brought into the same
position, the
Such then
predatory system could not be successfully combated.
was the first task to which the governor-general considered it necessary to
address himself
It was not very difficvilt, for such was the state of
insecurity
and wretchedness to which most of the chiefs had been reduced, that nothing
more than the intimation of a readiness to abandon the non-interference policy
was required, in order to induce them to apply for the benefits of the better
iiesointion
go%emor-
re'umtthe
'"JJj^^J"'
any terms which the governor- general might dictate. The Rajah of Boondee,
taking a similar course, pleaded services which ought not to have been forgotten;
while a number of petty chiefs on the frontiers of Bundelcund or Malwah prayed
be taken within the pale of protection. Even Ameer Khan, as
away by the current, or conscious that he would be unable to resist
to
to desist
from pillage
if
Nuzur Mahomed
also,
the
if carried
it,
and to
Nabob
offered
assist in
of Bhopaul,
notwithstanding the little encouragement formerly given, renewed his applicawith more success, and concluded a preliminary engagement.
tion
felt as to
(if
we
gant as it
may
become of you?'
dispense with their assistance, and several of his most distinguished officers
Vol. III.
204
HISTORY OF INDIA.
58
A.D. 1816.
The
abaudoned
oy sciudia.
[Booe VII.
not only patronized the Pindarees, but believed that, if duly supported, they
might prove a match for the British, and be the means of re-establishing the
mode of
ment of
wai'fare
which the Mahrattas originally pursued, and to the abandonmore recent disasters. It w^as therefore
^^^ witliout alarm and deep mortification that Scindia, shrinking from a new
contest, felt constrained to abandon the Pindarees to their fate, and even to
to assist in
profess his desire
extermination.
the Pindaree,
was
little
to be
Policy of the
Peishwa.
...
had imposed upon him, and ever since he had been compelled to allow his
favourite, Trimbukjee, to be carried off to an imprisonment which was apparently to be for
guised.
life,
Loud and
He had
trial,
punishment.
He was
Esoapeof his
Trimbukjee.
his treasures,
who
where they were concealed. While daily importuning the resident on this
subject, and enlarging on many other imaginary grievances, the startling intelligeucc arrived that Trimbukjee had made his escape on the 2d of September,
For greater security, the garrison of the fort
and this circumstance was proved to
have aided the means used for setting him at liberty. He was allowed every
afternoon to take exercise for an hour or two on the ramparts, and it was
meaning of which the sentries did not understand, but which Bishop
from
the account given to him, has exhibited in the following verses:
Heber,
songs, the
bowmen
Where
hide,
tree,
The Deccan
his steed,
thrives again."
stable
his
Chap.
II.]
59
horse was easily reached from an outhouse of the fort, to which Trimbukjee
was permitted to retire at a certain hour in the evening in charge of a sentry.
In a dark and rainy night, while the sentry stood outside, the prisoner dis-
a.d. isig.
Escape of
appeared, and having changed his dress into that of a common labourer, with a
The narrow
basket on his head, passed the gateway of the fort unquestioned.
channel of Salsette was all that separated him from the Mahratta territory.
He waded
over,
cxipUcity
peishwa.
mation he gave was found only to mislead, and he began to collect troops even
in the vicinity of Poonah, with so little attempt at concealment, that it seemed
as if he cared not how soon open hostilities were commenced.
Meanwhile,
though Bajee Row pretended to have no idea of the place to which Trimbukjee
had retired, and declared solemnly that he believed him to be dead, all his
were well aware that he had found an asylum among the Mahadeo
to the south of the Neera, and placed himself at the head of considerable
subjects
Hills,
bodies of horse
and
foot.
It
was moreover
had
actually taken place between Trimbukjee and his master, who had conveyed
money to him, and acted in such a manner as to make his cause his own. The
to Raighur,
It
by
recalling to
Poonah the
number
Had
this been
all,
have been possible, but every step taken by the Peishwa showed plainly
that the insurgents had his full sanction, and had good ground for believing
One of his most overt acts
that he would soon place himself at their head.
still
was the
Thus
collecting of
gun bullocks
for
pre-
hostm-
ties.
principal
part of the subsidiary force which had been stationed on the frontier to watch
the Pindarees, and instructing the Hyderabad subsidiary force to advance into
Candeish.
Here a body of insurgents, about 5000 strong, had assembled under
vicinity of Punderpoor.
Mutual
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
60
A.D.
1816.
Threatened
war with
ti.e
Peishwa.
[Book YII.
{qj-qq
forthwith
would procecd
^
to put
down
The
the insurrection.
i
laut threat
'
lightly
them
His alarm.
him that
after
what had
passed,
no
accommodation with him could now be made except by his engaging to deliver
This communication was
Trimbukjee, and giving secm-ity for performance.
received with great apparent coolness, and Mr. Elphinstone therefore thought
it necessary on the
following day to give a more definite form to his demands,
them
in a note which specifically required an obligation to
hy embodying
deliver Trimbukjee within one month,
as
much apparent
indifference as
twenty-four hours allowed for answer had nearly expired when vakeels arrived
to intimate that the Peishwa agreed to the terms, and would surrender^ the forts
without delay.
On
the 10th of
May the
approved by anticipation of
all
They
made
In the
made
first case,
Chap.
II.]
61
definite time,
and of greater
securities
case,
were to be enhanced.
The
securities
a.d. isi;.
Rigorous
otoedto
^'i'^^"**''"''-
mentioned
the surrender of
all
claims on Gujerat,
the Peishwa
was
to be seized,
prepared.
some abatement of
^e
accepts
them under
to expire.
There was
now
therefore no
room
for hesitation,
and
Mr. Elphinstone demanded that the treaty, in terms of the draft, which he had
A short delay was gained by the
explained, should forthwith be executed.
discussion of the terms, but all evasions being at length exhausted, the treaty
was signed and sealed by the Peishwa on the 13th of June, 1817. The stipulations would have deserved a minute detail had the}^ been destined to regulate
to
Ahmedabad
and the Peishwa felt them to be so to such a degree, that at the very
time of ratifying the treaty, he protested that it had been wrung from him,
and that he acquiesced merely because he was unable to resist. It is impossible,
rigorous,
hostilities.
protest.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
62
CHAPTER
[Book VI[.
III.
General preparations The army of Hindoostan The army of the Deccan First movements Treaties
with Scindia and with Ameer Khan
Ruptm-e with the Peishwa Battle of Kirkee Flight of the
Operations against the Pindarees Rupture with the Rajah Nagpoor Battle of
Seetabaldee Rupture with Holkar Battle
Mahidpoor Treaty with Holkar Dispersion of the
Peishwa
the
Pindarees Operations against
Rajah of Sattarah installed Capture of Sholapoor and
Peishwa
of
of
last
AVING
home
somewhat
A.D. 1817
^
Preparations
ale'JIledr-^
tory system,
might be disposed to countenance them. The army of Hindoostan was composed of four main divisions, each of them of sufficient strength to act indepen^^gj^^jy sliould
circumstanccs require
The
it.
them
of
of
battalions
Hiudoostan
stationed at
W.S.W.
regiments of cavalry, one of them his majesty's 24!th light dragoons, bis
majesty's 87th regiment, and eight battalions of native infantry, with fifty- four
This division, with which the governor- general as commander-in-chief
established his head-quarters, mustered 12,500 fighting men of the regular
guns.
division, stationed
army.
of native cavalry, two corps of Skinner's horse, his majesty's 67tli regiment,
and five battalions of native infantry, with twenty-two guns. To each division
considerable
C-iAP. III.]
63
The whole
ad.
isiv.
of the
army
The army of the Deccan, commanded by Sir Thomas Hislop, commander-inThe first divichief of the Madras presidency, was formed into five divisions.
which
Sir
Thomas
with
fixed
his
was
intended
to prosion,
Hislop
headquarters,
and
to
consisted
of
a
ceed
Hindia,
squadron of his majesty's 22d light dragoons,
Army
of the
P""1'^'^-
two regiments of native cavalry, flank companies of his majesty's royal Scots,
and six battalions of native infantry, with field artillery. The second division,
to
and intended
Nagpoor subsidiary force, commanded by Colonel Adams, consisted of two regiments of native cavalry, a body of Rohilla horse, the contingent of the Nabob
of Bhopaul, and six battalions of native infantry.
A reserve division was
formed under Colonel Pritzler, and brigades were left at Poonah, Nagpoor, and
Hyderabad. A respectable force had also been assembled in Gujerat under Sir
W.
The two
gate to 113,000
Ganges on the 8th of July, 1817, and after a short stay at Patna, to receive a
complimentary deputation from Khatmandoo, arrived at Cawnpore in Septem-
On
moved simultaneously from Agra, and both began their march upon Gwalior,
the centre division by the route of Jaloun and Seonda on the Sindh, and the
The object of these moveright division by Dholpoor Baree on the Chumbul.
ments cannot be better explained than in the governor-general's own words
:
"Residing at Gwalior, he (Scindia) was in the heart of the richest part of his
dominions, but independently of this objection that those territories were separated from our territory only by the Jumna, there was a military defect in the
situation, to
Thegover-
tak^the
HISTORY OF INDIA.
64
A.D. 1817.
Project of
governor-
bul,
which
rivers
[Book VII.
and
district
its
general in
regard to
Soindia.
bar any movement along the Little Sindh, and placing Major-general Donkin's
division at the back of the other pass, Scindia was reduced to the dilemma of
By my
seizing,
New
treaty
imposed
upon him.
all its
and nnpose upon him terms which, as the governorgeneral himself confesses, "were essentially unqualified submission, though so
coloured as to avoid making him feel public humiliation," might well have been
any one had placed
himself,
forfeited
all
claim to
mination of the Pindarees, he had not only promised them protection, but was
With his Mahratta confederates he had
suspected of sharing in their plunder.
and some
For better concealment, this letter was neatly pasted between the leaves of a
Sanscrit book of the Vedas which one of the passengers, who professed to be a
travelling student,
delicate
The governor-general,
as the
most
was
Its terms.
letters to
be delivered to
iiim,
he was well aware might easily be made still more rigorous and unpalatable.
By the treaty concluded on the 5tli of November, 1817, he engaged to use
his best efforts for the destruction of the Pindarees to furnish and maintain in
;
complete efiiciency a specific contingent to act in concert with the British and
under the direction of a British officer; to admit British garrisons into the forts
of Hindia
Chap.
III.]
65
a.d. 1817.
Terms
of
treaty cou-
eluded witii
This
article, as interfering
with the
alii-
on the
left
Ameer Khan, who had sagacity enough to foresee the ruin which
with the British would necessarily bring upon him, and therefore
another with
hostilities
all
possessed under grants from Holkar, to disband his Patans, and give up his
As an hostage
artillery, on receiving five lacs of rupees as their estimated value.
for the fulfilment of this treaty.
Ameer Khan's
was
to reside at
Delhi.
and actual
hostilities
commenced.
final
When
with more boldness and honesty than he usually evinced, protested that it was
wrung from him by compulsion, and there could not therefore be a doubt that
he would seize the
first
by signing it he felt
inhabitants of his capital, he withdrew from
various pretences, did not return
till
meditating was very apparent, for the whole of October was spent by him in
collecting troops
from
all quarters,
and urging
attempts were made to tamper with the fidelity of the .sepoys of the brigade,
and the Mahratta troops, as they crowded into the capital, encamped so as to
inclose the British cantonments.
The
site of these,
city,
Vol. III.
for the
purpose of defending
it
205
Final
mp-
Bajee Row.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
6G
AD.
1817.
Site of
the British
m^utT
[Book VII.
became every day more and more apparent, and at last Mr. Elphinstone, though
most reluctant to precipitate the open ruptm-e which was seen to be impending,
gave orders on the 31st of October that the stores of the brigade should be
transported to Kirkee, and that the brigade itself should immediately follow.
The Moota from the south-west meeting the Moola from the north-east,
forms with
it
On the
right bank, in the angle made by the Moota and the Mootathe
Moola,
city of Poonah, inclosed by the rivers towards the west and
north, but quite open towards the south and east, in which latter direction, as
flows east.
lies
On the opposite
already mentioned, the subsidiary force had its cantonments.
or left bank of the Moota, at the point of junction with the Moola, stood the
British residency, which had thus the disadvantage of being entirely separated
from the cantonments, a river and the whole breadth of the city intervening
between them.
It
was
danger of being surrounded by the troops which were pouring into the city, that
the British bris^ade removed on the 1st of November to the villao-e of Kirkee,
situated rather more than
Demands
waonMr.
Eiphmstone.
had been
left
and a corps of 1000 auxiliary horse that had just been raised in the same quarter.
Tliis rcinforcemcnt started from Seroor on the 5th of November, and in the
forcuoon of that day, Bajee Row, informed of the fact, put his troops in motion.
Q^j^lg^^ a Mahratta chief, who had always been at the head of the war party,
moved round a
battalion,
the two.
officer
approach of troops as well from Seroor as from Colonel Smith's army, and
having twice before been the dupe of his own irresolution, he was now deter-
mined
to be
attacked.
for the
moment
mounted
his horse,
and joined
So quick were
army
the subsequent movements, that Mr. Elphinstone and his suite had barely time
his
Poonah.
Chap. III.]
to ford the Moola,
and hasten up
67
bank, to cross
it
again by a bridge
with
a.d. isn.
when
it
its left
PEISHWA.
all
^'^"'^ ^^
Kii-kee.
native troops had been tampered with was not certainly known,
and by keeping them cooped up, more might be lost than by assuming the
offensive.
Accordingly, Colonel Burr, leaving a detachment in charge of
Kirkee, advanced and formed his line, placing the Europeans in the centre.
fidelity of the
Major Ford, who was cantoned at Dhapoora, a short distance to the west, with
two battalions of the Poonah contingent, marched in to take his share in the
danger, but was so much impeded by a party of hoi'se sent to intercept him,
OPERATIONS AT POONAE
froni.lJov^5tol7,
CollSmitha
Clmp
on Touting
1817.
^Britislt^ifantrj-
Enemy-s
(L?
<1?
Cavalry
^m
en
HI
2 lirdfs
Position taken
a,
4tli
Nov. 1817.
b,
c,
as ad%-anced
Dhapoora.
that he
was obliged
hotly commenced.
e,
f,
g,
to fight his way, and did not arrive before the action was
The Mahrattas opened a heavy but distant cannonade, and
attempted to push bodies of horse round the British flanks. In this they partly
succeeded, but were ultimately repulsed with considerable loss, and did not
the
for
field.
now openly
'
T_
J.
J.
Barbarous
Murrder
of two
Britiir'
''^''^'^
HISTORY OF INDIA.
68
A.D.
isir.
FUght
of the
Peishwa.
tonments.
[Book VII.
old can-
Colonel
Ahmednuggur,
him, did not experience much annoyance till he had passed Seroor, when they
appeared in such numbers as to surround him on every side. He forced his
way, notwithstanding, and after a loss of part of his baggage, arrived at Poonah
on the 13th. A combined attack on the enemy's camp was arranged, but at
State of
affairs at
Nagpoor.
it
quantity of baggage.
During the discussions with the Peishwa, a complete change had come over
We left him so conscious of dependence on British
the policy of Apa Sahib.
intimately connected with the very party which had most strenuously opposed
This change was speedil}^ followed by indicahis appointment to the regency.
a third of the whole, and measures were about to be taken to lighten the
burden, when his own impatience and folly rendered an amicable adjustment
Apa
made
rajah.
gained the object of his crime by being immediately proclaimed, without oppoAfter this elevation he lost no time in effecting the
sition. Rajah of Nagpoor.
When
Chap.
III.]
it
69
make
a.d. isit.
choice of the
Apa sahivs
marked
and he plunged deep into the intrigues which were at this time carried on for
the purpose of establishing a new Mahratta confederacy.
When the Peishwa,
hostility to
""
terJts!
the
obviate
consequences
by
retracing his
steps.
He
ostensibly
restored
apprehended.
Very
it
possibly,
had
affairs
to be
common
as late as
was
it
known
He
Smith at Poonah, followed by the Peishwa's flight, however much they might
have disconcerted Apa Sahib, made no apparent change in his purposes, for
At the same time, it was
his levies of troops continued as briskly as before.
known
that the question of peace or war was frequently agitated in the privacy
of his court, and that he alternated from the one to the other, according as
The
first
overt declaration of
Apa
^
sion of alle-
with Bajee Row, was given on the night of the 24th of November, when the
resident received a note from Ramchundur Waugh, intimating that the rajah
had received a khelaut, or dress of honour from Poonah, and intended next day
to go in state to his camp, to be invested with it, and also formally to assume
the title of Senaputee, or commander-in-chief, which had been conferred on
him.
Nothing could be
more preposterous.
Bajee Row was at this moment at open war with the
in the most
and
British,
yet Apa Sahib, professedly their ally, was preparing
public
manner
His profes
giancetothe
HISTORY OF INDIA.
70
AD.
1S17.
inconsistencies,
strated against
Preparations
ties
between
Apa Sahib
and the
British.
[Book VII.
and not only refused to take part in the ceremony, but remonin the strongest terms. Apa Sahib was not to be thus deterred;
it
but aware that the performance of the ceremony could only be regarded as an
uncquivocal declaration of hostility, he immediately showed how ready he was
^^ proceed to extremes
means
of defence
by
The
stationing his troops in threatening positions.
of
two
battalions of native
limited, consisting only
were very
Position of
the British
residency.
an elevation nowhere exceeding 100 feet. The south hill, the larger of the two,
flat summit
nearly 280 yards long from east to west, and was covered
had a
The north hill, much less than the other, but rather more
was of a conical shape, and at the top not more than thirty-three
with tombs.
elevated,
plain
On
Chap.
HOSTILITIES
III.]
WITH NAGPOOR.
71
were stationed on the south hill. The residency, hastily fitted for ad. isir.
was
defence,
occupied by the other part of the escort, while the three troops of
cavalry and some light infantry kept possession of the grounds in front of it. state of
artillery,
The whole force under Colonel Scott mustered about 1300; the Mahratta arm}', Nl'^r
which lay to the east of the city, and stretched round from east to south at the
distance of about three miles from the Seetabaldee Hills, was estimated at
12,000 horse and 8000 foot; of the latter 3000 were Arabs.
On
OperatLons against
IfAGPOOR
ouDec^l6&24.1817.
^-
Arahs
CordLonment.
BBffl
d?
Britiah
d?
Ccaalry
h and
defeat,
g,
Hills,
British reserve.
i,
British advance,
b,
1,
At
sunset
two
ministers,
the other
replied to
with
spirit,
and the
conflict
At two
in the
by placing along the exposed brow of the hills sacks of flour and gi'ain,
and anything else that might serve for cover. The enemy had made no decided
On the
impression, and yet aflairs had begun to wear a very gloomy appearance.
position
northern
hill,
a heavy loss
against which the attack had been specially directed,
commencement of
hostuities.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
72
AD.
1817.
in
Hostilities
that
it
with Nag-
killed,
enemy
poor.
[Book VII.
r>
up the attack by bringing forward fresh assailants, the defenders must ultimately be overcome by mere exhaustion.
Such seemed to be the enemy's plan, and in the meanwhile their cavalry
were closing round the residency on the south and west so as to prevent the
possibility of escape,
in that quarter.
tional
Battle of the
Wp^4-o
At daybreak the
niglit,
o'clock
the explosion of a tumbril on the summit of the northern hill caused so much
confusiou that the Arabs rushed forward with loud cries and carried it.
Thus
mils.
in possession of the key of the position, the Arabs opened a destructive fire from
the gun which they had captured, and two others which they had brought up.
The first sliot killed Lieutenant Clarke and Dr. Neven the surgeon; the second,
a round of grape, fatally wounded Mr. Sotheby, the resident's assistant, and
disabled four soldiers; and it seemed as if the defenders were about to be completely overpowered,
when
Captain Fitzgerald,
who commanded
two guns
so
loss that
much
effect that
At
this
the northern
hill,
The
it
tide of battle
As soon
as the battle
lost
HOSTILITIES
Chap. III.]
double
WITH
NAGPOOPt.
73
out, sent a
untoward event.
without his sanction or knowledge, and he was most anxious to renew the
The resident replied that the final decision now rested with
former friendship.
a.d. isi-.
Terms
Apa
dio-
sahii..
on the 29th, only two days after the battle, Colonel Gahan, by accelerating
advance, arrived with three additional troops of cavalry and a battalion of
fact,
his
native infantry.
of
resident
was now in a
that
made
the
fol-
mercenary troops,
Nagpoor and
sending them
its fort in
British occupation
and a provision
force,
it
in order of battle
and began
Mahratta camp.
This
movement thoroughly intimidated the rajah, who now, listening only to his
fears, mounted his horse and hastened off with a few attendants to the resiThe whole difficulty was not yet overcome. The artillery remained to
dency.
be dehvered up.
The rajah again pleaded for delay, but as the interval might
have been used for the clandestine removal of the guns it was peremptorily
The ai-rangement made, therefore, was that the troops should be withA little before this
artillery abandoned by twelve o'clock.
to
time Ramchundur Waugh, who had been sent
expedite matters, returned
to the residency and reported that all the necessary steps had been taken.
When a message to this effect was sent to Colonel Doveton, he saw reason to
refused.
some deception was intended, and therefore, instead of only sendAfter taking possesing a detachment, he resolved to advance his whole line.
suspect that
VoL, III.
206
Treacheiy
of his Aialj
mercenaries.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
74
[Book VIT.
"
sion of thirty-six guns in the arsenal south of the city, and leaving Colonel
Scott with a brigade to take charge of them, he was proceeding south-east
Treachery of
A.D.
1817.
Arabmer-^ battcries,
canaries.
knew that
when a heavy cannonade suddenly opened on
and right
amounting
with
equipage, including forty elephants, were captured.
The above treacherous cannonade, and the conflict following upon it, do not
appear to have been at all sanctioned by the rajah. Indeed, the subsequent
all its
made it plain that the blame rested chiefly with the Arabs, who,
determined to make the best bargain they could for themselves, expected to
gain their object by showing how much mischief they were capable of pro-
proceedings
Accordingly, uniting with another body of mercenaries from Hindoostan, so as to muster nearly 5000 men, they retired into the city on the capture
ducing.
of the guns and the camp, gained possession of the fort, which was of considerable strength, and contained the rajah's palace and other important public buildThey occupy
the fort of
Nagpoor.
tiii
ings,
Nagpoor
frontier,
to have
accepted of the offer, since, in the course of the negotiation, they received all
and they again announced their determination to hold out. There was thus
no longer any alternative, and the siege of the fort was commenced.
The
means were very inadequate, for the besiegers had no battering train, and were
obliged mainly to depend for breaching on such of the captured guns as seemed
The
effect
Capitulation
them.
ever wholly lost, for the Arabs, made aware of the fate which must sooner or
later overtake them, became intimidated, and offered to surrender if allowed to
Chap.
III.]
deemed
it
prudent to
75
retire to the
west and
a.d. isis.
Hostilities
in other
parts of
to give
him
battle with a
charged the enemy's left, broke it, and then following up his advantage coma severe loss on the fugitives. His threatpletely cleared the field, inflicting
ened bombardment of the town and fort was spared by the speedy surrender
of both, and he was continuing his course southward, when an intimation from
Mr. Jenkins that his services were no longer required, permitted
him
to return
The
hostilities
had been already defined by the propositions which the resident had subIn
mitted to him, and on the faith of which he claimed to have surrendered.
he
rode
strict truth he had not done so, for the time allowed had expired before
these
and the troops had not been disbanded, nor the whole artillery
a
battle had been fought.
StiU, as the rajah's surrender had
obtained, until
been received without remark, and his subsequent conduct had been satisfactory,
to the residency,
him and assume the government would scarcely have been reconwith good faith Mr. Jenkins had therefore, on his own responsibility,
to depose
cilable
arrived.
On
They
was proposing to act. Any reconcihation with Apa Sahib was peremptorily
a grandson of Ragojee
forbidden, and the rajahship was to be conferred on
Bhonsla by a daughter. As he was a mere child, a regency of British selection
too far committed to
was to conduct the
Feeling that he was
government.
give full
proposals,
eff'ect
by which Apa
approbation,
to
to these instructions,
treaty, subject,
to throw open
govern by a native ministry of British selection;
all
the forts
Treaty with
HISTORY OF INDIA.
76
A.D. 1818.
Rigorous
treaty im-
ApaSaMb.
[Book Vll,
views of the governor- general, and was accordingly confirmed by him. Indeed,
the plan of appointing Ragojee Bhonsla's grandson rajah could not have been
carried out, as the boy, then about ten years of age, together with his father
Gooja Apa, had, previous to Colonel Doveton's arrival, been forcibly sent off
to the strong fort of Chanda.
short-lived, but
state of
a ff^;l 1 pG O
it
still
more
"f"
Hoikar's
and acquired a complete ascendency over him, was able after his death
He was the
to secure the succession to a boy of the name of Mulhar Row.
son of Jeswunt Row, and as she, having no son of her own, had adopted him,
mistress,
could easily have overlooked its immorality and shamelessness were not slow
in turning to account for political purposes, and cabals among tlie chiefs, and
Regency
Baee.
mutinics
among
At
first
pursucd was accordaut with that of her principal leaders, and she listened
readily to the proposal of a new Mahratta confederacy, by which the British
was
influence
success,
to be overthrown.
finally to
Her
him of the
to the
and her paramour, who had at last become convinced that without British
protection it would be impossible for them longer to make head against
young Mulhar Row, being enticed from an outer tent where he was
was carried off. At the same instant a guard was placed over Toolasee
1817, the
playing,
Chap.
111.]
77
refusing
all
isis.
sustenance.
<.f
Baee.
bank of the
From
Valentine's
enemy drawn up
Memoir
(he Mahratt.a
in line on
War.
if for
position
much
No
sooner, however,
and besfun to emerge from the cover of the banks and a ravine which led to the
top of the bank, than they were received with a tremendous cannonade from
a double range of batteries mounting seventy guns in front.
Advancing with
were
in
of
the face
this cannonade, they
immediatel}unflinching steadiness
Sir John Malcolm attacked the
first and
light brigades under
second brigade, attacked the
the
while
the
enemy's
cavalry, supported by
firm till the second brigade
stood
Both
flanks
the
centre
right.
gave way, but
wheeled round and dispersed it. The flight was now general, and the pursuit
was continued
till liffht
failed.
The
loss of the
was
enemy
in killed
also serious,
iiostiiitie.s
and wounded
amounting
to 778.
Battle of
HISTOEY OF INDIA,
78
AD.
New
isis.
treaty
with Holkar.
[Book VII.
.^
Baee, his mother, as regent, who appointed iantia Jog as her dewan. JNotwithstanding the defeat some of Holkar's troops still kept the field, and a division
was
hopeless,
Meanwhile
it
became
for peace.
The negotiation was quickened by the concentration of the army of the Deccan,
and the junction of Sir William Keir from Gujerat, and on the 6th of January,
Holkar were guaranteed in their integrity as now curtailed, free from all claims
of any kind on the part of the Peishwa, and the subsidiary force was to be
kept up at the Company's expense, but a contingent fixed at 3000 horse was
to be maintained
by Holkar
It is scarcely necessary to
observe that these stipulations deprived Holkar, whose father had recently
contended with the British government for supremacy, of real sovereignty, and
reduced him, like all the other native powers with whom subsidiary alliances
Ravages of
the British
camp.
notice,
destructive epidemic.
Commencing
it
ceeded up the right bank of the Ganges, crossed it near Ghazipoor, and passing
through Rewa, made its appearance in the centre division in the beginning
of
November.
classes of
At
first it
the 14!th
followers
victims, but
deemed
death,
it
by
and by
The
most numerous
tent.
Chap.
THE PINDAEEES.
III.]
79
and 8000 followers perished. Death, and the desertions produced by terror,
were depopulating the camp, when it was resolved to try the effect of a change
a.d.
isiv.
change of
tS^rittii
''''"'^'
under Cheetoo, was situated near Ashta on the Parbutee, about forty miles
south-west of Bhopaul; another, under Kureem Khan, due north of this town
near Bairsea; and the third, under Wasil Mahomed,
brother Dost
Mahomed had
thirty-five miles
west of Saugur.
Khan was
so rancorous as to prevent
of action
who by
to favour
them were
so afraid of
the consequences, that they confined themselves to general expressions of goodThe Pinwill, without even promising protection to their families and baggage.
darees
entirely
on their
own
resources
when
the rainy
division of
the
which he succeeded
munication with
in
Colonel
Adams
at
Hoshungabad.
The
eflfect
of these
hasten westward.
to
oblige Wasil
Sir
division,
hostilities at
danger
lay,
justified,
operatiuns
pludarees.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
80
A.D. 1S17.
The
retrecat
Gwiuior
[Book YII.
now taken
the
towards
field.
cutting;
oft'
them
to
which he had recently been compelled to sign, his only safetj'' consisted in
adhering to its terms, and performing his part of them with more alacrity than
Tiieir succes-
probably because Zalim Sing, the Rajrana, had long been one of their greatest
Now, however, his policy had undergone a change, and he deemed
supporters.
necessary to give the British a proof of the sincerity with which he had
entered into the recent alliance with tliem, by occupying all passes by which
it
On the
respite which they thus obtained was only of short duration.
14th of December, General Marshall, who had been following on their track,
But the
found that they were encamped only a short distance beyond the pass which
they had forced, and hastened forward in the hope of taking them completely
by surprise. In this he failed, but the Pindarees, headed by Kureem Khan
and
more unfortunate.
General Donkin advanced so secretly upon them from the west, that they were
not awai'e of his approach till he surprised their advanced guard in a night
Kureem Khan's wife was
bivouac, about thirty miles north-east of Kotah.
still
Chap.
III.]
PINDAEEES.
81
The main
captured and all his state elephants, standards, and other insignia.
durras
the
two
of
still
time
after
six
had
miles
distant,
body
being
hearing of
to
burn
their
tents
The
the surprise
and baggage before dispersing.
greater
part of the fugitives were afterwards cut
up by the
a.d.
Rout
isis.
of the
detachments
different
which had been closing around them, or murdered by the villagers in retaliation
The two
of the cruelties which they had so often suffered at their hands.
leaders, taking with them nearly 4000 men all well mounted, hastened off to
the south,
division, while
he
The only formidable body of Pindarees now existing was the durra headed
who had retired into Mewar or Odeypoor. Sir John Malcolm,
Cheetoo,
by
at TuUain on the 26th of November, had determined to lose
had
arrived
who
no time in following upon his track.
to Agur,
when
Sarungpoor
Holkar induced him to
fall
With
this
Pimuit of
in the
to
remain in the vicinity, but moved to the country on the west bank, and near
He did not however remain long here, and
the sources of the Chumbul.
removed north along with the other Pindaree leaders, and the remnants of
detachments proceeded, and Jeswunt Row Bhao was so far intimidated that he
compelled the Pindaree leaders to remove with their followers from his neigh-
bourhood.
and partly
great hardship, partly from the unproductiveness of the country
from the hostility of the Bheels and other mountaineers, the main body of
Cheetoo's followers, finding the passes towards Gujerat too well guarded to
leave any hope of penetrating them, endeavoured, as a last resource, to regain
haunts in the upper valley of the Nerbudda. Taking a circuitous route, so as to avoid the various British detachments, Cheetoo arrived at
miles east of Indore, and on the 24th of January,
Oonchode, about
their original
fifty-five
1818, ascended the pass of Kanode, which brought him within twenty-five miles
of Hindia.
Here a British detachment was stationed under Major Heath, who
Vol.
ITI.
and continued
for
Dispersion of
his duiTa.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
82
AD.
1818.
At
War
against
the Pindxrees
last
this
[Book YII.
the British
camp of
The
the Nabob
proposal he made was
to enter the British service with a body of followers, and to receive a jaghire
for their maintenance.
Being offered nothing more than pardon for the past,
future in some part of Hindoostan, he again set off,
for
the
and a provision
made his way into Candeish and the Deccan, and shared the fortunes of some
of Bhopaul, to reimest his intercession.
Dispersion
of
(.llUTtlS
of
Kureem
^^
wa^ii
Mahomed.
The durras of Kureem Khan and Wasil Mahomed had entei-ed Malwah in
The largest of the three, headed by Namdar Khan, Kureem
three partics.
Khan's nephew, after passing round the camp of Sir Thomas Hislop at Mundicrosscd the Cliumbul, and moved eastward to Kotree, a village on the
banks of the Kalee Sindh. Here they bivouacked on the 12tli of January, 1818,
g^^^,
and had no idea of any immediate danger, when Colonel Adams detached a
body of native cavalry under Major Clarke to beat up their quarters. Having
arrived before daylight of the 13th, and found them either so lulled into secu-
worn out by
rity, or
he determined to
fatigue, that
make more
the meantime so disposing his regiment in two bands, that while one made the
attack, the other was waiting to intercept the fugitives at the point by which
it was foreseen that on the first alarm
they would attempt to make their escape.
The stratagem completely succeeded, and of the whole body, estimated at 1 500,
not more than a third escaped. The other two parties were chased from place
to place without intermission during nine days, and arrived on the confines of
Bhopaul in a state bordering on despair*. As the position of the Pindarees had
become absolutely hopeless, it was presumed that they would now be ready for
unqualified submission, and accordingly intimation was conveyed to them
through the Nabob of Bhopaul, that
Khan
if
settle
in Bhopaul, the
Scindia's camp.
The
apprehend him.
He
resident,
execute
but do
British
it,
it
Kureem Khan,
Chap.
at
III.
PINDAREES.
Kow
83
Bhao.
charge of one division of iScindia's troops, which, in terms of the treat}^ were
to co-operate against the Pindarees, under the immediate direction of British
isis.
in
Captain Caulfield, sent to Jawud for that purpose, was received with
the greatest external deference, but soon discovered that Jeswunt Row Bhao
officers.
><'iieem
ja"
was much more disposed to co-operate with the Pindarees than against them,
and still continued to harbour several of their leaders whom he had
ostensibly
dismissed.
so indignant at this
double-deahng that,
on the 24th of January, 1818, he despatched instructions to proceed
against
The very next day a squadron of cavalry, sent by the general to occupy
camp.
a pass by which it was understood that the harboured Pindarees were about to
escape from Jawud, was fired upon both from this town and Jeswunt Row
Bhao's camp.
This overt act of hostility left no room for hesitation, and the
whole British line was immediately ordered out for an assault on the enemy's
They were
posts.
all
any
loss,
itself
was
Rana,
now
a British
N.N.W.
when
Among
ally.
concealed in
Jawud
was stormed, succeeded with the utmost difficulty in getting off" on foot.
For some time he lived in the neighbouring jungles, and after various advenit
stomiing of
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
84
A.D. 181S.
He was
Fate of
leade^!"^
[Book YII.
by surrendering
finally settled
life
as a peaceable
Continued
The
The remaining
details
different
object in view.
general's intention of supplanting his authority by that of the rajah, who had
long been kept as a mere pageant in the hill-fort of Wusota, fifteen miles north-
west of Sattarah, he had sent forward a party to caiTy him off with his family.
This object having been accomplished, Bajee Row, now possessed of the persons
of those whose legal
title
formi-
29th of
November
to seize
to keep
its source.
any advantage that might offer. Bajee Row managed in the meantime
two long marches in advance, and on leaving Punderpoor on the Gth of
bukjee Dainglia.
the opportunity
Nassik
by
now seemed
to be his object.
If
it
the pursuit, took a route considerably to the east, had advanced so far that on
the 2Gth of December, when the Peishwa was still at Wattoor, he was to the
north-east of him, and
moving
in a line
by which
by the
it
'
Chap.
BATTLE OF KOEIGAON.
III.]
85
Bombay
establishment was
a.d. isis.
accordingly detached at six in the evening of the 31st December, with the 2d
battalion of the 1st regiment of Bombay native infantry, GOO strong, twenty -six
of the village,
possession
a wall,
and rendered
inaccessible
to cavalry
11
mi
11
body
parties arrived nearly at the same time, and each
It conof
of
the village a desperate struggle ensued.
part
obtaining possession
At first the British were
tinned without intermission from noon till sunset.
of infantry.
the assailants,
The two
and endeavoured
Having
failed in this
they were obliged in turn to defend their own post, the Arabs keeping up a
roofs of
galling fire from a small fort which they had seized, and from terraced
the houses, and at the same time rushing on with desperate courage on the
very points of the bayonets, in the face of murderous discharges from the two
admirably served guns. During this protracted conflict the British soldiers,
besides being exhausted
by
fresh parties
or water.
Of the
Towards evening
eight
officers,
Pattinson, Connellan,
their position
became
critical
in the extreme.
killed,
and Lieutenants
remained
disabled,
effective.
hewn
to pieces,
and a
under circumstances
similar fate
still
more extraordinary.
Duff:
'
iii.
p. 435, 436.
Engagemeut
^'tli the
peishwa's
K^fgaon.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
86
A.D. 1818.
Battle of
origaon.
[Book VII.
taken, than getting up, he called to the grenadiers once more to follow him,
and seizing a musket by the muzzle, rushed into the middle of the Arabs,
them down
striking
right
and
left,
body com-
him.
jg^gj^ disabled
the
When
beside
it
the
gun was
recovered, the
off.
barbarous mutilation to point it out to his men, and tell that such was the
treatment awaiting all who should fall dead or alive into the hands of the
Defeat and
Mahrattas.
Somc had
efforts,
man.
and by nine
the village.
When
the
morning dawned the Mahrattas were still hovering around, but appeared to
draw off in the direction of Poonah. They were in fact preparing for flight, in
Captain
consequence of intelligence that General Smith was approaching.
fact, believed that they were taking up a position
advance to Poonah, and therefore determined on
As soon as it was dark he commenced his
retracing his steps to Seroor.
the
without
and
cause, was agreeably surprised to find that
retreat,
knowing
were
killed,
able to bring along with him, was the gallant Lieutenant Pattinson, respecting
whom the following additional particulars are furnished by Captain Duff*:
"Lieutenant Pattinson was a very powerful man, being six feet seven inches in
height; nothing could exceed his heroic conduct on the memorable occasion
when he
received his wounds; he did not expire until the regiment reached
Conduct of
that his corps had been defeated, which caused him great distress."
The loss of the Mahrattas at the battle of Korigaon was nearly 600.
Both
Gokla and Trimbukjee Dainglia were present directing the attacks, and the
latter was at one time within the village.
Bajee Kow viewed the conflict from
a rising ground on the opposite side of the river, about two miles distant, and
frequently expressed his impatience, tauntingly asking his commanders, "where
were now their boasts of defeating the English, when they could not overcome
who
having put up an
astabgeer or screen from the sun, the Peishwa begged him to put it down,
one battalion."
The Rajah
of Sattarah,
it."
This incident.
Chap.
CAPTUEE OF SATTARAH.
IIl.l
not improbable in
was
off
To
his surprise he
itself, is
When
notorious.
known, he started
87
collecting a
to his
own
escort,
this
and
joined
the
the
pursuit,
the
Peishwa.
Mahratta
also at the
CijntiuueJ
flight of
A.D. 1818.
the battle
who had
Peishwa
his flight
by a smart
brouojht while
to
action to which he
endeavourinof
his
facilitate
escape.
as
was
usual
Meanwhile
in that
direction,
and he again
fort
on
beings
K.X
sum-
Capture of
Sattarah.
moned immediately
festo
by annexing
Company. The latter object had already been in a great measure accomplished,
since Bajee Row, hunted about from post to post, could not be said to possess
anything but the ground which he actually occupied.
The comparative ease with which the Peishwa had hitherto eluded his pursuers seemed to prove something defective in the mode of i:)ursuit, and the
two divisions of Generals Smith and Pritzler having been placed at the disposal
of Mr. Elphinstone, who had been appointed commissioner with full powers for
the settlement of the territory formerly belonging to the Peishwa, it was
resolved to form a new distribution of the troops, by employing the artillery
and most of the infantry in the reduction of the various forts in the southern
Mahratta districts, and continuing the pursuit of the Peishwa with the cavalry
and a light
division,
two squadrons of
his
New
plan
adopted
for
continuing
pursuit of
Peishwa.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
88
A.D. 181S.
captureof
s^SjhoUs.
[Book VII.
who
ral Pritzler,
The former
service
was assigned
200
to Gene-
and Poorundur.
a number of minor places as soon as the army appeared before them. The
forts in the Southern Concan yielded with equal facility to Colonel Prother,
who had been sent into it with an armament from Bombay; while Ge'ueral
Monro, who had completely occupied the whole country to the south of the
Malpurba, succeeded without much difficulty in reducing the forts of Badamy
and Bhagulkote.
Continued
the Peishwa.
many
might in
all
west, and
accordingly made
had once more changed his route and proceeded twenty miles north to Ashtee,
where he was reported to be totally unconscious of the vicinity of a British
force.
Encouraged by
and horse
artillery,
this information
Beema
at Keroulee,
eight on the morning of the 20th, had the satisfaction of hearing the Peishwa's
It had been hastily resolved
upon, for the general's approach, previously unsuspected, had just become
known. Bajee Row, as usual, thought only of his personal safety, and set off
His camp
surprised.
his army.
Gokla, to
Detaining a body of about 4000 horse to support him, he took his station with
500 across the line by which the British cavalry were advancing. His friends
advising him to fall back and return with a more adequate force, he simply
answered, "Whatever
is
to be done
must be done
fired
here."
As soon
an ineffectual
volley,
as the British
and then, to
down
PEOCEEDINGS AT NAGPOOE.
Chap. III.]
89
mainly depended, was among the slain, and the Rajah of Sattarah, with his
mother and brothers, who had been forced to accompany the Mahratta camp,
were captured and released. The Peishwa continued bis flight northwards to
a.d. isis.
Defeat of the
Nagpoor with the remnants of the rajah's dispersed and disbanded army, and
in his present flight he was joined by part of Holkar's broken army, whose fortunes were as desperate as his own.
from compensating for the daily thinning of his ranks by desertion, few of the
Mahratta chiefs being willing to risk the loss of everything by adhering to a
Before following the Peishwa in his flight some attention must
be paid to the events which had taken place in Nagpoor,
The governor-general, more from a sense of honour than a conviction of its
ruined cause.
accordance with sound policy, had ratified the treaty which restored Apa Sahib
The narrow escape from deposition
to his seat on the musnud of Nagpoor.
would, it was supposed, incline the rajah, if not from a sense of gratitude, at
Affairs of
Nagpoor.
British government.
It
and throw every possible impediment in the way of the British authorities but
after the treaty was concluded he had instructed the commanders of the various
;
forts
and
districts
calls
On
British.
The
resident,
when once
his suspicions
little diffi-
favourite ministers,
culty in obtaining evidence that not merely the rajah's
Nagoo Punt and Ramchundur Waugh, but the rajah himself, partly through
them, and partly in his own name, had solicited and were even expecting
Such an expectation was certainly a great
assistance from the Peishwa.
delusion, but some movements of the Peishwa in the dnection of Chanda,
which was the rajah's principal stronghold, and to which it was suspected that
he himself was preparing to escape, so alarmed Mr. Jenkins, that on the 1 5th
of
March he resolved
to act on his
own
Apa
Sahib and his two implicated ministers. After the arrest, as happens almost
and it now fii'^t
invariably in India, the proofs of criminality rapidly increased,
instead of dying a natural
clearly appeared that Pursajee, the previous rajah,
hired assassins.
Sahib's
had
death as was
by Apa
pretended,
Vol. III.
perished
208
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
90
A.D. 1818.
"
[Book VII.
without the hope of being able in some measure to retrieve his fortimes.
Gunput Row, and others in the interest of Apa Sahib, had laboured to convince
View of Chanda.
From
His scheme
ol
him that
frustrated.
his presence in
had despatched Colonel Scott with the greater part of the force then
Nagpoor towards Chanda, and had also particularly called the attention
Colonel
Adams
this fortress.
at
of
stopped short in his advance, and learned that Apa Sahib, instead of waiting
For some
for him at Chanda, was a prisoner within the British residency.
to'
decide
what
ground between the Wurda and the Payn Gunga, but not venturing to cross
either of those rivers.
Meanwhile, the divisions of General Doveton and
Colonel Adams were hemming him in, and making escape almost impossible.
Chap.
CAPTURE OF WUSOTA.
III. J
91
the 17th of April, Colonel Adams set out from Pipalkote, and had scarcely
marched five miles on the road to Seonee, not far from the junction of the Payn
On
Gunga with the Wurda, where the enemy were understood to be encamped,
when he came m sight oi the van of the Peishwa's army, flying from General
Doveton by the very road by which he (Colonel Adams) was advancing. The
encounter was in consequence inevitable, but the Mahrattas, anxious only to
The nature
escape, made no resistance, and were easily thrown into confusion.
of the
f.
flight,
a.d. isis.
The Peishwa
encountered
by a British
was
laden,
The
elephants,
known
to be those
on which
his
had disappeared in the confusion except 11,000 rupees. Bajee Row had, as usual,
on the first appearance of danger, mounted his horse and galloped oflf.
General
who was
Doveton,
days, during
the sword.
The Peishwa,
affluent of the
at Seonee.
,,,.,.
if possible into
Hindoostan.
March a
on an
,
to cross the
in the south
Wusota, the stronghold in which the Rajah of Sattarah and his family had been kept, comThough reputed one of the strongest places in India, it
pletely invested it.
could only have been so before gunpowder was invented, as all its defences by
the 31st of
it.
a
opened with such destructive effect, that one day's fire sufficed to compel
the
surrender.
Valuables to the amount of nearly three lacs were found within
place,
and restored
to the rajah, to
receiving a compensation.
Two
British officers.
of the Poonah
prisoners at the commencement
They "were found,"
hostilities, were confined in the dungeons of the fort.
unbleached
cotton, made into a form
says Captain Duff", "in a dress of coarse
neither European nor Indian, but partaking of the nature of both their beards
Hunter,
was
perfectly good.
was represented by
capture of
Wusota, and
release of
of^sattruaii.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
92
A.D. 1818.
[Book VII.
was the
first
intimation of approaching deliverance, and the most joyful sound that had
reached their ears for five dreary months." To the honour of Gokla it should
him
to treat the
addressed to the
well.
and desiring
the 11th of April, shortly after the fall of Wusota, the Rajah of Sattarah
seated on his throne by Mr. Elphinstone the commisRa5o/^^ was, with great pomp,
Sattarah.
thus erecting what was virtually a new Mahratta
of
The policy
sioner.
killedar,
On
Re-e3tabiish-
sovereio-nty
is
very questionable.
Had
it
been what
it
little
rather to exercise the powers of the newly established government. He had thus
the best opportunity of judging of the result, and though he speaks with some
reserve, his language certainly indicates
an unfavourable opinion.
was
The Rajah
"
Pertab Slew (or Sing), who was in his twenty- seventh year,
naturally
men of
surrounded
but
bred
well
and
by
disposed
amongst intrigue,
intelligent
;
own consequence, and their expectations were proportionate, so that, for a time,
the bounty which they experienced was not duly appreciated."
Subsequently
the rights of the rajah were defined by a formal treaty, which bound him to
hold his territory "in subordinate co-operation with the British government;"
and subject to this condition, he was invested with complete sovereign powers.
On
arrangement Captain Duff simply remarks, that "the boon thus con-
this
ferred
by the
by
as well as
Extent of
territory
bestowed
iipou him.
British nation
his relations
was
certainly appreciated
this liberal
experiment, on the part of the authorities of the East India Company, will be
attended with any lasting good effect to the governors or the governed." The
territory bestowed upon the rajah extended between the Wurna and Neera,
from the Syadree Mountains, a range of the Western Ghauts, on the west, to
Punderpoor, near the Nizam's frontier, on the east, and yielded directly to the
rajah an estimated revenue of thirteen
with three
lacs
Captain Duff spoke so doubtfully, did not prove satisfactory, and that ultimately advantage was taken of a failure of direct heirs to extinguish the rajahship,
by
On
Chap.
93
SIEGE OF CHANDA.
III.]
be remembered, had with very inadequate means reduced Badamy and secured
Thus reinforced, he was able to accomplish
otlier important advantages.
Tliis was to attack the
a design which he had for some time contemplated.
a.d. isis.
Affair f
Sholapoor.
and guns which the Peishwa, in order to facilitate his flight, had left
Setting out on the 26th of April, he crossed the Beema
on the 7th of May, and two days after arrived before Sholapoor, the town and
fort of which was strongly garrisoned with Arabs, while the main body of the
infantry
behind at Sholapoor.
Peishwa's infantry, with eleven guns of his field train, was encamped under its
On the 10th, when the pettah was attacked and carried by escalade,
walls.
General Monro, perceiving that the enemy were moving off" in small parties
from the camp, detached General Pritzler in pursuit, with three troops of the
22d dragoons, and about 400 irregular horse. When overtaken, a few miles
from the town, the enemy were marching in pretty close column. The attack
at once broke and dispersed them, the greater part throwing down their arms
mode
flight.
fell
this
cowardly
in great numbers.
On
5th of May,
it the whole of the Peishwa's remaining artillery, amounting to thirtyseven guns.
During these operations the British loss in killed and wounded
the
with
was only ninety-seven, while that of the enemy in killed alone exceeded 800.
Almost simultaneously with these successes, the fort of Chanda, the chief
Adams. On learnstronghold of the Rajah of Nagpoor, was taken by Colonel
of the Peishwa,
ing that both Generals Doveton and Smith were in hot pursuit
with every prospect of success, he turned east and sat down before Chanda on
an
off'er
Adams endeavoured
of favourable terms.
commandant, as
if
by
-IT
in circuit, and inclosed by a stone wall, flanked at intervals with round towers
Near its centre stood
of sufiicient size and strength to carry the heaviest guns.
Access to the place was rendered
the citadel
a
height.
commanding
crowning
on the north by a large tank and dense jungle, and in other direc'tions by the Eraee and Jurputi, two affluents of the Wurda, which running
along its eastern and western faces, met at the distance of about -iOO yards to
difficult,
Advance
against
chanda.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
94
A.D. 1S18
the south.
Colonel
Adams took up
[Book YIT.
his position in
May,
and
breaching battery,
The storm took place on the 20th, and succeeded with little loss to
The commandant
the assailants, while at least 500 of the garrison were killed.
was among the number, and the defenders of the citadel, dispirited in consecable.
broke out among his troops, and in a few days carried off more men than he
lost during the whole of the military operations.
The scourge indeed had
now spread over the whole country, and no part of India, from the mountains
had
Some
Bombay, succeeded
and had accordingly been selected by the Peishwas as the chief depository of
In April, 1818, when Colonel Prother appeared before it, it
their treasures.
was the residence of Varanasee Bai, the wife of the Peishwa, who had selected
most secure asylum that could be found for her, and was defended by
a picked garrison of 1000 men, mostly Ai-abs. On the 24th of April the pettah
was gained, and shortly afterwards, mortars and howitzers being with great
it
as the
difficulty
to be
thrown in
for fourteen
effisct
Though the Peishwa was still at liberty, the great objects of the campaign
had been accomplished, and the governor -general therefore determined to
reduce his military establishments. The army of the Deccan was first dissolved,
and accordingly. Sir Thomas Hislop began, in the middle of January, 1818, to
march southwards with the
KortofTai-
still
to
ueer
was
country between the Nerbudda and the Taptee, he arrived on the 27th of
February at Talneer, situated on the right or north bank of the latter river.
As
was one of the places which Holkar had ceded by the late treaty, no
difficulty was anticipated in obtaining the delivery of it, and the baggage prethis
Chap.
rOET OF TALxVEER.
III.J
95
ceding the division advanced into the plain v/ithout any suspicion of danger.
The first intimation of hostility was given by the firing of a round shot from
the
fort.
summons
to surrender
that,
own
sovereign
A.D. 1818.
'"^
hefml
Talneer.
the place,
belonged,
It
taining this warning, but its purport was verbally communicated to him.
is therefore to be presumed that when he determined to resist, and
gave open
proof of
it
by commencing a
British soldiers, he
ViEv/ OF
the penalty.
cussion,
fire
Talneer
cost,
The message
unsuccessful to pay
if
led to
much important
dis-
detail.
surrender might take place before noon, and concluded with the above warning
as to the
The messenger was detained, and noon
consequences of refusal.
About three
o'clock a persoii
fort
its resist
ance,
iiot-
wiDistandingHolkar':
orders to
surrender
HISTORY OF INDIA.
96
A.D. 181S.
"^
Assault of
Talneer.
[Book YIl.
above instructed, and another hour having elapsed without any appearance of
It had
surrender, the detachments selected for the assault moved forward.
been intended to blow open the outer gate, and two six-pounders had been
It was unnecessary, however, to use them, as the
carried up for that purpose.
waU of the gate had been so much injured as to give a ready passage to the
which consisted of 300 Arabs, standing behind it. Some parley took
Arabs demanding terms, and the assailants insisting on their unconthe
place,
It is
ditional surrender, with an assurance that their lives would be saved.
garrison,
General
very probable that the parties were unintelligible to each other, but Colonel
Murray and Major Gordon, understanding that the surrender was acquiesced
No sooner had they entered
in, passed the wicket with a few grenadiers.
massacre
than
it
satisfactorily explained,
and others
some attributing
to a rash attempt to
deprive several of the Arabs of their arms Major Gordon and the grenadiers
were shot or cut down, and Colonel Murray, after being dangerously stabbed,
was only saved by being dragged back through the wicket, which had fortuThe assailants now infuriated forced their passage, and
nately been kept open.
put every man of the garrison to the sword.
This general massacre, though certainly much to be lamented, was inevitable
under the circumstances. The storming party, having every reason to believe
that their comrades had been treacherously murdered, followed the natural
summary
vengeance..
It has
been argued
that there was no treachery, as there was no surrender, and that the Arabs in
attacking those who had entered within the wicket, only understood that they
TJiekiiiedar
rebel.
If
so,
But a
when
the assault
any
demned, and
this legal?
When
He was
therefore tried
Was
it
on the
known
in
spot, con-
bastions.
Was
Chap. III.]
97
killedar in
particular
was
ad.
severely animadverted upon, and not only the courts of directors and pro])rietors, but both Houses of Parliament, in passing votes of thanks to Sir
sir
Thomas Hislop and the army of the Deccan, specially excepted his execution of
as an act on which further
This
explanation was required.
was
furnished
explanation
by Sir Thomas Hislop in a very long
the killedar,
isis.
Thomas
expiauawon
tfouoniT'
'''"'''^'*^
despatch,
addressed to the governor-general in council, on the 10th of
September, 1819.
The only part of it necessary to be quoted is his account of the evidence on
by your
the
which
"At
was
and the adjutant-
killedar's presence,
by
that he
was entreated by
he was resolved to do so
till death
his resistance and exposing himself to an
was
therefore
his
own free-will he was sensible of his
assault,
regulated by
The result of the inquiry was the
guilt, and had nothing to urge in his favour.
unanimous opinion (after the witnesses had been heard, and the killedar had
been asked what he had to say in his defence, to which he replied. Nothing),
;
is
by no means
satisfactory.
The
killedar
was not
implicated in the supposed treachery of the garrison at the fifth gate, for he
had previously surrendered or been made prisoner; nor could he be said in
strict
truth to have stood an assault, as he had laid aside his arms and become
from spreading
Now
it
was
rebellion,
was necessary
to strike terror
to prevent the
by making a
signal
and the whole powers of government were in the hands of contending factions. The killedar, who was a
man of rank, the uncle of Balaram Set, the late prime minister of Tulasi Bai,
belonged to one of these factions, which had long possessed the ascendant, had
In these cironly lately lost it, and was in hopes of being able to regain it.
this
was merely a
child,
cumstances rebellion in the ordinary sense of the term was impossible. The
order to surrender the fort, though it bore the name of Holkar, must have been
viewed by the killedar as only the order of the faction to which he was opposed.
Vol.
III.
209
impossijustifying
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
98
AD.
isis.
unjustifi-
tionofthe
[Book VII.
was
and
it
and
inflict
the
It
whom
diately yielded
his execution,
had stained
While the
in following
gated,
and as
it
with a detachment of the Hyderabad division in the line of hills north of the
Godavery, was ordered to proceed for the same purpose into Candeish. Leaving
Chandore on the 13th of May he marched northward, and on the loth arrived
before Malligaum, a strong fortress situated in a circular
little
above
its
for a
Hei'e the
determined
resistance.
Attempt
to
Malligaum.
fort
and a pettah.
The
fort,
in the form
was protected by the river on the north and south, and inclosed by
a triple wall, with a wide and deep ditch between the second wall and the
first, which was lofty and built of solid masonry, with towers at the angles.
of a scjuare,
The entrance
to
it
was by
intricate
many
buildings of
Chap.
ASSAULT ON MALLIGAUM.
III.]
99
a.d. isis.
was to be expected from the rajah, and that the utmost courage and science
would scarcely suffice to insure success.
to
selected as the point of attack, the
engineers Attempt
at nightfall of the 18th of May behind a
mango grove near the Maiiisaum.
broke ground
bank of the river.
manded the
engineers.
Notwithstanding
Sides
From
officer of
great ability,
this interruption,
two
tlie
who com-
batteries
were
thrown up in the course of the night at the distance of 500 yards, and progress
continued to be made.
By the 28tli a breach had been effected which appeared
be practicable, and as reinforcements of 600 infantry and 500 irregular horse
had in the meantime been received, and the ammunition was on the point of
to
failing, it
was resolved
to risk
an
assault.
It
was made
at daj'break of the
The storming
29th,
party, headed by Ensign Nattes,
the surviving engineer officer, on arriving at the verge of an outwork beyond
the ditch, found that the garrison had dug a trench so deep as to make it impos-
descend the
glacis.
was
recalled.
it.=;
faihue
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
100
AD.
1818.
[Book VII.
force
active operations impossible, Colonel Macdowall turned the siege into a blockade,
and waited for reinforcements. These, consisting of a strong body of Euro-
peans and a native battalion, with an additional train of artillery, and a supply
of stores from the depot at Ahmednuggur, were sent off under the command of
Renewed
capitulation
and
l^Ium"^
With
east.
this
river,
mines were commenced, and a battery of five heavy mortars and four howitzers
was constructed. At daybreak of the 11th of June the battery opened its fire,
and
crowned with
success,
many
assault
of the garrison.
when
Macdowall
place,
killing
blowing about
and disabling
insisted
On
a.s
totemisof
eipi
beyond what was intended, and instead of a promise of good treatment on unconditional surrender, made Colonel Macdowall engage that "whatever was most
advantageous for the garrison" should be done; "that letters should be written
concerning the pay that the British government should be at the expense of
feeding and recovering the sick, and that the Arabs should not want anything
;
Abdool Kader, the principal Arab chief, with this letter in his pocket, marched
out on the 1 4th of May at the head of his garrison, now reduced to 300 Arabs
and sixty Hindostanees.
dictated, and the prisoners were treated with the utmost indulgence to which
a liberal construction of the written
They
engagement could entitle them.
Chap. III.]
101
were immediately released, their whole arrears were paid to them from the a.d.
~
government treasury, and they were fm^nished both with a safe conduct and
with money to supply their wants till they should reach the residence of their
own
choice.
much
to counteract the
bad
isis.
effects
his
of the multiplied proofs of their intrigues with the Peishwa, and the alarm
excited by the approach of the former in the direction of
Nagpoor. As a
prLLAo
Allahabad.
grandson of Ragojee Bhonsla by a daughter had, according to the governorgeneral's original intention, been placed on the musnud, and government was
henceforth to be administered in his
it
was necessary
finally to dispose of
the ex-rajah's residence the old palace of the Mogul within the fort of Allahabad
was fixed upon, and accordingly on the 3d of May Captain Browne, escorted
infantry,
Nagpoor with the three prisoners. He proceeded northeast in the direction of Jubulpoor, where his prisoners were to be handed over
cavalry, started from
to a fresh escort,
at Raichoor, within a
march of
when
it,
Apa Sahib made his escape. A Brahmin who accompanied the party from
Nagpoor for a few marches, then left, and returned on the 12th of May, the
very day before the escape took place, was supposed to have planned it. By
representations of the merit of rescuing a Hindoo of the race of Sevajee, and
pecuniary bribes, several of the sepoys had been tempted from their
In consequence of a regular plot thus formed, a sepoy dress was
fidelity.
large
introduced into the tent about two in the morning of the 13th; Apa Sahib
having substituted it for his own joined the guard, and under semblance of a
relief
ji
To postpone
-I
pursuit, precautions
their
office,
that they were thus operating only on the cushions of the bed, reported that
all was
When the escape was discovered pursuit was attempted in vain.
right.
The very direction he had taken could not at first be ascertained, and after it
fled to Heraee, about forty miles to the south-west, and
found an asylum with the Gonds among the recesses of the Mahadeo Hills,
the offered reward of 10,000, subsequently increased to 20,000, and a jaghire
of
1000 a year for life, could not tempt his protectors to betray him.
The long-continued pursuit of Bajee Row was meantime drawing to a
He had
close.
His escape
^^ *^ way.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
102
AD.
1818.
to
make common
[Book VII.
of Aseerghur, held
refuge in the strong fortress
ThePeishwa
proposes to
siurender.
Row
jgg^^^t
He
Lar.
despatched mcsscugers to
Poonah. Having on the 5th of
about twelve miles S.S.W. of Indore, and immediately sent off detachments to
Row
line of the
to penetrate into
it
impossible
On the
attacked.
16th of May, Anund Row Jeswunt and two other vakeels arrived in the camp
Mhow with a letter from the Peishwa desiring peace, and requesting that
at
whom
and might
military operations, the vakeels, made aware that "their master must prepare
himself to abandon his throne and quit the Deccan," set out on the LStli of
May on
xegotiations
view.
accompanied by Lieutenants
and second political assistants.
their return,
Malcolm's
first
Low and
Macdonald, General
On
soutli-
who had
new
forced
march
to
That
officer accordingly,
made
Low
to
Chap. III.]
103
only terms which could be granted, had an interview with the Peishwa on the
The result was the arrangement of a
29th of May.
meeting between the
Peishwa and General Malcolm on the 1st of June at Khairee,
to
~a.d.
"
isis.
immediately
He knew
says,
moment was
in bringing matters to
He
close."
no sooner returned to
fore
to be lost
there-
Peishwas signature:
for the
Bajee
Row
title,
and
his
government of Poonah, or
Row
agreement
That
"1st,
2d,
to
and attendants,
herents
to tlie
camp of
Sir
John Malcolm.
1815.
Row must
proceed to
Hindoostan without one day's delay but General Malcolm engages that any
part of his family that may be left behind shall be sent to him as early as
;
possible,
venient.
on
and con-
to
thi/?
engage that
Bajee
it
shall not
be
less
than eight
annum.
5th, If
shows
favour of principal jaghirdars and old adherents, Avho have been ruined
by
to
HISTORY OF INDIA.
104;
A.D. 181S.
meet with
[Book VII.
liberal attention.
His representa-
religious
or else
hostilities
will
be recommenced, and no
These propositions were sent to Bajee Row, with a message that they could
not be altered, and that not more than twenty -four hours would be allowed for
To quicken his decision. General Malcolm had recourse to
their acceptance.
the rather petty device of allowing one of his writers to give the vakeels of
the two leading Mahratta chiefs still adhering to Bajee Row a copy both of
lie
is
intimi-
accepts
^'
The effect, as he
the letter sent and of the propositions submitted to him.
"
was told, was, that they perused them witli eagerness, and the knowledge of
the consideration meant to be given them, in the event of a settlement,
appeared to quicken their zeal in no slight degree." Lest this should not
prove
sufficient,
troops began
more active
steps
were taken.
strictly prohibited;
British
Row was
and Bajee
distinctly informed
he did not immediately accept the terms, and encamp near the British
would throw away his last chance. At length Bajee Row, thoroughly
he
force,
intimidated, and seeing that nothing was to be gained by further evasion,
that
if
began to approach the British camp, and arrived in its vicinity at eleven o'clock
on the morning of the 3d of June. The force which accompanied him consisted of
Of
Arabs.
Peri)iexed
situation of
Bajee Row.
The Britisli and the Mahratta forces made several marches together towards
the Ncrbudda, General Malcolm repeatedly remonstrating with Bajee Row on
the imprudence of keeping together so large a body of armed men, the greater
proportion of whom must, from their situation, be discontented.
Nothing,
however, occurred till the 9th of June, when the Arabs demanded their arrears.
appearance of
it
would be the
Chap.
III.]
all Ills
family, including
women and
children,
105
sacrificed.
By
a.d. isis.
this
infantr}^
as to marching,
The governor-general, when made acquainted with the terms on which the
surrender of Bajee Row had been obtained, was considerably disappointed. He
thought that General Malcolm erred,
ofiicer to his
first
camp, and
amount
nissatisfac-
governortvith
terms
^l^gfRo"
On
In su])port of this
fiict
he produces a
letter, in
Aseerghur at
any
efi'orts
much importance,
protracted the war
terminate
it
of directors,
also
possible,
possible
unconditionally,
offered to
him
does appear to us
throwing himself into
but
it
that he
still
we
place
or sacrifice of a horse,
Vol. III.
210
They are
approved of
bythecourt
HISTORY OF INDIA.
106
A.D. 1818.
"
Proceedings
RoSfoilowers.
[Book VII.
Among
remaining
among
CHAPTER
Barbarous races in India
Apa Sahib
among
the Gonds
lY.
His
flight
with Cheetoo
Cheetoo's
death
Marquis
of
Its results,
internal.
are
Near the
centre,
Barbarous
races in
India.
they form at each extremity a lofty mountain barrier, rendered almost impenetrable by the thickets and forests with which they are clothed.
They are
inhabited by semi -barbarous tribes, supposed to be the descendants of the
aboriginal natives who took refuge among them, when driven from the lower
by the name
of Bheels,
first
i.
BAEBAEOUS EACES IN
Chap. IV.]
INDIA.
107
comprises all that part of the tribe who, preferring savage freedom and indolence to submission and industry, have continued to subsist by plunder.
The
name of Bheel, however, is no longer confined to those properly so called, but
a.d. isis.
'
TUeBheeis.
their
cated to them,
and commerce by
cultivation
wah.
Partly
by
districts secure
Towards the eastern extremity, where the ranges attain their greatest
height, and separate Bengal and Orissa from Berar, the inhabitants, in some
respects
still
Some
of
The
Koies,
auiioomis.
which
them lead
an agricultural, and more a pastoral life, but a large proportion depend for
subsistence on the wild fruits and wild animals of their almost impenetrable
Their chief weapons are bows and arrows, and long knives; their only
luxury is ardent spirits, in which they indulge to the greatest excess and their
sanguinary deities, before the British government put down the abomination,
thickets.
were often propitiated by human victims. The Gonds, by far the most numerous tribe, spread from the soutliern and western limits of Behar into Berar,
Some of
for some distance westward along the valley of the Nerbudda.
them consequently were the nominal subjects of the Bajah of Nagpoor, and
hence it is easy to understand how the ex-rajah Apa Sahib sought and found
and
Hoshunofabad.
Apa
various other
Gond
chiefs, as
out of employment.
rattas, Pindarees, and Arabs, whom late events had thrown
him fell little
around
he
thus
The whole number of adventurers whom
gathered
ApaSaiubs
asylum with
tiie
uouds.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
108
A.D. 1S19.
Military
operations
against
depredations of
Apa
Apa hills.
Sahib and
liis
[Book VII.
band
of
adventurers
assembled near the sources of the Taptee, advanced and gained possession of
With the view of dislodging these, Captain Sparkes was
the town of Maisdi.
detached on the 18tli of July, 1818, from Hoshungabad to Baitool, with two
duals
A
campaign
among the
Goiids.
who managed
to escape.
scale
authorities,
and
still
prevailed,
and
was much increased by the detection of a conspiracy against the young rajah.
At length, when the difficulties of the march had been surmounted, and the
troops began to act, the work of retaliation commenced, and all that the enemy
had gained was soon wrested from them. Not only were they driven from all
their posts in the plain, but they were followed into the hills, and made to pay
all their aggressions.
With the beginning of 1819 the campaign
and
more
regular form,
parties penetrating into every recess of the
opened
hills took Chain Sah prisoner, and beat up the head-quarters of Apa Sahib.
dearly for
in
Escape of
Apa
Sahib.
He had anticipated their arrival, and fled, accompanied by Cheetoo and a few
well-mounted horsemen, in the direction of Aseerghur, where they hoped to
find an asylum. Attempts were made to intercept them, and well-nigh succeeded,
they only escaped by dashing into a deep ravine, into which, owing to the
darkness of the night, cavalry could not follow them. The commandant Jes-
for
sent
by
who remained in
Sir
the vicinity
John Malcolm.
till
They would
and given
ATTACK ON ASEERGHUE.
Chap. IV.]
them an opportunity of
109
dispersing.
secure,
or ad.
Apa
isis.
Row was
because Jeswunt
Boorhanpoor,
after a short concealment there, proceeded
through Malwah towards Gwalior.
Scindia though not indisposed was afraid to countenance him, and he found no
resting-place till he entered the Punjab, and obtained a
Escape of
friendly reception
At a
On
carefully
his son,
alive.
wandering alone.
made a search
Having caught
it
and recognized
it
to be Cheetoo's,
by
tigers.
they
Fate of
At
they found a sword, parts of a dress torn and stained with blood, some
money, and some recent grants which Cheetoo had obtained from the ex- Rajah
first
of Nagpoor,
There could
now be
doubt that
little
met a death not unbefitting the kind of life he had led, and been seized
That there might remain no doubt of the fact the animal was
tiger.
It had just fled, leaving behind it a human head in so
traced to its den.
he had
by a
Cheetoo's son,
recognized by
him for interment.
war
to seek an
to yield it
engagement.
up
He
for
called
upon
to fulfil this
up
to Sir
similar readiness,
shown that nothing but force could compel him to yield up the
fore Sir John Malcolm and General Doveton were instructed
fort,
to
and
there-
employ the
it.
and took up
Doveton on the south.
summit of an
east
750
feet in height,
and occupied an
area, which,
Preparations
against
Aseerghur.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
110
A.D. 1819.
Fort of
[Book VII.
to the irregularity of its outline, not nearly so large as these figures might seem
Within the area were two depressions or basins, in which a
to indicate.
but
terbalanced
his
making
but nothing more was required, as the whole precipice was carefully scarped
on all sides to the depth of 120 feet, so as to make access impossible except at
two
points, the
one on the
avenues.
nortli,
which
art
more
difficult
The
these
of the two,
was
up a precipitous
carried
and thickness, and 190 feet in length across the approach. The easier and
more used avenue, after ascending from the town to the lower fort, which was
surrounded by a rampart 30 feet high, and flanked with towers, was continued
by a
steep flight of stone steps traversing five successive gateways, all constructed of solid masonry.
The guns placed in battery on the summit of the
rock were of enormous calibre. One of them carried a ball of 880 pounds
it
at Boorhanpoor,
fort.
The garrison
spirited sally, and by the 21st a practicable breach was effected.
not venturing to stand an assault retired to the upper fort, but immediately
after took
struggle.
part of the
it
storming
without a
upper
fort
many
obstacles,
was
The
for
Row
amounting
known
that Bajee
Row
in the fort.
The com-
mandant, on being ordered to produce them, declared that they had been
SCINDIA'S TREACHERY.
Chap. IV.]
Ill
returned.
by an
officer
who
a.d. i8io.
Discovery
ofScindia's
treachery.
deemed proper to
had attracted observation proved to be a letter from Scindia instructing the
commandant to obey whatever orders the Peishwa might give him, and refuse
When
and
sidered as
words of
course, since it
it.
officer
would
knew
that
it
was impossible
for
him
to come.
In justification of
double duplicity, he simply remarked how natural it was for a man seeing
his friend struggling in the water and crying for help, to stretch out the hand
this
and speak words of comfort, though aware that he could give him no assistance.
The penalty inflicted by the governor-general was to retain permanent possession of
Aseerghur and
its district
Scindia,
who had
At
first
Results of
by no means formidable
chance
had powerful
supporters
in themselves, they
the rescue
if
example by the judicious measures which had been taken to bring an overMahratta
whelming force to bear upon him. The danger was that a great
war for
new
a
to
it
and
make
be
would
formed,
necessary
wage
confederacy
in
maintained
force
the
The salutary fear inspired by
strong
supremacy.
aloof
in
to
action by the governor-general, induced each Mahratta power
keep
own
safety,
while they overawed the Mahrattas, were necessarj^ in order to carry out the
for that of
vigorous policy which it had been wisely resolved to substitute
non-interference.
selfish
expectation that
we might
increase
its
danger.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
112
A. u. 1819.
Necessity for
the British
maintain-
own
our
till
wc bcgau
as
would
ifii-i
m
^^^'
[Book VII.
suffice to
own
territories,
it
suppress
we were
incurring as
altogether,
much expense
For
tranquillity.
good against
they
all
who might
venture to
call it in question.
It
was
this
which
the Rajpoot and other chiefs so eager to obtain our alliance, and induced
virtually to sacrifice their independence for the sake of the security which
made
them
knew we
From
government
was recognized as umpire in all disputes between sovereign native states, and
an appeal to its decision has been happily substituted for the former invariable
appeal to the sword.
British
estabiithel
^t the
encounters took place, and the superiority of British skill and courage was
never more fully manifested; but no great battles were fought, and yet how
vast the revolution which has been efi'ected! Scindia so humbled that he dared
who was
whom
it
and unable
to find an
asylum without fleeing to one of the extremities of India, and another placed
on the musnud solely by British influence and last of all, the very name of
Peishwa, the acknowledged head of the Mahratta confederacy, abolished, and
;
and subsist
tories
eflect.
who
bore
it
as a pensioner
for
Chap. IV.]
113
the central province of Ajmeer, formerly held in bondage by a nominal dependIn Bundelcund the reduction of refractory zemindars has
ant of Scindia.
a.d. 1819.
^
put an end to the lawless exactions by which the cultivators were oppressed, British
and the whole country kept in constant alarm and while the Nabob of L'taSshed.
;
Bhopaul has been rewarded for his fidelity to his engagements by considerable
accessions of territory, and relief from indefinite Mahratta claims which were
continually threatening his independence, the neighbouring chief of Saugur,
engagements, has paid the penalty, and seen his terri-
The suppression of the predatory system, as it was the ostensible, was also the
real object for which the Marquis of Hastings brought the armies into the field,
and hence
all
being retained as lawful conquests, were at once restored to the states from
ence,
Extension
nofori'gr^
territory, f^^
''^^^^
The Mahrattas brought their fate upon themselves by their open hostilities or
secret treachery and the British, after being forced into such struggles as took
;
it
in territory.
Sir
"Dowlut
Row
lacs of
rupees per
annum
and
it is difiicult
to calculate the
amount
of
not one district belonging to Scindia in Central India that was not more or less
in a disturbed state; in 1821 there existed not one enemy to the public peace.
more
flattering
Vol.
III.
its collection."
terms: "The
in
still
2U
secured 10
^""'^'^
money
and tranquillity gained by the extinction of men like Bapoo Scindia and
Jeswunt Bow Bhao, and other leaders who commanded those bodies of his
army which were at once the most useless and expensive. In 1817 there was
15 in the expenses of
injirect
A.D.
1810.
lU
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book VII,
m 1819-20 they
were 1,696,183 rupees (169,618). The expenses of collection were four years
ago from 35 to 40 per cent.; they do not now exceed 15 per cent.; there being
Indirect
secured to
'''
British
i^clntTr
in fact hardly
any sebundy
affords to the
government
them in tranquillity."
India.
ment
as
any
in Central India;"
applied, "with
a^
principalities east
and
little difference,
this description
Row
it
^Si^
Rajah of Cutch.
From Mrs.
Postan's Cutch.
will be
concluded a treaty, had surrounded himself with dissolute companions, and indulged to such an extent
in intemperate habits as to affect his intellect.
state of
aftaii's
Cutoh.
iu
Some
His
whole conduct was that of a cruel and capricious tyrant. The young prince
Lakhpati or Ladhuba, who had competed with him for the sovereignty, was
barbarously murdered by his orders and Ladhuba's widow, who had been
pregnant and afterwards gave birth to a son, would have shared her
;
left
husband's fate had not the British government thrown its shield around
With such a brutal prince it was impossible that friendly relations
could be durable, and he began almost openly to make military prepara-
her.
tions.
The
Anjar with
Chap. IV.
STATE OF CUTCH.
115
little
success
a.d.
isia.
surrendered at discretion.
By
b^q".^"^
was deposed,
and the government was administered, in the name of his infant son Row
Desal, by a native regency, under the direction of the resident and the guarIn the treaty concluded at this time clauses
antee of the British government.
were inserted against the practice of female infanticide, which prevailed to a
horrible extent among the Jharejas.
It is not unworthy of notice that Cutch,
shortly after these political commotions, suffered dreadfully from an earthquake.
Mr^
''^
From Mrs.
Hill-fort of Bhooj.
An enormous mound
to India.
many
miles in extent
Dreadful
and
were mortified to
of
had
been
bent
on
the
it,
conquest
They
long
find their designs anticipated.
The feelings of enmity to the British government thus engendered were aggravated by other circumstances. The confines
The
political
^
Scinde.
of Gujerat
tribes
and Cutch had been pillaged by the Khosas and other marauding
sent a
body
of
Heiations
with the
Ameers of
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
116
A.D. 1819.
Hostile pro-
the Ameers
[Book VII.
troops to act with a British detachment sent against the plunderers under
Colonel Barclay, from Pulanpoor, near the northern confines of Gujerat.
The
Scindiau auxiliaries, so far from aiding in the expulsion of the Khosas, allowed
encamp without molestation in their vicinity, and when Colonel Barclay attacked the marauders and dispersed them, complained as if they themselves
them
to
New
the British troops, in pursuing the fugitives, crossed the Scinde frontier.
Bombay government
refused to over-
him
to promise
any profitable
sufficient apology,
result ;
and
allies.
pacific
tion:
"Few
things would be more impolitic than a war with Scinde, as its sucwould not only be unprofitable but an evil. The country
cessful prosecution
and
its
Gujarat,
Syajee
Row became
Guicowar.
He was not
died in 1819.
By
this event
disposed to forego
had
There was therefore no longer any occasion for the control of the
British resident.
STATE OF GUJERAT.
Chap. IV.]
117
would endanger both British interests and the prosperity of the country, and ad. 1820.
Mr. Elphinstone, now become governor of Bombay, judged it necessary to
repair to Baroda for the purpose of placing the future intercourse of the two
it
states
of the Peishwa
It
portant advantages on the Guicowar.
had relieved him from large pecuniary
him important
territorial acquisitions; and therefore, as
the British government had undertaken
claims,
and procured
for
it
was
considered fair that the quantity of territory ceded for subsidy should be considerincreased.
ably
supposed
that
Still,
the
however,
revenues
it
was
had been
of embarrassment.
the expenditure of
were largely in arrears; and the tributaries, partly from bad seasons, but still
more from oppressive exactions, were suffering severe distress. Under these
all
New
ar-
rangement
with the
the
necessarily abandoned, and after providing for the discharge of
on
the
debt by means of loans raised at a reduced rate of interest,
security
of assignments of revenue and a British guarantee, a final arrangement was
tion
was
made
The
of foreign affairs,
engagements which the British
management
all
was
to be incurred.
for
Tempted by the withdrawal of the British troops
the Mahratta war, the Wagars of Okamandal rose in insurrection, surprised
Dwaraka and Beyt, and meeting with no adequate force to oppose them, made
it
for several
district.
in undisputed posses-
Expedition
against the
pirates of
^"J"''^*-
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
118
A.D. 1S20.
Suppression
of piratical
insurrection
in Giijerat.
[Book VII.
been sent by sea at the head of an expedition, consisting of his majesty's 65th
with details of artillery, and the
regiment, two battalions of Bombay infantry
1st regiment of native cavalry, arrived off
Dwaraka.
town by
tlie
son,
bombardment carried
The garriescalade.
composed
chiefly of
Arabs and
great
the
who had
Wagaks.
From Mrs.
Nabob
of
Oude and
with Oude.
Major Baillie, the British resident at his court during the administration of
Lord Minto, after being suppressed for a time, recommenced shortly after the
arrival of his successor.
the resident
was
The great
subject of debate
to
which
nabob, the latter striving to limit, and the former to extend it as much as
Earl Minto had decided in favour of the resident, but quitted India
possible.
his decision.
Meantime
an event took place which promised to lead to an amicable adjustment. The
nabob, Sadut Ali, whose ruling passion had been avarice, died on the 11th of
before
any
steps
He was
1814, leaving an accumulated treasure of 13,000,000 sterling.
succeeded by his eldest son, by the title of Ghazee-u-din Hyder, who, aware
how much he was indebted to Major Baillie for the ease with which he obtained
Jul}^,
the succession, showed his gratitude by consulting him in the choice of his
ministers, and consenting to several of the reforms which had been urged in
vain upon his father. This satisfactory state of matters did not last long.
Some of the resident's i^eforms, not being in accordance with native prejudices,
were very unpopular, and the nabob began to suspect that he would have,
acted more wisely
While under
if,
this impression,
Cawaipore to be near the scene of action during the Nepaulese war, and shortly
Chap. IV.]
nabob
him
to
Lucknow.
119
On
young
a.d. isso.
offered a crore
It
Company.
was
interest at the
* *'^
^"^
while professing personal regard for the resident, indicated a desire to be less
The governor-general having learned privately that the
subject to his control.
nabob's feelings on this subject were much stronger than he had ventured to
and certainly a very undignified method of
express, took a questionable,
tales
next
with
but the ffovernor-g-eneral satisfied himself that the nabob was not treated
all
com-
betng Jub-
undue con*'''-
regal state.
public occasions as
established ceremonials
management
Not long
British interests.
might endanger
was
nabob
They were
obtained,
and furnished another seasonable supply for the Nepaulese war. It would
seem however that the nabob parted with the money more by constraint than
willingly,
and
felt
ment employed
more hostile than ever
in exacting
it.
dissatisfied
He
by becoming
and removing from his counsels
known to have
the persons
pursued with regard to him, forwarded in September, 1815, a letter dated five
months before, in which he gave free utterance to his feelings. The governorIT
had
general in replying did not hesitate to express his opinion that the resident
.
-1
and
displayed a grasping and domineering spirit, which justified the jealousy
this
of
In
nabob.
and
the
resentment of both the late
consequence
present
rupture, the governor-general in council
removed Major
Baillie,
treaty
British government,
of Nepaul,
The governor-general,
country had
oovemorgeneral's
opinion in
proceedings
fjjl^^^^
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
120
A.D. 1822.
[Book VII.
improved since the irritating interference with the internal administration had
ceased, ventured to recommend another change, with the view of giving Oude
still
The Nabob
assumed the
title of king.
title
of
Nabob
Qj,g^^ Mogul.
vants of the King of Delhi.
So much was
when
the nabob
met them
by the nabob.
gave them such decided
partly
own
capital, his
to kneel in token of
therefore
deemed
it
flattered,
to be
Misgovern-
Oude.
Abu Muzuffar,
governor-general's judgment in this matter has been questioned; but tlie subject
was too insignificant to deserve all the discussion which it provoked, and has
In regard to the
it
scarcely justified
the flattering picture which the governor-general drew of the happy conseBritish
quences resulting from the nabob's uncontrolled internal management.
troops were repeatedly called out to assist in reducing refractory zemindars;
and in the beginning of 1822, in the vicinity of Sultanpoor alone, a British
jungles,
The
Nizam
the
Chap. IV.]
121
administration of the Marquis of Hastings, but several events took place which
on various accounts deserve more than a passing notice. The nominal admin-
control,
when asked
a.d. isie.
Relations
Nizam.
by a
liberal distribution of
money
who
possessed
whole of the Nizam's family was bribed, every one of his own servants was in
Chandoo Lai's pay, and even his own mother-in-law sent him a daily report
This system
minister
to meet,
an
enormous
which
the
endeavoured
required
expenditure,
loans
at
exorbitant
interest
from
and
partly by rapacious exactions,
partly by
of
the bankers of
Hyderabad.
let to
so
employed
much
violence
and extortion,
As
British influence
the supreme government felt responsible for his proceedings, and on the representations of the resident ordered a stringent control to be exercised over him.
Among
was
with a
his connection
Chandoo
from
it.
dealings with the Nizam's government were not struck at by Act 87 Geo. III.
c. 142.
The 28th section of this act, proceeding on the preamble that "the
in the lending
practice of British subjects lending money, or being concerned
source of
1797,
Vol. III.
by
himself, or
directly
212
andco.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
122
A.D. 1816.
[Book VII.
bc Called uor shall any British subject be concerned either by himself, or by any
other person, either directly or indirectly, in raising or procuring any money
or as being security for such loan or money nor shall
paime^and for s^ich nativc priucc,
Go's loans
^^^ British subject lend any money or other valuable thing to any other person
Question as
ilgiiiuy of
Nizam.
purpose of being lent to any such native prince nor shall any British
subject by himself, or by any other person, either directly or indirectly, for his
use or benefit, take, receive, hold, enjoy, or be concerned in any bond, note, or
for the
The
violation of the
and purposes."
it
provided they were done "without the consent and approbation of tlie court of
directors of the East India Company, or the consent and approbation of the
governor in council of one of the said Company's governments in India, first had
and obtained in writing." If the previous dealings of William Palmer and
Co. were, as they themselves suspected, illegal, it is very questionable if any
subsequent consent would have cured them but they were naturally anxious
to be in safety for the future, and succeeded on application in obtaining the
;
Thegovernor- general
sanctions
their dealings.
1 1'
time as to the nature of the transactions in which the firm might engage in
consequence of the permission then granted. Backed by the countenance of
of the troops being indispensable to their efficiency, the sanction to this transaction was the more easily obtained, from its being asserted that the native
bankers would not advance the necessary funds at the same rate of
on the security of assignments of revenue.
interest, or
William Palmer and Co. had as yet only been experimenting on the credulity
of the supreme government, and on finding how readily all their requests were
complied with, entered into a negotiation for a loan to Chandoo Lai of sixty
Their application for the sanction of this loan was
lacs of rupees (600,000).
The
loan, according to
Chandoo
Lai's statement,
was
to be
employed
heavy
off*
Chap. IV.]
123
incumbrances held by native bankers and others, and in making advances to ad.
them
The proposed mode of application was unexceptionable, but some degree of suspicion had been aroused,
and the resolution to sanction the loan, opposed by two members of the supreme
This
council, was carried only by the casting vote of the governor-general.
the ryots to enable
is2o.
Relations of
Paimer and
kz^*'
first
new
despatch was received from the directors strongly disapproving of the whole of
the transactions relating to the firm of Palmer and Co., and enjoining both that
which had been given with the view of legalizing their proceedings
should be withdrawn, and that in the event of any discussion as to the claims
of the firm on the Nizam, the British government should not interfere to enforce
them.
In consequence of these instructions the firm was interdicted from future
the consent
i>isappi()vai
tors.
HISTORY or INUiA.
124
A.D. 1S23.
Resignation
Marciiiis of
astings.
[Boor VII.
Lai they had represented the loan as an entirely new advance made for specific
purposes, whereas Sir Charles Metcalfe, who had become resident at Hyderabad,
had
little
difficulty in discovering,
had thus obtained the sanction of the supreme government by false pretences.
As soon as the real facts were discovered, the governor-general became fuUy
which had been practised upon him, and characFor a moment imputations affecting the governorgeneral's personal integrity were whispered in some quarters, but another
moment dissipated them, and the worst that could be said was, that from not
alive to the gross imposition
terized
it
as
it
deserved.
had allowed
be abused.
his confidence to
This unfor-
tunate affair
is
stung to the quick by the suspicion which some of their expressions seemed to
insinuate, he tendered his resignation in 1821, and finally quitted India on the
1st of January, 1823.
His internal
administration.
The
....
changcs effected by the Marquis of Hastings, though they coustitute at once the leading feature and the highest merit of his administration,
political
ought not to make us forget the important internal reforms which he introduced
into the various branches of the public service.
Several of these reforms cannot
obvious
the
reforirs
considerable diminution of
the evil was obtained by shortening and simplifying process in cases where
quickness of despatch was scarcely of less importance than accuracy of decision,
and by increasing both the number and the emoluments of the native judges. At
the same time the jurisdiction of these judges was greatly extended. Moonsifs, at
first
of 150
Encouragement was
kind
of courts where the judges acted as arbiters; and while both their constitution
AFFAIES OF BENGAL.
Chap. IV.]
125
a.d. isio.
Lawrefom
The native rule was the very reverse of this, and by returning to it, while the
duties of collector were not seriously interfered with, a great number of crim-
'^^''^^"'s^
consisted in
inal cases
i^MartiuiE
confi-
was
finally
Among
still
more
Financial
reform in
Bengal
to
By an
extraordinary over-
a zemindary abolished
sight or deliberate perpetration of injustice, the sale of
all sub-tenures, and the purchaser was entitled if he chose to oust and order off"
whom he found upon it. Instead of this iniquitous and tyranwas now enacted that tenants and cultivators having a hereditary
every occupant
nical law, it
for
checking
all
the
ing to the Bengal presidency, and at no great distance from its capital,
a
into
abuses had become so intolerable that the people were goaded
rebellion,
which spread over the greater part of the province, and continued to rage from
1817 to 1819. The revenue exacted from the province, owing to the erroneous principle on which
rattas it
had averaged
rous deductions.
it
had been
little
Under
the
amount, in 1816-17,
calculated,
British
much
it
was
lacs,
excessive.
and these
amounted,
increased
without
deduction,
to
by random augmentations as
Under this system of extortion
reign
The
successes
insurrection
HISTORY OF INDIA.
126
A.D.
1819.
Settlement
[Book VII.
was
many
instances suspended,
considerably reduced.
On
inquiry,
were cancelled,
sales of defaulting
many
instances of oppression
and extortion
were established, not only against native officials, but their European superiors,
The
who, if not directly guilty, had incurred responsibility by connivance.
former were justly punished, the latter displaced, and though Jagbandoo did
not surrender
remained that
till
ment,
by searching
and correcting
taken,
out
Though the
A
Financial
the Madras
p.esidenoy.
estab-
of
fundamental changes in regard to them, a large field for experiment lay open in
^-^^ ccdcd and couquered provinces.
The permanent settlement, once eulogized
as the perfection of wisdom, had fallen into disfavour, particularly with the home
who had
leaving the question open, and in the meantime taking active and extensive
measures to acquire the knowledge which was necessary for its right decision.
Among the temporary arrangements by which the revenue was to be collected,
in the interval, the preference
was
the system known by the name of village settlement, which fixes a certain
amount of assessment on each village or community, and levying the whole
from one or more individuals acting as the representatives of the villagers, leaves
it to them, subject to an
appeal to the civil courts, to adjust the proportion due
by each individual cultivator. In the Madras presidency, though the zemindars'
settlement had been early introduced into the Northern Circars, the Company's
jaghire, and the districts of Madura and Tinnevelly, and the village settlement
had
also
Chap. IV.]
127
another system known by the name of the ryotwar settlement, which found a
powerful advocate and able administrator in Sir Thomas Monro. The peculiarity
of this settlement is that
it
An
into
fertility,
a.d. 1823.
Tiie
^'^
annual adjustment
maximum money
is
ryotwar
^"'^"
'
made with
cultivates.
are
on the
which
it
in the
amount of revenue.
entails
collectors,
it
causes
settlement hold out the prospect of being able in course of years to obtain
such a correct average of the actual capability of each field, as to allow the rent
to be
permanently
and partly
too
b}^
fixed,
and provided
according to which
pay,
this is
is
the
amount which he
required to
is
/>
increase of
Indian
revenue.
by nearly three millions and a half, but an addition of nearly two millions
and a half was made to the public debt, the debt bearing interest being in
1813-U, 27,002,000, and in 1822-23, 29,382,000.
ture
blessings
country,
by extirpating
He
till
he
and proprietors
resign.
and
his
concurred in a resolution expressing regret at
thanking liim
resignation,
for the unremitting zeal and eminent ability with which he had for nearly nine
directors
Qiiestion of
recompense
to Maniuis
HISTORY OF INDIA.
128
[Book YIT.
D. 1825.
Motioniost
services, the subject was again brought under the notice of the
the 3d of March, 1824, by a motion recommending the court of
ou
propHetors
dircctors to report on the mode oi maiving such a pecuniary grant as should be
This motion
j^jg eminent services and of the Company's gratitude.
.^Q^,j.jjy q
for granting
reward
gf
^^Qjj
ijjg
to^
pecmiiary
Marquis of
as ings.
ipi-
iiiti
was met by another for the printing of all the correspondence, and other documents upon the public records, which regarded the administration of the Marquis
of Hastings, and might enable the court to judge of the propriety of a further
till
when
at a meeting
it
This
motion was met by an amendment which, while admitting that the purity of
his motives could not be impeached, approved of certain despatches sent to
Bengal, in which the directors strongly censured the countenance given to the
above
firm.
and proved
error of
in favour of the
judgment
was held
(for it
all
hands
to
be nothing more)
would otherwise have been bestowed without a dissentient voice, and which, if
ever due to a governor-general, certainly ought not to have been denied to the
Marquis of Hastings.
CHAPTER
Mr. Canning, appointed governor- general, resigns
V.
Lord Amherst
appointed
Lord
Capture of Prome
Amherst
installed
Negotiations
RITISH
for peace
the time
when
the Marquis of Hastings intimated his intended resignation, were in an unsettled state.
Queen Caroline had returned to England, and ministers, urged
politics, at
on by George
great
Mr. Canning,
Termination of hostilities.
scandal
IV.,
known by
the
name
of
the
Queen's
to that
Trial.
Chap. V.]
129
intimated his determination not to take part in it, and therefore, on the 24th of
June, 1820, when, in consequence of the queen's refusal to submit to a com-
a.d.
1820.
'
promise recommended by a large majority of the House of Commons, it was Appointseen that the trial must proceed, he tendered his
The king refused ^JnauL
resignation.
to receive
him
at
it,
and made
perfect
it
liberty to
possible for
him
to continue in
follow his
own
by leaving
office,
to the
canL'ng
governor
as
general.
trial.
it
still
it
was
his resignation.
accepted,
and he once
when
though it had received the entire approbation of the directors, had not
yet been rewarded and Lord William Bentinck, whose summary dismissal from
the government of Madras on grounds which had since been considered insufto China,
ficient,
now had
it
not arrive
in their
till
to bestow.
power
months
several
still
member
of council.
It
was not
John Adam,
In the
as the senior
and
uncertain interregnum Mr. Adam would venture on any new measure of importance.
All he had to do was to carry on the government as before, to complete
any transactions which remained unfinished, and to take the initiative only
when delay would obviously have been mischievous. Though inclined thus to
regulate his procedure, Mr. Adam felt constrained, particulaily on two occasions,
to act in a manner wliicli
subjected him to some degree of unpopularity.
Vol. III.
213
Appoint-
Lord Am-
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
130
AD.
Mr.
1820.
Adam had
from the
Adam's
verument.
first
[Book VII.
following out the ordcrs which the court of directors transmitted on the subject.
Tlic debt due to the firm by the Nizam was accordingly discharged by an
advance of the Company on the security of the tribute which they were bound
to
for the
Palmer and
Had
Unfortunately
tlie sufferers,
many
no
individuals
and complained,
by
precipitation been used,
it,
Adam
Palmer and Co
Mr.
discretion.
The
absolute,
Censorship
of the press.
printed without being "previously inspected by the secretary to the government, or by a person authorized by him for that purpose." Tlie penalty for
At first the censorship
offcuding was "immediate embarkation for Europe."
and
and
all
officer,
who had
work
itself
that the evil could not be "growing," immediately bears the following testimony "It is worthy of observation that from the time the office of censor was
:
though there were never less than five newspapers published at Calwhich every kind of European intelligence, and all matters of general
established,
cutta, in
and
local interest,
period of
were
from 1801
till
1820, a
Chap. V.]
to threaten to
131
a.d. isis.
Reguiatious
,.,.,,.
m
them.
know
myself, however,
and well-weighed
to render
Further,
them
it is
policy.
intelligible
salutary for
to
it
must be wise
its
is
opinion.
pure, to look to the control of public scrutiny; while conscious of rectitude that
meant nothing
of the kind,
by
"The
editors
any matter coming under the folAnimadversions on the measures and proceedings of the
1.
lowing heads
honourable court of directors, or other public authorities in England, connected
with the government in India; or disquisitions on political transactions of the
:
local administration
members
2.
Malcolm states the simple truth when he observes, "by this measure the name
was abolished, and the responsibility of printing offensive
of an invidious office
matter was removed from a public functionary to the author or editor; but
the press, in
this change, so far from
rescinding any of the restrictions upon
reafity
if
of Marquis
of Hastings
thfpre^"
HISTORY OF INDIA.
132
AD.
1823.
Restrictions
imposed on
111?
press
by
and
It
editor.
talent,
[Book VII.
but much
less in
accordance
with the governor-general's regulations than witli the views which he was
andcrstood to have sanctioned in his reply to the Madras address, and hence
i
Mr. Buckiiio-ham had been more than once warned that, unless
more circumspection,
lie
lie
acted with
would
who was
office
not
by a kind
and shipping him off for England. By this decided step he incurred much
obloquy, as it was generally felt that the offence, which consisted merely in
the insertion of a paragraph ridiculing the appointment of one of the chaplains
of the Scotch church to the office of clerk to the committee of stationery, was
known hostility
to
press,
new
and
left it to
the
obtain redress either from the court of proprietors, before whom his case was
repeatedly brought, or from the privy- council, who refused an application to
rescind the press regulations, he never allowed the subject to be lost sight of,
and ultimately succeeded in procuring compensation for his loss in the form of
MisunderwitJfthe
Burmese,
an annuity.
Lord Amlierst arrived at Calcutta on the 1st of August, 1823, and was no
sooner installed in his office of governor-general, than he found himself involved
jj^
hostilitics
The
had
at last
countries immediately
become
inevitable.
Assam
in the north-east,
Kachar in the
centre,
and Aracan in the south-east, along the eastern shores of Bengal, either formed
part of the Burman empire, or were in course of being incorporated with it;
and it was scarcely possible that a people so arrogant as the Burmese, and
Chap. V.]
133
unconscious of the extent of the British resources, after pushing their conquests
to our Indian frontier, would be contented to remain there without attempting
till
pendent kingdom
1784,
when Minderagee
a.d. 1793.
Mismider
landing
with the
Burmese.
Yumadong Mountains,
under the government of a
The new rule was so oppressive, that great numbers of the Aracanese
viceroy.
or Mugs, as they were usually termed, lied from the tyranny which they
despaired of being able to resist, and were allowed to settle on certain tracts of
subdued
it,
annexed
it
to his empire,
and placed
it
by means
In 1793, three
to live as marauders,
they had
and
chiefs, or, as
force crosses
the border into Chittagong, and were followed across the Naaf by a
body of Burmese, who had orders not to quit the pursuit, how far soever it
The pursuers who
might carry them, till they had captured the fugitives.
fled across
at 5000,
and
to assemble in Aracan.
first only called forth a strong remonwhile disclaiming hostile intentions, plainly
officer,
to
till
retire.
The
Burmese
officer
the sntisi
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
134
A.D. 1798.
Pusiuanimof British
vemment
[Book VII.
and
therefore,
When
fate,
cells
at the dastardliness
and
we
cannot be surprised to
and starved to death the
;
inference,
it
when
they attributed the delivery of the fugitives to fear. At all events any doubts
which they might have had on the subject must have been removed, when the
governor -general, so far from insisting on any apology for the violation of the
showed himself only anxious to conciliate the good- will of the
King of Ava, and in 1795 despatched Captain Symes on a friendly mission to
British territory,
his court.
Emigrants
claimed by
"^
mesf
in
task.
party,
when
ordered to
retire,
Fugitives, amounting
great mountains, which afford shelter for wild beasts."
"
in the aggregate to 40,000, are described as
flying through wilds and deserts,
without any preconcerted plan, numbers perishing from want, sickness, and
The road to the Naaf (the river separating Aracan from Chittagong)
fatigue.
was strewed with the bodies of the aged and decrepit, and of mothers with
It was impossible, without violating the dictates both
infants at the breast."
of policy and humanity, to drive such multitudes to desperation by denying
them an asylum, and the Marquis of Wellesley, now governor-general, appointed
Captain Hiram Cox to superintend their location. Meanwhile the viceroy of
Aracan had despatched a body of troops across the frontier in pursuit of the
fugitives, and addressed a letter to the magistrate of Chittagong, in which he
said
"
:
up
all
the refugees,
blocked np.
to deliver
who
that
are in the province of Chittagong, on the part of the king of the Company,
we will take away the whole of the Aracanese; and further, in order to
Burmese had
Chap. V.]
retired,
and declared
To
this alternative
for
the Burmese,
135
a.d. isii.
Temporary
who had
to dislodge them.
hostilities
ment with
^'^'
^esf
to the viceroy of
Aracan.
ambassador to
These
apparently satisfied with the explanations and promises given to him.
were in effect, that all Mugs who could be proved guilty of crimes would be
surrendered,
moment made
with.
Emigrants
cFaimed.
Affairs of greater
inexpedient to resent this menace, and therefore the governorgeneral, choosing to regard it as the unauthorized act of the viceroy, sent Colonel
Symes on a second mission to Ava in 1802. According to the official despatch,
it
he succeeded in impressing the Burmese court with full confidence in the good
faith and friendly views of the British government, and received similar assurances in return, but subsequent information has proved this to be a gross misstatement.
Colonel
to a
single
and disdainful
audience of the king, while the letter which he delivered from the governorthat name is given
general was not even honoured with an answer, unless
anticipated.
In 1809
conquest of
to understand
how
ernment
On
arriving at Rangoon,
complaints
of the Burmese.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
130
A.D. 1811.
Embargo
on
Britisl
vessels at
Rangoon.
[Book VII.
He
port.
viceroy of Pegu to remove the embai^go, but about the same time received a
letter from Calcutta informing him of the invasion of the British territory by the
This had now become
viceroy of Aracan, and ordering his immediate return.
a task of some
difficulty,
for orders
capital
to send Captain
armed
vessels at
project,
and he succeeded
in re-embark-
The invasion
Invasion of
British territories
by
the viceroy
of Aracan.
by the viceroy
the
King
of
Ava
to proceed to Benares,
of the Hindoos.
EELi^TIONS
Chap. V.]
WITH BURMAH.
lo7
and an intimation was made to the Rajah of Aracan, through whom the
application had been made, that on furnishing a list of the works and other
articles
a.d. 1817.
insidious
tiieBur^^^^'
to
Ava, he might obtain the royal pardon for the numerous falsehoods he had
written.
comfiture, bad again collected a large number of adherents, and renewed his
Earl Minto had hitherto treated the
incursions into the Burmese territories.
Procee.ungs
bran.
These
rewards for the apprehension of their leaders.
measures were not very successful, and Khyen-bran continued his inroads with
ance,
little
and
offering
interruption,
till
beginning of 1815.
insurgents.
of
left
Calcutta
when
was
dis-
and some
surprise therefore
was
excited,
when,
the
a letter from
beginning of 1817, Mr. Pechell, magistrate of Chittagong, received
the Rajah of Ramree, governor of the four Burman frontier provinces, written
in a very bombastic style, and plainly intimating that nothing but the
"The Mugs of
hostihties.
would
immediate surrender of all the
prevent
Mugs
The English
Aracan," observed the Rajah, ''are the slaves of the King of Ava.
a residthem
and
four
our
of
has
assisted
the
given
provinces,
government
Mugs
fire.
hke
and
us
ence.
There will be a quarrel between
Formerly the
you
which
government of Aracan demanded the Mugs from the British government,
Vol. III.
214
Threat
of
hostilities
by the
Burmese.
iliSTORY OF INDIA.
138
[Book VII.
jjo^ttiities
promised to restore them, but at length did not do so. Again the Mugs
escaped from your hands, came and despoiled the four provinces, and went and
If at this time you do not restore them,
received protection in your country.
BdTese
according to
A.D. 1818.
sisting
my demand, or make delays in doing so, the friendship now subThis letter Wcis delivered by the rajah's
between us will be broken."
who
to reply to it in a conciliatory
letter
British
invariably acts, deliver up a body of people who had sought its protection, and some of whom had resided within its territories for thirty years,"
he declared his confidence "that the enlightened mind of his Burmese majesty
on which
it
The
attention of the
home
authorities,
Ava had
i
in the
and instructions
sued towards the fugitives had been sent out to the supreme government.
In
a letter dated 6tli January, 1815, they say: "We earnestly hope that you have
put to death, and that a whole village containing about two thousand five
hundred souls was massacred on this account, when neither men, women, nor
If therefore, for the sake of avoiding hostilities with the
children were spared.
of
should
have been compelled to the adoption of this measure,
Ava,
you
King
we trust that Khyen-bran has been the single person delivered, and that none
In another
L'^tter
dated 19th
May
humane
"The
Chap. V.]
is faithless.
139
It
ours.
is
not
your right to receive the revenue of those countries; it is proper that you should
pay the revenue oi those countries to us if you do not pay it, we will destroy
.
a.d. isis.
your country."
Portions of
British
territory
''
tiieBur^^^^'
Pindaree war, as to be willing to make any sacrifice sooner than risk hostilities
with so invincible a people as the Burmese imagined themselves to be. Before
it
was
and Mahrattas,
in
whom
allies,
Marquis of Hastings,
who had
fell
of noticing
"By
an insolent
to'
Probahie
soTircss OI
as accessories.
One
inclosed
east to west
by the
nished
him with a
government, called in the aid of the Burmese, who fur6000 men. The death of the Booi'a Gohain enabled
force of
home than
their presence
had raised up a
self
by
was again
new claimant
required.
to the throne,
Bhootan.
and obliged the rajah to save himThe Burmese again reinstated him,
but soon began to covet the territory for themselves. An open rupture hence
ensued, and Chandra Kanta, unable to make head against the Burmese general,
forth regarded as a
their district of
the claim
UO
AD
is'23.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
follow
frontier.
The conquests
[Boor VII.
the British district of Sylhet on the north and east, and of Munipoor, which had
been overrun by Alompra, the most celebrated of the Burmese sovereigns,
about the same time when he added Pegu and Aracan to his dominions, fur-
prevented any serious inroads into Aracan by the emigrants. The Burmese,
however, were far from reciprocating this forbearance, and had in fact entirely
changed the position of affairs, by becoming themselves the aggressors. People
followino; their avocations within the British boundaries
ried off
and sold
as slaves,
were
so openly
slain,
or car-
encouraged as to
make it plain that the Burmese, so far from desiring to prevent, were bent on
Their recent conquests had satisfied them that they
provoking hostilities.
were
invincible,
it.
Bengal he would engage to conquer it for him with no other troops than the
"
from the
strangers dependent upon Ava and according to another account,
Dr.
kincr to the beo-crar, the Burmese were hot for a war with the English."
;
Judson, the American missionary, who had resided ten years in the country, represents the prevailing feeling as often expressed in such words as the following:
"The English
and remote
island.
What
business
have they to come in ships from so great a distance to dethrone kings, and
take possession of countries they have no right to ? They contrive to conquer
and govern the black foreigners, the people of castes, who have puny frames
and no courage.
They have never yet fought with so strong and brave a
as
the
Burmese, skilled in the use of the sword and spear. If they
people
once fight with us, and we have an opportunity of manifesting our bravery,
be an example to the black nations, which are now slaves to the English,
and will encourage them to throw off the yoke." This feeling could not fail to
manifest itself sooner or later in overt acts.
There was no difficulty in finding
it will
Commenceunties.
a pretext.
At the
mouth
of the
many
Burmese
selves
by
Chap, v.]
141
British detachment,
a.d. is24.
commenced
^^"
^^'*
retiring within the British boundary, the two bodies of Burmese, amounting in all to about 6000, effected a junction, advanced to Jatrapoor, constructed stockades on both sides of the Surma, and advanced along its north
on
its
bank
till
back
in
Till
While
'11
Bandoola, the most celebrated of the Burmese generals, was appointed to the
The island was in consequence once more seized, and the
chief command.
off the evil day by additional progovernor-general, unable any longer to put
This
but
to
no
alternative
had
crastination,
publish a declaration of war.
document, published on the 24th of February, 1824, is far too long to admit of
After a full detail of the circumstances, it charges
quotation or even analysis.
"grossly and wantonly violated the relations of
and with having "comfriendship so long established between the two states,"
not less in self-defence than
pelled the British government to take up arms,
the court of
its
insulted dignity
and
which
on the part of
Burmese majesty, provided that they are accompanied with the tender of an
adequate apology, and involve the concession of such terms as are indispensable
his
and
the enemy.
Govemorgeneral's
declaration
HISTORY OF INDIA.
J4.2
0. 1824.
Plau of
mill-
appr.iachinj
Burmese
campaign.
[Book VII.
where
all
of
skill and courage, and prepared to meet their assailants with a murderous fire
from behind trenches and stockades, so strongly constructed as to form, in fact,
a continuous series of forts, was an enterprise, the difficulties of which afford
mode
of warfare, that
made
The Prince of Tharawadee, the brother of the King of Ava, when told tliat the
Burmese soldiers could not cope with the British, replied, "We are skilled in
Burmese
mode
of
warfare
there cannot be a doubt that to this skill they were mainly indebted for any
successes which they obtained in the course of the war.
Every individual
much
firmly and closely planted in the ground, and bound together at the top by
transverse beams, with no more openings than were necessary for embrasures
and
loop-holes,
Chap, v.]
143
Within the
and inner
ditches,
is24.
abattis,
P^a f
campaign.
No doubt was
this
and
that, in the
flotilla
than to
were taken.
was
Ava, he
is
insolence of this
is
British fm-,e
employed.
performed its part. The aversion of the sepoys to a sea voyage could only
have been overcome by forcing their inclinations, and as this was judged inexpedient, this presidency furnished only his Majjsty's 13th and 38th regiments,
two companies of artillery, and the 40th regiment of native infantry. Madras,
where the sepoy objection did not exist to the same extent, and was perhaps in
some degree overcome by the energy and popularity of Sir Thomas Monro the
force, consisting of his Majesty's 41st and
governor, furnished a much
larger
89th regiments, the Madras European regiment, and seven native regiments,
The whole force, mustering
with detachments of pioneers and artillery.
upwards of 11,000 men, about one half Europeans, was placed under the
command of Major-general Sir Archibald Campbell. Under him Colonel
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
144
A.D. 1S24.
ArriTai of
offRangoon.
[Look VII.
M'Creao-h
commanded
tlic
Bay
of Bengal,
commander-in-chief
Indian
chief naval
officer
in
the
alarm of the
Burmese,
who
appear
never to have dreamed of an attack in
this quarter, arrived
off"
the mouths of
the Irawadi.
The Irawadi
rises
of Assam,
and
after
a southern
The Irawadi.
J.
Wood.
into
the
it
dividcs iuto a
bank, about twenty-five miles from the sea, in a fork formed by two
branches, the one of which flows eastward under the name of the Syriam, while
the
left
the other, continuing the river of Rangoon, properly so called, flows south to
the sea.
Its width at Rangoon was nearly half a mile, and on its opposite
bank stood a town of some extent called Dalla.
On
the 11th of May, the expedition sailed up the river, and anchored
Its defences, consisting only of a stockade about twelve
opposite to Rangoon.
feet high,
which inclosed
it
on every
side,
Chap. V.]
on a
guns, situated
wharf at the
river side,
were
145
any
a.d. 1824.
Attack and
resistance.
if
the
fire
Rangoon.
did not
These so-called
were
British
traders
and
two
American
eight
missionaries,
Europeans
pilots,
an Armenian, and a Greek. His fears prevented him from carrying out his
murderous threat, and he fled, leaving his prisoners behind him. These, to the
This total desertion of the city was an event which the British had never
anticipated,
by no means
satisfied
with their
new
masters, they
and
their disposal,
of
its
immediate
now
forced
it
to guide them,
only be to
of the delta, was to expose the troops to a mortality which, while it gave none
of the triumphs of actual warfare, could hardly fail to be far more destructive
No
choice,
cover,
and use
all
it
was resolved
and supplies
from India.
The stockades of Rangoon, though a feeble defence against a British force, were
a sufficient protection against any sudden onset of the natives, and no new
The more commodious and
works therefore were required for security.
substantial of the buildings were appropriated for the head-quarters and general
Vol. III.
215
Enorin
campaign.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
146
A
I).
1824.
staff,
and
Rangoon, on an
The Shweda gou, or
Golden
Pagoda.
artificial
and ammunition.
mound about
[Book Yll.
to the north
of
famous Buddhist
above 300 feet. This temple being, like the town, entirely abandoned, was
taken possession of by his Majesty's 69th regiment and the Madras artillery;
the rest of the troops found convenient cantonments in a number of small
temples and priests' residences, lining two roads which led from the northern
gateway of the town to the pagoda. During the completion of these arrangements, detachments explored the neighbourhood, and parties proceeded up the
river in boats for the purpose of reconnoitring and destroying any defences or
.*--^iS^'--s*
Successes of
-^^^^^$^
--('''^r^*^''
which they might discover. One of these parties came upon an unfinished
stockade at Kemendine, about sixty miles above Rangoon, and having landed,
gallantly carried it, though not without some loss, against a very superior force.
fire-rafts
On
fell
the same day a considerable detachment, sent some distance into the interior,
in with the governor of Rangoon, who, instead of risking an encounter, fled
and of
middle of
May
collected
Chap. Y.]
47
Gowhatty, where the Burmese had thrown up stockades. They did not,
The
however, venture to defend them, and retired as the British approached.
population,
cruelly treated
by
their
a.d. 1824.
Land
force
escort.
force of
to
of striking a
who had
Gowhatty
Proceedings
Kachar, returned with a force estimated at 8000 men, and began to make andMimifrom Munipoor, stockading themselves on the heights of Talain,
^'*^'^'
incursions
The
any
effectual opposition to
at Talain
was
offer
proved a failure.
till
In Aracan, the original seat of their aggression, the Burmese appear to have
f
r
"n
made their main effort and in the beginning of May, when the Britisli were
1
surprising
them
by
was wholly inadequate, but the Bengal government, though made
aware of the threatened danger, made no additional effort to avert it. Whatever may have been the cause of this great negligence, it was severely punished.
Colonel Shapland, holding the command in Chittagong, had pushed forward to
invasion
crossing
the 13th of
May
rapidly
arrived at a stream flowing past Ramoo.
some
men, but of these 650 were irregulars, on whom no dependence could be placed.
the encampment, with
Having posted his troops behind a bank surrounding
his
the river, his front formed by the regular sepoys with the
flanked
right
by
invasion
.,f
Chittagoiig
by the Bur-
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
148
AD.
1824.
Tiie British
Ramoo.
[Book VII.
two six-pounders, and protected by a tank, at which a strong picket was stationed, and his rear protected by another tank, which was given in charge to the
he waited the encounter. After a short struggle,
provincials and the Mug levy,
the provincials and Mugs gave way, and the Burmese, making their way into
Of necessity a
retreat
was
ordered.
At
first it
Only about 250 in all were missing, but not a few of these, carried off as
prisoners to Ava, confirmed that court in the belief that its soldiers were irresistible; while an unmanly panic, communicated from Chittagong and Dacca,
spread even to Calcutta, where, among other absurdities, it was deemed not
incredible that a
thus monstrously exaggerated, there cannot be a doubt that had the Burmese
known how to improve their advantage, a considerable tract of Britisli territory
till
pillaged.
for
left
all
The army of Aracan was consequently recalled, and the only occasion
on which the Burmese could have inflicted a serious blow was lost.
The raius, while they rendered a regular campaign impossible, had not pro-
warfare.
Operation?
in the
vicinity of
Rangoon.
duced a cessation of
hostilities at
Rangoon.
rein-
On
the
28th of May, Sir Archibald Campbell, taking 400 Europeans and 250 sepoys,
with a gun and howitzer, proceeded to make a reconnoissance. The path, after
leading through a tangled forest, where the natural obstacles were increased
by
and plains knee-deep in water.
The difficulty of transporting the guns in consequence became so great, that it
was judged necessary to send them back under the escort of the sepoys. The
artificial
fields
detachment, thus limited to Europeans alone, continued the route, and at the
distance of about eight miles from Rangoon came in sight of a body of the
strong.
were immediately attacked and routed with great slaughter. The main body,
intimidated by this success, showed no inclination to avenge their comrades, and
Chap. Y.]
149
Two
days
after,
another stockade not far from the great pagoda was stormed.
a d.
1824.
~~'
Affair at
extensive
embarking 300 of his Majesty's 41st regiment, ascended the Irawadi with
The works proved stronger than had been supposed, and none
three cruisers.
the
On
success.
force, consisting of 3000 men, with four eighteen-pounders and four howitzers.
Before reaching Kemendine it was necessary to capture a strong stockade which
it and the great pagoda.
Three of its sides were
and
had
in
its
front
a plain covered with
the
the
fourth
side
forest,
by
This naturally strong position showed the importance which was
water.
it
The
clamber over the palisades in the rear.
managed
and
unable
to
in
defenders thus attacked
escape, fought
opposite directions,
This
with desperation, while the bayonet made fearful havoc among them.
a second column
to
was expected
batteries had begun
attack
silence
to
Burmese, after the severe lesson that had thus been taught them, became less
confident, and withdrawing to a gTcater distance, began to concentrate their
forces at
Donabew,
fifty
Notwithstanding
had not
made any
...
as yet
June, great numbers of troops were observed passing from Dalla on the right
bank to the left above Kemendine, and on the 1st of July, while the forests in
comparativb
inaction
produced by
HISTORY OF INDIA.
150
A.D. 1824.
[Book VII.
front were occupied with troops, three columns, each about 1000 strong, moved to
the right as if to interpose between part of the cantonments and Rangoon.
They were speedily checked and dispersed, but the very next day resumed
It was only to sustain a
operations by marching a strong body upon Dalla.
had
Dalla
as
it
been
deserted
and
second repulse
itself,
by its inhabitants, and
might be used as a cover for other attempts, was destroyed.
;
Extensive
tionsofthe
ui-mese.
The court of Ava had been hoping to hear of the annihilation of the
invaders, and being of course disappointed with the progress of events, had
gypgj^gg jgjj Thckia Wungyee in the command, and given it to Thamba Wungyee,
who, knowing what was expected of him, was naturally anxious not to fall short
it.
He accordingly made a great display of activity, and gave so much
annoyance that it became necessary to dislodge him. This was no easy task.
of
The Rangoon
river,
is
joined
by another branch
a fourth at Kamaroot, about a mile and a half above the junction, and at some
This last, the largest and strongest of
distance from the left bank of the Lyne.
all,
retained.
Capture of
stockades at
Kamaroot.
On
reaching Kamaroot
captured were no fewer than seven, and besides being strongly garrisoned,
wcre defended by thirty pieces of artillery.
Within ten minutes after the
attack commcuccd, the first stockade was carried by escalade the second after
;
a longer resistance yielded to the same mode of capture the others scarcely
offered any resistance; and thus, without firing a shot, by the aid of the
;
bayonet alone, works which the Burmese regarded as almost impregnable were
wrested from them by a mere handful of assailants. Among the incidents at
Kamaroot, a single conflict between Major (afterwards Sir) Robert Sale, and a
Burman
of rank
who
fell
by
unworthy
of notice.
About 800
enemy lay dead within the stockades; Thamba Wungyee, the commander, died of his wounds. The defeat at Kamaroot struck terror into the
of the
first
into
Chap. V.l
151
historical interest
Burmese, when attacked by the British detachment, fortithemselves as if determined to stand a siege but after opening a brisk fire
much
disaflTection to their
Burmese masters, that they might to all appearance have easily been induced
to tlirow off the
yoke which had for sixty years lain heavily upon them. As
to give
any encouragement to
have
been to place a chief
might
upon the throne who was unable to maintain himself upon it without British
assistance.
The restraint thus exercised was at all events cautious, but it may
yet,
however,
it
The
them.
obstacles to operations
the expedition
was on
its
a.d. i824.
'"'^pt^e of
SjTiam, and
operations
''^
^^"^
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
152
A.D. 1824.
Subjugation
"
asserim
provinces.
[Book VII.
party detached for that purpose, and at the end of August a strong division
sailed for the Tenasserim provinces, which, under the names of Ye, Tavoy, and
fertile maritime tract stretching along the east
of
Bengal, through six degrees of latitude, from the mouths of
Bay
The towns of Tavoy
^^^ Irawadi to the frontiers of the Molucca peninsula.
coast of the
and Mergue, and the provinces of which they are the capitals, were speedily
The inhabitants of the former cordially assisted in the invasion, and
reduced.
the resistance
first
Burmese,
it
was not taken without the combined exertions of the naval and
inactive,
series
selves invulnerable.
The
loss of
them
that the charm had
satisfied
somehow
or
other
fusion.
posite
On
river at Dalla,
they
con-
in
decamped
British
where
post
had
Burmese
Burmese War-boat. From Syme's Embassy
made
to Ava.
off"
some
gun- brigs
purpose they brought down a
flotilla, which on the first alarm was put to flight, and chased till five of its
boats were captured.
Higher up the river, where the Burmese were understood
vicinity.
For
this
and preparing
fire-rafts,
Chap. Y.J
153
a.d. i824.
now
it
Europeans.
more easily explained than justified, refused Europeans, and sent only
800 Madras infantry, with two additional field-pieces. The whole set out for
Kaikloo on the morning of the 7th of October. The first obstacles encountered
are
storm,
was
From
was
reached.
arranged his
the second to diverge to the right and attack it in flank, and the third to
form a. reserve, while a party should make a dash at the pagoda. The first
column was allowed to approach within sixty yards, and was then suddenly
with a murderous
fire
steps
bmitli
of grape
oflicers
and musketry.
Under
-n
fell
killed or
J^ortunately the
second
column
arrived in time to prevent the retreat from becoming a complete rout, and the
whole fell back in tolerable order, after sustaining a loss of twenty-two killed
No
This
spirits,
time, however,
was
.force
who
fell
Consequent
exultation
of the Bur-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
154?
A.D. 1824.
Defeat of
Kye Wungyee.
[Book VII.
vengeance, but found the works abandoned, and returned to Rangoon without
At the very time when the repulse at Kaikloo was sustained,
seeing an enemy.
it
member
Ava
of the
ministry,
signal defeat of
Kye Wungyee,
a leading-
'
for
fit
reduced, the prospect of active operations was hailed with enthusiasm, in the
of
conviction
full
coming triumphs.
yet the circumstances were such as
might have appalled them. According
And
King
had at
Ins
a final
last
mustered
effort,
chains to
miny and
Donabew.
of the
two
armies.
the
or send
sea,
interior,
Ava
forces for
to drive the
them
off
where igno-
Bandoola, the
Positions
all
which was
of
greatest of the
Maha
Burmese
had arrived with his veterans from Aracan, and was advancing on
Rangoon at the head of 60,000 men. Though mucli of this rumour was justlj^
treated as mere gasconade, there was no room to doubt that it was partly true,
warriors,
Maha Bandoola
as
lines in the
flotilla
actually
made
beginning of December.
of war-boats
and
fire-rafts,
rested with
His
its left
most
part covered by dense jungle, was, where open, protected by breastworks and
The Golden Pagoda, forming the key of the British position, was
stockades.
now
This
suit,
in the
of a mixture of plate
Chap. V.]
155
occupied by 300 men of his Majesty's 38th, with twenty pieces of artillery,
while the 28th Madras infantry were stationed immediately below.
His
a.d. 1824.
Majesty's 13th were posted with some guns along tlie high ground leading from Position
the pagoda to the town. An old Buddhist convent in front of the lines was held army at
by 200 Madras European infantry and some sepoys; and the stockade of
Kemendine, which covered the left rear of the position, by the 26tli Madras native
The remainder of the force was placed
infantry and a few Madras Europeans.
""^"-
communication with Rangoon, which, as well as Kemendine, derived important additional defence from the shipping.
in
During the
1
first
employed, both
Kemendine
the
By
m advancing
stockade.
moment
-I
eflect in dislodging
and resumed
Burmese.
them, for
their labours.
this perseverance
by constant
firing
eflforts
left
was made on the 7th of December, in four columns, and resulted in the complete discomfiture of the whole Burmese army, which fled in complete disorder
It
it
No
hostile force
now
again gave proof of their presence and their determination to omit no mode of
On the 14th of December a conwarfare which gave any promise of success.
gence arrived that a force estimated at 20,000 had reached Kokein, only five
miles to the north, and were busily employed in throwing up strong defences.
Their presence at such a distance was no longer to be tolerated, and therefore, on
the 1 5th, the commander-in-chief in person started oflf with two columns, the right
up
and consisted of two large and strong stockades situated on the
The attack having been
and connected by six circular entrenchments.
of three miles,
flanks,
so
Britssi
successes at
Kokein
HISTORVT OF INDIA.
156
A.D.1824.
[Book VII.
Kokein.
came
to
them
off in chains,
Rangoon
had vanished.
Maha Bandoola,
man
to
He had
employed
Operations
in Assam.
to entrench
it
it
as soon as
force,
troops,
two detachments by water for the purpose of checkThe one detachment under Major Waters, after
ing the enemy's depredations.
Raha
a
at
of
Burmese
Chowki, proceeded to Nowgong, where the
routing
party
of
had entrenched themselves with 1300
Assam
Boora Rajah and the governor
end of October to send
men.
and
off
him
left
and found
it abandoned.
ment, under Major Cooper,
Colonel Richards having thus secured two advanced positions, commenced a
tedious march with the remainder of his force along the banks, while his stores
proceeded to Caliabar,
and baggage were dragged in boats against the current of the Brahmapootra, and
on the Gth of January, 1825, reached Maura Mukh, about 120 miles beyond
Gowhatty. On the 29th he arrived at Rangpoor, the capital of Upper Assam,
situated on the Dikho, a feeder of the Brahmapootra.
The fort, consisting of a
square building of solid masonry, mounted 200 pieces of cannon, and was moreover rendered difficult of access by two swamps and a ditch.
It was defended
by a strong
garrison of
a vigorous
defence.
leaders,
among
the
and Colonel Richards had no sooner carried a stockade which had been
jugation.
pi'oposals for
^i^g
Burmese
frontiers, but
many
With
greatly diminished.
scene of further hostilities, and became a British province.
Chap. V.]
137
When
the obstacles which threatened the success of the expedition to Ran(Toon became known at Calcutta, it was determined to fit out two considerable
a.d. 1824.
Two
forces
procticd
overian.i
'''S'''"''*
^"''
The Kachar
all
the initiatory
movements
in the
Burmese war, had been in a great measure overlooked. The very first march
could not be accomplished till a road had been made by the pioneers, with
The distance to Munipoor
infinite labour, from Bhadrapoor to Banskandy.
Proceedings
Kachar
^''"^'
ninety miles of one of the most rugged tracts that was ever travelled,
presenting a succession of steep hills clothed with dense forests, water-courses
was
still
with high and precipitous banks, and occasional flats of deep plashy mire.
The pioneers succeeded in cutting a foot-way of about forty miles, but it was
only labour in vain, as neither artillery nor loaded cattle could pass along it.
After the month of February and March. 1825, had been spent in a vain endea-
The Aracan armament, mustering about 11,000 men, under the command of The
The preparations for it
Brigadier-general Morrison, assembled at Chittagong.
had been dilatory, and accompanied with circumstances of an ominous description.
The aversion of the sepoys, particularly those of Bengal, to a sea voyage
government yielded to
it,
As
this aversion
became obvious that the aversion of the sepoys was not merely to the
employment at all in the Burmese war. They had heard of
the disaster which had befallen Captain Noton's detachment at Ramoo, and
and
it
they regarded the Burmese with terror, as a kind of magicians who could render
Thus overcome by superstitious and unmanly fears
themselves invulnerable.
they were determined not to go to Aracan if they could possibly avoid it. All
therefore that they wanted was a plausible pretext for refusing, and unfortuhad no
nately, owing to mismanagement on the part of their superiors, they
and
cantoned
Three native regiments, the 2Gth, 47th,
in
it.
62d,
difficulty
at
finding
Aracan
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
158
with murmurs, complaining with some show of reason that the}' did not posThe sepoy
sess and were unable to procure the necessary means of transport.
A.D. 1824.
carried his knapsack, containing his linen and various small articles, and sixty
rouuds of ammunition, but in addition to these, in order not to risk the loss of
Complaints
in Aracan
aimamen
[Book VII.
cumbered himself with various culinary articles, as a plate, a waterThese articles, all of brass, weighed
a frying pan, and a cup.
pot, a boiler,
about twenty-two lbs., and coald only be conveyed by hiring or purchasing
^^^^^^
^-yQ
own
creating,
himself,
it
was considered
would be made
for them.
The commissariat,
in
march, the answer returned was that the sepoys must provide themselves as
The mutinous
usual.
spirit
remove or allay the discontent. Colonel Cartwright, in command of the regiment, made some purchases of bullocks at his own expense, and government
offered advances of money but the men having been furnished with a real
;
to
could not
Open mutiny
'
Bengli^'
native inlantiy.
now be
suppressed.
On his
the commander-in-chief
with Sir Edward Paget,
^
should
that
the
47th regiment
return General Dalzell gave orders
appear on
of the whole
parade in marching order on the 1st of November. About a third
threatened
in
the
rest
but
the
lines,
adjacent
assembling tumultuously
obeyed,
Q^^^g^^^g^ ^q cousult
upon them if they stirred, while all the attempts made by General
Dalzell and the other officers to bring the mutineers to a sense of duty were
met with clamour and menace. They were, therefore, of necessity left to take
to fire
own
their
course
till
effectual
Captain Macan,
translate
Chap. V.]
159
to his
translation the
"The original of this
following note:
written
in
a
most
barbarous and unintelligible manner.
No regard
petition
is
I am therefore doubtful if I have
paid to spelling, grammar, or idiom.
expressed the sentiments ot the petitioners in every paragraph, and I am convinced that they have themselves not done so.
Those parts, however
as
appended
it,
a.d. is24.
is
(such
on which
least important."
^
the 47th
^^''^'"'^'
Bengal
"mtry."'"
The
difficulty of
and confines
this:
itself
topic.
"The
case," it says, is
&c.,
they were
Rangoon, and would be embarked on board ship, and he told all the
To
sepoys that when the Company went to war they ought not to shrink."
going to
according to the petition, the sepoys replied "that they never could put
on board ship, and that no person would forfeit his caste. For this
reason all the sepoys swore by the Ganges water and toolsee (sacred basil), that
this,
their feet
In this way the regiment, fee, pledged themselves. This which is written
our representation."
After complaining of the soubahdar and havildar for
to
stated
Colonel
having
Cartwright that the regiment was ready to march,
life.
is
"Now
you
knew nothing
Their
grievances,
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
160
A.D. 1824.
Mutiny of
4Tth regi-
ment.
[Book VII.
we
will not
our
name was
quotations it is obvious that what the petitioners really demanded was that
they should either be exempted from serving in the Burmese war or discharged.
The answer
by
was that
to the petition
it
to send
them
sea,
first
co\ Id
two native regiments were known to be infected, the suppresmutiny could not be expected from them, and therefore two of the
the royals and the -iTtli with a detachment of horse
king's regiments
and
a
artillery,
troop of the governor-general's body-guard, had been brought
As
the other
sion of the
to
Barrackpoor
for
that
purpose.
2d of
November, these troops were drawn up perpendicularly to the sepoy lines, the
The mutinous regiment, the native -iTth, was
artillery a little to the rear.
formed in front of the
62d,
lines,
and to the
left,
and
the two other native regiments which were under orders to march.
About twenty men of the 2Gth, and above 100 of the 62d, had joined the 47th,
and stood along with it to share its fate. Before the final step was taken Sir
The
After
some expostulation, which they met only with clamour and symptoms of
increasing violence, they were told that their fate depended on obeying the
The
Mutiny
suppressed.
body-guard,
still
more
fell
which
skirts
prisoners,
and afterwards
tried
by native
courts-martial,
some
A
ringleaders were hanged, and others condemned to hard labour in irons.
more lenient course was ultimately adopted, and all those detained in custody
were
liberated.
The native
ofiicers,
Chap. V.]
ICl
known of the mutiny, and perhaps encouraged it, were dismissed the service,
and the name of the 47th Bengal native infantry was erased from the army
The stern course adopted was successful, and the mutinous spirit, which
Hst.
had already infected two other regiments and might soon have been
a.d. 1824.
much more
official
mismanage
mei.t.
When
the difficulty of procuring the necessary bullocks for transport was represented to them, and not denied, it was, to say the least, harsh and inconsiderate,
simply to reply in effect that they neither could nor would assist in obviating
It is true, that they afterwards came forward and offered to advance the
it.
and forced
it
however much
it
may have
it.
inflamed
The sepoys
from
its
different form,
made up
the mutiny.
their
minds
to actual resistance,
were bent on
and
if
the
means of
carriage
men
marching on such an arduous and trying service, none of the other points of
complaint would have been heard, and the late 47th regiment would now have
been contending against the enemies of the state." The court of inquiry, when
they speak thus, entirely lose sight of the notorious aversion of the sepo3^s to
the service on which they were ordered, and very absurdly represent the want
of bullock transport as the cause of a
mutinous
spirit
which
existed,
and had
been manifested by the prevalence of desertion, before this want was known.
Vol. III.
ht:
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
162
AD.
"
1825.
says:
It is impossible for
me
to conceal
[Book YII.
independence
our ideas of military
Bengal
"^'
is
officers,
which
is
is
sort of spirit of
Departure of
force.
When
tlic
mutiuy
the
Mug
at Barrackpoor
levy,
and some
local horse,
with details of
artillery
and
For the conveyance of troops and supplies along the shore, and to
pioneers.
co-operate in the reduction of maritime tracts and islands, it was accompanied
by a flotilla commanded by Commodore Hayes, and consisting of the Vestal
Bombay
cruiser, the
pinnaces,
was unable
to
for the purpose of arresting the progress of Sir Archibald Campbell, there
was
Aracan.
of
Aracan stretches nearlv 300 miles from north to south along the eastern
On the east, the Yumadong Mountains, which
shorc of the Bay of Bengal.
have an average height of 3000 to 4000 feet, separate it from Burmah and
These mountains, and the streams which flow from them, give it its
Pegu.
In the north, where their distance from the coast
peculiar physical features.
is greatest, they leave a width of about ninety miles, but in proceeding south-
wards the space between them and the coast gradually narrows, till at
they leave no interval at all, and terminate on the shore in Cape Negrais.
last
In
the southern half of Aracan, the mountains come so close to the shore as to
leave no
room
for the
Chap. V.]
Of
considerable river.
now
163
Kaladyne or Aracan, and the Lerayo. They have each a course of about 1 50
miles, are on an average not more than twenty miles distant from each other,
and approaching still nearer in the lower part of their course, have a common
a.d.
1825.
Piiysicai
Aracan!"
mostly formed by the torrents which, rushing down from the neighThe interior is even
bouring mountains, take the nearest course to the sea.
more forbidding than the coast, presenting a succession of rugged heights,
creeks,
make
it
absolutely pestilential.
mouths of
rivers.
February, reached the estuary of the Naaf, he sent a detachment across it to take
possession of Mangdoo, but was not able to transport the main body of the
12th.
As a
had not yet arrived, he was obliged to leave most of the baggage and stores
at Mangdoo, under
charge of a division, and continued his march southward to
the estuary of the
width, and,
owing
It
was not
finally crossed
till
whole month had elapsed. The army then encamped at Chankrain, situated
on a branch of the Koladyne, which is navigable by loaded boats to within a
few miles of Aracan, the capital. To effect its capture was now the great
by water,
with the flotilla toward the end of February, had ascended to a place called
Here his further progress was obstructed by a stockade, which,
Kiung-pala.
after
him
to return.
loss in
it,
compelled
necessarily adopted,
and the
army, on the 20th of March, began to move upwards, following the direction of
the river.
No enemy appeared, and even at Kiung-pala, the stockade which
On
Proceedings
can
force,
HISTORY or INDIA.
164
A.D.
18-J
Capture of
[Book YII.
day following, some resistance was offered at two places where stockades had
been erected^ but it was easily overcome, and the army, advancing without
at the foot of a range of hills about 400 feet
opposition, arrived on the 29th
and
encii'cle
which
completely command the capital, situated in the plain
high,
it
seemed
that no further advance would be permitted, as the
Here
below.
summit
of the hills
force,
estimated at
9000 men, stood ready to defend it. Formidable as the works appeared, it was
determined at once to assault them. This rash resolution was punished by a
Tlie assailants in climbing the steep ascent, were met by a murderous
and volleys of heavy stones rolled down upon them, and after an ineffectual
After this severe
struggle, they were compelled to retire with considerable loss.
repulse.
fire,
opened a brisk
fire
being discovered.
On
was
Disasters
occasioneii
by ignorance of
.geography.
easily accomplished.
tion
easily
After four marches up the rugged ascent, the troops arrived in a state of comwas only to learn
plete exhaustion at Thantabain, on the Burman frontier, but it
that the enemy, posted in force, were waiting to dispute their further progress.
Hitherto it had been almost impossible to advance unopposed.
What, then,
would
it
be to attempt
it
reduced his detachment, immediately began to retrace his steps. Had he,
instead of attempting the ascent at Talak, only continued his march about ten
miles farther to the south-east, he would have found the pass of
Fearful
Aeng
lying
open and wide to receive him. The failure of the expedition was not the worst
The main
of the evils which could be traced to ignorance of the Aeng Pass.
mortality.
arm}^,
left in
Aracan,
made no
Campbell, and remained only to pine away and perish by disease. Its ravages
were indeed fearful. When the rainy reason terminated, a fourth of the whole
army had died, and more than half the survivors were in hospital. From such
WAR
C'HAi. V.j
AVITH
BURMAH.
165
an arm}^ nothing- further was to be expected, and nothing remained but to avoid
its total annihilation by withdrawing it from the
pestilential atmosphere of the
a.d. is^s.
now
to depend.
After the capture of the stockades at Kokein the condition of the British
forces
The return
had
It has
rapidly returning.
the Peguers
had arrested
^'vo^^'^
""
dependence
of Pegu,
encouraged, because it was feared that the British government might be called
upon for a guarantee, which might produce disagreeable entanglements.
new
polic}^
"What folly can actuate you to attempt any further opposiarms?" and reminding them of the oppression and tyranny
which they had for a long time endured "by the cruel and brutal conduct of
the Burmese government,'' and contrasting their wretched position with the
which, after asking
"comfort and happiness" of the Tenasserim provinces, "now under the protection of the English flag," he concluded thus: "Choose from among yourselves
a chief and I will acknowledge him."
There were obstacles, however, which
made it difficult for the Peguers to take advantage of the pledge thus given
Their ancient ruling dynasty was extinct, and before there was any
|)rospect of a harmonious choice, British policy had assumed a new phase, and
them.
through Old Pegu, or to re-embark the troops, and re-land them in Aracan, with
the view of penetrating into the heart of the Burman empire through some pass
of the
Yumadong Mountains.
Rangoon, and formed his army into three divisions: the first, of 2400 men,
under his own immediate command; the second, of 1200, under Brigadier-general
Cotton; and the third, of 600, under Major Sale.
The
having
set it
on
fire
and abandoned
it.
The Burmese
J^'ew
plan of
operations
suggested.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
1G6
A.D.
ISilo
Operations
of Major
Sale and
General
Cotton.
their track,
till
who had
sent
back
left
[Book VII.
him no
alternative but to
sail
to
was
left
to
which a garrison
to
for the
garrison of
in per-
himself, with a
^^ ^
x'^HS;^^^ ^^^^
The
Bandoola's Look-otjt Tree, with Four Guns,
AT DoNABP.w
stockadiuCT
feet high,
from
fifteen to seventeen
was composed of
solid teak
Donabew,
and
beams
as close as
Donabew, aflbrding
means
of
cross-beams
the
additional
to
stockades, and a platform
by
strength
on which the defenders, while pouring a murderous tire on their assailants,
were well sheltered.
On
this platform,
still
greater
number
round the stockade was an outer ditch of considerable depth and width, made
difficult to cross by various contrivances, such as spikes, nails, holes, &c., and
on every side except toward the river was an abattis thirty yards broad, and
otherwise of a very formidable description.
Beside the principal stockade
there were other two of similar structure, but minor dimensions, situated
lower
Chap. V.]
167
by the ablest and most renowned of the Burmese warriors, General Cotton
It was a gross blunder on the part of the
a.d. 1825.
had ascertained by ocular inspection that it was scarcely possible for him to
From some idea, however, that his instructions left him no option, he
succeed.
lost no time in making the necessary preparations.
After sending a flag of
truce
Failure of
stockades
at
^"*'^'^"'-
and a rocket batterv, against the nearer of the two minor stockades. The
defence, though maintained with more steadiness than the Burmese had
to
with spikes,
ditch.
It
gave them no
it
sheltei-, for
so as to expose
it
besides being
and Captain Kose, who though wounded was gallantly leading the
storming party, having fallen by a second shot, it was deemed hopeless to
persevere, and the flotilla, after re-embarking the troops, guns, and stores,
stockade,
dropped
The
march.
down
new
instructions.
first division,
It
On the 23d it
keeping at a short distance from the left bank of the Lyne.
reached the town of this name, and on the 1st of March, after fording the river,
After
a march of fourteen miles brought it to Tharawa, on the Irawadi.
some days, for the purpose of receiving accounts of General
Cotton, a cannonade heard in the direction of Donabew on the 7th, and some
information
obtained,
led
Sir
had made only two marches in advance, and he immediately began to retrace
his steps, under a conviction of the necessity of not only restoring the reputation of the British arms, but of removing a hostile force, which now commanding
On
the river in his rear, entirely destroyed his communication with Rangoon.
the loth he returned to Tharawa, and began to make preparations for crossing
the Irawadi.
As the
river
is
At
length, however,
by constructing
more
])on
sui.sequeut
proceedings
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
16S
A.D. 1S25.
bank.
On
army with
which
it
its
was necessary
Donabew was
Successes of
[Book Vll.
to cut a
pathway through
thickets
reached.
of intricate jungle,
Sir Arcliibald Campbell having taken
while the
it
flotilla
became necessary
to
open a communication.
the flotilla, which, taking advantage of a fair wind, sailed up the river and
ran the gauntlet of all the guns which the enemy could bring to bear upon it,
without sustaining any serious damage. Dming this achievement the Burmese,
as if to
of,
ventured on a vigorous
sortie.
was headed by seventeen elephants, each carrying five or six men, armed
with gingals and muskets, and supported by a small body of horse, and dense
masses of infantry. It was a vain bravado on the part of the Burmese, and
It
dear.
As they approached, a well-directed fire of artillery and
ranks into confusion. The elephants becoming unmanagethrew
their
musketry
able, or deprived of their drivers, who had been shot down, fled into the adjoining thicket, the horse followed, and the foot made the best of their way back
cost
them
little
courage and
skill
were displayed by the defenders, that the assailants had a comparatively easy
Maha Bandoola had been killed by a rocket or the bursting
task to perform.
of
'a shell,
On the 3d
of April,
whom
when
the guns and heavy mortars which had been placed in battery opened their
fire, no answer was made from the stockade, and its defenders were discovered
in full retreat
No
resistance.
They adVtiricc into
the interior.
The ouly obstaclc to an advance into the interior being thus removed. Sir
Archibald Campbell, now strengthened by his other divisions, and by additional
reinforcements from Rangoon, resumed his march. The Prince of Tharawadi, the
brother of the Burmese sovereign, who had assumed the command, had succeeded
in collecting a considerable force, but was evidently determined to rest satisfied
with the defensive, regularly retiring as the British advanced. Thus allowed to
march without encountering anj^ opposition, Sir Archibald Campbell had arrived
within thirty miles of Prome, when a British soldier, who had been made
prisoner by the Burmese, arrived in his camp, with a letter addressed to him
by two of the atwen-wuns, or royal councillors. It attributed the war which
had interrupted the ancient friendship of the two states to the conduct of a
certain paltry chief, and proposed that a negotiation might be opened for tlie
restoration
of
was advancing
peace.
The
to Prome,
and that
Chap. V.]
169
would very willingly listen to any overtures that had peace for their object,
The atwen-wuns had hoped that the proposal to negotiate would induce the
British commander to desist from advancing, and on finding the contrary, ceased
make any
to
further communication.
On
a.d. 1825,
'
capture of
art,
andl2,000atTongho,
eighty miles
to
the
principally
at
Pagahm, Melloon,
To
and Patanagoh.
oppose all these troops
Sir Archibald Campbell
had under
his
half
whom
nearly
were
Euro-
peans. Notwithstand-
perience justified
him
Minister.
2,
A Trooper.
and
3,
A Cassay Horseman.
yet, for
many
Negotiation
proposed.
reasons, of which the enormous expense was one of the strongest, the supreme
government were m-gent for an early termination of hostilities. Not long,
therefore, after
them
would certainly bring upon it. A favourable answer was immediately returned,
and the British commander, waiving the point of etiquette, which he would have
shown more j udgment in maintaining, sent a mission to the camp of Mimiabo,
From
insisted
on receiving
one.
Symes'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
170
.B. 1825.
month was
of one
On
Meeting of
commissioners.
[Book VII.
the 2d of October, the day fixed for the meeting, the commissioners,
Campbell and Sir James Brisbane, the British admiral in the
Sir Archibald
seas,
on the one
midway between, a
side,
lotoo, or hall
had been erected. In all the preliminary arrangements the- utmost care had
been taken to maintain an appearance of perfect equality, and this was now
carried so far, that both parties, by previous agreement, started from their
at the very same moment, and met together in front of the lotoo.
of
hands," says Major Snodgrass,* "and every demonstration of
"Shaking
amicable feeling having passed, the parties entered the house, and sat down
encampments
on two rows of chairs fronting each other; the wungyees and their
all fifteen chiefs,
suite, in
court dresses, evidently doing grievous penance in seats they were never accustomed to, that no difference might appear, even in the most trifling particular
On
and
so observing
this point,
their
Failure of
the negotiations.
immediately, and the remainder at an early date, Rangoon, Martaban, and the
The
Tenasserim provinces being in the meantime retained as security.
Burmese commissioners declared that these rigorous demands had taken them
completely by surprise, and after arguing strenuousl}^ against them, as neither
just nor generous, proposed an extension of the armistice
till
the 2d of
Novem-
ber, that
sions
struggle,
for
opening a
was readily
from the Burmese
it
'
Narrative of
tion, p. 215.
the
to the
commander of the
expedi-
Chap. V.]
However,
you.
from
between
any inclination to
territory
171
us,
you
for
money
for
you show
us, if
your expenses, or
This
is
a.d. 1825.
any
Burman
custom."
The Burmese,
as soon as they
no time
r-i
Resumption
of hostilities.
the right flank of the British army, threatened to give great annoyance.
In
left,
to assail
moved
to the eastward.
it
in front,
Artillery.
separ-
ground covered with marsh and jungle, could not communicate, and
The brigadier arrived first. Though he had no
lost sight of each other.
he rushed on to force
breaching- guns, and knew nothing of the other columns,
an entrance into the works. This precipitation cost him his life. After he had
ately over
fallen,
officers
fire
of
the enemy, the assailants were compelled to retreat, pursued to within nine
miles of Prome.
The second column was not more fortunate, and after attack-
wounded.
was
fire
The
this success,
Affair of
Watig.auii.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
172
A.D. 1825.
[Book VII.
name
of
achieved it for them, they would yet compel the British to abandon Prome.
A new Bur- To put this to the proof, they advanced nearer and nearer, till they^were only
raese ea er.
Sir Archibald Campbell was in hopes of turning their
^ ^^^ milcs distant.
new confidence to account, and by throwing up earthworks and entrenchments, as
if
the assailants.
mode
of fighting,
to
to
make
assume the
offensive.
their approaches
of caution
more
and continued
it
The second
division arriving
first,
imme-
diately stormed and carried the works which the enemy had constructed on
the Nawain, a stream which runs past Prome before joining the Irawadi.
His defeat
Within the stockades were found 300 dead, including the veteran Maha
Nemyo. This was by no means the whole of the Burmese loss, for the first
division having arrived on the opposite
bank
of the
Nawain,
as they
were
abandoning the stockades, intercepted them in their flight, and added greatly
to the slaughter.
The enemy's left having been thus destroyed, the next move-
ment was directed against their centre at Napadi, where Kye Wungyee commanded, and had advantageously stockaded himself on a series of heights.
These, after the flotilla had sailed up the river, and taken up a position which
enabled
it
to
throw
shells
gallantly carried
and pursued them from hill to hill, till the whole position, embracing an extent
of two miles, was secured.
The enemy's right, which followed the Irawadi to
Padong, was still entire, but General Cotton having crossed the river, succeeded,
without much difficulty, in breaking it up, by carrying the works on the banks,
and also a strong stockade at some distance in the interior.
Renewal of
uegotiations.
campaign the Burmese had depended much on the aid of tribuAva, and known by the common name of
so
as
the
Shans.
cause
seemed hopeful, had easily been induced
These,
long
The late defeats, however, had completely
to take an active part in the war.
During
tliis
reached Meaday, and were preparing for a further advance, a flag of truce
It stated that full
arrived, with a message from the Burmese commander.
powers had been received from the court to conclude a treaty, and proposed
that deputies should be sent to arrange the conditions.
The
British
commander
Chap. V.]
173
consented as before, but in the meantime continued his march in the direction
On the 28th, the Burmese commander sent another message,
of the capital.
a.d. i826.
proposing that the commissioners should meet to conclude the treaty on the a definitive
As the proposal of this distant day was
26th of January.
accompanied with a IntX but
"* ''^"^^'^'
request for an interim suspension of hostilities, it was evident that
nothing
but delay was contemplated, and therefore the utmost concession that could
be obtained was, that hostilities should be
momentarily suspended, to allow
the commissioners to meet in a boat, which was for that
purpose anchored
in the
and they now stood ready with an army of nearly 20,000 men to contend once
more for victory. On the 19th the British batteries opened their fire, and the
troops having crossed under cover of
it,
in
two
divisions, the
such celerity
the works were found a great
oflf
with
Within
number
and more especially the payment of money, was felt by them to be so humiliating, that when a military chief came forward and pledged himself to expel
the invaders, he was
The utmost force which could now
eagerly listened to.
be assembled did not exceed 16,000 men, but these seemed quite sufficient to
the
when
iio^tiiitJes
resumed.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
174
A.D. 1820.
New
tactics
of Sunset,
[Book VII.
prisoner.
The British army, continuing its advance, arrived on the 8th of February
within j&ve miles of Pagahm, an ancient city, which boasted of having been
the capital of the Burman empire during the period of its greatest prosperity.
its brick wall, though ruinous, the Prince of Sunset might have found
Behind
good cover, had he not disdained all tactics that savoured of timidity. Instead
of entrenching himself within stockades, according to the Burmese mode of
he had drawn up his army in the open field, and along the sides of a
pathway leading through a thicket of prickly jungle. Indeed, what had he to
fear if he was the consummate warrior he believed himself to be, while his force
fighting,
was
at least tenfold
to
him?
Owing
to the
was
to solicit a
and expel
at once return
the invaders, but the court had had enough of him, and not satisfied with
driving liim contumeliously from the presence, put him to death that very
evening.
The employment of the Prince of Sunset had been the last effort of despair,
it soon became evident that the resources of the Burmese
empire were
Negotiations
and
insufficient to
miles into the interior of the country, and compelling the capital to surrender
to
them
at discretion.
Campbell resumed
his march,
but to givc
...
cffect
lacs of rupees
(250,000) as the
prisoners,
first
pecu-
giving
fluous.
rise to
British government,
The
indemnification of the expenses of the war, but "in proof of the sincere disposition of the Burmese
government to maintain the relations of peace and amity
C'liAP.
v.]
175
between the two nations,"" was to be paid by four equal instalments the first
immediately, the second in a hundred days, the third at the end of a year, and
a.d. isse.
two years. On the first payment the British army Peace ccnwas to retire to Kangoon, and on the second to quit the Burmese dominions.
Each state was to receive an accredited minister from tlie other, and a commercial treaty was to be framed on principles of reciprocal
advantage.
The Burmese war was never cordially sanctioned by the home authorities. Review of
theBurThe expense at which it was carried on was enormous, and the acquisitions of mesewar.
the fourth at the expiry of
territory secured
The Burmese were certainly bent on war, and every conthat could have been made to them would have been followed by some
the profit
cession
by
and
loss.
new demand.
them that they were not the invincible warriors whom they had vainly
imagined themselves to be. A Burmese war, therefore, however little to be
vince
desired
on
its
own
account,
was sooner or
it
have a
later
inevitaljle,
and
it
is
lies.
They
carried
it
on
without any regular plan, committed gross blunders, from which careful inquiry,
previously made, would have saved them, and incurred enormous expense and
loss of life
from
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
176
CHAPTER
[Look VI 1.
VI.
Resignation and
Transactions
in
Kolapoor
Bhurtpoor Question of interference
of
Kittoor and
death of Sir
of Sir
of affairs
Thomas
of
;[p^^|T was scarcely to be expected that when the predatory system was
i^ W> suppressed, India would at once subside into a state of complete tranThe multitudes who had pursued rapine as a trade, though
quillity.
A.D. 1824.
Various
independence at which
Bources of
fices of
disturbance
in India.
loss of territory
galling,
it
To
suffered were
still
more
disasters deterred
was thus recognized and submitted to from necessity, not choice; and any
events which seemed to promise an opportunity of subverting it were hailed
with delight. The Burmese war gave full scope for the indulgence of these
of bringing powerful armies into the field, but they were also supposed to be
in possession of magical arts by which they could render themselves invulnerable.
The effect of these notions on the sepoys has already been seen. The
order to prepare for marching to the seat of war became the signal for wholesale
desertion, and in one case was followed by a mutiny, which, if it had not been
speedily suppressed by force, would probably have spread over the whole of the
It is hence easy to understand how a general feeling of
native army of Bengal.
restlessness
and when
to these this
is
which they led were not more numerous and of a more formidable
Some of these which interrupted the internal tranquillity of India
description.
acts to
now be
mentioned.
Chap. VI.]
In the north-west,
among
177
announced his advent as Kali, the last of the Hindoo avatars, for the purpose
of putting an end to the reign of foreigners.
The supposed desirableness of the
ja2ii.i
event surnced to
a.d. 1824.
Outbreaks
Saharan-
.at
poor, cai^^^'
multitude assembled, and were not dispersed till military force was employed.
In the same quarter a predatory leader having assembled a large band of fol-
lowers
districts.
Numbers flocked to him from all quarters, and the
was assuming a regularly organized form, when a body of troops,
collected with some difficulty, marched against his stronghold, and succeeded
in dislodging him after 150 of his followers had been slain.
At some distance
surrounding
insurrection
to the south-west,
Delhi,
At Calpee on
attempt to seize tbe fort, containing an amount of public treasure, plunIn Malwah various sinister rumours were circufire to the town.
and
it
retire altogether
Burmese
was pro-
It
an old Pindaree leader, collected a strong body of horse and foot, and did
The Bheels too began again
serious mischief before he was effectually checked.
Dalla,
to
difficulty restrained
predatory habits.
Still
ances occurred.
who had
previously been
to his death,
authorized his wife and his mother to adopt a son for him.
In
accordance with this pretended injunction a boy very distantly related to his
Vol. III.
219
Mahratta
disturbance
at Kittoor.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
178
A.D. 1824.
Eevoitat
Kittoor.
[Book VII.
The whole }3rofamily was brought forward and recognized as his successor.
The adoption to be valid ought to have taken place
ceeding was informal.
and at all events no subsequent
to have
steps
ought
i
1
o
of
On
these
sanction
the
the
without
been taken
grounds,
paramount power.
and also because he believed that the real object of the proceedings was to
the chief's lifetime,
tlunno=>
favour the ambition of a faction, and carry off the accumulated treasure of the
detriment of his widow, Mr. Thackeray, the British collector,
refused to recognize the new arrangements, and in the meantime, while waiting
instructions from Bombay, took possession of the treasure, and assumed the
management
of the district.
No
opposition
was
offered,
and
in order to prevent
the treasure within the fort from being clandestinely carried off, it was sealed
up and a guard placed over it. The collector, with his two assistants, was
encamped without the fort with an escort consisting of a company of native horseartillery and a company of native infantry, and on the 23d of October, on sending
as usual to relieve the guard over the treasure, was astonished to learn that the
gates
had been
shut,
and that
The
another British
On
collector
officer
apparently trivial in
which
all
itself,
Proceedings
ofKoiapoor.
spirit,
yielded at last after the batteries had opened and effected a practicable breach.
At Kolapoor, the Capital of another Mahratta territory, situated among the
Westcm
still
more
serious character.
The
own mode
complained with some show of justice, that while his own hands were tied up by
a treaty which did not allow him to interfere, the Rajah of Kolapoor was allowed
to deprive others of rights which were as good as his own, and thus virtually
set tlie paramount
power at defiance. This non-interference on the part of the
government produced
its
usual
fruits,
and the
AFFAIRS OF BHUETPOOE.
Chap. VI.]
79
extensive scale.
The
was a zemindar, holding partly of the Rajah of Sattarah and partly of the Bombay presidency.
Even this did not satisfy him, and
L
ii
\
he was soon seen at the head of a body of 6000 horse and foot, and a
brigade
of artillery, plundering and levying contributions.
The Bombay government,
who had hitherto shown the greatest reluctance to interfere, became convinced
at last that it had become
indispensable, and sent a detachment, before which
a.d.
i8-24.
^"I'^i^^i""
oftheRajab
ofKoiapoor.
consequence was that British garrisons were stationed in his forts of Kolapoor
and Panala, and he lost even the semblance of independence.
i-nf^iT
Irom the
who
T-i
to them
encouragement given
by the Ameers
were again feeling their way, and watching an opportunity of
effecting a
from
Burmese war, convinced the Ameers that, at least for the present, their safest
was to keep the peace. In another quarter not yet mentioned the
disturbance was not so easily suppressed, and led to results of greater historical
course
importance than any that have yet been mentioned. The treaty which was
made with the Rajah of Bhurtpoor, after Lord Lake had failed in four successive
attempts to storm his capital, had been faithfully observed on both sides, and
the relations between the two governments had
long been of the most friendly
In 1824 the reigning rajah, Baldeo Sing, feeling his own life to be
precarious, was anxious to secure the succession to his son Bulwant Sing, who
was then a minor. Under ordinary circumstances he could not have doubted
description.
would be
government.
With
this
view he applied
to Sir
to invest
David Ochterlony,
age,
was immediately
state of
matters in
cutchand
^'""''^i'"'"'-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
180
[Book VII.
as rajah, while his maternal uncle Ram Ratan Sing, acting as his
"" recognized
This arrangement had scarcely subsisted
o-uardian, conducted the government.
Usurpation for a mouth, when Durjan Sal justified all the suspicions which the late rajah
A.D. 1825.
"'
Sal in'^
Bhurtpoor.
had entertained of him, by gaining over the soldiers, forcing his way into the
of the person of the
^^^g^^jgj^ slaying Ram Ratan Sing, and gaining possession
these
proceedings to be equivalent
young rajah. Sir David Ochterlony, holding
to an usurpation of supreme authority, immediately issued a proclamation to
the Jats, denouncing Durjan Sal as an usurper, and calling upon them to
support their legitimate sovereign, in whose cause he would soon appear at
who was
during his minority. This office, according to his own account, he had accepted
accordance with the wishes of the whole tribe, whom Ram Ratan Sing's
in
or intrust the
against Bhurtpoor.
letter
Death of
Ochterlony.
and sound
policy, cut
him
to the heart,
and
he died shortly after at Meerut, complaining loudly to the last of the harsh
manner in which he had been virtually dismissed. He had served the Company
faithfully
and
it
is
therefore
to his increasing
The
and government gave all the compensation which was now in their power, by
issuing, on the 28th of July, 1825, a general order, highly eulogistic of his
talents, diplomatic as well as military,
mony"
and
directing,
"as an especial
testi-
of
sorrow for his demise," that minute guns, to the number of sixty-eight, corresponding with his age, should be fired from the ramparts of Fort- William.
It is rather singular that the principle of non-interference, for the main-
abandoned.
The
called
forth
their
when
censure,
Sir
David Ochterlony s
was afterwards
expressly
AFFAIES OF BHUKTPOOE.
Chap. VI.]
181
a.d. 1825.
Further pro-
forcing a
new
government upon a people who were living in tolerable tranquillity under the
one actually existing.
But a very short time had sufficed to give the case an
new
entirely
aspect.
Durjan Sal, on learning that the British military preparations had been countermanded, had thrown off the mask, and intimated that
He had
Madhoo
all
Under these circumstances the whole question was submitted to Sir Charles
Metcalfe, who had been summoned from Hyderabad, where he was resident,
David Ochterlony at Delhi. He was one of a band of able
who
had received their first training under the Marquis of
diplomatists
Wellesley, and had ever since been strenuous supporters of the Indian policy
to succeed Sir
of such a master
"We
have, by degrees,
the powers of
we
exercised
Although
and
we
have
used
asserted them
1817,
maintain tranquillity
among
all
those of Sir
Our influence
of usurpation and injustice.
too pervading to admit of neutrality, and sufierance would operate as
tlie scale
The necessity
iDterference
HISTORY OF INDIA.
182
A.D.
1825.
support."
sufficiently
[Book VIT.
opinion in
Bliurtpoor statc, uor by any claim on her part, but by our duty as supreme
guardiaus of general tranquillity, law, and right, to maintain the right of Rajah
terferenoehi
Bulwant Sing
Sir Charles
Bliurtpoor.
ceremony, which, if we bad not been under a pre-existing obligation to maintain the rightful succession, would not have pledged us to anything be3^ond
With regard
acknowledgment."
Sal and
to the regency
Madhoo
and
if
Negotiation might yet prove effectual, and was undoubtedly the most desirable
mode of settlement; but if recourse to arms should become necessary, there
would "not be wanting sources of consolation," since "a display and rigorous
exercise of our power, if rendered necessary, would be likely to bring back men's
minds in that quarter to a proper tone, and the capture of Bhurtpoor, if effected
in a glorious manner, would do us more honour throughout India, by the
removal of the hitherto unfaded impressions caused by our former failure, than
Tlic
the same
views by the
general."^
above extracts from the opinion given by Sir Charles Metcalfe, are the
iii--ii
their having practically decided the question, and made a
.,.
"
I have hitherto," said Earl Amherst,
govemor-general.
entertained the opinion that our interference with other states should be
couvei't
"
of
tlic
Company,
or of immediate
In that opinion I have reason to believe that I am not supthe servants of the honourable Company most competent to judge
danger thereof
ported
by
tion to others
but
am
my own
gone some change, and that I am disposed to think that a system of non-interference, which appears to have been tried and to have foiled in 180G, would
be tried with less probability of success, and would be exposed to more signal
the events which have occurred, and the policy which has been
much greater degree of
pursued during the last nineteen or twenty 5''ears.
interference than was formerly called for, appears to have resulted from the
failure, after
situation in
pacification of 1818.
It
might be a
Chap. VI.]
183
upon us. Applying these general principles to the particular cases before us,
and believing that without direct interference on our part, there is a probability
of very extended distiu'bances in the
first place,
to maintain,
Sing to the
by
force of
if
provinces, I
of Bhurtpoor."
of the supreme council had previously been in favour of
As
a decided policy, the above conversion of the governor-general removed the
the
'
am prepared, in the
the
of Bulwant
succession
necessary,
Upper
arms
a.d. 1825.
raj
members
its
Resolution
supreme
''"*'^-
evils
to the
raj
course
Avill
by a
foil,
was
first
.
^
attempted, but as there
.
government
move
in-chief,
prepared to
and sixteen of native infantry, with strong detachments of horse and foot,
artillery and pioneers, and a battering train of above a hundred pieces of heavy
ordnance.
The force of the garrison of Bhurtpoor was supposed to be numeri-
British
army
appears before
HISTORY OF INDIA.
184
AD.
1825.
Expedition
Bhurtpoor.
[Book VII.
The British army, marching in two diviand Madura the former under General
under General Thomas Keynell started on the
Madura
division
moved toward
On
the
unexpected
The
increase
possibility of
of
the water,
forward a column, which, by gaining and retaining possession of the embankment and sluices of the Jheel, prevented the enemy from drawing any water
The consequence was, that throughout the siege the ditch continued
almost dry, and thus relieved the besiegers from what might have proved
one of their most serious difficulties.
An accouut of the situation and defences of Bhurtpoor having been given
from
Natuieofits
it.
siege, it is
it
stood in a plain
towering above
the rest of the town, and was inclosed by a ditch 150 feet wide and 50 deep.
As the extent of the fortifications made it impossible completely to invest
the first division took up a position which, resting on the Jheel on
the
The
place,
the north-west, extended along the northern face; the second division, connected
The southern and western
Commence- with the left of the first, fronted the eastern face.
^
Tsof
progres:
the siege.
faces
were thus
left
On
the
name
At first a brisk fire was kept up by the garrison, and bodies of horse
and foot made desultory attempts to interrupt the progress of the siege, but in
them.
an overpowering fire,
proportion as the batteries were advanced and established
the enemy's guns were withdrawn from the outer works, and the besiegers suffered little interruption while they continued for several days a heavy fire ot
shot and shells from forty-eight battering guns and thirty-six mortars. The
CAPTURE OF BHURTPOOE.
ClIAP. VI.J
effect
fire
185
a.d. 1826.
ble breaches
them
report
left
The mode
of attack
had been brought close to the counterscarp of the ditch, the process
of breaching by mines instead of batteries was adopted.
By the 8th of January
four mines were sprung, one of them under the cavalier and curtain of the
the trenches
north-eastern angle; and though the effect produced was still short of what had
been anticipated, the dilapidation produced was sufficient to show that perse-
garrison
assault
It
was
and was
to
commence on
the}'
acci-
fatal
dent, the
the
Durino- the storm strong bodies of horse and foot attempted to escape
Vol.
III.
220
by
Bimrtpcor
taken by
storm.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
186
A.D. 1826.
Rajah of
Bhurtpoor
restored.
[Book VII.
On
the 19th of
The
principal
widow
to administer
it
ministers,
who
Durjan Sal, immediately made his submission, and retired from Deeg to live within
Silver
Howdah
Mysore.
had
rising,
lonG^ rested
Bhurtpoor
dismantled.
re-
its
it
tions of
which
cannot be questioned; but since the British government were professedly acting,
not for themselves, but for an ally, it sounds rather strange to hear that one of
the first things they did after reinstating him in his capital, was to render it incapable of defence.
justifiable:
still
less
There was
British
he
fell
usually called, the Rajah of Ulwar, from his capital, situated sixty miles
W.N.W. of Bhurtpoor, having died, leaving an illegitimate son and a nephew,
he
is
This
fully
Ulti-
vol.
ii.
155.
Chap. VI.]
187
son,
was
to administer the
a.d. isae.
B"*'^'' '"terfereiice
inuiwar.
As soon as the youths grew up their mutual claims were revived, and a civil
war began again to rage. In 1824, the nephew, Benee Sing, gained a decided
ascendency, and became real as well as nominal rajah, the son, Bulwant Sing,
retiring
upon a
jaghire.
made
to assassinate
employed by
members of his
court.
nominal confinement, but soon threw off the mask, took Mulha
than before, and when remonstrated with by the resident at
the parties in
alone
was
mitted by them.
To give
effect to this
capital,
parties,
and more especially with Durjan Sal, at Bhurtpoor. The capture of this celebrated stronghold filled him with dismay, and he no sooner heard that the
victorious
hastened to
tors of the
make
his submission,
was about
by sending
attempted assassination of
at Delhi, releasing
when he was
of Wellesley,
to
Barlow,
it
him
in
foolishly squandering
away
All open
hostilities throughout
^
<^
India having
^
now
resident,
and
insisting
that
there
was
visit of the
governorgeneral to
HISTORY OF INDIA.
188
A.U. 1827.
Alleged
grievances
of the King
of Oude.
[Book VII.
filled his
the large advances formerly mentioned he had, in the end of 1825, lent the
Company in perpetuity the sum of 1,000,000 sterling at five per cent, interest,
when he
From Lucknow
of British
govevnmeiit
witliHolkar
and Sciudia.
in January, 1827.
title
was succeeded by
of Nasir-ud-din Hyder.
still
a minor
was probably thought too young, and the latter was pining away under a
mortal disease which made it impossible for him to be personally present. The
territories of Holkar,
resident,
had
humiliating contrast to what they were thirty yenrs before, during the first
He had sometimes dreamed that during
period of Dowlut Row Scindia's reign.
a period of disaster to the British arms he might yet regain all he had lost, but
latterly
of eleven years of age, distantly related to his family, was, with the sanction
of the British government, raised to the throne, and placed under the guardianship of his favourite wife, Baiza Bai, as regent.
Interview
of Lord
Amherst
with King
of Delhi.
compelled to discuss some questions of precedence with the Mogul, who would
fain, in the midst of his humiliation, have received the governor-general as a
and exacted the homage which he claimed as his superior. The time for
mummery had passed away, and before the visit terminated the King of
Delhi was made perfectly aware that his existence as a territorial sovereign
vassal,
such
had ceased, and that he must henceforth be contented to regard himself as only
a stipendiary of the Company.
From Delhi, Lord Amherst continued his journey northward to Simla, which thus,
While
became a temporary
here,
he interchanged
DEATH OF
Chap. VI.]
SIR
THOMAS MONRO.
189
which
a.d. 1827.
liad
Wr'#".?|^^::
Simla.
June on
of September, 1828, he
terminated, he renewed his request to be relieved at the earliest period possiHis letter was received in September, 1826, but unfortunately no imme-
ble.
diate steps
it
was only
months had elapsed, that new governors were in one day appointed to the presidencies of Madras and Bombay the Right Hon. S. R. Lushington to the
tricts
seized
notice.
different public
>'ew gover-
Madras and
Bombay.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
190
A.D.
18-27.
Close of Lord
Aiiilicrst's
administra-
[Book VII.
Madras and Bombay most important improvements, of which the chief merit
and Mr. Elphinstone, were introduced.
The
belongs to Sir Thomas Monro
both these distinguished
leadino- object of
men was
the feelings and habits of the population, and in particular, to employ native
agency wherever it could be made available, rather as an auxiliary to European
The enormous expenditure of the Burmese
agency than as a substitute for it.
finances.
Above ten
millions sterling
deficit of
above a million.
administration with
23,118,000
its
charge, 18,406,000.
had been occasioned by wars which were happily terminated, there was
ground to hope that by careful economy the temporary embarrassment which
ture
member
of council.
CHAPTER
Lord William Bentinck governor- general
tion of Suttee
Eights
and government
of
Economical and
VIT.
judicial reforms
of
Bombay
Settlement
of
Collision
North-western provinces
Lordwuiiam
that
it
is
expedient,
for
the
restoration
of confidence
in
the
Company's
Chap. VIL]
He
191
removed,
complained loudly of
tlie
and he
is
a.d. 1827.
treatment, and
my
situation,
and condemned
as
an
ac-
ill
ing;
my
disgrace."
He
concluded thus
and
feelings.
For these
"
:
my
cha-
injuries
ask reparation, if, indeed, any reparation can atone for feelings so deeply
aggrieved, and a character so unjustly
I
Thomas Lawrence.
what
is
due no
my
less to
"
the
appeal by long and verbose resolutions, in which, while admitting
charges originally advanced against the conduct of the governor and commanderthis
opinions
them."
control, so it
is
not
now
in their
to
"
But
was somewhat amplified by such expressions as the following
the abruptness of the order of removal the court meant no personal disrespect
the apology
in
power
Lord William Bentinck, and extremely regret that his feelings have been
wounded by considering it in that light. They lament that it should have been
to
his fate to
danger as
it
share in originating the orders which for a time bore that character,
and by the
LoidWiiiiam
a candidate
of governorgeneral.
HISTOUy OF INDIA.
192
A.D
1827.
[Book Yll.
William Bentinck after the mutiny, the court, though not exactly agreeing
with him in the data from which he reasoned, give him unqualified praise and
;
Lordwuiiam
Bentinck.
the
thouffli
*=
ernment of Fort
qualities
St.
he conceived the directors had unjustly subjected him by their abrupt dismissal.
For many years afterwards he was employed in the service of his country, both
as a soldier and a diplomatist, but his thoughts were still turned to India, and
his ambition
pacity which had been pronounced against him, and furnish him with an
opportunity of practicall}^ demonstrating his abilities as an Indian adminis-
that occasion Lord Andierst was preferred, but Lord William Bentinck did not
is
appointed
governor-
general.
allow his claims to be forgotten, and when the office again became vacant, sucThe appointment was in itself a great triumph to Lord
ccedcd iu obtaining it.
William Bentinck, as
it
was impossible
was
fit
to be governor-general, he ought not to have been dismissed as unfit to be govFor a time, however, it seemed doubtful if the appointment
ernor of Madras.
was
to prove anything
He
received
it
in July,
1827, but the ministry which had sanctioned his nomination, sustained by the
death of Mr. Canning in August a shock from which it never recovered, and
though the same political party continued for a short time to retain office under
Lord Goderich, the ministry of the Duke of Wellington displaced it before Lord
William Bentinck had taken his departure. It thus became a question whether
the longing for patronage might not prevail, and induce the new ministers to
annul the appointment by putting in force the crown's undoubted power of
recall.
Arrives at
Calcutta.
/-I
ernment.
As
hostilities
tranquil, the
large
first
Chap. VII.]
193
m tlie
and
ef himself
oidwiiiiam
Beiitiiick's
a.d. isss.
his colleagues
when he
said,
common
resolution
poUcy of
re-
by the same spirit, perhaps in a still more eminent degree, and during his
interviews with the directors had the subject so strongly forced upon his notice,
that he arrived with a determination to institute a rio;id examination into
every branch of the public expenditure, and carry economy to its utmost
limits.
The home authorities had assumed the scale of expenditure in ]823-21<
as a fair standard,
effect
to their
economy was not wisely chosen, as the justice of it was questioned by high
authority, and the clamour and discontent which it occasioned more than counof
'
princes,
who took
this
way
such valuable
auxiliaries.
By
provided with quarters at the public expense, only half batta was payable.
a subsequent arrangement in 1801, the expense of providing quarters in cantonments was thrown upon the officers themselves, and to compensate for this
additional burden they were allowed full batta at all times, whether in the
field or in
quarters.
authorities,
The time
for enforcing
them seemed
221
His order on
the subject
of batta.
HISTOEY or INDIA.
194^
AD.
1828.
[Book VII.
to have arrived, and the orders of the court were so peremptory, that Lord
William Bentinck had no alternative but to obey them or resign. He chose the
former, and had, it is understood, pledged himself, before leaving England, that
the issue of what was afterwards known as the "Half-batta Order," would be
now
one of his
first
measures of retrenchment.
garding
batta.
The two
Question as
diencyof
generaFs
order re-
The
half-batta order
>
<
civil
members
So
far
was
it,
tell
he, however,
we
are supreme
that he recorded his sentiments on the subject "with a view, if possible, to get
the order rescinded." In his minute, after giving it as his confirmed opinion,
officers
on
batta are barely sufficient for their proper support in their several ranks,
and do not admit of any reduction without great suffering," he concluded thus:
"Had I conceived that this government possessed any discretionary authority
full
on the
assent
which
my
it
Clamour
aboiitiou of
If
tliis
short of 20,000,
and
this
sale,
through the commander-in-chief, and transmitted to the directors. The governorgeneral could only answer that he was acting in obedience to instructions, and
that
it
would
afford
him
ground, and
fit
to give
after
it
subjected
him
at the very
commencement
Chap. VII.]
11
i_
195
it
tionofhiatta
a.d. iscs.
he says: "
Trifling,
a paltry and
lal'ing"''''^
however,
as this deduction is
made
Ghazipoor.
much wider
was not
application
Dum-Dum, and
fact
it
carried further
is
best explained
purchased.
In order to caiTy out the retrenchments on which the home authorities were
intent, for the purpose of reducing the expenditure to the standard of 1823-24,
the governor-general shortly after his arrival appointed two committees, a civil
and a military, each composed of three members, one from each presidency, to
sit
at Calcutta,
service,
and
The
degree of unity, efficiency, and economy in the management of affairs.
in a great measure
military committee found the work allotted them already
performed by the sweeping reductions which had been made both in the
number of troops and in the amount of allowances, and by means of which the
aggregate military expenditure
The
million sterling.
of labour,
and
civil
was diminished
to the extent of
more than a
field
reductions to the
amount
prospective, as they
in
England.
It
was
therefore
still
retrenchment
necessary, after every possible
to endeavour to
purpose of diminishing expenditure,
means
the
obtain a positive increase of revenue.
of
Some
employed with this
for the
notice.
Under native
rule,
individuals in
public establishments
often
obtained
other
financial ar-
rangements.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
196
A.D.
1S-2S.
Lan.is ex-
govenfme!^
[Book YII.
from government
exempting their lands or certain portions of them,
In most of these grants the exemption was declared to be perassessment.
it was not so, as the grants of one sovereign were frepetual, but practicallj
grants,
his successor.
qucntly rccallcd or arbitrarily disregarded by
assessment,
^j^g^^
^|-,g
jVfogul
govemmcnt was
in full vigour,
when
as
At a
by which each grant was made.
was
and
dismemthe
prevail
Mogul empire
misrule began to
bered, not only did the chiefs who had previously been contented to hold a
was
delegated authority from Delhi aspire to independence, but advantage
assessfrom
taken of the general confusion to obtain exemptions
government
later period,
still
claimed and enjoyed the protection of government bore no part of its burdens.
The British government, when it first began to levy territorial revenue in India
being very much in the dark, and at the same time disposed to act with a
liberality bordering on prodigality, laid it down as a general rule, to recognize
invaM
which many
the validity of all exemptions of an earlier date than the grant of the dewannee,
provided the grantees were in actual possession. There cannot be a doubt that,
iu
tliis
way,
many
of these
exemptions
were
claimed.
-j^^^
^^^^
^1^.^ ^j^^
worst.
native dexterity was set to work, and the manufacture of forged documents was
Some easy means of testing their genuineness might
carried on by wholesale.
face of
it
if
it
afraid to
as difficult
empowered
If the decision
their
of revenue,
the land was forthwith assessed at the usual rate, reserving to the proprietor
a right of appeal to the ordinary court.
This enactment proved an imperfect
remedy, and even caused some injustice. The accumulation of undecided cases
in the courts of law led to almost interminable delay, v^hile a percentage
allowed to the collectors on every case of resumption converted them into
interested parties, and so far deprived them of the character of impartial
New
judges.
regu a ion.
g^^.j^^^^j
To remedy these defects a new regulation was made shortly before the
^^ Lord William Bentinck, and afterwards cai-ried into full effect with
his concurrence.
It
missioners to decide on
regard to exemptions,
all cases
of appeal from
Chap. VII.]
tion to partiality,
by depriving them
197
Under
a.d.
i828.
"
this last
and
financial grounds,
much
In Bengal
from opium.
mitted to raise
per
lb.
From
it
the great difference between the price thus paid and that aftersales, a large amount of revenue was obtained.
During the anarchy which prevailed in Central India before the predatory
system was put
not subjected to
down by
by sending the
and thence
and
Damaun
it
Malwah
for
home consumption,
Diu
were seriously
recovering them.
The
all
districts
except those
where the Company's monopoly was established, was at once seen to be the
most effectual remedy but the enforcement of such a prohibition was impossible,
or, if not impossible, would have been a flagrant violation of the independent rights
and the plan
of native states.
It was therefore mentioned only to be rejected
;
first
erodes of
HISTORY OF INDIA.
198
A.D. 1828.
Objections
levyiny
fro^T^i
[Book VII.
The absurdity of this arrangement, which might easily have been foremade apparent. Its only effect was to raise the price and thereby
soon
was
seen,
The cure
at oncc increase the demand and enlarge the area of cultivation.
sumption.
^^^^ provcd worse than the evil which it was meant to remedy, and the native
a full supply, were able to carry on the traffic as extenexporters, still obtaining
and as profitably as before. The next device was to give the rulers of
With this view
native states an interest in the repression of the opium traffic.
sively
succeeded in binding most of them by treaty to restrict the culture of the poppy, and prohibit the transit of opium through their territories,
in consideration of an annual sum to be paid to them as an equivalent for the
the
Company
These
treaties,
by
government
who were
disturbed, the
opium
and led to
made
macy
subjects, but
its
riots,
smugglers often
not
by them.
Though
Malwah, tempted by the annual equivathe Company, concluded treaties, Scindia and
chiefs of
lent, or afraid to
give offence to
the Rajahs of Jeypoor and Joudpoor positively refused, and thus large tracts of
country remained, in which the poppy was freely cultivated, and across which
the opium dealers could carry on their traffic without interruption.
The utter
from
the
of
the
was
the
that
restrictions
fact,
export of opium
inefficacy
palpable
chests,
amounted
in
1827-28
to 4000.
Final ar-
rangement.
It
was impossiblc that treaties thus at once tyrannical and inoperative could
Lord Amherst had seen the necessity of rescinding them, and
be maintained.
Mr. Bayley, during his short tenure of the government, had instituted inquiries
with a view to their abandonment.
To this there was no obstacle, as the
treaties contained a clause
abandon the
restrictions at
which made
any future
it
period,
was
and hence
all
The
it
occasioned
may be
Bombay, was,
suggested apparently by
after
some
Sir
of
by the governor-general in
Malwah opium to Kurrachee through a
absolutely a desert, was at once circuitous and
The
transit of
is
Bombay was
Founding on
C'uAP. YIl.]
this difference,
Malwah
free
new
the
from
199
be pleased to impose for their own benefit, and allow the opium to be trans
mitted for sale or export to Bombay, subject only to a payment per chest calculated not to exceed the additional expense which must have been incurred
,
_^
before
it
a.d. i828.
all restrictions
Revenue
from opiuni.
Damaun.
This plan, which, if such a trafiic is to be carried on at all, is the least objectionable that could be devised, is still in force.
The revenue obtained from
opium passes in 1830-31 was onl}^ 16,642. The following year it rose to
it has since continued to increase till it borders on 500,000
125,230, and
This of course, being only the revenue derived from opium passes to
Bomba}^, is but a fraction of that which the whole opium traffic, including that
of Calcutta, yields to the British government in India.
sterling.
The
judicial reforms
administration wei'e
The almost
Jwiidai
re
forms,
by native judges.
The
object
had
now
was, not so
augmenting
their salaries, so as to
add
much
to increase the
and improve
number
of
their position
to their respectability
and
aftbrd
by
some
It was the good fortune of Lord William Benguarantee for their integrity.
tinck to carry out these important improvements; but they did not originate
with him, and the merit of them must at least be shared by him, both with
who had
recognized their
not only sanctioned them,
necessity, and with the home authorities, who had
but sent out instructions in conformity to which the most important regulation
distinguished servants of the
Company
in India,
long:
^
been anxious
and in
.
1824 had declared their conviction "of the practicability of abolishing the practice,
or at least, of the safety with which it might be prohibited."
Opinion, however,
continued to be greatly divided on the subject, and the utmost length to which
the highest Indian authorities were disposed to go
was
to
make some
experi-
ments in the conquered and ceded provinces, where the practice was comparawhere it annually
tively rare, and in the meantime leave it untouched in Bengal,
while
Lord Amherst,
counted its victims by hundreds.
declaring that "nothing
but apprehension of evils iufinitely greater than those arising from the existence
of the practice should induce us to tolerate it for a single day," could only "recommend our
to the progress now making in the difi'usion of knowledge
trusting
Aboutionof
Suttee.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
200
A.D. 1S29.
Abolition of
[Book VII.
among the natives, for the gradual suppression of this detestable superstition."
From adlierino- to these views Lord Amherst lost the honour which now beloncrs
to liis successor, of having put down a crying abomination, regardless of all the
alarm and clamour which were employed to deter him from listening to the
From what has already been said on the subject of Suttee
voice of humanity.
add
that,
by the
regula-
ment by
be deemed guilty of culpable homicide, and shall be liable to punishimprisonment, or by both fine and imprisonment, at the discre-
fine or
nor shall it be
case, and the degree of guilt established against the offender
held to be any plea in justification that he or she was desired by the party
sacrificed to assist in putting her to death."
Though none of the threatened
;
subject.
moral couragc.
member
by the
disaffected, influential,
may
necessary to
possibly be used
it
subjects, to inflame
the
it is
easy to understand
how gloomy
the
privy council.
spectacle
tlie
an abominable
After a
superstition,
full discussion,
natives
wliile the
the
privj''
Some degree
of excitement
was
inevitable, but
it
never
amounted
followed
The
by many
similar triumphs.
some
respects,
Chap. VII.]
it
201
a.d.
i8:;9.
unfavour-
'^'^'"
fruit,
As
maintaining that by the mere fact of their conversion, they forfeited the
rights of succession which would undoubtedly have belonged to them if they
for
tion,
Hindooism at the time when the succession opened. The effect was to free
Hindoo converts to Christianity from all the trammels of their former superstiand secure them in the
tion,
full possession of
Christian freedom.
In the account
^ew
re-uia-
tion seciir-
ing their
"
""
formerly given of the measures for the suppression of Thuggee and Dacoitee, it
was mentioned that in the course of six years about 2000 Thugs were arrested.
These were years in which the government was administered by Lord William
Bentinck, and to him, therefore, much of the credit due for the extirpation of
these
also
might be educated through the medium of English alone, he unfortunately reserved his patronage mainly for it, and thus did unintentional injustice
not merely to the native literary classes, but to the great bulk of the population.
natives
As one of the great events, not so much of his administration as of the period
of steam to
to which it
belongs, may be mentioned the successful application
regular route
reach
Diamond harbour,
in the
A route
Hooghly,
till
by the Euphrates
was then
was soon ascertained that the ancient line across the Isthmus
of Suez from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea was entitled to the preference.
The first steam voyage by this route was made by the Hugh Lindsay, winch
on the 22d of
left
Bombay on the 20th of March, 1830, and arrived at Suez
attempted, but
Vol.
III.
it
222
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
202
A.T). 1S29.
[Book VII.
Since then the distance has been performed in less than half that time.
Tlic improvcments introduced into the difi'erent bi-anches of the public ser-
days.
The Bombay
vice in
some
is
surprise that, under the enhghtened government of Sir John Malcolm, a determined attempt had been made, not to advance, but to retrograde. The blame,
however, lay neither with him nor his council, but with the judges of the
Bombay
sinsrle
courts at Calcutta
in order to
imrwtant
lluisdktioii.
make way
for a
supreme
court,
it
puisuc justiccs.
the same as that of the other two supreme courts, and was expressly restricted
to British subjects resident at Bombay or in its provinces, or to natives who
either were, at the time
when
Sir Elijah
Impey and
voured to extend their jurisdiction over all zemindars, by holding that their
collection of public revenue made them servants of the Company, questions of
jurisdiction
at Bombay.
Sir Edward West, fora determinamade
been
manifested
chief-justice, early
merly
having
tion to make the most of his new dignity, and with the concurrence of his col-
serious
recorder,
leagues,
prescribed
by the
charter, they
managed
to discover
what one
of
them
called
This was a
an "other principle of a wider and more extensive influence.'
clause in the charter which declared that the judges were "to have such jurisdiction
justices of our
government OF BOMBAY.
Chaf. VIL]
203
lawfully exercise, within that part of Great Britain called England, as far as
"
and which they interpreted to mean that they were
circumstances will admit
a.d. 1829.
bound to watch over and protect the personal liberty of all the king's subjects,
without distinction of native or British, and without reference to territorial
The Bombay
limitation.
occurred,
Cases
and the
urcsitlGiic V
result
the o-overnment.
Ti'r>T->i
distinction,
had been
left
X-.
his coUiskn
by
11
own
between the
government
s"pi.e,u
'^^"
supreme court at Bombay, setting forth that he was kept in confinement to the
The judges on tlie
danger of his life, and praying for a writ of habeas corpus.
bench
at
time
this
were Sir Edward West, formerly recorder, but now
Bombay
Charles Harcourt Chambers, and Sir John Peter Grant.
They
found themselves competent to grant the prayer of the petition, and
issued their writ accordingly for bringing up Moro Ragonath from Poonah to
chief-justice. Sir
at once
Bombay.
ment.
him,
and
delay in the
steps
in the business, he
denounced this request as a gross interference with the course of justice, and
even made it the main ground of a petition to the king, praying him "to give
wisdom shall
seem meet, for the due vindication and protection of the dignity and lawful
authority of your majesty's supreme court of judicature at Bombay."
The government had previously resisted the execution of the writ of habeas
such
corpus at Poonah, on the ground that neither the grand-uncle nor the nephew
was amenable to the supreme court at Bombay, and they had subsequently, on
the 8d of October, 1828, addressed a letter to the
judges,
in which, after
justifying this
ment and of
state policy;
w^e
Question of
lA'.S.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
20 i
A.D. 1829.
Question as
to writ of
habeas cor-
[Book VIL
make, as any other conduct must, for reasons already stated, prove
to the public interests, and can, under the resolution taken and
ImHor^^^ deeply injurious
Bombay,
avowcd by government, produce no result favourable either to the immediate
government
dutj^ to
you have
claimed.
A very
This
Sir
left
letter, so far
from effecting
its object,
John Peter Grant, who having now, by the demise of his colleagues, been
to the guidance of no better judgment than his own, took the very extra-
ordinary step of closing the court, on the ground that it was useless to keep it
open while he was prevented from enforcing his decisions. The governor in
council immediately issued a proclamation declaring his determination to protect the persons
not
fail
of his
to produce.
own
court, after
Appeaito
the privy
council.
rashness,
he had kept
it
1829.
Some attempt was made to obtain the interference of the supreme government, but as the point in dispute had been brought under the notice of the
privy council by Sir John Peter Grant's petition, it was deemed advisable in
its course.
On the 14th of May, 1829, the
were
before
the
and
on
the 10th of June, the lords
council,
points
argued
privy
their
to
his
in
the
reported
majesty
opinion
following terms: "That the writs
habeas corpus, except when directed either to a person resident within those
local limits wherein such a court has a general jurisdiction, or to a person out
of such local limits, who is personally subject to the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the supreme court.
That the supreme court has no power or authority
to is.sue a writ of habeas corpus to the jailer or officer of a native court as such
officer, the supreme court having no power to discharge persons imprisoned
under the authority of a native court. That the supreme court is bound
to notice the jurisdiction of the native court, without having the same specially
and
finally
habeas corjnis."
It
LOCAL DISTURBANCES.
Chap. VII.]
205
and with equal rashness and ignorance endeavoured to substitute mere tyranny for law.
Though the general peace of India remained unbroken during Lord William
the limits of their jurisdiction,
a.d.issi.
Disturb-
varioiT
'^'''''^^"
vicinity.
name
of
Islamism from all the corruptions which had been engrafted upon
Shiites
the
it by
or, followers of Ali.
Though himself illiterate, he managed to
and
soon
mustered
so strong in the Punjab as to become
learned
adherents,
gain
formidable to the Sikhs. Having added to his reputed sanctity by a pilgrimage
tion to purify
to Mecca,
in
want of
discipline,
Sikhs ultimately prevailed, and the contest in the Punjab was terminated by
His sect however had taken
the defeat and death of Syed Ahmed in 1831.
deep root, and having lost none of its fanaticism, had rendered itself extremely
obnoxious both to Mahometans and Hindoos by violent opposition to various
which
east of Calcutta.
it
considerable
body of the
sect
As both
fallen into deadly feud with the rest of the inhabitants.
In some
occurred.
an
soon
an
occasion
were
for
parties
ready
open rupture,
of
the
followers
Syed Ahmed,
petty quarrel the zemindars had taken part against
selves,
and
and were in consequence charged before the magivstrate with partiality. Either
thinking that justice was denied them, or being too impatient to wait for it,
they took the remedy into their own hand, and in 1831, placing themselves
under the leadership of a fakir of the name of Titoo Miya, they issued forth,
and commenced a religious war against Hindooism. Having polluted a temple
by besprinkling it with the blood of a cow which they had killed, and then
still
destroyed the temple, they forthwith proceeded to what were considered
gi-eater enormities,
set
no
forcing
them
down
swallow beef
to
pillaging
and
who
without mercy
persons
villages, and putting to death
The civil power having in
were in any way obnoxious to them.
vain endeavoured to restore tranquillity, two native regiments and a party of
horse marched against them, and came up with them in an open plain near
burning
all
resisted, or
Hooghly.
violent proceedings of
a fanatical
^prt^
71
PIT*
Calcutta.
AD.
1829.
driven from the Held, they retired, and defended themselves with desperate
of Syed
Ahmed's
followers
suppressed.
till
courage,
Excesses
[Bouk Vli.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
20G
dispersed,
killed,
prisoners.
The
rest
new conflict. They still however count numerous foleducated Mahometans of India, and having lost none
more
lowers among the
intimidated to hazard a
frontier in Assam,
A body of mountaineers
from the Burmese, serious disturbances occurred.
of the name of Singphos, having crossed the mountains on the north-east,
1830 to the number of nearly 8000, and
before they could be checked committed great depredations. Their main objects
seemed to be to carry off the Assamese as slaves and enrich themselves with
When once encountered they
plunder.
entered
Disturbances in
Assam.
Assam
in the beginning of
were incapable of offering much resistance, as they were mere hordes of savages,
rudely armed, and totally undisciplined.
Their presence, however, gave encourage-
ment
and an
station at Rungpoor.
Still
further to the
Kasya
Distuvb-
auces in the
KiisyaHills.
Hills,
an
south,
tribute.
among
insurrection
the
accom-
situated
panied with circumstances of great atrocity broke out. Nungklow,
about half-way between Sylhet and Assam, had been obtained by the
Company by amicable arrangement from Tirat Sing, who was supposed to
be the chief of the Kasyas, for the purpose of converting it into a sanatory
station, for which it seemed well adapted by its climate and its elevation
They feared for their independence, and they complained that Tirat
of part of the
Sing, who was only one of a number of chiefs, had disposed
common territory without consulting the others. It was therefore determined
taineers.
to recover
by
body
of Kasyas, headed
LOCAL DISTURBANCES.
Chap. VII.]
:2()7
set
The
dered.
house
which they occupied, shared his fate, with the exception of one sepoy who
A desultory warfare ensued, and lasted with little interruption to the
escaped.
end of 1882, when the chiefs made their submission, and Tirat Sing was sent
a.d. 1829.
oisturb-
Kasya hhis
Tenalserim
p^^'i<=^-
nors,
protection,
town.
still
more
and make
however, was
doubtful, as
it
Tran-
of
Martaban was
to
renew
it.
still
their submission.
at the
in the
of the viceroy of
Rangoon.
These insurrections were doubtless encouraged by the extent to which government, in its anxiety to meet the wishes of the directors on the subject of
retrenchment, had carried the reduction of
its
military establishments.
The
and produced
than those which had been recently conquered. Towards the
end of 1829 the agricultural Koles inhabiting the district of Sumbulpoor,
of
through which the Mahanuddy flows, being dissatisfied with the conduct
their ranee or queen, who had rendered herself obnoxious by dismissing all the
same
in other districts
husband from
their offices
No
deposition
among
number
of the NerCompany, occupying the wild tract situated between the sources
and
budda on the west, and the Bengal districts of Burdwan
Midnapoor on the
insurrection
oftlieKoles.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
208
A.D. 1829.
Chota Nag^^'
east,
Its
Disturb-
[Book VII.
who
and subsisted
in great
but in the
lowcr plaius, and the districts directly under British authority, agriculture was
generally practised both by the native inhabitants and a large number of new
settlers,
of
whom had
by
it,
and
thus,
The interference of
nearly a thousand of them were barbarously murdered.
the British was tardier than it ought to have been, and the insurgents had
mustered in thousands before any decided attempt was made to check them.
This was the more to be lamented, as the feeble resistance which they afterwards made proved how easily they might have been put down at first by
Owing
districts,
to the
want
of these, similar
serious bloodshed.
Disturb3.11 CSS in.
Mysore.
The presidency of Madras had also its full share of disturbance. The estabHshmeut of the ancient kingdom of Mysore by the Marquis of Wellesley had
been regarded as a measure of very questionable policy, but the evils apprehended were not realized
Purnea, under
whom
his retirement in
was conducted by
place.
The
rajah,
On
determined
to
own master, conferred the office of dewan on Linga Raj, one of his own
creatures, who possessed neither talents nor influence alienated large portions
of his revenue to Brahmins, who took advantage of his superstitious veneration
be his
and the people, who had formerly been contented and happy, began to
under
the burden of immoderate exactions.
To prevent the foreseen
groan
a
the
Madras
of
such
system,
consequences
government repeatedly remonstrated
with the rajah, and in 1825 Sir Thomas Monro made a visit to Mysore, for the
followed,
and misgovernment in many of its worst forms began to produce its usual
results.
The collectors persisting in their exactions were resisted, and not
unfrequently murdered by the ryots, and an insurrectionary spirit was excited,
which, while the rajah looked on helplessly, threatened to carry disturbance
REVOLUTION IN COOEG.
Chap. Yll.J
into the territories of the
Company.
The insurrection
209
first
assumed a
distinct ad.
and organized form in the district of Bednore, where Ram Row, one of the
In 1830 a general
rajah's favourites, had been guilty of intolerable oppression.
rising took place, and after various attempts at accommodation, an appeal to
arms became necessary.
considerable
of
troops M^ere
marched
body
Mysore
and followed by three regiments of Madras infantry,
with two companies of his Majesty's 62d, and a squadron of native cavalry.
On a proclamation promising a redress of grievances, the ryots seemed disposed
isso.
The Rajah
comertod
jfeillioi^r!*
to
new element
of rebellion
Thus encouraged, the insurbeen for a short time in actual possession of it.
rection had become so formidable that Colonel Evans, who commanded the
it and was
advancing to Bednore, sustained a check
which obliged him to fall back on Sheemoga. A second advance was more
successful, and by the remission of large arrears of revenue and other necessarj^
concessions, tranquillity
however, rendered
it
was
at length restored.
gencies to
assistants.
Another revolution of a
still
wstm-bances in
same time in Coorg. The actual rajah, Vira Rajendra, was a very degenerate
descendant of the former rajah, whose heroic defence of his independence when
it
was
assailed
palace
were ordered
them those of
husband.
his
off to execution.
own
and
his sister
and was augmenting the number of his troops, apparently with the intention
of
On the escape of his sister
resisting any interference with his proceedings.
Vol. III.
any
off all
proposals for
223
coorg.
HISTOEY or
210
A.D. 1834.
The Rajah
posedInd^
""^
ameMd
INJ>IA.
[Book VIT.
produced by his misconduct, unless the fugitives were sent back in order that
he might wreak his vengeance on them. As this barbarous demand coukl not
bc couiplicd with, it at once brought matters to a crisis, and a proclamation was
issued in April, 1834<, declaring that "the conduct of the rajah had rendered him
unworthy of the friendship and protection of the British government that he
;
had been guilty of oppression and cruelty towards his subjects and had assumed
an attitude of defiance and hostility towards the British government received
and encouraged its proclaimed enemies addressed letters to the government of
;
St.
short detention in his palace, received far better terms than he deserved, by his
removal to Benares in the possession of an ample pension. In establishing the
future government, the heads of villages were assembled at Mercara and desired
to give free utterance to their wishes. There could not have been any sincerity
in this proceeding, since the annexation of
territories
had
determination was easily obtained, and Coorg has ever since formed an integral
portion of the presidency of Madras.
Relations
^tes.
The home
authorities,
had seen the necessity of interference, and experienced its efficacy in maintaining tranquillity, were constantly haunted by imaginary fears of the entanglements in which it might involve them, and issued a series of instructions
directing that the residents and political agents in the different states should
leave the native sovereigns uncontrolled in their internal management, and not
interfere unless
when
it
which
Chap. VII.J
211
they had engaged to pay, or to prevent them from disturbing the general tranwar upon each other. Lord William Bentinck's own
quillity by making open
views appear to have accorded with the instructions thus transmitted for his
guidance, and he early intimated a determination to make non-interference the
a.d. i834.
Lord
Bentinck's
disclaimed
all
and
right
No
individual states.
expected of them.
while v/e take a brief survey of the condition of the leading native states during
Lord William Bentinck's administration. In this survey the states may, for
convenience
of
arrangement,
we
kind of regal
that had been
state,
and
naturally turn
Mogul
still
first
Mahometan,
to Delhi,
endeavoured to
where
mamtam
made upon
it.
At
but as a
right.
The revenue of
certain lands
and
reserved to him,
made
as in consequence of
to his income.
Deeming
this
new
by the governor- general in council, took the bold step of appealing from him to
the home authorities.
The agent he sent to England to advocate his cause was
the celebrated
Rammohun
caste,
who
after
knowledge
and not advancing further than that bastard form of Chriswas never able to be a successful
tianity known by the name of Unitarianism,
Christian teacher.
Such was the agent employed by the King of Delhi. It i
countrymen
in his
inquiries,
Dissatisfec
tion of the
King
of
HISTORY OF INDIA.
212
A.D. 1S33.
Ranimohun
Roy's mission to
Englaml.
Rammohun
to
[Book YII.
He
office.
have
to
perceived that, independent of every other obstacle, the very manner in which
the mission had been conferred upon him mu.st render it abortive.
It was a
secret appointment, of
ment
in India
ignorance; and hence on his arrival in England in 1831, he no sooner presented his
credentials,
ficient to justify
the
King
reception
insuf-
of Delhi's agent.
as
Personally his
flattering descrip-
and
full
him
carried
ofl"
at Bristol in September,
death
the succession to his eldest son Shams-ud-din Khan, but set apart
the district of Loharoo for two younger sons, and gave them the independent
his
left
administration of
tary territory,
and
it.
as the district
new
Murder of
the British
commis
siouer at
Delhi.
was made
common malefactor.
in the punishment,
as a
Chap.
VIL]
In
of
213
as ever.
In the
time of the last nabob, Ghazee-ud-din Hyder, the favourite minister was Aga
Mir, but in proportion to the influence which he possessed over the nabob, was
11him by the
heir apparent.
-,1
which could
A deadly feud
had thus
arisen,
a.d. isso.
Rei^itions
with
Oucle.
and
Aga Mir
in
own
property.
By the opportune
easily
person
than might have been
supposed.
offer of
was regularly
to
as
or
treated
in his office,
guarantee,
it,
he would
On learning
not be allowed to take a single step to the prejudice of Aga Mir.
that the policy of non-interference had once more been inaugurated, and that
he might calculate on being permitted to follow his own inclinations, he at once
threw off the mask, and not contented with dismissing Aga Mir and demanding
his accounts,
threatened to
make
fell
be refused, and
enjoyed the
full
it
to the
back on
com-
his guarantee,
immunity
for
whatever he had done with his sanction, and was accountable only for his proThis decision fell far short
ceedings since the commencement of the new reign.
wishes of Nazir-ud-din, whose vindictive purposes it in a great measurs
frustrated but after long discussion and loud complaints of the impolicy and
of the
to see
Aga Mir placed beyond his reach, by being conducted in October, 1830, under
charge of a British military escort, to Cawnpoor.
On the dismissal of Aga Mir, the king declared his determination to be his
own
For
this
succession
of ^(iSlT-
ud
dm u.
oudef"
HISTORY or INDIA
ill-k
A.D. 1S31.
Hakim
Mehdi sue
ceedsAga
ister in
^^^'^'
[Book YII.
indeed was their incompetency, that the resident was instructed not to recognize them, and to decline all intercourse of a friendly nature till a respectable
minister was appointed.
-i
uon- interference, was undoubtedly justified by the circumstances, and the king,
awai'c of the danger of continuing a struggle in which he was sure to be worsted,
recalled
Hakim Mehdi
originally
He was
on this ground to his nomination, but the gavernor-general, in the hope that
he might be able notwithstanding this objection to employ his acknowledged
His
talents in introducing important reforms, consented to acknowledge him.
extortioners,
was often
stances
successfully thwarted in
amelioration
talked of
last
imbued with
the
to be averted, that in
when making
towlrds"'^*
Oude.
him
to exchange his
The meuacc thus held out was too serious both in the substance and the
manner of it not to produce considerable alarm, and not only the minister, who
deserved some credit for the good he had already effected, promised to exert
himself more energetically, but the king, who had too often dechned to give
him the necessary support, declared that in future nothing that could contribute
to the cause of
his part.
There
is
no
reason to suspect either the king or his minister of insincerity when they made
these declarations.
The extinction of Oude as an independent kingdom was
threatened,
into
Chap.
AFFAIES OF OUDE.
YII]
215
how
might
necessary.
Strange
the governor- general, after
so
far
with the internal manageinterfering
ment of Oude as to threaten its existence as an
independent kingdom unless
certain changes were introduced, refused when
applied to to give the least
to say,
assistance
in
was
distinctly recognized
just
to hold
him back,
is
him of anything
which he
....
...
acceler;;ted pace.
leaving
whom mis-
life,
It deserves to be noticed as a
remarkable proof of the progress which European ideas had made even in Oude,
that Hakim Mehdi on his retirement published a defence of his conduct in a
local
newspaper, called the Mofusil Akhbar. "In appealing to the opinion of the
he says, "I profess that I am solely actuated by a desire to do myself
public,"
justice,
and
to the character of
selves."
he says: "I challenge any one to prove the existI can, indeed,
ence of a defalcation of a single rupee during, the whole period.
lay my hand upon my heart and solemnly declare before Heaven, that the whole
conduct was actuated wath the most disinterested views of serving liis
His chief difficulties appear to have proceeded from
majesty and the state."
of
my
^^'^'"^
Mehdi'sre-
tirement.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
216
A.D. 1831.
Raiatiou
Niaiui.
is
sufficiently explained
of the inmates
[Book VIL
when he mentions
that five
to
income of 192,000.
In the Nizam's dominions a considerable change was produced by the death
of Secunder Jah, and the succession of his eldest son under the title of Nazim-
ud-Dowlah.
his
manage
own
managed
tenure of
office
certain,
but he
persons an interest in his continued possession of it, that he kept his place,
and prodigal expenditure and tyrannical extortion continued to go hand in
hand
While declining to
as before.
these evils, the governor-general was not indisposed to follow the course which
he had adopted in Oude, and menaced the government with extinction. Matters
T..".n..actioiis
When
of William
Palmer
the directors, not satisfied with ordering that the countenance which had been
given to them should be immediately withdrawn, imprudently went further,
and publicly declared that the loans made by the house both
to individuals
The
the
being usurious,
payment
of
to the state
and
legally
enforced.
"shall,
shall
August, 1774, take directly or indirectly, for loan of any monies, wares, merchandise, or other commodities whatsoever, above the value of twelve pounds
for tliQ forbearance of
and
contracts,
ment
or for
of
any
principal or
money
and that
all
bonds,
shall
the rate of twelve pounds in the hundred, as aforesaid, shall be utterly void."
The directors were in error in supposing that the loans of William Palmer
when
consulted on the subject gave it as their opinion that the above limitation
of interest did not appl}' to loans made to the subjects of native independent
princes by British subjects domiciliated and residing within their dominions
Chap. VIL]
217
could not be doubted that the directors, by declaring the loans illegal, had
unintentionally but seriously compromised the interests of the creditors of
It
a.d. isso.
Transactions
paimer'
^'
with them, and the proclamation describing the claims as void, had not
arrived, my debt to them would have been completely and fully paid but how
tions
I,
So imper-
however was the administration of justice, that payment was easily evaded,
and could not at all be enforced where the debtors were in any way connected
Legal pro"
tiie creTu-
*'^"
feet
Nizam
with the
or his minister.
and stigmatized as usurious, thought themamount of interference, and were seconded in this
view by the Board of Control; while the directors considered that neither
justice nor sound policy would permit them to go further than to allow the
claims to be prosecuted as ordinary debts, without any interference on their
After considerable discussion the board and
part in order to secure payment.
the court
came
to
subject.
In July, 1830, the court prepared the draft of a letter to Bengal, disapprovto
ing of the degree of countenance which the supreme government had given
.
Sir
winding up
its
aflTairs.
draft
altered
it so
allowing
made upon it
new draft, drawn up by
they had
to drop, directed a
the court on
new
draft to be prepared.
The
224
some
opposing
views of
directors
Board of
^""*'^
tl
HISTORY OF INDIA.
218
A.D. 1830.
[Book
A"II.
extent with the views which had been expressed by the board, for it authorized
the resident to intimate to the court of Hyderabad the wish of his government
that the claims of William Palmer and Co. against Moonir-ul-Moolk should be
settled by arbitration, the Nizam previously engaging to enforce the award.
This did not seem to the board to go far enough, and therefore, suppressing the
draft entirely, they substituted for it a despatch which, after declaring that the
other a commission.
mem-
When
upon him. The despatch subsequently underwent some verbal alterations, and it was added by way of
explanation that nothing beyond earnest recommendation was contemplated,
of a final settlement
home
Proceedins:-
of Control
t"
lllhw
v-J"^^rT
co. against
tlie
was
to he urgently pressed
government
Nizam.
exception to the rule, and that the amount of interference proposed in the
despatch of the Board of Control did not go beyond the justice of the case.
It
but determined
to avail
the directors submitted for approval, provided it related "to the ci\al or military
government or revenues of the said territorial acquisitions in India," and might,
"
moreover, when the levying of war, or making peace, or treating or negotiating with any of the native states or princes in India" was "the subject
matter of any of their deliberations," originate a despatch without consulting
and
therefore,
now
further steps in
<
Chap. VII.]
219
it
military
ment or revenues/'
it
this point,
after
quently prevent them from adjudicating upon it, by simply withdrawing it and
pleading that it did not relate to civil or military government or revenues.
The solution of this question obviously
depended on the interpretation of the
and
it
to
After a
full
Board of Control, but the point raised must have been of some nicety, as
was deemed necessary in a subsequent statute to correct the
vagueness of
of the
it
c.
52,
by extending the
progress,
for the
This, however,
The rajah had attained his nineteenth year, and naturally longing to be his own
master, no sooner gave utterance to the wish, than Lord William Bentinck, in
accordance with his declared policy, at once complied with it.
The native
administration
less
pleasing aspect.
When
Syajee Row succeeded to the imbecile prince in whose name he had previously
He had always co-operated cordially
governed, great hopes were entertained.
with the resident, and now that all the restraints which his
position as regent
nnposed upon him were removed, it was naturally expected that his increase of
power would be followed by an increase of the general prosperity. It proved
otherwise.
Paying
little
regard to his
own
obligations, he soon
began
to disre-
Relations
Maiuatti
^^*^^'
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
220
A.D. 1830.
rJelatioTis
with the
ihiicowar.
[Book VII.
gard those of which, with his own consent, the British government had become
A collision thus became inevitable, the Guicowar using every
guarantees.
means
insisting
on his fulfilment
One thing which made the Guicowar's conduct more provoking, was,
of them.
On the contrary,
that in refusing to pay his debts he could not plead poverty.
he refused to pay, merely that he might be able to gratify a propensity
hoarding, and had
managed
for
been bestowed too lavishly, it was deemed advisable, after Lord William
Bentinck became governor-general, to try the effect of tranquillizing measures;
and one great source of misunderstanding was removed by means of an arrangement which diminished the number of the guarantees, or restricted them to
personal immunity, and restored to the Guicowar several districts, the revenues
of which had been sequestrated in security.
For a time the desired eflfect
appeared to be produced, but the Guicowar ere long returned to his former
practices, and at last the forbearance which had been exercised towards him
with Holkar.
to
Row
As he
left
no
children, his
him on the musnud under the title of Martand Row, Kesaree Bai acting
and Madho Row Furnavese, the minister of the late rajah, conThe validity of this succestinuing to conduct the administration as before.
sion was soon disputed by Haree Holkar, a nephew of Jeswunt Row Holkar,
placed
as his guardian,
who, having escaped from Mahaswara, where he had been confined as a prisoner,
appeared at the head of a powerful body of supporters and claimed to succeed
heir.
Hitherto the British government, though the resident had
attended Martand Row's installation, had otherwise kept aloof, and on being
applied to for aid by Kesaree Bai refused to interfere. A civil war thus became
as legal
Disimted
succession.
imminent, but Haree Holkars partizans increased so rapidly that the Bai,
believing the contest to be hopeless, abandoned it and invited him to Indore.
There being no longer any competition, the governor-general was now able,
without violating his system of neutrality, to take part in the proceedings, and
THE MAHRATTA
Chap. VII.]
name
make
STATES.
221
and
distress, as to
a.d ms.
to under-
what appeared to have been his intentions, by allowing his favourite wife,
Baiza Bai, to adopt as his successor a boy of eleven years of
age of the name of
In
Janakajee, and continue in the meantime to govern as
Relations
""'
"^
regent.
carrying
out this arrangement Janakajee was affianced to her
Baiza
grand-daughter.
Bai had consented to these arrangements with great reluctance.
Her ambition
for
life,
hands.
was pregnant, and might produce an heir to the late Scindia in the direct line.
These views received no countenance from the British government.
The
of
had
been
sanctioned
all
the
in
the
adoption
Janakajee
by
leading persons
'
^'""'t
ill tn^Tiss-
and camp at Gwalior, and any attempt to rescind it would be strenuouslyBaiza Bai, however, was not to be dissuaded, and commenced the
opposed.
court
crisis.
who
On
Janakajee, having beset the palace, carried him off to the camp, and compelled
Baiza Bai to save herself by flight. After taking refuge with her brother Hindoo
Row, she was proceeding to the house of the resident, who had declined an
retired
with a
He had owed
The govern-
ooo
AD.
1830.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
[Book VII.
it
lost
no opporand pro-
ducing disturbances, not only destructive of the prosperity of Scindia's territoThe necessary result might have been
ries, but dangerous to other states.
foreseen,
Relations
with the
Rajpoot
states.
we
Bentinck's administration,
see little
more than a
series of inconsistencies
ernment
The
existed.
offices
who
Kotah.
if
During the wise and vigorous administration of Zalim Sing as raj-rana, Kotah
flourished, and even after his death, and the succession of his son Madhoo Sing
to his hereditary office^
owing
to the
his
This favourable position of affairs could not long consuccessions placed the powers of government in new hands, and
collisions between the rajah and the raj-rana became the rule rather than the
tinue.
New
exception.
feverish excitement
was thus constantly kept up, and the proThe British government after
government however was so
it
This arrangement,
uncontrolled possession of the remaining two-thirds.
till
was
not
carried
into
effect
some
seen
to
be
advisable,
years later.
though
The Rajpoot state of Boondee was about the same time seriously disturbed.
in
Boondee.
The Rajah
Ram
Sing was a minor, and the ranee, his mother, desirous to retain
the rule which she exercised as guardian, kept him in ignorance, and even
encouraged him in vice in the hope that while thus unfit, he might cease to
Young
as
and perhaps succeeded all the more easily that she was ten
The princess however, knowing her rights, resented the treatyears his senior.
ment to which she was subjected, and complained to her father. His first step
in consequence was to represent the case to the British agent, and request him
him from
his wife,
to interfere in his
daughters behalf
The acrent
acting
o
o
according^
o to his instruc-
Chap. VII.j
223
remedy,
sent
ci
princess,
durbar.
a.d.
The
ostensible object
was
Disturi,-
Boonde^
to ask
when
it
would be convenient
to
an
assassin,
plunged
assassin
Kotah, and succeeded in obtaining permission for the departure of all, except
who being considered leaders, were detained and put to death. Man
three,
Sing, the Rajah of Joudpoor, appears to have been privy to the assassination, but
it suited him to
deny this in the most solemn manner, and to declare that he
would be utterly disgraced if he did not signally revenge what he called the
murder of his innocent servants at Boondee. In former times the feud which
had been thus raised could not have been suppressed without an exterminating
war, which would in all probabilit}^ have spread over the whole of Raj poo tana.
The governor-general fortunately met the danger with more than his usual
])romptitude, and after a long and acrimonious discussion a mutual oblivion of
injuries
to the
mo.
first
murder
embarrassment has already been recorded, died in 1828, after a reign of more
British
HISTORY OF INDIA.
224
A.D. 1831.
Relations
with Odeypoor.
During
[Book VII,
had been
greatly disturbed by wild tribes, particularly the Minas inhabiting the district
of Chappan in the south-west, and the Grasias and Bheels of the south and
entirely
Jivan Sing,
deemed capable
of
he was
told,
At the same time the residency was abolished, and the communibetween the two governments was transferred to the political agent
disbanded.
cation
It is right to
stationed at Ajmere, as a subordinate of the resident at Delhi.
thus
add that the rajah, though
suddenly involved
in difiiculties,
mount them.
managed
Partly,
it
may
be,
from a feeling
of
despondency he gave way at first to habits of dissipation, but he had the good sense and firmness
afterwards to change his course, and discharge
his
superstitious
veneration
Yogis-Fakir.
From
Mrs. Belnos'
fifth
state.
Under
tection,
it
when remonstrated
with,
made a
and
necessary to guard against giving offence,
When
sullen or insulting answers.
returned
visit to
Ajmere
Chap. VII.]
frivolous
It
was
225
a.d.
i834.
also
occasion,
poor
had no
effect
upon him,
it
to
Accordingly,
end of the rains in 1834, a large force assembled at Ajmere under Brigadier-general Stevenat the
him,
by sending a deputation
to
power
make every
to
Ajmere with
"What
concession.
army
full
occasion
march
single chuprasi
Chupeasi.
suffice."
a regular treaty
offences,
to
pay indemnity
for past
gave
rise to
managed to maintain
before.
his authority,
momentary
assemble at Ajmere.
and the
maturity.
strife
was destined
Jota
became
when
still
Ram
meanwhile
more
bitter than
the British
army began
to
it
might easily embrace Jeypoor in its operations, the contending factions there
d3emed it prudent to suspend their intestine struggles. The submission of the
Joudpoor rajah having rendered the expedition against him unnecessary, it was
determined to employ part of the troops in an expedition against the robber
Vol.
III.
225
Relations
"^
polr.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
226
A.D. 1835.
chiefs of
cii'-
cumstances.
[Book VII
chiefs
had carried on
their depredations
wholcsalc, without sparing the British territories, and it was strongly suspected
His conduct
that Jota Ram had not disdained to share in their plunder.
certainly confirmed
this
suspicion.
On
first
repaired to Ajmere,
taken place,
this
In this they
prolong their power by acting as the guardians of his infant son.
were disappointed. Major Alves, as political agent of the British government,
undertook the guardianship, and in concert with the leading chiefs formed a
new
Ram
excluded, the former being removed to Dessar, about thirty miles east of the
British sepoys
capital, and the latter to a residence within it, where a guard of
was necessary to protect her against the public fury. Not to break the narra-
the events which followed this arrangement, though reaching a few months
beyond the close of Lord William Bentinck's administration, must here be
tive,
briefly detailed.
The British
On
the 4th of June, 1835, Major Alves, while quitting the palace along
wounded
assistant
after
murdered
^^^ wouudcd by ouc of the bystauders, who rushed upon him with a
drawn sword. Fortunately, his wound though severe was not mortal, and
Blake,
resi-
dency, and came out holding in his hand the bloody sword which had been
taken from the assassin. An excited crowd had gathered round the palace,
off"
upon him.
shut,
access
small chamber.
it
The
Chap. YIL]
227
A.D.
1831.
British territory.
Treaties with
independent
native
princes.
so
it
had taken a
ments made by the Russians in Persia were regarded as the prelude of an invaIt was therefore deemed good policy not to
sion of India from that quarter.
remain mere spectators of this approaching danger, but to anticipate it by
forming alliances with the states through which an invading army must
At first the real
advance, and thus throw a formidable barrier in its way.
was not mentioned, and nothing more was ostensibly proposed, than the
establishment of commercial intercourse, by opening the navigation of the
Communications
Indus, and thus obtaining access to the heart of Central Asia.
design
with this view were accordingly opened with the Ameers of Scinde, who after
manifesting great reluctance were induced to conclude a treaty, by which the
The Ameers
of Scinde.
merchants and traders of India were permitted to convey their goods along the
Indus, free from vexatious delays, and subject only to moderate rates of duty.
v^^^^SteJ
Views
RUNJEET Sing's Encampment near Roopur, on the Sutlej.-From White's
in the Himalayas.
In this treaty the Ameers, unable to conceal their suspicions, procured the
never "look with
insertion of a declaration that the contracting parties should
were eontreaties
Similar
other."
each
a covetous eye on the possessions of
the latter
With
eluded with the Nabob of Bhawulpoor and with Runjeet Sing.
a closer connection than a mere commercial treaty could form seemed desirable.
Runjeetsing.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
228
A.D. 1S31.
[Book VII.
and in order
mon
size, for
to
away
gaudy
and military evolutions, the
governor -general having with him, in
ceremonials,
Slajor Luard's
Views
in India.
that more serious matters mingled with these amusements, and there is now no
to doubt that the foundation was then laid of that alliance, the bitter
room
fruits of
Shah Shujah
attempts to
recover the
cabwi."
/...,
his thronc
irom
-,
before,
was
t-
tt
living at Loodiana, a
known
to the governor-general,
and
it
is
impossible to believe that Runjeet Sing allowed the week to pass away without
sounding him on the subject, and ascertaining that in aiding the restoration of
Shah Shujah he would at least have the acquiescence of the British govern-
ment.
It is true that
Shah Shujah,
fell
already awakened suspicion, and that the govern or- general, under instructions
from England, was jealously watching his intercourse directly with Persia, and
was therefore concluded indirectly with Russia. Hence the first attempt
Shah Shujah to recover his throne, as it was commenced in 1833, when Lord
as it
of
SHAH SHUJAH.
Chap. VII.]
229
William Bentinck was governor-general and had undoubtedly his best wishes,
though it did not receive his actual co-operation, may not improperly be
regarded as one of the important events connected with his administration.
When Shah Shujah started from Loodiana in January, 18o3, he could only
supplies; but
a.d. isss.
Proceedings
of
Shah
sbujah.
when he
delayed his departure, and instead of being satisfied, continued daily to increase
his
demands, they became completely alienated, and determined to rid themburden at all hazards. They accordingly collected their forces.
selves of the
Shah Shujah on his part was not disinclined to an appeal to arms, and in
at
assist
He
him with an
encountered
little resistance,
and was
hopes of
Shah Shujah retired to Abbasabad, where he was brought to bay, and ventured
to risk a battle.
Owing partly to the treachery, and partly to the cowardice
of his followers,
short delay he
marched north
After a
from Herat,
but being disappointed, and threatened by a party of horse under Rehim Khan,
he fled across the desert of Seistan, and after great privations, reached Kelat.
His pursuer had followed close upon his track, but the chief of Kelat having
On this a
taken the ex-king under his protection, refused to surrender him.
From Hyderabad he
future narration.
His ultimate
HISTORY OF INDIA.
230
CHAPTER
[Book VII.
VIII.
Approaching expiry
of the
tion,
expire in 1834;.
A.D. 1829.
expii-j-
of the
Company's
cliarter.
Ought
it
to be
renewed at
it
all,
and
if
renewed,
had become
abso-
was well understood, the manuof the country were deeply involved.
The
and in which,
it
Kingdom had begun to agitate the subject, and to load the tables
of both Houses of Parliament with petitions against the renewal of the charter,
and in February, 1830, select committees were appointed on the recommendathe United
Parliamentary committees
appointed.
lords,
committees were simply appointed "to inquire into the present state of the
the East India Company, and into the trade between Great Britain
affairs of
against the
Company's
monopoly.
The expediency of throwing open the trade to China could scarcely admit
It was open to all the other trading nations of the world,
of serious discussion.
and were the British alone to be excluded from
it,
which
it
that the
Company had no
it
that
profit, and the Company, on the other hand, maintaining
which it yielded was so large and so necessary to meet the payment
yielded them no
the profit
would be ruined
if
deprived of
it.
After a great
Chap. VIIL]
231
mass of conflicting evidence had been given on the subject, the result acquiesced ad. is29.
in by the most competent judges was, that during the last fifteen years of the
Company's monopoly of the China trade, the}^ had realized from it an aggregate AigumentB
against the
But Comimiys
15,414,000, or rather more than a million sterling annually.
fact
was
this
admitted, it carried little weight with it, because it was
profit of
when
price,
and was,
in fact,
upon the whole consumers of tea for the benefit of a particular corEven admitting that the profit was legitimately gained by fair trade
a tax levied
poration.
without taxing the consumers, the question still returned, Why should this profit
go entirely into the pockets of one class of individuals, to the exclusion of all the
other merchants of the
kingdom ?
Behind
was
still
another.
The Company made a million annually by the China trade. Was this the
maximum profit that could be realized? The extinction of monopoly naturally
extended commerce, and there was therefore every reason to expect, that if the
trade were thrown open, it would rapidly extend, so as at once to add greatly
amount
to the
by
individuals,
continuing to trade at
was
all,
Company,
useless, or
by means of
it
alterations
and repairs
to render
Company was
more
efficient
exposed to
general competition, ceased to be of any value.
Nothing, therefore, could be
lost by agreeing to abandon it.
on
ministers proposed that
this
view
Acting
the
Company should
of the
extinguished,
and
and
its trade,
relations to the
when
this proposal
was submitted
The
Board of
directors,
to carry
it
was
how
this capital
it
was
were
be derived.
On
The proposal of
subject a serious difierence of opinion arose.
ministers was, that the whole of the Company's commercial assets should, so
this
far as
possible,
be converted into money, and that with the sum thus obtained
amount to 030,000,
Question
future
of india.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
232
A.D. 1823
Negotiations
[Book YII.
now
In future the
annually payable in dividends, should be discharged.
as
an
to
the
dividends would be regarded
annuity payable
proprietors of India
After a certain fixed
stock, and charged upon the territorial revenue of India.
govemmeut
term
Smpany
it
assets,
equal to the amount of their dividends, and that they were, therefore, entitled
in fairness to demand that the assets should either be employed in making
and
of the dividends,
amount of
payment of such an
principal as
it
in the
funds.
last claim,
was not improbable, the one should fall to be deducted from the assets, and the
other added to the debit of the Company, the effect would be to cut off" nearly
eight millions and a half from the aggregate capital, reducing its value at one
stroke from 21,103,000 to 12,675,000.
Nor was
this
all.
Several of the
it
was
therefore
compromise
was ultimately accepted, with
desirable,
this
and the
of the commercial assets should be invested in the funds, and there accumulated
to form a collateral security for the capital of the
Company and
its
future
redemption.
Different
questions
agitated,
to be considered
i
pulsory redemption should not be competent within forty years, but they
refused to accede to the proposal of the directors, that the government should
be continued to the Company till the annuity should be actually redeemed;
ultimately, however, they conceded so far as to consent that the government
should be continued to the Company for twenty years, and that at the end of
this or
years'
it in
see
fit
to
Chap. VIIL]
283
the various other points discussed, the only one requiring particular notice at present, was the degree of power to be possessed respectively by
Ministers proposed that the absolute
the Board of Control and the Company.
do
so.
Among
power which the Company now possessed of recalling the governors of the
and the commander-in-chief should be restricted, by giving the
presidencies
board a veto on the
Negotiations
government
colpany
who
directors,
a.d. isss.
recall.
was to diminish their influence, and that therefore they were entitled to expect,
any change were to be made in the relative positions of the board and
that if
the
it
Company,
would be by
curtailing the
manner
mandamus,
in
latter.
Nizam's dominions, and threatened with the issue of the same writ in regard to
similar claims in
obvious effect
contempt,
it
was
Oude.
to
publicity
by bringing them
way
so far as to desist
recall
by
petition.
On
the 25th of March, 1833, the correspondence between the directors and
the Board of Control as representing the ministry was submitted to the court
of proprietors,
and on the
15tli
day
of April, to
Company
fices
were adjusted upon the principle of fair and liberal compromise." The resolutions gave rise to a debate which was spun out to seven days, and were finally
As yet, however, all that had
carried by ballot by a majority of 477 to 52.
been done was only preliminary to the real battle which was to be fought in
On the 13th of June, 1833, the subject was introduced to the
parliament.
House of Commons
Mr. Charles Grant (afterwards Lord Glenelg), the
by
president of the
China,
Vol. III.
Resolutions
adopted by
parliament,
HISTORY OF INDIA.
234
[Book VII.
A.D. 1833.
to such regulations as parliament shall enact for the protection of the com2. That it is
mercial and political interests of this country.
expedient that, in
case the East India Company sliall transfer to the crown, on behalf of the
Resolutions
adopted by
parliament
E^st India
Company.
Indian territory,
^^-^
Company
iiipf>iTT
shall receive
and paid in such a manner, and under such regulations, as parliament shall
enact.
3. That it is
expedient that the government of the British possessions
in India be intrusted to the said Company, under such conditions and regulations as parliament shall enact, for the purpose of extending the
this country,
and of
seciu'ing the
commerce
of
religious
,>^--:^:'-
u
-^m-f'.ri-rn-^isf-ty'-^
Iirs3
i ii
TDhe
B'K
\'l
India."
It is so
remarkable as to be
not undeserving of record, that these resolutions, though involving the future
government of India, and the consequent condition of its myriads of inhabitants,
little interest
that a
broken head in Coldbath Fields excites greater interest in this house than
This apartment was formerly the tea sale-room.
In niches were statues of Lord Clive, Warren Hastings, Sir Eyre Coote, General Stringer Lawrence,
'
Chap. VIII.]
but a
refer to
would
and were
excite.
This
is
I called
upon
for proof of
still
235
a.d. 1833.
would
When my
The resolutions adopted by the House of Commons were, on the 5th of July,
introduced to the House of Lords by the Marquis of Lansdowne.
He could
enter
more
as the bill,
of
fully than Mr. Grant had done into the particulars of the measure,
embodying all its provisions, had been laid on the table of the House
Commons, and read a first time on the 28th of June. The discussion which
was remarkable chiefly for the opposition which the resolutions, and
followed
government plan generally, received from the Duke of Wellington, and the
contrary view taken by his brother, the Marquis of Wellesley, who, though
unable from indisposition to attend in his place, had authorized the Marquis
the
July,
when
further procedure
political
of the session is
it to a satisfactory completion, it is expedient that a short bill be passed for the opening of the trade with China in
for
April, 1834, and that all the arrangements which may be thought desirable
till
next
session."'
This amend-
ment was feebly supported. While the biU was in committee motions were
made to limit the term of the Company's government to ten years, to prevent
proposed changes in the constitution of the presidencies, to restrict the legislative power given to the governor-general in council, and to prohibit any
Several
but three days previously the directors applied for a postponement.
at
or
least of
a
of
of their
appeal,
right
suggestions, particularly that of giving
publicity, in the
board, had been unceremoniously rejected, and they had therefore summoned
a court of proprietors for the purpose of considering whether they ought not to
bui emresolutions
'*'
HoTsTof
*^'"'^
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
23G
AD.
Bill
1833.
em-
resoiuuons
[Book VII.
to the erection of
commom"^ changcs in the constitution of the subordinate governments,
regarding
to the extension of the ecclesiastical establishment,
^ fourtli prcsidencv
^ at Affra,
o
^
'
East India
Company,
college at
first
time on the
The
application
was refused
Ellenborough, who led the opposition, and was seconded by the Duke of
"VVellinacton, moved, "that it be an instruction to the committee to omit all
took place to allow the court of directors and proprietors to decide on the
course which they were to pursue.
They had made appearance in both houses
Resolutions
of court of
directors,
bill,
Till
m
.
House of Lords,
it
of
cessation of the
Company's trade
and
country,
consequently impair
government of India
will greatly
its efficiency
rious effect
upon the
must
result
from the
loss of the
trade as a source of direct profit, and as a safe and beneficial channel of remitall
tance, and from the new charges which the bill imposes
yet, reviewing
the correspondence which has passed with his majesty's ministers on this
with
subject, trusting that the extensive powers of the board will be exercised
'
Chap. VIIL]
237
a.d. isas.
Resolutions
of court of
directors
ludia bui.
unavoidably be cast through the operation of extensive changes which the bill
the court of directors cannot do otherwise than recommend
proposes to effect
the pleasure expressed by both Houses of Parliament, and to consent to place their right to trade for their own profit in abeyance, in order that they may continue to exercise the government of India for
to the proprietors to defer to
twenty
years,
'
bill.
'
L. Williams.
upon the conditions and under the arrangeThe oj)inion of the proprietors, ascertained
by a ballot taken on the 16th of August, was in accordance with that of the
directors.
This seems to have been regarded so much as a matter of course,
mere fraction of the proprietors recorded their votes, the numbers being
178 against 61.
On the same day when this ballot was taken, the bill was
read a third time, and on the 28tli of August it received the royal assent.
It
that a
Wm.
IV.
c.
85,
and
is entitled,
"An
Act
Thames, and
room
merce.
is
very cosy.
sup-
allegorical
The
wu
passed.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
238
A.D. 1833.
Leading
new India
It
plained, a brief analysis of its leading provisions seems still to be required.
but as many of these merely recapitulate former
cousists of 117 sectious
.,.,..
which
sections of
[Book VII.
arrangements, or relate to
notice, the analysis
may
pomts
be
it is
made without
now about
oi
Act 53 Geo.
entering
III.
and
much
155,
c.
The
first
after the
2d of April, 1834,
all
"territories
above date, shaU be held "by the said Company, in trust for
his majesty, his heirs and successors, for the service of the government of India,
Company
at the
discharged of
all
own
from to their
them
as hereinafter
mentioned."
Company
to
any
profit or
advantage there-
By
and
privi-
"whether military or
4,
that the
ment
not be retained for the purposes of the governSections 5-10 inclusive, regulate the mode of
may
any stock or
use,
effects
nor the dividend by this act secured to them, nor the directors or proprieCompany, shall be liable to or chargeable with any of the said
payment
dividend,
Scctiou
of
fixcd
tlic
rate
of
the territorial revenues there shall be paid to, or retained by the Company, to
their own use, a yearly dividend, payable in Great Britain by equal half-yearly
payments, "after the rate of 10, 10s. per cent, on the present amount of their
deemable by parliament
every 100 of
Chap. VIII.]
demanded on a
239
'cease to retain," or
final newM."!^
*''"'
sum
purpose the
of 2,000,000 sterling is
interest at the rate of 3| per
was
It
"
Company
till
it were to be
employed in the purchase of
the whole should amount to 12,000,000
failure, or
Section 18
may
be passed over, as
it
only
contains a saving clause, to the effect that nothing contained in the act shall
prejudice the claims of the creditors of the Nabob of Arcot.
previously existing,
and
it is
more
marked changes. As the law previously stood, the directors were prohibited
from sending any "orders or instructions whatever, relating to the civil or military government or revenues" of the territorial acquisitions in India, "until
the same shall have been submitted to the consideration
of,
the board; and they were moreover required to pay obedience to "such orders
and instructions as they shall from time to time receive from the said board
mus was
applied
for,
in the said
Company
government
in trust as aforesaid, or to
be at any time sent or given by the said court of directors, or any committee of the said directors, until the same shall have been submitted for the con-
shall
Powers of
the Board
of control,
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
240
A.D. 1S33.
Leading
newTidif
*""
[Book VII.
and approved by the said board;" and, however much they may
sideration
of,
have been
may
make
are 'required to take every such representation, and the several matters therein
contained or alleged, into their consideration," but their decision, whatever it
may
be, is to
case,
which
is
be "
final
"If
it
shall
given by the said board as aforesaid, are contrary to law, it shall be in the
power of the said board, and the said court of directors, to send a special case,
to be agreed upon by and between them, and to be signed by the president of
the said board, and the chairman of the said Company, to three or more of the
judges of his majesty's Court of King's Bench, for the opinion of the said judges;
and the said judges are hereby required to certify their opinion upon any case
and to send a certificate thereof to the said president and
chairman, which opinion shall be final and conclusive."
so submitted to them,
Limited
It
tX)W6rs of
to blunder so egregiously as to
the directors
issuc ordcrs wliich could not be legally obeyed, that the directors could resist
adnSstra-"
them by
tion.
privilege of
present
act,
the subject matter of any of their deliberations concerning the levying war,
or making peace, or treating or negotiating with any of the native princes or
states in India, or with any other princes or states, or touching the policy to be
states,
intended to be communicated in
or presidencies in India, or to
officers or
any
be of a nature to require secrecy, it shall and may be lawful for the said
board to send their orders, despatches, official letters, or communications to
shall
presidencies, officers
and
servants, shall be
Chap. VIIL]
bound to pay a
despatches,
official letters,
or communications,
manner
had been
2tl
and
as if such orders
11
1111
iiii
it
a.d. issa?
them by the
sent to
Powers of
*^ Board
of control,
was enacted by
"
something in the enactments conferring such powers, authorities, or functions inconsistent with such
construction, and except as to any patronage or right of appointing to office
vested
to
in,
This exception in regard to patronage was now indeed the main inducement
the directors and proprietors to undertake the nominal government of India,
any
from negligence
In their
case, there-
by which
vacancies their
amount
In
all
few
of the highest offices, which could not be filled up without the approbation of
the crown while even the persons thus approved, including the governor-general
;
sessed to the
same extent
as the
crown
itself
an absolute right of
who
pos-
recall.
Having determined the nature and defined the powers of the home government, the act proceeds to settle the future government of India itself, and
makes several important changes. The first of these, contained in section 38,
divides Bengal into two presidencies, the one styled as before the presidency of
Fort William in Bengal, and the other the presidency of Agra.
Vol. III.
Section 39
227
Great extent
ofpatronage.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
242
D. 1833.
Sections of
relative to
ofindir^''*
[Book VII.
enacts that '-the superintendence, direction, and control of the whole civil and
in India shall be,
military government of all the said territories and revenues
and
'
is
are to be four
or former servants
who
at the time of
appointment
shall
directors
from actual
have served at
least
ten years, and the fourth appointed also by the directors, but subject to the
approbation of his majesty, and selected from persons not in the service of the
Company. This fourth member was not "to sit or vote" in the council, except
"at meetincjs thereof for makino- laws and reoulations." The commander-inchief in India, or if there be no such commandei", or the office be conjoined
with that of the governor-general, the commander-in-chief on the Bengal establishment, may be appointed by the directors an extraordinary member of
council,
to the governor-general.
thereof,
and
to
and things whatsoever within and throughout the whole and every part
of the said territories, and for all servants of the said Company within the
places
dominions of princes and states in alhance with the said Company." This
apparently unlimited power is however restricted by a salvo against its being
employed to make "any laws or regulations which shall in any way repeal,
vary, suspend, or alFect
this act, or
any
of the provi-
sions of the acts for punishing mutiny and desertion of officers and soldiers,
whether in the service of his majesty or of the said Company, or any provisions
any act hereafter to be passed in any wise aifecting the said Company, or
the said territories or the inhabitants thereof, or any laws or regulations which
shall in any way aft'ect any prerogative of the crown, or the authority of parof
liament, or the constitution or rights of the said Company, or any part of the
unwritten laws or constitution of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
whereon may depend in any degree the allegiance of any person to the
crown of tlie United Kingdom, or the sovereignty or dominion of the said
crown over any of the said territories."
Ireland,
is
still
more
explicit, it
"
Chap. VIII.]
and
made by the
to repeal
as if
acts
alter at
manner
and
and
and
243
and
Reserved
pariiHrnent.
to exercise at all
all
isss.
it
laid
Still,
to the legislature,
and
"
all
laws
same manner as any public act of parliament would and ought to be taken
notice of"
By
section 48 the court of directors are enjoined forthwith to submit for the
"
Board of Control
and such
when approved,
rules,
"
shall be of the
same
force
they had been inserted in this act." In all ordinary cases the governorgeneral and one ordinary member of council were to constitute a quorum, but
as if
have a casting vote; and, should the majority happen to differ with him
with regard to any measure whereby, in his judgment, "the safety, tranquillity,
or interests of the British possessions in India or any part thereof" might be
to
to
of their respective
Should the governor-general, after considering
opinions."
"
the same, continue to differ, he
might then, of his own authority, and on his
own responsibility," adopt the course which might seem to himself " fit and
The council
assemble at any place within the British terriexpedient."
might
tories in
India
happen
to
The 53d
quoted verbatim.
"Whereas
it
act,
deserves to be
to such special
is
early period,
Powersoftut
"
may
may
be applicable in
common
to all classes
general.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
244
A
D. 1833.
[Book VII.
had
to the rights,
feelings,
Board of
lawcommissionere.
tiit
iii'inf
:
commissions, to such persons as the said court of directors, with the approbarecommend for that purpose, and
if
said
ti> such
persons,
necessary, as the
governor-general in council shall think
tion of the said board of commissioners, shall
fit,
such persons not exceeding in the whole at any one time five in number,
styled, The Indian Law Commissioners,' with all such powers as
and to be
shall
'
missioners shall fully inquire into the jurisdiction, powers, and rules of the
existing courts of justice and police establishments in the said territories, and
all
said territories,
said terri-
tories, whether Europeans or others, are now subject; and the said commissioners shall from time to time make reports, in which they shall fully set forth
justice
council."
By
to
of
the said councils; and during such time as a council shall not be appointed in
any such presidency, the executive government thereof shaU be administered
by a governor alone."
The only other sections of the
act wdiich
seem to require
are
special notice
Chap. YIIL]
the 81st
"
245
a.d
isss.
it
Residenceof
necessary to provide
against any mischiefs or dangers that may arise therefrom, requires" the
"
governor-general in council,
by laws or regulations, to provide with aU con-
venient speed for the protection of the natives of the said territories from insult
"
and hold
lands, or
any
out of lands, for any term of years, in such part or parts of the said territories
"
as he shall be so authorized to reside in
the 87th, which enacts " that no
;
dent therein,
by reason only
of slavery,
means
slaves,
and of extinguishing
slavery throughout the said territories, so soon as such extinction shall be prac"
and a series of sections which, after providing for the extenticable and safe
Religious
estal)lish-
ments
nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent the governorgeneral in council from granting from time to time, with the sanction of the
court of directors
any
sect,
persuasion, or
England and
The
and
last section
when
thereof (that
is,
effect
from a
members of council, or other officers, under the provisions herein contained, and so far as hereinbefore in that behalf mentioned," but, "as to all
other matters and things," it was only to commence and take effect from and
ernors,
after the
for the
curious
22d of
April, 1834.
person
who
shall
curious
dilemma.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
246
A.D. 1833.
commissions
issued
by
court of
act,
as shall be
[Book VII.
members
of council of the
same presidency on that day shall be respectively members of council constiIn virtue of this section Lord William Bentinck was govtutcd by this act."
i
and Sir Charles Metcalfe, and Messrs. William Blunt and Alexander Ross were members of the first council of Indiii. But the court of direcernor-general,
tors, taking advantage of the earlier date assigned for the commencement of
the act, had, on the 27th of December, 1833, issued two commissions the one
appointing Lord William Bentinck to take upon himself the office of governorgeneral upon and from the 22d of April, 1834-, and WiUiam Blunt, Alexander
Ross, William Byam Martin, and Thomas Babington Macaulay, Esquires, "to be
respectively the
first,
second, third,
said
against Coorg
to
Madras
to
superintend different financial arrangements then in progress, repaired to Bangalore, and after the campaign was finished he took up his residence in the
Neilgherry Hills for the recovery of his health, which had become so seriously
affected that he had intimated his resignation to the directors.
He was thus
=*s.-^sr-*ss^:
^,^
P^rr-'^'^'
^-=^=^35*5:.
OoTACAMUKD.
Council at
Ootacamund.
living at
.
the
new
act
came
into oyjeration.
while the governor-general remained isolated among the Neilgherry Hills, and
The
in a state of health which would not allow him to return to Calcutta.
course adopted
was
to
summon
the
first
This was perfectly legal, since, as has been shown in the above analysis
of the act, the governor-general was empowered to assemble the council at any
camund.
COUNCIL AT OOTACAMUND.
Chap. VIII.]
247
place within the British Indian territories, and, except in the case of
makinglaws and regulations, required the assistance of
only one ordinary member to
constitute a quorum.
Such a member was
opportunely found in Mr. Macaulay,
who, having been made aware that his
A.D. 1834.
camund.
Sir Frederick
Adam, governor
same
and in terms of an express provision in the act, took his seat in the
time,
council
The
as
first
an
extraordinary member.
was to
"f^3S~<te*.
issue
installation
of
the
act,
and
new form
government prescribed by
of
Rather
it.
carrying
abeyance.
Lord Macaul.w.
Fiom
a photograph by
"Whereas
it is
impracticable to carry into immediate execution all the preliminary measures that
shall be necessary before the duties of the government of Agra can be entered
Proceedings
of coun(;il
held at Ootacamuiid.
adopt, without
previous
that the Honourable Sir Charles Metcalfe should assume the government of
Agra before the retm-n of the governor-general and council to Calcutta, the
of these proceedings
is
so palpable that
it
illegally
postponed.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
248
AD.
1834.
Remarks
Metcalfe on
[Book VII.
of the proclamation, writing his friend Mr. Tucker, then chairman of the
court of directors, says, "You know, I conclude, our present position.
The
his
life
he
were
to quit the Neilgherry Hills
govemor-general would endanger
before September, as he proposes,
or as I
of governor-
h^s,
general.
suspended the formation of the Agra government, and the application of the
new act to Bengal. I am to remain vice-president here until his return. I fear
that several things in this arrangement are illegal." At the same time he makes
the best excuse which could be offered for it when he adds, "His lordship's
detention in the
attack,
hills is
quite unavoidable.
He
life
in his last
fatal consequences if he
such arrangement as that actually made seems to have been absolutely necessary to prevent the mischiefs which must have ensued from leaving the seat of
But no
necessity,
however
When
of
illegality
t.f
genlrars
proceedings,
1834, ouc of
pfoclamatiou, and he endeavoured to legalize all that had been done under it
^y ^^ excrcisc of liis legislative power. Accordingly, on the 20th of November,
the following act was passed, " Be it enacted that all acts done by the Governorgeneral of India in council, or by the vice-president of Fort William in Bengal
in council, or in pursuance of any authority
given by the said governor- general
in council, or
It is almost needless to observe that the passing of this act, so far from
the
The governor-general in
curing
illegality, was only a repetition of it.
council unintentionally, or from some real or supposed necessity, had violated
1834."
the law, and nothing short of the authority of the legislature itself could save
him, and those who had acted with and under him, from the penal consequences,
or give validity to their proceedings.
The only
effectual
on the 13th of
act," indem-
the persons directly or indirectly implicated for all "acts, matters, and
things" that had been "done, ordered, directed or authorized, bona fide, in the
exercise of the administration of the British territories in the East Indies,"
nifies all
between the 22d of April, 1834, and the 1st of January, 1835, and
declares
Chap. VIII.]
249
and be deemed
shall be,
and things
to be, of as
shall be as valid
much
and
and
effectual,
and
a.d.
i8:;5.
effect as if
they
had been expressly authorized by the said recited act."
In regard to the new presidency of Agra, which had been provided for by New presidency of
the act, it may here be mentioned that, though on the very day of the return Agra left id
force, validity,
was formally
notified that Sir Charles Metcalfe "had taken the prescribed oaths and assumed
charge of the government of Agra," the plan of this fourth government, which
the directors had alwaj^s objected to as involving a large unnecessary expendiAfter its duties had been so restricted and
ture, was never fully carried out.
of the governor-general to Calcutta from the Neilgherry Hills,
frittered
away that
it
to call it a
act
directors,
it
''^^^'^^
it
"government," an
execution of the provisions" of the Act 3 and 4 Wm. IV. c. 85 so far as relates
to the division of the presidency of Fort William in Bengal, into two distinct
presidencies, one of which was to be styled the presidency of Agra, and enacting that so long as the execution of these provisions shall remain suspended,
the governor-general in council may "appoint, from time to time, any servant of
the East India Company, who shall have been ten years in their service in
India, to the office of lieutenant-governor of the
North-western provinces,
now
under the presidency of Fort William in Bengal, and from time to time to
declare and limit the extent of the territories so placed under such lieutenantgovernor, and the extent of the authority to be exercised by such lieutenantThis pergovernor, as to the said governor-general in council may seem fit."
mission to suspend was so completely in accordance with the views of the directors, that they immediately availed themselves of it, and all idea of erecting a
separate presidency of
resignation,
sailing season to take his departure.
On the 20th of March, 1835, he ceased to be governor-general, and set
sail for
Europe.
more adequate administration of justice by the liberal emplo}-ment of native agency; and above aU, the bold and successful inroad made on
In all
superstition by the suppression of one of its most abominable practices.
these respects Lord William Bentinck proved himself an able, liberal, and conof education, the
scientious administrator.
By
standing aloof
Vol. III.
when
it
to increase
2 8
Ments
ot
wiiiiam
.J^jnJstiT.
*''^-
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
250
A
D. 1835.
Merits
Lord
William
of
admil^istra-
"""
"
till it
to be
any longer
[Book YIl.
tolerated,
and thus
laid himself
open to the charge of dealing harshly with native states, by making the rulers
responsible for disturbances which an earlier interference on his part might
1
easily
have prevented.
CI
^^
IS till,
it
i-ii
non-interference,
when
Madras.
'7
-Sfc-ii!
;n.i
^:j^p'>
T. Longcroft, Esq.
BOOK
VIII.
CHAPTER
Sir Charles
He
I.
Opposite views of the Court of Directors and the Board of Control in regard to the appointment of
Rajah
new
succession
in
Oude
Intrigues
and
of Sattarah.
office
r>
upon
was precarious and temporary,
tenure
1-1
him; but
as
his
seems to have
it
^^p
by which
subject,
all
were to be repealed.
The
was previously
there was, there can be no doubt that Mr. Macaulay was one of the majorit}-.
In substance, the act simply repealed the press regulations of 1823 in the
Bengal, and of 1825 and 1827 in the Bombay presidency, and ordained that
every person having a printing press on his premises was to make declaration
thereof; that every book or paper was thenceforth to bear the name of the
printer
and publisher of
that,
all
the
Company
it
it
a.d. i835.
sirCharies
Metcalfe
proyisionrj
generai.'^
HISTORY OF INDIA.
:2.32
A.D. 1835.
Freedom of
the Indian
press established.
[Book YIII.
has gradually extended along with the improvement of the government and the
intelligence of the people but we shall have to contend at once with the most
;
Asia, both
and in an elaborate
press," he said,
"
had been
repl}' to
many
in
the
to
to
were extremely
odious.
They
They gave to
No government
detest.
.;
carried
them
universal
into
efi'ect,
opinion
at
could
now
have
without setting
defiance.
After
no government could
have ventured to enforce those laws, untinck's forbearance,
less it
Right Hon. Charles
T.
measure
discijssed.
The
repeal
them?
They were
virtually dead,
to slay the
If,
useless,
why step
in before
the
UiAr.
I.J
'2oS
popularity which
On
these
ad.
1835.
Emaucipai,re.s.
of the
how
the measure
Tliose
whom
it
was received
it
with acclama-
tion, while the public generally regarded it with favour, and testified their
approbation, not merely by laudatory addresses, but by the erection of a hand-
to literary purposes,
the
name
authorities, it
and
When
of the liberator.
was
as strongly
was
the measure
condemned
as
it
first
announced
to the
home
Lord
Metcalfe's
abilities
asa
he applied for explanation, returned through their secretary an answer so dry and
on the very day when he received it, he despatched a letter intima-
laconic, that
loss
it.
also it
might have
his country.
sufficed to
As governor
prevent
successively
of Jamaica and of
title.
home only
An
<
to die.
In narrating the emancipation of the Indian press, and tracing some of its
consequences in the subsequent career of Lord Metcalfe, we were obliged to pass
onward without
When the
to the history
court of directors received
office
of governor-general.
and
tlie
Question as
wiuiam
gucc^or.'^
HISTORY OF INDIA.
254^
AD.
1S35.
Question as
Lord
William
to
Beiitiiick's
successor.
[Book VIII.
'1. That
majority of fifteen to two, adopted the two following resolutions:
William
Lord
Bentinck's
health
should
this court deeply lament that the state of
deem
it
Company
proper to record,
on the occasion of
and
this court
ferred
by the
court,
2.
with
That referring
to the
coming away
and services
opinion that
it
would be inexpedient
at present to
make any
And it
is
other arrangement
of India."
When
Government
the communication thus ordered was made, Mr. Charles Grant, who
objection to
the appoint-
ment
of
any
Company's
servant.
held the
office of
not only refused to concur in the second resolution of the directors, but proceeded to give his reasons in the following terms: "With respect to the appoint-
any servant of the Company, however eminent his knowand experience may confessedly be, his majesty's ministers agree
the sentiments of Mr. Canning, expressed in a letter from him to the court,
ment
to that office of
ledge, talents,
in
on the 25th of December, 1820, that the case can hardly be conceived in which
would be expedient that the lugliest office of the government in India should
it
otherwise than from England, and that that one main link at least
between the systems of the Indian and the British governments ought, for the
be
filled
"
Grounds of
objection.
ance of the general practice, but nothing to recommend a deviation from it.
The objection to the appointment of any servant of the Company to the
of governor-general, though here ascribed to Mr. Canning, was of an earlier
He did not, however, talk
date, and was first made by Lord Cornwallis.
office
'
"
Canning of the necessity of maintaining a main link,
but distinctly placed his objection on the ground, that during the period of his
first government it would scarcely have been possible to find any old and
eminent servant of the Company, who had not in some period of his career
Chap.
APPOINTMENT
I.]
lied in
this
making
(jF
GOVERNOE-GENEKAL.
2o5
to the
right in objecting
of governor-general, but
owing
Company
*^
isss.
to the office
Government
l\!eli^'^tger^anfo^f
f'^t-"""!-
pany as
govemorgeneral.
office
it
may
this,
used language in which more was implied, and by seeming to cast a stigma on
their service, furnished the directors with an opportunity of presenting an
have been
the
new
charter act,
The
answer admitted the superiority of a permanent appointconviction that Sir Charles Metcalfe was a fit person
and
declared
their
ment,
It was therefore "with deep regret" they had learned that he
to receive it.
directors in their
station of
service of
India from that high office." After referring in refutation of Mr. Canning's
maxim to "the whole course of our transactions in British India," as 'furnishing
the most conclusive evidence that the servants of the Company, both civil and
military, are eminently qualified for the highest public trust,
important office of governor-general has been held by several of them with the
"
utmost advantage to the national interest.s, they concluded with intimating
that the arrangements for filling up the office of governor-general would be
taken into consideration at "the proper time." In strict law Lord William
Bentinck had not resigned, but only intimated his intention to resign, and
by taking advantage of a
The ministry was tottering, and
legal quibble.
RemonSt 1*3.11 CG
of
thedirecsbiect
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
256
[Book VIII.
A.D. 1835.
to
use
office
all
possible
of governor-
general had actually taken place, intimated to the directors that if they allowed
the statutory two months from the date of the notification to elapse, the crown
Question as
poiiitoent
-eifewj"^'
notice.
The
its
Whig
left it
The directors having thus gained their point were no longer disposed to
quibble for delay, and soon came to an understanding with Lord Ellenborough,
who had become president of the Board of Control. With his lordship's concurrence they offered the
The
stuart Elpliinstoue.
office
(jfFered to,
aud
.leciined
Mouii^stuart
Eiphinstone.
all
however, was
By
office
Company by
appointment, would in all probability decline it again, and it is therefore difficult to allow Lord Ellenborough all the credit which he claims for having
outdone the Whigs in liberality by offering the appointment of governor-general
presumed, would decline, but to Sir Charles Metcalfe, who would certainly
have been proud to accept of it, and to whose distinguished services it would,
in the
He
must have
fallen
So
far
from
this,
of Indian affairs.
So
little,
indeed,
was Lord
had he been
sional
and refused
it
whose
recognized.
'
HAP.
OFFICE OF GOVERNOE-GENERAL.
I.]
Everything seemed
now
257
had provided
to be settled.
a.d.
im.
his outfit,
Loi-aHeytesjioTntLtnt
='*"'^''"'^-
to be restrained
ministers
had resolved
to advise the
ment, they were not nearly so serious as those which would inevitably be produced by the want of confidence and cordiality between the Indian and the
home government. Another reason for revoking the appointment, though it
probably weighed more than all the othei's, was not mentioned. The vacancy
had occurred while the Whigs were in office, and would have been supplied by
them had not the directors prevented it by interposing a quibbling delay. The
Tories had thus by a kind of trick obtained a valuable patronage which did
not properly belong to them, and could hardly complain either of injustice or
indelicacy, when it was once more taken out of their hands, and restored to the
rightful owners.
of governor-general having thus again become vacant, some diffi- LordAuckland .ap/^
Mr. Grant, pointed.
culty appears to have been felt in making the new appointment.
now Lord Glenelg, having become colonial secretary, and been succeeded as
The
office
11
The
on an immediate appointment were now in favour of delay.
president of the board accordingly proposed to wait the arrival of Lord William
insisted
Bentinck before appointing his successor, and engaged not to take any advantage of the failure of the directors to fill up the vacancy within the two months
allowed them by statute.
Vol.
III.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
258
AD.
1836."
[Book YIII.
were put forward, and at last the public announcement was made that the office
of o-overnor-o:eneral had been conferred on Lord Auckland.
Why he should
have been selected in preference to some others who had been mentioned was
not very apparent, as there was nothing in his antecedents to make it probable
that the affairs of India had engaged much of his attention, or that his adminis-
to listen to advice
from those
whom
it.
From
was
do nothing
to
avoid any
at
least
and
be
able
rashly,
serious blunder.
The recent
improvement.
charter act indeed had not left him in
of internal
any doubt
as
first to
to the
measures which
ought
had in particular declared
Right Hok. George, Earl of Auckland, G.C.B.
After a portrait by L. Dickinson.
.Tudieial
reforms.
that
"
it
expedient
of judicial
general system
establishments and police, to which
Europeans as natives,
may be
all
subject, should be
as
may
all
may
require,
amended."
legal reform
was brought
prominently under the notice of the Indian government, provision had been
made
whose reports made from time to time were to furnish the grounds or materials
for improved
Thus instructed and provided with the necessary
legislation.
means, the governor-general was no sooner installed than the work of legislation
was commenced. On the 2Stli of March, 1836, additional extent and import-
Chap.
JUDICIAL REFORMS.
I.]
259
a.d. isse.
that
Empioytive judges.
classes
was empowered to try suits to the amount of 1000 rupees. The necessities of
the case were still imperfectly met, and an important improvement was made
by Lord William Bentinck in 1831, by the institution of a third and higher
class
restricted,
whose
jurisdiction,
all barriers to
at first
any amount.
an exclusion.
first step,
as to the propriety of
On
the 9th of May, 1836, the governor-general in council enacted that from
the 1st of June following, the 107th clause of Act 53 Geo. III. c. 155, "'shall
cease to
have
by reason of
effect
place of birth, or
by reason of
descent, be in
any
civil
proceeding
dewanny
civil
presidencies,
courts,
but
to deprive British
which was struck at by the late charter act, and to the removal of
which the legislative council were specially required to direct their attention.
tinctions
had accordingly, in 1835, while Sir Charles Metcalfe was provisional governor-general, been carefully considered, and Mr. Macaulay as ])resident, as well
It
Jurisdiction
over British
HISTORY OF INDIA.
260
AD.
1S36.
Opposition
mentrefppeaif to
supreme
court.
[Book VIII.
and hcuce
found, on
my
some weeks before the public; my predecessor had cordially approved of it; the
council was unanimous in its favour; the governors and councils of Madras
and
to their presidencies/'
It
supposed that a measure which had thus united all the leading authorities in
It proved otherwise
its favour would not be violently opposed anjrwhere.
Not in the provincial districts, where alone the new enactment was to operate,
it,
an agitation
was got
up, a public meeting was held, at which the speakers denounced the
measure as a violent and illegal encroachment on their rights as British sub-
Memorial by
and
jects,
objectors.
the following passages from their first memorial may be quoted: "That by
the wise and considerate provisions of the supreme legislature of Great Britain,
the due administration of justice is secured to the Mahometan and the Hindoo,
ists,
according to the different codes they severally recognize and your memorialists venture to hope that, if trial by Hindoo law be secured to the Hindoo,
;
much
man
if
to the
155, being
necessarily follow that suits or actions, or criminal trials wherein British born
partially
known
and the most corrupt proceedings, and exhibiting the unprecedented anomaly
of an English judge trying a suit in British territory, between English subjects,
Had
these objections to the enactment been well founded, the}' would have
justified all the clamour raised against it, and proved it deserving of the title
JUDICIAL REFORMS.
Chap. L]
'
2G1
"
usually applied to it by its opponents; but the truth is, ad. isse.
that the objections were founded on a gross misrepresentation of the purpose
so eross
that it must to ohjectiotif.
and tendency of the measure a misrepresentation
i
O
to new
of
would
inflict
law, or the
as the
"
judicial appeal
is,
by
own
its
nature,
to another
Hindoo law, the Mahometan law, or the law of the Company's regulations is
binding on the mofussil judge, the Hindoo law, the Mahometan law, or the law
of the regulations
court of appeal."
is
memorialists; but, as
mofussil courts,
many
people
who
who
are wholly
Though nobody
reside at Calcutta
exempted from
its
number
court.
In another minute he
of appeals will increase also."
of
"A
knot
in
small
Calcutta, a knot of people
speaks
people
who are not to live under this law, who know nothing about the administration
increases, the
still
more plainly
and who
and the audacity of their a.ssertions." The governor-general took the very
same view, and gave utterance to it, though in somewhat softer terms, when
tives
he wrote, " The change introduced is small indeed, for appeals to the supreme
court have been so rare that section 107, 53 Geo. III. may be said to have been
absolutely inoperative.
raised,
prompted,
enactment
leganling
ayipeais
l.yLord
^''*'^'*"^^-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
262
A.D. 1S30.
Petition to
parliament
against
new
regarding
ipiieais.
[Book VIII.
European and native, and which has been adopted by others with sincere and
perhaps natural, though mistaken feelings." Entertaining these vieM's of the
and the object of the opposition to the enactment, the government had
no alternative but to resist it and reject the memorials.
source
The memorialists, however, had not yet exhausted their opposition. With
^ resolution and perseverance which would have been praise\vorthy in a better
cause, the}'" carried their complaint to England, and raised a fund which enabled
them to send it by the hands of one of their own number, who, after heading
the agitation, had consented to become its hired advocate. Petitions were accordingly presented, not only to the Board of Control and court of directors, but
also to parliament.
From
was
"
That they
have not seen any reasons for Avithliolding their sanction from the enactment
complained of, and that a despatch communicating such sanction has, with their
approbation, been addressed to the supreme government by the court of
directors."
In the House of Commons the subject, though not more than seventy
members met to discuss it, was formally considered on the 22d of March, 1838,
and gave rise to a spirited debate. Mr. Ward, the member for Sheffield, who
had undertaken to plead the cause of the petitioners, concluded a long speech
by moving for a select committee to inquire into their allegations, and "to
report to the house in what manner and to what extent the act of the legislative council of India of 1836,
No.
xi.,
born subjects in India, the prerogatives of the crown, and the general interests
of the United Kingdom." The hired advocate from India had evidently done
his best to
The
The
result,
all
staple of his
own
it
it
was
in vain.
when
Sir
years, from 1813 to 1833, and that in both cases the judges of the supreme
unable
to come to a decision, "were obliged to go to the judges of the
court,
twenty
sudder dewanny adawlut to interpret the law and give an answer to the
Mr. Ward, seeing it hopeless to persevere in the face of sucli a stateappeal."
withdrew
his motion for a select committee, and allowed Sir John Hobment,
house to set the question at rest b}^ simply moving " that the minutes of council
on which was founded the legislative act (No. xi.) of 1 836 be printed."
the very time when the Calcutta agitators made their last effort, and
sustained a signal parliamentary defeat, Mr. Macaulay, against whom then
vituperation had been specially directed, resigned his seat in the council of
At
India,
new
for England.
By
charter act, the legislative member was not permitted to vote, except in
the making of laws and regulations, and thus, while he was excluded from the
Chap.
I.]
2G3
ordinary administration of the government, he was expected to devote all his ad.
energies to the formation of a code which might be enforced, with slight modiMr. Mac- Lord
fications, throughout the whole length and breadth of British India.
isse.
Jlacaulav's
aulay must soon have perceived that the task which had been assigned to him
and the law commission was far beyond their powers, and he must consequently
labour
"in
have toiled on for years under the disheartening conviction, that whatever
it
was impossible
in its praise
is,
that
to adopt
it
it
contains
as a whole,
many
who
IT-
after
an
illness
Disputed
suocessiou
inoude.
which was
father
among
ascendants.
but the
third,
Nasir-ud-Dowlah, was
still alive.
According
resident, immediately
on hearing of the death, prepared to recognize him.
There was not a moment to be lost. The Padshah Begum, or queen-mothei',
who had been obliged to quit the palace in consequence of a quarrel with her
son,
was known
legal heir,
All's
boys
whom
he
follows.
finding the king already dead, placed sentries at the inner doors, and sealed up
the repositories.
By a second order, the brigadier was desired to send off five
to the palace, and hasten with the remainder.
in
advance
Captain
companies
first
assistant,
Proceeding
Britisii
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
264
A.D. 1836.
Obligation
the
new
oroudf^
[Book VIII.
through Lieutenant Shakespear, his second assistant, of the death of Nasir-udThe resident has also communicated to me the
din Hyder, King of Oude.
substance of the orders of the government of India, respecting the necessity
of new engagements on the part of the Company's government with the Oude
and
after writing a
any new
of
it
by appending
The
health.
his
much
seal.
According
to
seemed
so urgent,
that no
delay could be allowed, and he was carried to the palace, where, after holding
an interview with the resident at three o'clock in the morning, he was accommo"
to take an hour or two's sleep predated with a couch in an adjoining room,
vious to his installation on the throne."
Violent
proceedings
oftiie Pad-
Low was
followers towards the city," sent a messenger "to enjoin her strictly, on no
account to tliink of leaving her own place of residence, which is situated about
The messenger had barely returned with her
four miles from the palace."
answer, requesting "that she might, for God's sake, be allowed to see the corpse
of the late Nasir-ud-clin, as she
see
him whilst
living,"
when
it
in a dense
The
resident,
to push his
way
through the crowd, only arrived to see the installation completed, and after
vainly endeavouring to dissuade the Begum from the desperate course she was
pursuing,
was glad
to take,
"
tion on the throne." found himself a prisoner in the hands of his most inveterate
'
Chaf.
DISTURBANCES IN LUCKNOW.
I.J
enemies.
It is
265
a wonder that they did not murder him on the spot, but fear of ad.
have restrained them, and they contented themselves
isse.
all
own.
The
make her
submission.
insurrection
Begum,
iutlie palace
She returned
suppressed.
an evasive answer, and as soon as the respite allowed her elapsed, he ordered
hostilities to commence.
A few discharges of grape having cleared the way,
the soldiers rushed forward,
the
whom
forty.
As soon
as
it
her protegd were sent off as prisoners to Cawnpoor. On the 20th of July, twelve
days after the installation, the governor-general addressed a letter to the new
which he says: "I have derived consolation for the death of his
majesty, your royal nephew, from the reflection that he has been succeeded in
the government by a prince of whose experience, abilities, and virtue I have
sovereign, in
late
been authorized by ine to propose, for the consideration of your majesty, certain
modifications of the treaty subsisting between the East India Company and the
Oude
state,
ment
and I feel assured that your majesty will recognize in those prothe
same moderate views and the same zeal for the welfare of the
positions
prince and people of Oude, as have invariably characterized the British governAfter reading the above obligations
imposed on his majesty, this reads like burlesque, and the governor-general
must himself have felt it to be so, as he was by no means so thoroughly satisfied
when
views of the
governorgeneral as to
1 1 11
if
engagement of
document may be liable
ditional
moment of exigency accepted the unconsubmissiveness which the new king has signed. This
his
Grfsrcii C6
ith native
p"'^-
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
266
A.D. 183S.
Views of the
governorgeneral as to
with
imti^e''
powers.
[Book VIII.
majesty the signature of a previous agreement, binding himself to absolute submissiveness, is the only point on which he feels that difference of opinion may
bc entertained; and if on the one hand, it may appear to secure the objects of
T-i-nii
was disposed
to
tion, in
pursue.
lordship's minute
may
be here inserted.
''It
will
his
under which the British government might have more power to prevent or
remedy mal administration, and by withdrawing from the obligation, still
existing in terms, although
practice, of exercising a
interference,
Oude government, be
it
its
by means of
its
in
own
internal policy,
and
this
with increase
when
Benares
according to the
rule,
he
said,
was
was recognized.
different!,
This
is
1838: "I
to
am commanded by
Company
st instant,
and
AFFAIES OF SATTAEAH.
Chap. L]
2(i7
acquaint you in reply that a claim precisely similar to that which you have
advanced having been preferred to the local authorities in India by Yemeen-udto
Dowlah Bahudur.
eldest
son of
Nawant Shum-ud-Dowlah,
that prince
a.d.
isso.
was
informed that the eldest surviving uncle of the late King: of Oude has succeeded
to
the throne
by inheritance according
to the
British
Mahometan
'
law.
state of
matters iu
sattumh.
family from poverty and thraldom, and established in the possession of a conAt first indeed, as the actual administration was not to
siderable principality.
be conferred upon him till he should give proof of his ability to conduct it, his
ambition urged him to unwonted exertion, and "he laboured," says Duff, "as
assiduously as any carcoon under his government/' but as soon as his object
was gained, and the formal delivery to him of the entire powers of the state
in April, 1822, made him his own master, his true character became fully
developed.
Shaking off the cares of government by committing them to
worthless favourites, he gave himself up to indolence, or to pursuits so childish
and eccentric, as to make his sanity more than questionable. Colonel Lodwick,
the resident at his court, in a letter dated September,
an extraordinary degree
conduct: "That the rajah's mind has become weak
is but too evident in his actions.
He has lately formed a company of women,
to
arming them with muskets, and even drilling them to the management of guns,
Women are also taught to manage
cast and mounted expressly for the purpose.
and at
cere-
mighty idea of his own consequence, and looked upon all that had been done
for him as a mere instalment of what he was entitled to claim as the lineal
descendant of Sevajee, the founder of the Mahratta empire. Adventurers, both
native and European, knew how to turn this fomily pride to account, and as
means of gaining his good graces and stimulating his liberhim into the belief that he was destined to become the head of
In a mind like his these extravagant ideas were not allowed
all the Hindoos.
to remain inoperative, and the eager desire to convert them into realities, had
the most effectual
ality, flattered
laid
was pursuing.
He was
not, however, to
be either dissuaded or
characterof
the rajah.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
268
A.D.
1839.
The Rajah
deposed.
deterred,
[Book VIII.
Considering the
weakness of his character, and the suspicious nature of much of the evidence
adduccd to prove his guilt, some measure less severe than deposition might have
James Carnac, the govand held personal interviews with the rajah in the hope of inducing him to make the necessary
He failed, and the result was announced in a proclamation issued
concessions.
fully
ernor of
Bombay, was
Sir
policy.
by the resident at Sattarah, under the authority of the Bombay government, and
dated September 5, 1839. This document, after detailing the generous manner
in which the rajah had been treated, and enumerating the leading articles of
the treaty
"Notwithstanding
this
solemn com-
to liberty
to the British
first
made aware
Ultimately more
"The
last paragraph of
no view of advan-
tage and aggrandizement, has resolved to invest the brother, and next in succession to the rajah, with the sovereignty of the Sattarah state, according to the
limits fixed by the treaty of the 25th of September, 1819.
He is therefore
hereby declared Rajah of Sattarah, under the title of Shreemunt Maharaj Shahee
Rajey Chut Turputtee of Sattarah; and all persons residing within his territory
are hereby required to render to
excited
much
him
allegiance."
and
off"
to
end
his
days at Benares
as a pensioner.
Russian
iutrigues in
the East,
pacific,
and seemed
to indicate that his administration would, like that of his predecessor, run
course without
otherwise destined.
relations
Connections, formed at
with other
first for
states.
It
its
was
reckless
and
mistook
Necessity, or something which he
THE SIKHS.
Chap.
ll.J
for
became
it,
and
209
1339.
course be made.
CHAPTER
with the Punjab,
Eelations
Mahomed
Gulf
Its
failure
Scinde,
Cabool,
and Persia
II.
Bumes'
mission to the
Herat
The
court
of
Dost
first
by
only a religious
ongiu and
ofthesikhs.
Sikhs were equally detested, and hence the alternate change of masters brought
relief.
The determination to extirpate them was openly avowed, and
them no
availing themselves of the confusion which prevailed during the last years of
the Mogul empire, began to figure as conquerors.
At first they existed as a
it,
was
to
situated.
Till-
was indispensable
to their
mutual
security,
Their twelve
inisals.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
270
A.D.
176-2.
[Book Vlll.
one misal, which might then incorporate the others with itself, and form the
The manner in which this was
nucleus of an undivided Sikh sovereignty.
accomplished must now be briefly traced.
Among the twelve original misals the one which appears to have been
Ri33 of
last
formed, and to have been regarded, in respect of territory, income, and influence,
as the least important, was the Sookur-Chukea, which had its capital at
Its founder, Churut Sing, the
Goojeranwala, about fifty miles north of Lahore.
garhi or mud-fort,
own
as a freebooter,
faith
body of
troops.
The expe-
fection
advantage, and on his sudden recall to Cabool to meet a still more pressing
danger, the Sikhs were able to take the field at the head of a more powerful
army than the}' had ever mustered before. No effectual resistance could be
offered to them,
their conquests
on every
Churut
side.
not neglectful
its name from
had resolved
With
this
effectual
view he applied
to
Churut
by
means
seizing
Sing, and
the
proving successful, by
payment of a large annual tribute. Cliurut Sing at once consented, and, m
8000
league with Jye Sing, the head of the Ghunea misal, which could muster
camthe
horse, while he had not more than 2.500, proceeded northward to open
offered to
paign.
chiefs,
reward his
The
idle.
In addition to several
he had secured the aid of Jhunda Sing, the head of the Bhangee
which of
itself
field.
While the
hill-
misal,
hostile armies
Chap.
THE
II.]
SIKHS.
27J
a.d
1774.
Death of
Cl.urutSiiig
The
allies of
JuMOO.
From Hon.
Jhunda
Sing by the hands of a hired assassin and the Bhangee misal, thus atrocious!}'
deprived of their chief, had no longer any desire to continue the contest.
Churut Sinff
was succeeded by his son Maha Sinff,
who was only
years
J ten J
*=
t>'
;
''
For some years the government was conducted by his mother and the
Ghunea chief, Jye Sing; but the young chief was too talented and ambitious
of age.
Heissucceededhy
MuUa
sing
submit long to tutelage, and was only approaching the years of manhood
when he took the reins of government into his own hands, and immediately
to
commenced a series of
attack was the strong
The
it
to his
own
capital.
The
tribe, it
was
alleged,
trust
by
The success of
and Maha
conquests
of
HISTORY OF INDIA.
272
[Book VIII.
u. 1-01.
referred to
have
had
died,
felt justified
sacrificed
m attacking.
without scruple to
made the
Unprincipled though
the proceeding was it proved successful, and Maha Sing returned from the
pillage of Jumoo laden with spoil which, certainly not without great exaggeration, was estimated at 2,000,000 sterling.
AiaiTOofthe
other Sikh
chiefs
The
other
misals began to take alarm at the sudden aggrandizement oi the one which
had hitherto been regarded as the most insignificant of their number, and even
so
much
ofi"ended
Sing waited upon him at Amritser, he not only received him with the greatest
As usual Maha Sing thought only of
coolness, but treated him with insult.
the manner in which he miijht turn this contumelious treatment to his own
advantage, and suddenly made his appearance at the head of a large force
Here fortune again
before Butala, the capital of Jye Sing's possessions.
favoured him, and Jye Sing was compelled to accept of peace on humiliating
terms, after his son Goor Buksh, a promising youth in whom all his hopes
were
set,
had
was now
fallen in battle.
Sing's ascendency
who
among
satisfied,
and he proceeded
Maha
The
chief of Gujerat, situated in the Doab, between the Chenab and Jhelum.
disturbance occasioned by a new succession was too tempting an opportunity
to
be overlooked, and
Maha
He
commenced
difficult
from the
capital,
field,
and
carried
him
off in the
The
Maha
Sing's death
was very
alarming.
CUAP.
RUNJEET
II.]
SING.
'27S
scarcelj^ to be expected.
naturally belonged,
a.d. 1702.
Death of
aiwi eucces-
jeet sfng"'"
^a.:5
Amritser. From
a minister with
ruin
was
to be expected
unworthy
hands!
at
whom
When
him
its ravages
strongly marked on
His education was almost entirely neglected, and instead of His early
'~''"''"^"
being trained to the duties which were expected to devolve upon him, means
were actually and designedly taken to give him a disrelish, and unfit him for
his countenance.
own
proved one of the ablest monarchs that ever reigned, united a number of
disjointed federations into one compact and powerful kingdom, extended its
limits
by new
while he ruled
conquests, raised
it,
and which
it
it
to a height of glory
lost as
soon as by
which
possessed onh*
his death the government
it
Koonwur, the only child of Goor Buksh, whose death in battle has been
mentioned above, and consequently the grand-daughter of Jye Sing, chief of
Vol.
Ill,
231
HISTORY OF INDIA.
274;
D. 1793.
the
Ghunea
After the death of his favourite son, Jye Sing had concen-
misal.
and
mrnority
great talents
fallen, in
influence of her
[Book VIII.
woman
of
shc had not only planned the marriage of her daughter with
had also secured the succession to the Ghunea misal to herself
but
Runjeet Sing,
She accoi'dingly succeeded on the death of Jye Sing in ] 793, and was thus able
^^^
'^^'^
chief,
own government
Through
and the
this interference
ability with
which
it
exerted, Runjeet Sing's possessions were tolerably well managed during his
minority, and many of the mischiefs which must have occurred had his profli-
was
own
course were
happily prevented.
It, was uot
loug, howevcr, before Runjeet Sing, in imitation of his father's
/-\
On
off the restraints of tutelage.
threw
attaining the age of seventeen
example,
he assumed the government, and effectually rid himself of all undue interference
by procuring the deaths both of his mother and her minister. With Suda
Koonwur,
his
mother-in-law, he
still
possession of the
to
afford him.
Shortly after
him
maun
Shah.
transport
liis
artillery across
it.
He
to
if
he would forward
Runjeet
having in return obtained the grant, proceeded to enforce it, though at the
his
expense of those with whom he had lately been allied. With the aid of
mother-in-law he fitted out an expedition, to which the chiefs in possession of
Thus possessed of the
Lahore were unable to offer any effectual resistance.
and
capital of the Punjab he prepared to make it the nucleus of new conquests,
Chap.
RUNJEET
II.]
275
SING.
ing himself of every opportunity aft'orded by internal dissensions, and accom- ad.
as much by bribery and treachery as by force of arms.
In 1802 the
plisliing
Bhangee
misal,
offered the
his
encroachments, was broken up and made tributary, and many of the districts to
the south and east of Lahore were compelled to acknowledge his supremacy.
In 1804 the dissensions which prevailed in Cabool, while the four sons of Timour
Shah, Humayun, Mahmoud, Zemaun Shah, and Shah Shujah, were contending
for the throne, determined him to make an expedition into those countries east
He accordof the Indus which were still nominally subject to Afghan rule.
isoo.
Acquisitions
of Runjeei,
sing.
ingly proceeded across the Ravee and the Chenab, and found most of the chiefs
more disposed to buy him otf by presents and promises of tribute than to run the
which, while
real
He was
risk of hostilities.
means
it
of .future conquests.
expedition,
Jeswunt
Row
Aniritsei.
Holkar made
his appearance,
.1
Lady.
closely followed
by
Lord Lake. Runjeet Sing was thus brought for the first time into immediate
communication with the Mahrattas and the British, and fully alive to the
importance of the crisis which had arrived, endeavoured at least to divide the
responsibility with the other Sikh chiefs, by holding a gurumata or national
council at Amritser.
The
ties
now
so loose that
Row
Jeswunt
On
had
offered him.
'battle-field.,
His relations
with the
Mahrattas
and the
Britisli.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
276
[Book VIII.
While Lord Lake was in the Pinijab friendly communications took place
A.D. 1808.
between him and Rimjeet Sing, but the ambitious designs evidently entertained by the latter were not viewed without some degree of uneasiness, and it
Threatened
between
collision
might not be distant. Hitherto Runjeet Sing had confined his conquests to the
^ng''Ind
the British
which prevailed
^ygg^ Qf ^i^g Sutlei, but encouraged
by the pusillanimous
spirit
i
i
i
o
government.
in tJje Calcutta council, he had been gradually feeling his way, and preparing
^
to
<
extend his sway over the misals which were situated beyond the left bank
The dissensions prevailing among the Sikh chiefs soon furnished
of that river.
him with
plausible pretexts,
of acting as umpire
settlement
making
it
purpose
His mode
parties.
of
he had in view, the Sikh chiefs became alarmed, and despatched a deputation
The answer given
to Delhi to claim the protection of the British government.
as
what was
was
still in the ascendant, but some assurance of protection was ventured, and the
deputation returned to announce that further encroachments from the west
I
It
he not only endeavoured to induce the Sikh chiefs voluntarily to renounce the
British protection for which they had applied, but took immediate steps practi-
It is pre-
vented by
a treaty,
the successes of Napoleon I. had led to a belief that even India was in danger
of a French invasion, endeavoured to provide against possible contingencies by
despatching three embassies, one to Persia, another to Cabool, and the third to
the Punjab.
The last was intrusted to Mr. (afterwards Lord) Metcalfe, who
of
made him
beyond the
Sutlej
behind because he had refused to follow him, and began to coerce the protected
states.
British diplomatist,
of a
ultimately constrained to conclude a treaty, which, while it left him uncontrolled to the west of the Sutlej, and even recognized certain rights of supremacy over some districts situated on the east of it, obliged him to restore all
Chap.
RUNJEET
II.]
SING.
-277
made from
designs on
to
make
or
to
by means
of exaction
and
of sight, and
Shah
Futteh
entered into an
agreement, by which
it
was
that
and
the latter, in
stipulated
consideration of a share of the plunder, a present of nine lacs, and some prospective advantages, would not only allow the former a free passage through his
territories,
intrigue,
of Attock,
The Sikh
auxiliaries
*^
His
tre.-it-
ment
til
The invitation had been given with very different intentions. Shah Shujah
was in possession of the celebrated diamond Koh-i-noor, now belonging to the
British crown, and Runjeet Sing, who had set his heart upon it, was determined
tion of
all
though
it
should be at the expense of a gross violaThe very second day after Shah Shujah 's
arrival
to
it,
shahshuja.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
278
A.D. 1S19.
[Book YITI.
he was at
of
life,
is
as follows:
last
When
^(M^'T^*
of
ris\
"
^^
hm^^^&K^^'i^^Sp.
*
^-g
^f'^^^^f-P
an
\.^r
ji.
*^'^
his
own
fl.
^'^^^
provinces
^'
of
torted from
'
to us and
Light.">
TiieKoii-i-
oi-
sword,
Rimeif' t\\exi
^i"e-
worthless,
and
months
he at
last
Meanwhile Runjeet Sing, who had succeeded in subduing most of the hillAt
chiefs on his north ei-n frontiers, was meditating the conquest of Cashmere.
first, however, he underrated the difficulties, and after sustaining severe reverses,
Failure of an
ag^iinst
rctumcd
crest-fallcu to Lahore.
He was
forces,
with an immense booty, fell into his hands. He was now in a condition to
resume his desifjns on Cashmere, which he ajjain invaded in 1819. He was
and
disperse.
Cashmere with
its celebrated
With his convalley thus became an integral portion of the Sikh monarchy.
and he began to look southward into Scinde, and
(i[uests his ambition inci'eased,
westward beyond the Indus. In the latter direction Attock, which secured the
to
passage of the river, was already in his power, and gave him ready access
to
the territory of Peshawer.
As the Afghans, with whom he was about
engage
'
RuDJeet Sing was accustomed to wear this diamond on his right arm,
set, as
we have engraved
it,
in
Chap.
RUNJEET
II.]
in hostilities,
were naturally brave, and had a high military reputation, Runjeet ad,
279
SING.
still
own
officers, European
Ventura and Allard, unexpectedly made their appearance in his capital in quest
of employment.
They had both fought under Napoleon I. at Waterloo, the one
as colonel of infantry,
as colonel of cavalry,
i83i.
iiitroducBU
into Sikiiu-my.
It
till
S. Harcliiige's
Recollections of India.
promise,
by which he
left
its
former
chiefs,
on their
acknowledge
supremacy and pay him tribute. On the whole
he had little cause to plume himself on the results of the expedition. A Mahometan fanatic continued ever and anon to raise the religious war-cry, and
engaging to
his
during a series of struggles, only terminated by his death in 1831, made the
possession of Peshawer by the Sikhs both expensive and precarious.
Runjeet
Sing had now extended his territories to the utmo.st limits which they were
destined to attain.
His ambition,
it is
true,
was by no means
satisfied.
Often
Runjeet
Sing's ac(|uisitioii ol
Peshawer.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
280
A.D. 1831.
had
lie
[Book VIII.
that object in view, but his presence there had been anticipated by the British,
his further progress in that quarter might endano-er
his encroachments,
as forming part of
The Indus, after receiving the Punjnud, laden with the accumulated waters
of the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravee, and the Garra or Sutlej, continues its
course southward to the ocean in a comparatively narrow valley, which in
respect both of its fertility,
deserts
where natural or
which hem
it
in
on either
side,
on the
Bhawuipoor.
left
progress of Runjeet
which placed him beyond the reach of danger. All the tract to the south,
forming what is properly called Scinde, after it had passed through the hands
who
less
was
At
a later period
claimed descent from the Abasside
Mogul empire.
Noor Mahomed
as his vicegerent.
Afghanistan.
UHAP.
II.]
281
it
a.d.
isos.
than nominal, was never completely dissolved, and the rulers of Scinde did not
till it
Cabool.
struggle,
assumed the sovereignty, but was not long allowed to hold it undisputed. The
who had assisted him thought themselves entitled to a larger share of
power and territory than he was willing to allot them, and the dispute was on
chiefs
the point of being decided by the sword, when the counsels of the elders, and
the tears and entreaties of the women, prevailed in procuring a peaceful arrange-
ment, by which, though Futteh Ali was still recognized as the chief ruler, the
whole country was divided into three independent districts. To Meer Sohral
his
of the
to the navigation
The British government,
attaching
I
o an importance
Indus which was deemed extravagant by some of the ablest Indian statesmen,
but which subsequent events have fully justified, had repeatedly attempted to
form friendly relations with the court of Hyderabad. At an early period a com>
mercial agent of the Company was allowed to reside and trade at Tatta, but
so much obstructed b}^ the ruling authorities, and even subjected to popular
violence, for which no redress could be obtained, that the agency was with-
was
No
the pretext of commerce, ulterior designs of conquest might be concealed.
between
the
two
attempt, therefore, was made to renew friendly intercourse
governments
till
Ameers themselves to apply for it. When threatened with an invasion from
Cabool they had sought succour from Persia. It was readily granted, and a
Meanwhile the
Persian army had been ordered to march to their assistance.
Cabool invasion had proved abortive, and the Ameers,
now
less afraid of it
than
of their Persian auxiliaries, thought it a good stroke of policy to seek the friendship of the British government as a means of frustrating the ambitious designs
III.
desirable,
as
envoy
232
to
Relations
with the
Ameei-sut
HISTORY OF INDIA.
282
AD.
1809.
Treaty with
the Ameers
of Scinde.
Hydevabad
to
[Book VIII.
ceeded his powers, and his government, not prepared to risk the entanglements
in which such a treaty might involve them, refused to ratify it.
Ultimatel}-,
after many delays, Futteh Ali being now dead, a treaty was concluded with
2.
Enmity
shall
The last article of this treaty reminds us that it was made at the time when
a French invasion of India, by an army brought overland through Turkey and
As this alarm
Persia, was believed to be not only practicable but probable.
soon passed away, the friendly relations which had been established with Scinde
much
when
who were
continually
in-
making
Expedition
up the
Indus by
Alexander
Burnes.
With
to
it
this
view
the
Lahore by
same time
water.
at the
born at Montrose in 1805, and entered the Bombay army as a cadet at the age
of sixteen.
Instead of resting satisfied with the ordinary routine of military
duty, he
was a
and made
so
much
proficiency that
best person
was
to
have
Though
its
there
to
Cjiap. II.]
283
permit such a mission to pass along the Indus, it was deemed politic to assume
that tlie^' would not object, or at all events to put it out of their power to
start objections till the voyage had actually commenced.
Accordingly no
communication was made on the subject to the government of Scinde, and
Lieutenant Burnes, after entering the Indus with his fleet of boats, had reached
the
first
inhabited town on
ObstaoU'j;
eucouiileied
by Lieutenant Bullies.
It
Hyderabad.
its
A.D. 1832,
Ameers took alarm when thus superciliously treated, and immediately sent
with a small party of soldiers,
to request Lieutenant Burnes to wait at
an
the
officer,
mouth of the
He deemed
it
Even then
in his
1)11
so
portrait
by
S.
Lawrence.
might be interpreted to their disadvantage, endeavoured to make amends by aifording every requisite
navigation of the river itself presented few difficulties, and the
facility
flotilla
the
con-
Company
.submitted to
them a
and roads of Scinde should be open to "the merchants and traders of Hindoostan,'
on payment of "certain proper and moderate duties," to be afterwards fixed.
and onh'
which
is
New
treaty
with the
Ameei'S.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
284
A.D. 1814.
[Book VIII.
contracting parties bind themselves never to look with the eye of covetousness
on the possessions of each other." The commercial part of this treaty was
renewed and made more explicit by another treaty, concluded in 1834, but the
prohibition of armed vessels and of the transport of military stores remained
entire, and could not be violated without a gross breach of faith.
Relations
with Persia.
...
pean power; and under this conviction two treaties had been concluded, the
one in 1809 and the other in 1814, both having it for their main object to
secure India from
King
European
of Persia judges
it
invasion.
liminary articles every treaty or agreement he may have made with any one
of the powers of Europe becomes null and void, and that he will not permit
any European
force
steadily kept in view, though, to meet the change of circumstances, the terms
were so far altered that the Persian government, while binding themselves as
to proceed towards India," limit the former declaration of nullity to " all
alli-
At the
treaties
withPeisia.
its
and hence,
as if
being interposed
barrier, appears to
to British interests;
"
Should the Afghans be at war with the
eighth and ninth stand as follows:
British nation, his Persian majesty engages to send an army against them in such
manner and of such force as may be concerted with the English government.
The expenses of such an army shall be defrayed by the British government in
" If
such manner as may be agreed upon at the period of its being required."
war should be declared between the Afghans and Persians, the English govern-
ment
shall
be
solicited
Chap.
II.]
285
a.d. isu.
of India;
to
^
degrading to stipulate for foreign aid to assist them in repelling such an invasion.
The Persian government, better informed as to the real state of the case, were
contented with stipulating only for non-interference.
Not long
saw reason
was
Afghanistan
as a barrier
toinoia.
Persia
own ground, and was in consequence daily becoming more and more subject
Russian influence. So far was she therefore from having either the ability
her
to
be apprehended.
Under these circumstances the idea of a Persian barrier of
defence was necessarily abandoned, and no alternative remained but to fall
all
but insurmountable
but
when
to these
no doubt true that on more than one occasion conquering armies had marched
from that quarter, but there is reason to believe that they never would have
succeeded had they not previously purchased the aid or at least the forbearance
of the mountain tribes commanding the passes.
was necessary
there can hardly be a doubt that it was
it
independencies, the heads of which, jealous of each other and pursuing separate
As
interests, were little inclined to concur in any common course of action.
early as 1809,
when
into exile.
one of
its
sovereign, engaged
in a struggle
Treaty with
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
286
AD.
1816.
states
shall in
[Book VIII.
no manner
Kino- of Cabool shall permit no individual of the French to enter his territories."
This treaty proved a dead letter in so far as British interests were concerned;
but was fortunate for Shah Shujah, as it was doubtless one main cause of the
asylum which was afterwards given to him and his family within the British
territory at Loodiana.
Internal
Shall
his brother
The Dooranee
only inferior
brothers.
services, did
not
allow them to be forgotten, and used his office of prime minister in such
a manner as showed that lie was not to be satisfied until all the power of the
his hands.
of
The
of Persia were
made the
defined,
pretext.
Khan during an
countries
by mutual
recriminations and retaliations, repeatedly took place. Towards the end of 1816,
shortly after Shah Shujah had resigned the contest for the crown and joined
his family at Loodiana,
ment.
Brought by
on^.
whom
With
this
Mahmoud's
brother,
he determined to seize
Treacherous
attack
Herat.
repel
by the Persian governthe expedition to the vicinity of Herat, which was then
it
nii
ni
f>
'
01
with the leading chiefs, who had left the city as a deputation to wait upon him,
Overwhen Dost Mahomed seized the opportunity to effect his purpose.
powering those of the garrison whom he had not been able previously to gam
by bribery, he made the governor his prisoner, pillaged the treasury, and not
satisfied
unmanly
with massacring
all
who
offered resistance,
atrocities.
It is not improbable that the attack on Herat was made with the sanction
Shah Mahmoud, who was anxious to displace his brother but the general
horror and disgust excited by the manner in which it had been effected made
of
Chap.
COMMOTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.
II.]
him disavow
connection with
all
287
it,
by
his brother,
was thrown
off'
his guard,
and was
a.d. isie.
'
Barbarities
Fut'teh
'^^'"''
only returning from the expedition when he found himself a prisoner in the
hands of his most inveterate enemy.
This was Prince Kamran, the heir-
who
lost
of his dagger.
This was only the first in the series of barbarities about to be inflicted on
him.
His brothers had all fled, and it was thought possible that as the loss
of his eye-sight
had terminated
his
own
and recommend
career,
however, was unbroken, and he steadily refused everything that was asked of
him.
It now only remained for his enemies to do their worst, and he was
brought into a
tent,
slowly and deliberately perpetrated by the most vindictive of his enemies, one
cutting off" his right ear, and at the same time taunting him with some real or
it
feet
Prince
and
Kamran to abandon all their other territories and take refuge in Herat.
now the only stronghold that remained to them, while the Barukzyes
This was
been brought against them, but their mutual ambition soon gave rise to comIn the
peting claims which could not be settled witliout an appeal to arms.
division of the
Khan seated himself at Candahar; and Dost Mahomed Khan, having as much by treachery as by skill and
prowess captured Cabool, claimed it as his own by right of conquest. The
he had for some time been governor
division
Shere Dil
which circumstances rather than choice had thus made between the
scarcel}^
refused to rest satisfied with a disturbed province, while Dost Mahomed, who
was not only the youngest of the family, but in consequence of the low birth
Successes
Barukzyes.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
288
AD.
1818.
Dissensions
Barukzyes.
[Book VIII.
the capital.
the brothers, though
was
it
member
little
of
it,
occupied
unanimity between
would make
it
almost impossible for them to maintain the ascendency which they had
Indeed, they appear to have abandoned the idea of independence; for
Dost Mahomed, when threatened with expulsion from the capital, endeavoured
to secure himself by a nominal restoration of the Sudozye dynasty, in the
usurped.
person of Sultan Ali and Azim Khan, when preparing to march from Cashmere,
made an offer of the crown to Shah Shujah, who could not resist the temptaIn contion, and set out in 1818 to try his fortune once more in Afghanistan.
;
sequence of
anarchy, and
all
it
be re-established.
He had scarcely
The usual bad fortune of Shah Shujah attended him.
a
as
he
could
than
raise,
quarrel ensued,
joined Azim Khan with such troops
and he was again compelled to save himself by flight. Azim Khan immediately set up another puppet Sudozye sovereign in the person of Prince Ayoot,
and continued
Shah
Mahmouds
abortive
agahisV"'^
Cabool.
his
still
i,t,>
I'-ii
was advancing
i-
of
at
^
miles
now
tion,
off"
convinced that their continued hostilities could only issue in their destruccame to terms, and a new division was made, by which, under the nominal
Peshawer.
Hostilities
between the
Barukzyes
Duriug
tlic
.*
punish these aggressions Azim Khan mustered a large force and commenced
his march.
Had the issue depended on military prowess it is probable that he
would have succeeded but Runjeet Sing instead of fighting had recourse to a
;
failed him,
and
Chap. 11
289
and heart-burnings which he knew to be still at work in the breasts AD. 1823.
Barukzye confederates, that Azim Khan, when he was pluming himself
the
with
hope of victory, saw his force suddenly melt away. The disappoint-
jealousies
of the
to bear,
in 1823, he
Prince Ayoot was still the nominal sovereign of Cabool, but in the confusion occasioned by Azim Khan's death, he was easily set aside, and the contest
Troubled
state of Afslianistiin.
supremacy was once more renewed among the Barukzye chiefs. Habiboolah Khan, Azim Khan's eldest son, was at first acknowledged as his successor,
but he had none of his father's talents, and soon made himself contemptible by
a life of dissipation and by tyranny and caprice alienated those who were best
for
and were most disposed to befriend him. Dost Mahomed, who had played
a leading part in the treachery which proved fatal to Azim Khan, was the first to
able
Sale's
Defence of Jelalabad.
take advantage of the worthlessness of his son, and after succeeding in inducing
his troops to abandon him in the open field, compelled him to shut himself up
own way.
Here
Mahomed been
Barukzye
his resistance
left
chiefs
to deal with
must have
him in his
Dost Mahomed, at the very moment when he thought himself sure of the
not only saw it elude his grasp, but Was obliged to save himself by flight.
prize,
The
III.
The
truce
at
first,
233
and
Hoiiowtmce
Dost and
'iJai,o,'ed.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
290
A.D. 1S33.
Hnpture of
[Book VIII.
was ere long succeeded by another rupture. Shere Dil Khan died at Candahar,
and the temporary arrangement which he had been mainly instrumental in
Dost Mahomed renewed his claims on
effecting was immediately broken up.
Cabool, and Sultan
Mahomed,
former position at Peshawer. This event, which took place in 182G, though it did
not formally settle the question of supremacy between the Barukzye brothers,
leaving him in possession of the
capital it procured for him a general recognition as sovereign of Afghanistan.
For several years his title remained undisputed, and it rather appears that he
virtually
gave
it
Dost Mahomed.
to
By
education, and
tracted in earlier
life.
As
was
population, justice
the strong, and real grievances were carefully redressed.
In following out this
procedure it was often necessary to use the strong arm, and no small discontent
to practise oppression,
compelled to
desist from it.
The old Dooranee chiefs in particular, who, under the Sudozye
dynasty, had in a great measure monopolized all the powers of government,
were indignant at being curbed by an upstart ruler, and gave such decided
evidence of their readiness to conspire against him, that they were not only
regarded with disfavour, but not unfrequently treated with a severity which
was neither necessary nor politic. The design obviously was to crush their
spirit
Dost
this
Treaty be-
shujaiiand
s^r*
and
Mahomed was
In
the
very heart of his dominions a powerful party ready to break, out in rebelHon
the moment a hopeful leader should appear.
This statc of feeling in Afghanistan was well known to Shah Shujah, and
him
to chcrish a
hope
that,
fastidious, and
Shah Shujah,
Chap.
II.]
291
a.d. i834.
"
all
CI
bmg showed
,>
own
resources,
jewels.
Even
endeavoured to
this
raise
two or three
lacs of rupees
difficulty,
Shah Shujah
entii-ely on his
by pledging
his
and he endeavoured
to
Treaty be-
tween Shall
sinyahand
sil^g^^^*
his application.
as follows:
friend, I
when
its
neighbours
your own
actions
all
these discouragements
his
detailed.
While Shah
had despatched a
treaty with Shah
made manifest
to
him
the city was in their hands, and he had no alternative but to save himself
by an ignominious flight.
Dost Mahomed, equally exasperated 'by the mismanagement of his brother
and the treachery of Runjeet Sing, had no sooner returned from the defeat of
Shah Shujah than he prepared to attempt the reconquest of Peshawer. His
opes of success rested mainly on the fanatical spirit of his countrymen, who.
The
latter
seifmastw
HISTORY OF INDIA.
292
A.D. 1S37.
Mahometans, held the Sikhs and the religion which they professed in utter
To give effect to this feeling, a religious war was proclaimed, and
detestation.
as
Dost
.attempt to
PesWer.
[Book VIII.
^^
Commander
of the Faithful.
its
want
its
numbers,
of discipline, which
it
he despatched an envoy to the Afghan camp. The nature of the instruche had received may be gathered from the account which he afterwards
gave of his proceedings "I was despatched by the prince as ambassador to
I divided his brothers against him, exciting their jealousy of his
the Ameer.
tiate,
tions
growing power, and exasperating the family feuds with which, from my previous
acquaintance, I was familiar, and stirred up the feudal lords of his durbar with
CaTisesofits
suddenly from his camp about nightfall. The chief accompanied me towards
the Sikh camp, whilst his followers fled to their mountain fastnesses.
So large
a body retiring from the Ameer's control, in opposition to his will, and without
previous intimation, threw the general camp into inextricable confusion, which
terminated in the clandestine rout of his forces without beat of drum, or sound
of bugle, or the trumpet's blast, in the quiet stillness of midnight."
Tiie
Afghan
lulteiy""
deserted.
made good
disaster
and
felt so
from the
rood,
east.
which
is
it.
Chap.
II.J
who was
killed
on the
293
spot,
and sustaining
a.d. 1537.
to retire
victory.
sons,
new encroachments
From Mrs.
hope
new
SuRAT.
to
Young's
all his
to
still
in
discomfitures,
was
still
sanguine enough
and treachery from within was continually threatening
How were all these dangers to be met? The only plausible
for success;
revolutions.
answer which Dost Mahomed could give was that he ought to endeavour to
by a foreign alliance. Here there was not much room for choice.
The only governments which seemed capable of giving liim effectual support
were the Persian on the west, and the British on the east. It was doubtful
however if either the one or the other would be willing to afford it. The Shah
secure himself
of Persia
making common
beyond Herat, and that he meditated the conquest of it merely as preliminary to that of the whole of Afghanistan. There was therefore more cause to
far
fear
ernment was
On
and had
^o^* ^'^
homed'
biousi oliiy
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
294
A.D. 1834.
[Book YIII.
What reason
of fighting his way to the crown of Cabool.
Dost
Mahomed
could
alliance
which
offer
of
that
any
expect
was
there, then, to
By
made
the subsistiug treaties with Persia, the British government was bound,
War arising between the Persians and Afghans, to maintain a
in tlic cvcut of
''^^'
strict neutrality,
and not
interfere in
An extension
of Persian
to be
only another name for an extension of Russian territory, and therefore, so far
from being disposed to fulfil the obligation of neutrality, it had become a vital
object with the British
government to provide
frontier
heir-apparent to the Persian throne, after his disastrous campaigns against the
Russians had convinced him of his utter inability to cope with them, was
anxious to turn his arms in some other direction where he might be able with
less risk to
make new
recent losses.
might be made subservient to the views of their own governFor a time his choice of a field of enterprise alternated between Khiva
and Herat.
it
The
latter
was
at last preferred,
and
in
Abbas Meerza's eldest son, set out at the head of an army intended to capture
Herat, which was regarded as the key of India, and thereafter extend its conquests
The Shah's
Herat.
still
This attempt upon Herat gave great uneasiness to the British government,
^.nd was made the subject of strong remonstrance by its ambassador at the
Persian court, but as Russian influence was now completely in the ascendant
the expedition was persisted in, and the siege of Herat actually commenced.
Before much progress was made, an event took place which brought it abruptl}''
Abbas Meerza died at Meshed, and Mahomed Meerza, fearing that
to a close.
his prospects of succeeding to the throne
hastened back with his array, and succeeded in obtaining his nomination as
heir.
He had not long to wait for the succession, for his grandfather Futteh
conquering
Chap.
II.]
295
The capture
of
-P,
in his council,
and
it
Persia
on
Herat.
abandon
it.
transactions,
and
to the injuries
treachery of the "reckless and misguided Sikhs," he continued thus: "Communicate to me whatever may suggest itself to your wisdom for the settlement of the
make
of the
independent
British
states."
LordAuckpoUcy.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
296
A.D. 1836.
Difficulty
by^Lorcr*'
in^'carTng
out a pacific
policy.
[Book VIII.
our being at no distant date involved in political and possibly military operations upon our western frontier: and even since I have been here, more than
one event has occurred, which has led
me to think
JO
to
./
'^
is
attached
to the free navigation of the Indus, most justly, I think, and yet perhaps
with some exaggeration, from its value not having been tried; the advance
of the Persians towards Herat, and the link which may in consequence be
formed between Indian and European politics all lead me to fear, that the
wish which I have had to confine my administration to objects of commerce
and finance, and improved institutions and domestic policy, will be far indeed
from being accomplished. But, as you say, we must fulfil our destiny." These
apprehensions, however, were still too vague to have produced any decided
change in his measures, and in a despatch dated as late as 20th September, 1837,
the directors,
thus
have
was soon
Travels of
Bi^uiMiu
Central
Asia.
to
it
When
be practically abandoned.
arrived at Bokhara.
The attention which he thus attracted was greatly increased by the book of
travels which he publislied, and when the commercial mission began to be
whom
ought to be intrusted.
Burnes returned to India in 1835, and while on a mission to the Ameers
talked
of,
there
was
scarcely
any doubt
as to
it
Chap.
II.]
297
of Scinde, he
to
a.d. issr.
m^. Bumescabooi.
Cabool towards the end of September, 1837. The instructions given him were
He had been selected, as a letter from Mr.
entirely of a commercial character.
"
then
to
the
Macnaghten,
secretary
government, informed him, to conduct a
treaties lately
and having made the desired arrangements with them at Hyderabad, sail up
first to
Khyrpoor, and then to Mittun-Kote. Here he was to be
the river,
met by Captain Wade, Lieutenant Makison, and an agent from Runjeet Sing, and
with them the best place
"for the establishment of a mart or entrepot,
^
^
select
its ostensi-
with reference to
and
commerce
all
to
"make inquiry
them "to
Cabool he was
to visit
"
as parade would be
arrangements, which he would easily be able to do,
unsuitable to the character of a commercial mission."
The commercial char-
was
was commissioned
economy: "To
whom
it
it
also the
cannot
merce
is
the basis of
blessings of civilized
all
life.
The general
and comforts
among neighbouring
It seeks for itself
it
was
to be so interpreted.
In a private letter
"I
came
to
Ill,
234
object.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
298
A.D. 1837.
and
Mr.
As
[Book VIII.
to he done
hereafter."
nothing of this in the formal instructions given him, it
Bumes' jg reasonable to
presume that some latitude had been allowed him, and that
there
is
mission a
ix)iiticaione.the
uamc
of
to cover
But
it
truly
signifies.
arrival,
this
time
my
It
"Up
his
to
confined to matters of
shall
believe
set forth
Sir Alexander Burnes.
Prom
a portrait ty D. Maclise,
Sikh chief"
act in such a
Maiomed.
Khan
will
manner
R A.
British
in its behalf,
Dost Mahomed
political diplomatist
is
government
to
show
its interest
for us the
reception given him by Dost Mahomed shows that he regarded him in the very
same light. Had it been supposed that he had come merely to treat of conimcrce, would the Ameer's favourite son, Akbar Khan, been sent out to conduct
him iuto tlic city "with great demonstrations of respect and joy;" and would
the Ameer himself, when Burnes on the following day delivered his letter of cre-
have received the deputation "in a very flattering manner, with many
expressions of his high sense of the great honour which had been conferred on
dentials,
him, and his at last having had the means of communication with an officer
of the British government, for which he felt deeply grateful to the governorSuch is the account given in the letter already mentioned, and it is
general?"
impossible to read
The
first
it
and "lasted
till
to be
midnight."
and dwelt on the advantages to be derived from throwing open the navigation
of the Indus and the trade of
The Ameer listened with apparent
Afghanistan.
Chap.
II.]
299
was he
a.d. issv.
Mr. Bumes'
view
wuh
Mahomed
him,
till
was
whether there was any hope that the British would assist him
in obtaining the restoration of Peshawer, or mediate between him and
Runjeet
Sing, for the purpose of preventing future encroachments and securing a
In regard to the former alternative Burnes could not hold out
lasting peace.
to ascertain
any hopes. Runjeet Sing was an ancient and valued ally of the British government, and therefore, if anything was to be done in regard to Peshawer, it
could only be in the way of friendly advice.
Such being the case, the true
policy of
all
the conflict
would be a source of
The
I'll
political
(^
and to receive
back Peshawer, not as his right, but as a free grant, to be held by him as tribuBarnes had no instructions which would authorize him to give
tary to Lahore.
this advice,
it
at
all,
in possession of
it
when
it
was
seized
by the
Sikhs.
Owing
who was
to the hostile
feelings with which the brothers regarded each other, Dost Mahomed considered
that he would gain nothing at all by such an arrangement, and the subject
was dropped.
Burnes seems
his letters to the
now
the same day when the above interview took place begins thus: " I have now
the honour to report the result of my inquiries on the subject of Persian influ-
His confer
^^'^^ with
him on the
peshawer.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
300
AD.
1837.
Anivaiofa
ambl^Laor
[Book VIII.
ence in Cabool, and the exact power which the Kuzzilbash, or Persian party
resident in this city, exercise over the politics of Afghanistan," and after a
"
The Shah of Persia has not been slow
lengthened disquisition thus concludes:
an elchee has
iu rcspouding to Dost Mahomed Khan's desire for an alliance
;
atcandahar.|^^^^
him with
all parties,
even doubtful
if
which he may make will never be placed in the balance against those
any
The King of Persia desires to add Herat to his
of the British government.
dominions, and the chiefs of Candahar and Cabool might certainly aid him in
offers
good
offices
doubtful."
Proposed
Persian
now
attracting
t->
with Russia,
gwns..^ naturally excited considerable alarm in the British government, and Burnes,
aware of the anxiety felt in regard to it, was careful to ascertain exactly how it
"
stated with
stood.
Dost Mahomed Khan, when the subject was broached,
ance with
e.
The Persian
alii-
much
attcution.
As
it
alliance
being his neighbour, but he had sought in vain, and hearing of the power of
Persia and the designs towards Khorasan, he had addressed Mahomed Shah,
and an elchee was now at Candahar bringing robes for him and his brother,
with a valuable dagger, and a promise of assistance in a crore of rupees." The
Ameer, notwithstanding the "considerable candour" for which Burnes gives
him
credit,
and
"
to unite
world that the power of the Sikhs is nothing in comparison with that of the
so much the
English, and if all our objects be obtained through that power
"
from you,
better."
Again, For these few days past no letter has come direct
that on
I
learn
and
others
but from the contents of letters from Mr. Burnes
Chap.
II.]
son
army coming
to Herat,
301
to send
your
a.d. isst.
This
me
and famous
word; the
to them."
nothing in
power compared
from which the above extracts are given was in all probability
not only communicated to Burnes, but suggested, if not dictated by him.
It
was written on the 2oth October, 1837, and he had the very day before, in
The
letter
Britiah ohjectious to
alliance of
Afghaiiislui.
replying to a letter addressed to him by Kohan Dil Khan, the Candahar chief,
used the following language: " It is known to you that I came to this quarter
with good intentions towards all parties, and particularly to converse with all
the
members
Cabool.
At
of your family;
this
time
do not understand matters, and believe that some person has been
It is not possible to hold two water-melons in one hand;
deceiving me.
step,
unanimity in families
certain cause of evil
is
do into futurity, I see no good in the step you now contemplate even I see
that the fruit of the matter will be nothing but repentance and loss; and
wishing you well, I have thought it proper to warn you.'" Not satisfied with
;
thus denouncing an alliance with Persia, Burnes had at the same time ventured
to assure Dost Mahomed that " if he succeeded in preventing Kohan Dil Khan
it
could not
fail
to be received as a strong
mark
of
Burnes, though apparently still unprovided with any other than his original
commercial instructions, had thus thrown himself into the very heart of a
political intrigue.
The
fact
was known
to his government,
and
so far
from
The
being objected to, appears rather to have been regarded with approbation.
mission had accordingly assumed a character entirely different from that originally impressed
upon
it.
The expedition against Herat by Mahomed Shah had again been actually
undertaken, and while this step gave umbrage to the British government,
from knowing that it was truly more a Russian than a Persian scheme of
aggrandizement, the startling discovery was made that a Russian agent was
journeying directly toward Cabool. On the 14th of October, 1837, a letter
was received from Colonel Stoddart, then with the Persian camp near Nisha"
poor, stating that
Captain Vikovich of the Russian service, an aide-de-camp
R^^'Sian in-
Afghanistan,
302
A.D.
1837.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book VIII.
of the general of Orenburg, arrived here from Teheran and Resht on the
He is gone on a mission to Cabool. Horsemen have been
instant.
Russian intrigues in
Afghanistan,
him
0th
given to
pass
thence to Candahar.
>
He
left
set out
on
next
stage
curiosity
off.
now
of
versation
by pretending ignorance of
the different languages in which Major
He knew no
At
in Russian.
with
"a bona
Mahomed
fide
Shah."
Russian
officer
He now
spoke French fluently, and when rallied by the major on this sudden
"
acquirement, only observed with a smile that it would not do to be too familiar
with strano^ers in the desert."
Arrival of
special Rus-
sian agent.
1837.
Chap.
II.]
way
303
to Cabool."
to
Burnes for counsel, declared " that he wished to have nothing to do with any
other power than the British that he did not wish to receive any agent of any
a.d. issr.
interview
power whatever so long as he had a hope of sympathy from us and that he Dost Mawould order the Russian agent to be turned out, detained on the road, or act MTBumes.
in any way I desired him."
Burnes gave judicious advice. After observing
;
him
Ameer
and put Burnes in possession of the different documents that came into his
hands.
Two of these from native agents are so far interesting as showing the
impression produced
The
character.
first
by the
arrival of Vikovich,
country in Teheran, he
came to the camp of Mahomed Shah Kajar, and after seeing his majesty he
passed through Birjird Jawer, Lash, and Seistan, on way to Ahmed Shahu
(Candahar). He is a man of Moscow, and stands high in the favour of the
Leaving the
emperor.
at
rarities of that
list
of the presents,
Russian
intrigues.
charge on account
of the disorders of the road between Teheran and Candahar.
As he looks a
left in his
Kohan
of Vikovich,
The second
and that he
is
Mahomed by Moolla
"the bearer of
"
:
letters
tiation.
elchee.
sesses
may make
ments he
now both
You have
Please to
office here-
after."
to
ruckum
addressed to the
Ameer by
Shah, and the letter which Vikovich delivered from the Russian
ambassador at Teheran on arriving at Cabool. The Ameer's letter to the czar
Mahomed
is
It
was
as follows:
"There
and quarrels between myself and the royal house of the Sudozyes.
The
The English government is disposed to support Shujah-ul-Moolk.
differences
HISTORY OF INDIA.
304
A.D. 1837.
Letter of
Dost Ma-
homed
to
nLsUi^
[Book VIII.
whole of India
is
*/
power have always been fighting with the Sikhs. Your imperial government
has made friendship with the Persians; and if your majesty will be graciously
pleased to arrange matters in the Afghan country, and assist this nation (which
amounts to twenty lacs of families), you will place me under obligations. I
The Shah's
praiseworthy services."
"Agreeably
to
my
of Russia to attend your court, paid his respects on his way, stating he had been
honoured by his imperial majesty to deliver some messages to you; on this I
thought it incumbent on me to remember you by the despatch of this ruckum,
to convince
you that
ambassador
to Dolt '^Ma
homed.
Your
intelligence of his
was ordered
to
him on
his long
with your secrets. I beg you will look upon him like myself, and take his
words as if they were from me. In case of his detention at Cabool you will
him often to be in your presence and let my master know, through me,
about your wishes, that anxiety may be removed." The letter concludes with
an enumeration of "some Russian rarities," which the ambassador would take
allow
first
emperor
Its contents
and
his
flattered
me
Chap.
II.]
305
Cabool
to trade into
my
kingdom."
The genuineness of
this
British go''^''^'='"*-
letter is
ambassador at
Simonich
St.
Petersburg,
Shah
is
to
the Shah are in the highest degree unwise and injurious," bat as Count Simonich's proceedings were "so contrary to all the professed principles and declared
Explanation
demanded
by British
^tst.
p^*^'^'^"'"^-
put a stop to a course of conduct so much at variance with its own declared
policy, and so adverse to the best interests of an ally for whom the Russian
ernment as to the
folly
monarch.
and
strations
the governor-general, in which, after dwelling on the "strong demonon the part of Russia to interest herself" in the affairs of Afghanistan,
he stated
it
to be his
"most deliberate
conviction, that
much more
rigorous
coolly,
Ameer, that
Vol. III.
if
left
Disclaimer
by Count
Nesselrode.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
30G
A.D. 1837.
[Book VIII.
Russian
in-
charged."
it
in a
The
more
Clanricarde,
British ministry
serious light,
who had
when
Durham
as
ambassador at
St.
Lord Palmerston's
note.
relations
regard to Persia, and the violation of this agreement by Count Simonich, who,
while the British envoy at Teheran "was preaching moderation and peace," was
on the contrary "inciting to war and conquest."
Count Nesselrode, wlien
applied
to,
had
as
represented, he was not acting in accordance with but directly in the face of
his instructions, and in proof of this, an offer was made by M. Rodofinikin,
the head of the eastern department in Count Nesselrode's office, to show the
Earl of Durham the book in which all the instructions given were entered.
At
this
by subsequent information. For not only did the prime minShah state that Count Simonich had urged his Persian majesty to
undertake an expedition to Herat, but Count Simonich himself admitted to
Mr. M'Neill that he had done so though he added that in so doing be had
fully confirmed
ister of the
disobeyed his instructions." Nor had he stopped here. He had during the last
twelve months advanced to the Shah the sum of 50,000 tomans, to "enable
him
to prosecute
also
announced
to him, that "if his Persian majesty should succeed in taking Herat, the Russian
government would
to Russia."
camp, while the former, who had arrived first, was in hopes of terminating
the war "in a manner satisfactory and honourable to both parties," the latter,
"assuming a part the very reverse of that which the British minister had
acted,
prosecute the offensive operations furnished a further sum of money for distribution to the Persian soldiers and by his countenance, support, and advice, con.
Chap.
II.]
307
copy of a treaty which has been concluded between Persia and the Afghan
ruler of Candahar, the execution of which has been guaranteed by Count
a.d. isst.
Lord Paimerston's
note.
Simonich, and the stipulations of which are injurious and offensive to Great
The guarantee "contains a promise to compel Persia to defend the
Britain."
Candahar against attack from any quarter whatever," and though "in
stipulation no specific allusion is made to England," yet the intention
rulers of
this
might be inferred from the original draft of the treaty "which was less cautiously
made to Eugland, as one of the
stafif
of the general
Cabool,"
Russian
awnt would
to the
this
Persian government to support him in his hostilities with the ruler of the Punjab and the further reports which the British government have received of the
language held by this Russian agent at Candahar and at Cabool, can lead to no
other conclusion than that he strenuously exerted himself to detach the rulers
of those Afghan states from all connection with Eno^land, and to induce them
to
Russia.
first
instance,
"
Notwithstanding the long extracts which have been already made from this
"The British
note, the conclusion is too spirited and important to be omitted.
government readily admits that Russia is free to pursue, with respect to the
matters in question, whatever course may appear to the cabinet of St. Petersburs: most conducive to the interests of Russia; and Great Britain is too conscions of her
own
strength,
But the
any
British
and too
to defend her
own
and
sufiiciency of the
government
which
this note
cabinet of St. Petersburg, whether the intentions and the policy of Russia
towards Persia and towards Great Britain are to be deduced from the declara-
afi'airs
case,
which of
ernments, gave to the British cabinet a good right to expect that so entire a
its spirited
HISTORY OF INDIA.
308
A.D.
1837.
'
[Book VIII.
change of policy on the part of Russia, together with the reasons on which it
was founded, would have been made known to her majesty's government by
the cabinet of St. Petersburg, instead of being left to be inferred from the acts
The undersigned (Marquis of
mterXtive of Russiau agcnts in Persia and Afghanistan.
is instructed to say, that her majesty's government
in
conclusion
i^tfi'^Tes^n Clanricarde)
Lord Pal-
persuadcd that the cabinet of St. Petersburg will see in this communication,
a fresh proof of the anxious desire of the British government to maintain
Afghanistan, ^g
unimpaired the friendly relations which so happily subsist between the two
countries, and to which the British government justly attaches so great a
value
spirit,
claimer of
the Russian
govemmen
statement.
"
The
idea,"
he
said,
"
of assailing
the security and the tranquillity of the state of possession of Great Britain in
India has never presented itself and never will present itself to the mind of our
august master. He desires only what is just and what is possible. For this
twofold reason he cannot entertain any combination whatever directed against
It would not be just, because nothing would have
the British power in India.
given cause for it. It would not be possible, by reason of the immense distance
sacrifices
all this
Mahomed Shah,
"
assurance formerly given that instead of urging him to such an enterprise, which
in one view offered no chance of success, Russia had done all in her power to
divert
him from
it,
and
to induce
him
"
Count
the chief of Herat to a state of hostility indefinitely prolonged."
Simonich had accordingly received a positive order " to employ all his credit
with the Shah to dispose him to a formal accommodation." It was no doubt
"
true that
on his arrival in camp Count Simonich, witnessing the distress in
which the Persian army was, did not think he ought to refuse his assistance
the Shah when that sovereign earnestly entreated him to examine the works
the siege," but "even
to
of
CiiAP. II.]
"
an
309
arrangement
its basis
a.d. i837.
the inde-
Russian
in-
bQTlQYQUCQ
at Herat
1837 to
by the mission
St.
produce but one result that of making us acquainted with a country separated
from our frontier by great distances, which oblige our government to increase
our precautions, in order that the activity of our commerce should not run the
ri.sk of
engaging there in ruinous enterprises without having been enlightened
might be exposed."
were questionable, but
an important step towards conciliation was made by the recall of Count
Vikovich's proceedings
Simonich, who was succeeded by Colonel Duhamel.
The
strict
it
this explanation
man, who had been anticipating praise and promotion, hastened home in a fit
Lord Palmerston had good reason to be satisfied
of despair and shot himself
with the result of his note.
ambassador,
it
assur-
it
had agreed to adopt; and it therefore only remained to say that "if such shall
continue to be the policy of Russia, and if her agents in the East shall faithobey their instructions, there seems every reason to hope that nothing
can hereafter occur in those quarters that can be calculated to disturb the good
fully
two
countries."
little
HISTORY OF INDIA.
310
A.D. 1838.
ment.
Negotiations
Afghan^
chiefs.
land,
[Book VIII.
In this hope he was about to be grievously disappointed. Lord Auckthough Sufficiently alive to the dangers with which India seemed to be
threatened from the west, was not yet prepared for more than friendly interference for the purpose of repelling them, and was therefore determined to avoid
they would devote themselves exclusively to British interests, and refrain from
forming any alliances that might be adverse to them. The unreasonableness
was
protection
promised
y
unies.
so obvious that
it;
pit-i'-i
promise the protection of the British government against any attack to which
His own account of the matter in a letter
^j^g^ might tlius cxposc themsclvcs.
"
is
as follows
Persia.
am
Persians
move on Candahar,
mean
it
to
off there
forces,
and
This was certainly a very extraordinary step to take without authority, and
cannot therefore excite much surprise to find that it was immediately repu-
Burnes' letter intimating that it had been taken, was written on the
25th of December, 1837, and on the 20th of January, 1838, Lord Auckland,
diated.
0^^^
on
letter
at Bareilly,
his
way
"It
is
"^
in unqualified terms,
and they would, if supported, commit the government on the gravest questions
His lordship is compelled, therefore, most decidedly to disapprove
of policy.
them.
He
is
to
the chiefs of Candahar, because such disavowal would carry with it the declaration of a difference between you and your government, and might weaken
your personal influence, and because events might in this interval have
occurred which would render such a course unnecessary.
But the rulers of
and should
affairs
Chap.
II.]
311
your instructions, and held out hopes which you find upon communication
Burnes thus admonished and
witl) your government cannot be realized."
a.d. isss.
censured had no alternative but to retract his promises, and the Candahaichiefs, throwing themselves once more into the arms of Persia, concluded a
treaty,
described
"injurious
and offensive
to Great Britain."
While the friendly ties by which Burnes hoped to have bound the Candahar
were thus rudely snapped asunder, Lord Auckland pursued a course
which almost looks as if it had been intended to produce a similar alienation in
chiefs
Dost Mahomed.
Lord Auckhaughty
0^00"^"
^^^homed.
"seek to retain the agent (Vikovich), and to enter into any descripwith him, you will give him distinctly to under-
stand that your mission will retire that your good offices with the Sikhs wiU
wholly cease and that, indeed, the act will be considered a direct breach of
;
good
offices
must be
entirely depend-
necessary
incur
consequence
their
displeasure,
and
risk
their
vengeance?
offices
were talked
of,
and
they considered themselves insulted. What then must have been the feelings
of Dost Mahomed, when the same messenger who brought Burnes his letter of
of that territory.
From
the generosity of his nature, and his regard for his old
alliance
my
I
mode
in which
you may
effect
It
becomes you to
powerful prince, to whom ni}'- nation is united by the direct bonds of friendship,
and to abandon hopes which cannot be realized. The interference on your
unreaaona-
demanded
^""^
'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
312
AD.
1838.
Lord Auckperciiious
jDo!rMahomed.
[Book YIII.
which
Maharajah, you
to you,
and honour, and obtain the concurrence of the Sikh sovereign, who is the firm
I need not state to you that the English
ally of my country.
nation is faithful to its engagements, and true to its word.
It is on this account
and ancient
that I have written plainly to you, that you may understand correctly the
which you may expect from me. This assistance also cannot be granted
assistance
you form any connection with other powers unsanctioned by the government. If you wish for its countenance and friendship, you must repose confidif
ence in
its good
mentioned from
or should
offices alone.
this
you seek connection with other powers without my approbation Capand gentlemen accompanying him, will retire from Cabool, where
;
tain Burnes,
advantageous and I shall regret my inability to continue my influence in your favour with the Maharajah. I am persuaded that you
will recognize the friendly feeling which has led me to state the truth to you,
his further stay cannot be
as
line of the
above
letter
Mahomed, and it would not have been surprising had he, on the spur of the
moment, taken Lord Auckland's supercilious advice, and done what he must
now have
Jubbar
Khan's
iews there-
"^^'
ment
said,
oflfered
by
his brother
in return for
it.
Cabool, hostilities
the Afghans would form no friendly relations with Persia, Russia, Turkestan,
&c.
Were they in furtherance of British interests to make all these powers
hostile,
:l
Chap. IL]
Up
to this time,
313
to dismiss Vikovich,
He
he
a.d. isss
had, however,
Untowar.i
was unable to wait longer than the vernal equinox. When Lord Auckland's
letter was delivered, the disappointment which it produced could not be
mistaken.
The Ameer observed that "it was full of meaning;" that he would
Mahomed.
"
reflect seriously
results of
LordAuct
to Dost
on what so vitally
Auckland's letter took place on the 23d of February, 1838, and from that date
India.
Mr. Burnes must have seen that the fate of his mission was sealed.
His impressions on the subject are given in a letter to Mr. Macnaghten, dated 5th March
"From various quarters I have meanwhile heard that the ruler of Cabool is but
:
disposed to meet government in its wishes and the advice given to him by
one of the first individuals whose counsel he sought was, that he should take
ill
the Britisli government at their word, and dismiss their agent, since there was
nothing now to be expected from his presence in Cabool. From the receipt of the
governor-general s letter to the present time nightly meetings have been held
and the Ameer has on more than one occasion given vent
at the Bala Hissar
;
to
very strong expressions, both as to his future proceedings, and the disap-
The
above
VoL. ITT.
letter
had
only
2^fi
views of Mr.
Bumes.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
314
A
u. 1S38.
tions,
if
pro-
Dost MathrBritish
to
protcct Cabool
[Book VIII.
then agreed
They
to,
the
Ameer would
the supercilious spirit of which Lord Auckland's letter had set him the example,
"I at once informed the Nawab that I would agree to none
took high ground.
of the terms proposed that I was astonislied to hear a race as illustrious as
;
who had
the Dooranees,
ment,
it
was an
after concern
which
object originally proposed in the correspondence opened with the British gov-
ernment, was an arrangement with the Sikhs, whereas demands, "quite unconnected with the Sikhs" were now made, he stated that he "has no power or
authority to speak on other matters, as
is
well
known from
Ameer's request,
it is
continued,
The Amccr, not yet prepared to relinquish the hope he had so long entertamcd of an advantageous British connection, sent two counsellors on the
following day with proposals "somewhat modified," and "with many expresUltisions of regret" at the resolute rejection of "all that had been urged."
if
mately after a long discussion, Captain Burnes accepted the Ameer's invitation
to visit him at the Bala Hissar in the evening.
In his account of the interview
he says, " I lost no time in entering upon business, and said I was sorry to hear
he had not taken the governor-general's letter in the spirit it was written, and
that he had
deemed
it
harsh,
letter
was true
it
was a veiy
him with a
clear
good
faith,
and
let
and
it
chiefly of a reiteration
Chap.
II.]
315
make
and
his willingness to
At
last
any
"
its friendship.
to say,
and
order to secure
sacrifice in
"
says Biu-nes,
Ameer on
congratulated the
his
own
interest
ad.
isss.
Negotiation
continued
j7aho|^ed
towards him
you must dismiss Captain Vikovich with courtesy; you must surrender all claim to Peshawer on your own account, as that chiefship belongs to
Maharajah Runjeet Sing you must live on friendly terms with tliat potentate
sanction;
you must also respect the independence of Candahar and Peshawer; and
In return for this I promise
co-operate in arrangements to unite your family.
recommend
to the
the Maharajah, he
Afghan
whom
may
Empty
ment must
confer
he chooses, on his
is
it
and honour of
all parties."
as these professions of friendship on the part of the British govern- Letter from
Dost Mahave appeared to the Ameer, he had the policy to speak of them as homed to
what use he could have made of it, but his anxietj" made the British envoy
It is scarcely necessary to follow
suspicious, and he refused to commit himself
the negotiations further.
On the 21st of March the Ameer made apparently a
last effort to gain over the governor-general to his views, by addressing him in
see
who
man
in want,
is
priety.
saying,
in the
"As
I rely
my feelings
How little
nor-generai.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
310
A.D. 183S.
Dost Mahomed's
statement
Burnes.'^"'
[Book VIII.
by our government as no one that his friendship was worth little that he
was told to consider himself fortunate at our preventing the Sikhs coming to
;
of affairs
t->
now
and grateful
and
if
Though the
lost
crisis
its offers,
British mission
On
was
to terminate in failure,
still
unwilling
ence with the Ameer, not, he says, "from any hope that advantage could be
derived from it in my negotiations, but to place as distinctly as possible before
him how much he might have himself to blame for what followed." The
Ameer
God
for-
ill
and you know the good and bad. Now I have consigned myself to
God, and in this no government can blame me. All the Afghans will be grateful to the government which obliges them.
There is no more to say which is
of note,
said.
If
much from your government, and hoped for the protection and enlargement of
Afghanistan now I am disappointed, which I attribute not to the ill favour of
Creatures must rely on the Creator."
the English, but my own bad fortune.
;
this letter, as it
had received good information that the Ameer had been con"most
stantly with Vikovich since he himself left, and repeating as his
stating that he
much
SIEGE OF HERAT.
Chap. III.]
317
in the
end
flow from tliem, unless the British government applies a prompt, active, and
What this should be he does not venture to hint, hut
decided counteraction."
a.d. 1837.
Deuberations of
the subject
was already engaging the earnest attention both of the Indian and
home governments.
British
regarding"
^^shamstan.
CHAPTER
The
pre-
III.
siege of
Treaty
so-called
Persian Gulf
The
Tripartite
of Afghanistan.
of
aii^NCOURAGED by
"1^1'
'
Herat
Mahomed Shah
set
1837.
reached Nishapoor, still more than 200 miles to the north-west of Herat.
As the difficulties of the country were however his only obstruction, he continued to advance, and in the beginning of November, having crossed the Afghan
frontier, arrived at the fort of Ghorian, belonging to the Heratee territory.
considered a place of great strength, and having recently been
to make a progarrisoned with a large body of picked troops, was expected
it
cowardice
or
tracted resistance.
proved otherwise, and
treachery
Through
This w-as
Ghorian
fell
November took up a
position before
Its populanear
the
point where the
position
each
India
intersect
and
other, added
great routes from Persia, Turkestan,
Its means of resistgreatly to its importance, both commercial and military.
tion
was estimated
at only 45,000,
but
its
Position of
HISTORY OF INDIA.
818
A.D. 1837
Defences of
[Book VIII.
Herat
The
streets
its
go-
vernment.
Prince Kamran,
sovereign of Herat.
who had
In early
life
he had
now
blood-thirsty temper, and as he advanced in years had added other vices, which
made him still less capable of conducting the government. Indulgence in every
had made him feeble and indolent, and thrown all
species of debauchery
real
minister.
man
of no
mean
talents,
devoid of principle.
was
of promoting
sion,
and
it
and
but utterly
His own
interest
his usual
methods
The
extortion.
inhabitants,
among
themselves.
Composed
of
dif-
of
and
the
Afghans being the dominant race had greatly the advantage, and tyrannized
without mercy.
Where
reason to
so
from home, had exerted himself to the utmost to prevent the Persian expedition from being undertaken.
Not only had he remonstrated with the Shah
and
had
also entered
mto
Chap.
SIEGE OF HERAT.
III.]
319
communication with Kamran, and urged him to save himself by timely concessions. The Heratee ruler, as if conscious of his inability to resist, had voluntarily
adopted this course, and seemed ready to sacrifice everything except the barren
name of independence. This however was the very thing which the Shah,
a.d. issr.
Tyrannical
of Herat.
As soon
as
it
to bestir himself,
siege of
defiance.
matter.
able to do.
and assistance of the Almighty, the steed of their wishes shall not accomplish
the journey of their design." Nor did he confine himself to mere boasting.
Foraging
surrounding
districts,
ant supplies of grain, and at the same time carried off or destroyed everything
Alliances were
that might have been of advantage to an invading army.
foi'med with mountain tribes, and plans arranged for cutting off the Persian
communications.
The
defences,
Among
repaired, and everything wore the appearance of a vigorous defence.
the circumstances which favoured it, one of the most important was the season
at
which the
was about
siege
to be undertaken.
like
he could succeed by a sudden onset, of which there was no probability, all his
siege operations were to be commenced and carried on amidst the frosts and
snows of a bleak and rugged mountain district. The obstacles with which the
besiegers would on this account have to contend, were made apparent to themselves several days before they actually reached Herat.
rear,
districts
line of
much
days' consumption and every mile the army advanced was carrying it so
The cold was already so great, that the
farther from the means of subsistence.
;
still
greater foreseen
difiiculties,
the Shah
spirit.
Having taken possession of all the gardens
and inclosures to the west of the city, and obtained good cover among a cluster
Difficulties
expedition
Herat.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
320
A.D. 1838.
Siege of
Herat commenced.
[Book VIII.
of ruins, from which the Afghans endeavoured in vain to dislodge them, the
Persians broke ground, and by the 10th of December had advanced their
Their
artillery, however,
the arm in
which thej^ were supposed to be most powerful, was productive rather of fear
than of danger, and failed to make any impression which could be turned to
After the first few days of terror, caused by the loud and constant
account.
firing
fears,
and
sorties,
felt
so confident of
mained open,
for
communication
The confidence thus inspired was owing in no small degree to the presence and activity
pasture.
of a
Afghan Soldiers
From
Rattray's
tn
Winter Costume.
of
Pottinger,
Afghanistan.
by
Services
of Eldred
Pottinger.
Sir
Henry)
young English
officer,
who having
Eldred
been sent
made
their appear-
first professed to he
a
had
horse
and
afterwards
assumed
the
dealer,
only
disguise of a Syed or
Mussulman devotee.
In Herat, less
character, and he was permitted at
necessity
his
own
was
felt for
to his
deter-
mined
to take
thus able to furnish the kind of information which the exigencies of the time
required.
The
detail.
of
proved very desultory, and furnished few incidents worthy
In the begining of January, 1838, some alarm was caused in the city by
siege
to coun-
Chap.
SIEGE OF HERAT.
III.]
321
to take the
Owing
to
some mismanagement, after every preparation had been made, the intention
mi
was abandoned,
ihe next proposal was to venture out by day, and risk a
1
a.d. isss.
of Herat,
and besieged were pretty equally matched, and that time, rather
than prowess, would ultimately determine the result. The siege accordingly
was continued in a very sluggish manner. The Shah indeed, who had previthat besiegers
now
Negotiation
betrayed an anxiety to
advantage had been gained by the besiegers by the capture of a fortified post
not more than 300 yards from the north-east angle of the fort, when Mr. M'Neill,
His object was to make a
the British envoy, arrived in the Persian camp.
last effort at
negotiation
by
offering to mediate
was
He
April.
It lasted
the Shah
two days
Shah was
sincere,
than ever.
This hostile proceeding,
J time
t^
o' at the very
when
friendly
J mediation
was proI
fessedly accepted,
success.
He
his deputy.
at that
enter, but that the English deputy, on presenting himself on the morrow at the
south-east angle of the city, would be admitted.
Very possibly there was a
for themselves,
but Yar
Major Todd as a
Mahomed
himself gave
237
British
mediation.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
322
AD.
183S.
Attempt of
to mediate
Per^lnV^^
and Afghans.
[Book VITI.
it
declaration,
since
indi-
and being
at once admitted,
No
ized to declare that he accepted of the mediation of the British minister.
sooner was Mr. M'NeiU in possession of this authority than he deemed it necesIt took
sary to have a personal interview with Kamran and his minister.
as the greatest readiplace on the 21st of April, and was every way satisfactory,
ness was expressed to ratify any agreement which he might judge expedient.
camp for Herat, Count Simonich arrived in it. The effect of his
The Shah, retracting his previous consent to mediat
once seen.
was
presence
"
Either the whole
ation, stated his ultimatum in such terms as the following:
left
Its failure,
the Persian
people of Herat shall make their submission, or I will take possession of the
Under
fortress by force of arms, and make them obedient and submissive."
full
statement of
all
refused redress for gross insults which had been offered by his officers to
members of the British mission. One of these, a courier, bearing letters from
Herat
seized,
under pretext
of
These things, which the Shah had allowed to pass with impunity,
though the guilty perpetrators were well known to him and might easily
have been brought to justice, made it impossible that friendly relations could
execution.
any longer
subsist
ascendency, and Mr. M'NeiU considered that he had no alternative but to put
his threat in execution.
Accordingly, on the 7th of June, he declared the
British
embassy
frontier.
it
is
SIEGE OF HERAT.
Chap. III.]
The additional
skill
323
official
much
position,
political
wisdom
as courage in his
a.d. isss.
to bear
manner of
influence,
exercising
siege of
Herat
re-
sumedimder
auspi^s.
and showed as
it.
The
struggle
however seemed daily becoming more hopeless. In fair fight the Afghans were
seldom worsted, and they had gallantly repulsed the only two assaults which
had yet been attempted, but the most dangerous enemies were within
disease,
Though
sufficient
mately, however, the garrison, roused to redoubled efforts, repulsed the assaults
In the mound on which the wall was reared were two
at all points but one.
fausse braies, an upper and a lower, which, though not considered important
enough to be enumerated among the defences of the place, formed its best secu-
during an actual assault. At one of the points attacked, the assailants forced
their way into the lower fausfse braie, and then pushing up the slope, carried
rity
the upper fausse braie, immediately beyond which was a practicable breach.
Some of the storming party reached it, and the capture was on the point of being a
when
The
The
first
Yar Mahomed, on the other hand, though his personal courage was undoubted,
became completely unmanned, and sat down as if in despair. Pottinger, seeing
that all was otherwise lost, succeeded in rousing him, and when he again lost
heart, actually laid hold of him, and moved forward with him to the breach.
There his presence and recovered energy once more changed the fortune of the
with a
day, and the Persians, repulsed at every point, retreated to their camp,
which was estimated by Mr. M'Neill, from the best information he could
obtain, at not less than 1700 or 1800 men.
The Persians, though they had well nigh succeeded in the assault, had
loss
grand
puised.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
324
AD.
1838.
[Book
A^Ill.
there
A
tacit
be^veen^he
and aTLiis
^^^ reduced to
It may seem
failed to obtain the necessary supplies of food and ammunition?
that the besieged, cooped up within their walls, and threatened botli with
famine and pestilence, must have been compelled to succumb.
On the other
One winter,
hand, the Shah had suffered severely in carrying on the siege.
necessarily entailing the severest privations, had been endured, and midsummer
had arrived without bringing any prospect of a successful issue. Numerous
had been sustained in actual conflict, a still greater number by desertion
losses
and
disease,
and more
difficult
The treasury too was exhausted, and the promises of Count Simonich to
Under such
replenish it were too vague and uncertain to be trusted to.
circumstances, to continue the siege, even assuming it to be practicable, was
little
Sooner or
short of madness.
ensue.
Though unable
British ex-
pedition to
the Persian
Shah was
too
own
later, discomfiture, if
As
its fall
empire.
is
at the present
"very
moment
exceedingly
critical,"
"were
suggested that
as
many
it
might prove
of
interests in Persia."
Without waiting
for
at
once acted on this suggestion, by instructing the Bombay government to fit out
and despatch the proposed expedition, "at the earliest practicable period."
time was
lost,
"that the British government had sent up a body of troops upon a special
service, and that the island of Karrak, on account of the salubrity of its climate,
its
and everything
inhabitants,
it
Chap.
Some
325
SIEGE OF HERAT.
III.]
additional troops
and
stores
a.d. isss.
was not the opinion formed of it by those who only heard of it at a distance,
it was generally spoken of as a serious and formidable invasion, which had
and
British ex
the
Pemau
"
a treat}' with its ruler, provided he was furnished with such a reason for concluding that arrangement, as might enable him to relinquish with honour the
"
enterprise in
Island
oi'-
Karrak.
After a sketch by A.
if
should be conveyed in writing, that he might have it in his power to show the
document as an evidence that he had not lightly abandoned the expedition
Terms
the Persian government shall conclude an equitable arrangement with the government of Herat, and shall cease to weaken and disturb these countries. 2d,
Shall.
he had undertaken."
with
this request,
was
That the Persian govei'nment, according to the stipulations of the general treaty,
shall conclude a commercial treaty with Great Britain, and that it shall place
the commercial agents of Great Britain on the same footing with respect to
3d, That the persons who seized
privileges, &c., as the consuls of other powers.
and
ill-treated Ali
Mahomed
and customs of
nations.
4th,
That the
5th,
threatened the safety of the British resident there, shall be removed; that the
other persons concerned in that transaction shall be punished, and that
de-
manded by
tlie
British
government
from the
HISTORY OF INDIA.
326
A.D. 1838.
Siege of
[Book VIII.
"
into
it,
whereas,
Herat, on
to every one
Persian Gulf being certainly much stronger than any written threat, might well
supply its place, and the Shah's answer therefore was, "We consent to the
September, when
like policy,
was
Lord Aiick-
hostilities
the siege
the intimation.
which
now put
we could
and intrigue
to be established,
awaiting any intimation of your views upon the events which have recently
occurred in Persia and Afghanistan," and, moreover, that "in anticipation of
the possibility of such a contingency, I have deemed it expedient to put matters
in train by previous negotiation, in order to render whatever measures of direct
interference I
Mr. Mac
missiou to
^^^^-
may
Mr.
The
Henry
train,"
to
political secretary of government
composed apparently by
had remained with the governor-
government by order of
thus:
"In
any discussion upon the present policy of the Indian government, you may
remark that the governor- general has no appetite for wars and conquest; that
the boundaries of the East Indian empire have seemed to him to be amply
extensive; that he would rather conquer the jungle with the plough, plant
Chap. III.]
327
where tigers have possession, and spread commerce and navigation a.d. isss.
waters
which have hitherto been barren, than take one inch of territory
upon
from his neighbours, or sanction the march of armies for the acquisition of instructions
villages
i"
m military means,
furnished
to Mr. Mac^^^^*'^-
give himself any concern with what might be passing beyond his own frontier,
and had therefore instructed Mr. Macnaghten to intimate to Runjeet Sing that
must
welcome
conquer them
if
he could.
" in
the event of his showthe Maharajah " has to say," or
Mr. Torrens,
no
continues
to
commence
the
conference," you can,
ing
disposition
"
These views embraced
state to him the views of your own government/'
After listening to
all
whom
to
Runjeet Sing, when the two courses were submitted to him, had no difficulty
in arriving at a' decision.
Independent action he would have nothing to do
with, and the plan by which he was to act in concert with the British government was the only one which he could think of adopting. Notwithstanding
this verbal acceptance,
the treaty, called tripartite, because Runjeet Sing, Shah Shujah, and the British
government, represented by the governor-general, were parties to it, were not
it
Even Shah Shujah, when the proposed arrangements were submitted to him,
though he was naturally delighted at the prospect of regaining a throne, from
appearance been finally excluded, could not help remonNot only was he
strating against the lion's share set apart for Runjeet Sing.
which he had to
all
Hunjeet
Sing's grasi)
ing policy.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
328
A.D. 1838.
and
to be o-iiaranteed in Peshawer,
all
[Book VIII.
from Afohanistan, but in the event of his assisting the Shah with an auxiliary
be acquired from
force, he was to have an equal half of whatever booty might
the Barukzyes, and was moreover to
receive an annual
of
two
lacs
booty was
scarcely reasonable,
as,
on
subjects,
more
objectionable, not
account of
its
amount
so
much on
as because
it
The King of
implied degradation.
Cabool had hitherto been an independent sovereign, but now this annual
payment, though
made
least
RuNJEET
From an
oriental painting
on
glass, in
Museum
garded, and
would
tween Run-
of tribute.
While thus
jeet Sing,
kingdom
Tripartite
treaty be-
Shah Shuand
jah,
the British
government.
of Cabool
be
was
in
to
fact
curtailed
be
still
5000
body
men
of at
to re-
being employed
and afterwards kept
would be rehis
for
service,
ready
to all intents and purposes, a payment
Sing,
the
purported to be
it
in consideration of a
by the encroachments
new
articles
inserted in the tripartite treaty expressly stipulated that when Shah Shujah
"
shall have succeeded in establishing his authority in Afghanistan, he shall not
attack or molest his nephew, the ruler of Herat, in possession of the territories
now subject to his government." On all these accounts the joy of Shah Shujah
Shah
Shujab's
attempt to
raise
an
army.
former suljects
who might
still
Chap. III.]
it
instead of allowing
329
him
to achieve
A.D.
1838.
it
Nature of
army
raisetl
by Shah
Shujah.
army which he could call his own, because raised by him, paid by him,
and commanded in his name. The first thing necessary therefore was to commence the formation of such an army. This was no easy task. Money beingsupplied in abundance, there was no lack of recruits, but the great difficulty
was to make it appear that they were in any sense the troops of Shah Shujah.
The work of raising and disciplining them was necessarily committed' to
of an
who were
alone capable of performing it, while the small proportion which the natives of Afghanistan bore to the whole mass collected, made
Shah Shujah, who was well
it ludicrous to speak of it as an Afghan force.
British officers,
all
ostentatiously reported
semblances, however,
one
the
These
to him.
imposed upon no
and
new
levies,
havino; nothing
of
national
as foreign
him
in
triumph to Cabool.
Of
this,
British, instead
Shah Shujah - ul Moolk.
-
were pre-
who had
Vol. III.
army was
absolutely required.
238
His
Small proportion of
Afghans
in-
cluded in
it.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
330
A.D. 1838.
British pre
parations
for an ^y'tian
war.
his levies
"
the
were
army
still
[Book VIII.
march
its
upon Candahar.
this
mag-
scale,
command
right
of Sir
bank
of the
Delhi.
The
Bombay army, under the command of Sir John Keane, was to be conveyed by
sea to the coast of Scinde, and then proceed upwards along the Indus to effect
Lord Auck
land explains his
policy.
some
Knowing
generally
antici-
We
pursued,"
own
the present crisis of affairs, have a decidedly friendly power on our frontiers;
and that we should have an ally who is interested in resisting aggression and
himself with
establishing tranquillity, in place of a chief seeking to identify
those whose schemes of aggrandizement and conquest are not to be disguised.
The Barukzye
chiefs,
afterwards to the great expense that will necessarily be incurred, he thinks this
"
be held comparatively light when contrasted with the
consideration must
magnitude of the object to be gained," and then speaks of his own responsibility.
"I have acted in a crisis which has suddenly arisen, and at a period when
of
appearances in every quarter were the most threatening to the trancpiillity
the British Indian empire, in the manner which has seemed to me essential to
have, in adopting this step, been deeply sensible of the responsibility which it
that I could
places on me; but I have felt, after the most anxious deliberation,
have been
set at rest.
Sir
Chap.
III.]
331
was the policy of the government; and he might mention that the
which
he wrote (he was then president of the Board of Control),
despatch
his
opinion of the course that ought to be taken in order to meet
stating
expected emergencies, and that written by Lord Auckland, informing him that
it
measure;
a.d. isss.
the expedition had already been undertaken, crossed each other on the way."
After the above communication to the British government, another of great TheSimia
manifesto.
.,,
^
1
1
T
importance still remained to be made. It was necessary that there should be
attaches to
announced
it
originated,
and the
historical interest
which
still
with the rulers along the line of that river, and which had for their object, by
"
opening its navigation, to facilitate the extension of commerce, and to gain for
the British nation in Asia that legitimate influence which an interchanoe of
of Afghanistan to the measures necessary for giving full effect to those treaties."
Before the mission had reached its destination, intelligence arrived that "the
troops of Dost Mahomed Khan had made a sudden and unprovoked attack on
those of our ancient ally, Maharajah Eunjeet Sing," and there was therefore
in the very
regions in
trated."
that the Maharajah, " with the characteristic confidence which he has uniformly
placed in the faith and friendship of the British nation," consented that, "in
the meantime, hostilities on his part should be suspended."
Subsequent!}- it
became known to the governor-general that the Persians were besieging Herat,
and that
"
its contents,
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
332
AD.
1S3S.
Principal
subjects em-
braced
ill
manifesto,
[Book VIII.
Dost Mahomed, relying "upon Persian encouragement and assistance," urged "the most unreasonable pretensions" in regard to the
Sikhs, "avowed schemes of aggrandizement and ambition iniurious to the security
"in
fruitless negotiation."
'
frontiers of India,
have behaved with a gallantry and fortitude worthy of the justice of their
cause; and the governor-general would yet indulge the hope that their heroism
may
them from
so as to
ence to the Persian policy." In this crisis of affairs, while the governor-general
"felt the importance of taking immediate measures for arresting the rapid pro-
and aggression towards our own territories," his attention was naturally drawn "to the position and claims of Shah Shujah-ul-Moolk,
a monarch who, when in power, had cordially acceded to the measures of united
gress of foreign intrigue
which were
at that time
judged necessary by
the British government, and who, on his empire being usurped by its present
rulers, had found an honourable asylum in the British dominions."
Though
aware
ill
"
that the Barukzye chiefs, from their disunion and unpopularity, were
fitted,
allies,"
and
Chap. III.]
by the
triplicate treaty
333
have the
result has
has
Shah
a.d. isss.
contents
c-r
manifSt^
to the throne
all
promoted;
name and
government
among
the
declaration
his
...
own
opposition
the
is
Shah
adherents
itsconciusion.
British army.
The governor- general confidently hopes, that
be speedily replaced on his throne by his own subjects and
and when once he shall be secured in power, and the independence
by a
will
oblivion of injuries, and to put an end to the distractions by which for so many
Even to
years the w^elfare and happiness of the Afghans have been impaired.
the chiefs,
whose
hostile proceedings
measures which
their country."
To the
declaration
was appended a
list
of appointments, of which
it
is Appoint-
government, who
Macnaghten, secretary to
was to "assume the functions of envoy and minister on the part of the governraent of India at the court of Shah Shujah-ul-Moolk," and that of Captain
who was
to
ments of
Jiacuaghten
'"
"""^'''
HISTORY OF INDIA.
334
A.D. 1838.
Appoint-
Macnaghten
aud Barnes,
[Book VIII.
as
^s less
to a friend
am
to be chief
I get not
this, to
what
name
states," so little
known
or thought of that a
could not be given to them, was such a descent, that he did not hesitate
Lord Auckland succeeded in soothing him by
promises, which though vague were understood to mean, that after seating Shah
Shujali at Cabool, Mr.
more
see
it,
"I
am
not sorry
to
Dost Mahomed ousted by another hand than mine.'' Why so? Obviously
felt that Dost Mahomed did not deserve the treatment to which he
because he
was about
The Simla
criticized,
to be subjected.
Tliis opiuiou was shared by many besides Captain Burnes, and was one cause
of the sevcrc criticism which the Simla manifesto provoked, and which, it must
be confessed,
Sikhs,
it
was
who had
ill
fitted to bear.
seized
the
pretensions
so
unreasonable, that
not,
"consistently with justice and his regard for the friendship of Maharajah
Runjeet Sing, be the channel of submitting them to the consideration of his
on them, they can only be viewed as false pretexts, framed for the purpose
of perpetrating gross
The next charge which the manifesto brings
injustice.
"He avowed
against Dost
Mahomed
is,
if
possible, still
more unfounded.
Chap.
III.]
335
command,' and
"ultimately, he gave his undisguised support to the Persian designs in AfghaWhere does all this appear? Certainly not in any part of the cornistan."
He certainly
respondence giving an account of the proceedings of the mission.
it
might be by conditions.
the contrary, he confessed that he had no
for
it
cure
it
for
forces to cope
Reflections
manifesto.
however
hampered
a.d. isss.
it.
On
offices of
means
to keep
it,
hope that it ever can become yours. There the matter rested. But he
Where again does
threatened to call in every foreign aid he could command.
this appear?
He courted an alliance with the British government, and was so
cease to
eager to obtain it, that so long as there was the least hope of success, he turned
a deaf ear to all the flattering promises of Persian and Russian agents.
Only
give me a little encouragement, is his language to the governor-general. I wish
no friendship but yours; only assure me that if the Persians or any other
western power attack me, I may rely on your protection. Look again at the
You
ment
that
you
Were not
and
by Runjeet
all this
absolutely worthless,
was
to bind himself
its battles
single-handed,
hand and
India.
The
by
may, he must
Nothing can be more monstrous than the terms
it
be this as
it
himself dealt
The
spirit,
case
government.
inconsistent
i^ro C6d urG
of the
gei^e^r'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
33G
A.D. 1838.
The
TT
siege of
t
Persia not
abir*^
[Book VIII.
manifesto respecting the siege of Herat, and the expediency of setting up Shah
The attack upon Herat is described as "a most unjustifiable and cruel
Shujah.
The meanino: must be that the ruler of Herat had done nothing
"
to provokc it, and that on the part of the Persians it was
perpetrated and
"
continued in mere wantonness, without the shadow of an excuse. This vieM'
is by no means correct, and is totally at variance with numerous statements
contained in the correspondence relating to Persia and Afghanistan presented
aa'STCSsion."
to parliament,
by Mr.
and ordered
Ellis to
Lord
to be printed in 1839.
Kamran
In a memorandum submitted
"
government has given the Shah a full justification for commencing hostilities."
So indisputable does he hold the fact to be, that in a letter to Kamran himself
he
tells
failure in the
by
force
as a friend
advises
Shah,
that
Opinion of
Mr. M'Neill.
"
all
him
strongly
completely
fulfilled."
Mr. M'Neill,
who
succeeded Mr.
Ellis,
more
an agreement
it still
between the
parties,
"From
moment
Hazareks, and captured the subjects of Persia, for the purpose of selling them
This system of warfare has from that time been carried on without
as slaves.
intermission
by the Afghans
of Herat,
acts
Shah
is
fully justified in
was
"
That
it
Chap.
III.]
337
proved, and that its success, more especially after Russia had begun to take the a
lead in it, would have seriously compromised British interests, may be readily
d. is3s.
conceded; but surely in order to justify the determination to march to the relief
of Herat, it could not be necessary to make assertions which were false, and
could so easily be disproved.
in the manifesto to
..in
which
.....
it
may
be proper to advert,
His popularity, it is
the alleged popularity of Shah Shujah
Afghanistan.
" had been
the
and
unanimous testito
his
affirmed,
lordship by
strong
proved
mony of the best authorities." Who were these? First and superior to all
is
ropuiijity.
testimony was the fact that Shah Shujah had repeatedly attempted to regain
his throne, but was so feebly supported, and so formidably opposed, that he only
saved himself by flight, to return an almost solitary fugitive to the asylum
granted him by British generosity at Loodiana.
Against this
fact,
unless some
extraordinary change of public feeling had since taken place (and this was not
alleged), the testimony of the best authorities ought not to have prevailed.
Besides, unless the governor-general
deem
was
in possession of testimony
which he
did not
it
"
ments, does anything but bear
strong and unanimous testimony" to Shah
It
is unnecessary, however, to discuss the point further,
all's
Shuj
popularity.
"
which the manifesto expresses a confident hope that the Shah will be
and adherents," was mere
speedily replaced on his throne by his own subjects
faith of
delusion.
It thus appears that the
Simla manifesto
is
....
little
Ill
and
about to
that the
The nature of the country in which it was to be carried on the turbulence, ferosemi-barbarous tribes which occupied it its immense
city, and boldness of the
distance, which made it impossible to reach it till after a long and toilsome
march over desert tracts, and through deep, narrow, and precipitous gorges,
;
which a band of resolute men might close against an army the almost insurmountable difficulty of transporting supplies and keeping open the communica;
Vol. III.
239
True
ci.arac
terof Lord
Auckland's
poucy"
HISTORY OF INDIA.
338
A.D. 1838.
Difficulties
campaign,
[Book VIII.
doubt you will take Candahar and Cabool, and set up Shujah; but for maintaining him in a poor, cold, strong, and remote country, among a turbulent
people like the Afghans, I
the Duke of Wellington?
own
it
seems to
"The
me
to be hopeless."
And what
said
even in high quarters that, according to the celebrated and lamented Sir Henry
Havelock, who took part in the campaign and published an excellent account
"
a civil functionary distinguished for talent addressing an
of its earlier stage,
officer of
Interview
between the
governor-
RimjTet^"
smg.
creditable
and
soldier-like," after
Ferozepoor, situated on the Garra, about thirty miles S.S.E. of Lahore, in the
end of November. The governor general and Runjeet Sing arrived here by
previous appointment at the same time, and relieved their more grave political
by what Havelock
"
discussions
calls
mimic war."
is
an
lines
the space between the pavilions for some hundred yards, and the elephants of
the British suwarree are drawn up in front of the durbar tent."
On the
moment
Sir
Henry Fane
tallest
and most
numerous
made
Chap.
EUNJEET
III.]
Lord of Lahore
of the
339
SING.
in
an
fire
a.d. isss.
interview
between the
of enterprise, his gray hair and beard, and countenance of calm design,
assured the spectators that this could be no other than the old 'Lion of the
The shock of elephants at the moment of meeting is really terrific.
Punjab.'
governor-
Ruujeet
^'^'
More than a hundred of these active and sagacious but enormous animals,
goaded on by their drivers in contrary directions, are suddenly brought to a
This is the most
stand-still by the collision of opposing fronts and foreheads.
moment
now
fi-ame,
places
for
him by
his side
on his own
All this
is
whom
he recognized
(as
the
two
rulers
A strange
the original in
Sing.'
Museum, East India House.
tent.'
"In a
by Sir Henry Fane, to see. The light in the recesses of these spacious pavilions
was glimmering and crepusculous, and the aged Maharajah, heedless of the shells
which were piled in pyramids below, was stepping up towards the muzzles of the
and in a moment he
guns, when his feet tripped amid the spherical missiles,
lay prostrate on his face and at full length upon the floor in front of the cannon.
The kind and prompt exertions of Sir Henry replaced him instantaneously on
but the spectacle of the Lord of the Punjab extended in involuntary
his
legs:
by the Sikhs
'
Lahore.
tifully
It
is
made
relic
of flowers, fas-
The cushions
tened on to a framework of wood.
and lining to the throne are of crimson and yellow
velvet.
to Runjeet
'"^'
HISTOEY or INDIA.
340
A.D. 1838.
Festivities
poor.
[Book VIII.
The counter- visit of the governor-general to the Maharajah, and the enterIt would
tainment and amusements following upon it, need not be described.
give little pleasure to tell how groups of kunchunees, whom Havelock does not
hesitate to call "choral and dancing prostitutes," performed "in presence
of the ladies of the family of a British governor-general,"
Sing,
who was
musnud
forcing
all
distilled spirit,
"brutally pre-eminent
upon
for
some forty
years,"
but which "the hardest drinker in the British camp could not with impunity
Nor is it necessary to dwell on the grand
indulge in" for six successive nights.
reviews, in which "the tactics and warlike forces of both nations were displaj^ed
to the best advantage,
to quote the observation
Ferozepoor
festivities.
a valuable ally
meet
us,
and
who with
since he
his capital
down
to the Garra to
might in some sort be reckoned, either on the one bank or the other,
But it was impossible not to feel that this complaisance was
as a visitor.
when he was
Silenus urging others to take part in his orgies, in the presence of an assemblage of English gentlewomen, and when these notions of decency were further
Afghan expedition
persisted in
o/the
sie'glf
of Herat.
istan
force
to be actually employed.
After
all
Afghan-
arose,
he was at
"In giving publicity to this important intelligence, the governor- general deems
proper at the same time to notify, that while he regards the relinquishment
it
upon Herat as a just cause of conIndia and its allies, he will continue
view to the substitution of a friendly for a hostile power in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, and to the establishment of a permanent barrier upon our
Chap.
III.]
north-west frontier."
84
...
and iiidgment"
with which, "under circumstances of peculiar danger
'^
and difficulty," he had "honourably sustained the reputation and interests of his
country." In a letter to the secret committee. Lord Auckland justifies his detertude, ability,
^
'
'J
a.d. isss.
Oilers
issued
by
LordAiici-.
it
The campaign, however, having been deprived of one of the most important
not require to be conducted on the
objects originally contemplated by it, did
The British army assembled at Ferozepoor amounted
same extensive scale.
to
It
be actually employed.
Force to
in
i.e
Afghan
aimiuished.
command
and return to England. Previous to his departure, it became part of his duty
As aU the
to select the troops which were to proceed on the expedition.
task
of
selection
appeared to him
I'egiments were eager for active service, the
so delicate and invidious, that he shrunk from it, and abandoning tlie exercise
of his
lot.
recourse to the extraordinary device of deciding bycompleted in his Excellency's tent, and the result was
1 st,
2d,
remarks, "Sir
On
compliment to his
to
move
forward, and
own
fault in India or in
this
but even at Ferozepoor shattered by disease the spirit of the soldiers willing,
but their physical powers unequal to the task whilst it doomed to inactivity
The whole
the Buffs, one of the most effective European corps in India."
;
army about
to be
now composed as
employed
follows: the Bengal force, under Major-general Sir Willoughby Cotton, 9500 men;
Shah Shujah's, 6000, and the Bombay force contingent under Sir John Keane,
to succeed Sir Henry Fane as commander-in-chief, 5000
who was
appointed
amounting
in all to 21,100.
men was
be stationed in Scinde; and in the north, the Shahzada, Shah Shujah's eldest
under the
son, was to head a force of 4800 men, commanded by British officers,
and
a Sikh
with
it
and
immediate superintendence of Colonel Wade,
penetrate
This route would
of 6000 through the Khyber Pass to Cabool.
to
contingent
also
for the
army assembled
at Ferozepoor, but
Troops
selected.
842
A.D.
First
1838.
march
of the
Afghan
expe
ition.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
[Book VIII.
difficult to
....
....
division might be
Bombay
it,
most
easily effected.
it
cavalry brigade commanded by Colonel Arnold, the artillery brigade commanded by Major Pew, and the 1st, 2d, and 4th brigades of inflmtry, commanded respectively by Colonel Sale, Major-general Nott, and Lieutenantcolonel Roberts.
The order of march was as follows. The sappers and miners
The camp
Its aiTivai
at
Bahawul-
poor.
was
14,235.
it
t->
the roads good, the country open, and at every stage the supplies were
abundant.
"These," says Havelock "were the halcyon days of the movements
ful,
of this force."
The
followers,
who
means of
transport.
carried
themselves to blame.
off"
was the
desertion of
many
it
efffect
the utmost vigilance of patrolling parties appointed for the purpose had little
effect in preventing desertion.
Before six marches had been completed, much
private baggage, bedding, and camp equipage, was unavoidably abandoned.
The Khan of Bahawulpoor had always been a faithful British ally, and on
Chap.
III.]
this occasion
343
means were
a.d. 1539.
and some
complaints were unreasonably made against him for not obviating or mitigatOn the
ing evils, which under the circumstances were absolutely inevitable.
January, 1839, the army again started, and prepared to enter the terriof
the Ameers of Scinde.
Treaties already existed, in which the Ameers
tory
as
were recognized
independent princes and the mutual rights of the two
1st of
Difficulties
Araeers
S'="i'^-
governments clearly defined, but Lord Auckland had acted from the first as if
he imagined that he had no occasion to solicit wherever he was able to compel,
and that a treaty with a weaker gave a right to the stronger party to disregard its stipulations as often as the observance of these was felt to be inconIn defiance of one of the
venient.
articles
commit a breach of
felt
faith,
and
ing the
of
the
British
that in the important crisis at which we are arrived, we cannot permit our
enemies to occupy the seat of power the interests at stake are too great to
;
admit of hesitation in our proceedings and not only they who have shown a
disposition to favour our adversaries, but they who display an imwilHngness to
aid us in the just and necessary undertaking in which we are engaged, must
;
which they had been or were about to be subjected. The above language had been
the guide of Colonel Pottinger with the Ameers of Hyderabad, and Captain
(now Sir Alexander) Burnes, was dealing in similar style with the Ameers of
The invading army had fixed upon Bukkur, as the point at which
When this resolution was
the passage might be most conveniently effected.
Sir
taken, the sanction of the Ameers had neither been asked nor obtained.
Khyrpoor.
Lord Auck^
of settling
*''*"
HISTORY OF INDIA.
344
A.D. 1839.
full
been
Threatening
nddresfedto
the Ameers
example, had
selected.
little difficulty
[Book VIII.
which had
army, might as well seek to dam up the Indus at Bukkur." But though the
^^i^e^rs thus intimidated gave way, they stipulated that the forts on either
This was asjreed to, and the
bank of the rivcr were to remain untouched.
...
ofScinde.
...
Bukkur
Was
it
therefore covered
ashamed or disdained
was open.
Fort of Bukkur.
Bukkur
cession of
Bukkur.
its
by
the
banks?
himself, but he
was
of
on
Forced
forts
it
Meer
was sent to him for final ratification, the separate article, to which he had
shown the utmost repugnance, filled him anew with alarm. "Bukkur," he said,
"was the heart of his country, his honour was centred in keeping it his family
;
its
if
it
He
offered
with
Chaf.
III.]
345
The answer,
said the
a.d. is39.
was plain.
It was "to give us orders for supplies, and to
the
as
far
as
he
could, at our command." After such a transcountry,
place
both
must
have
been
aware that though the name of friendship
action,
parties
British diplomatist,
all
might be used, nothing but hostility could be meant, and that the rulers of
Scinde would to a certainty avail themselves of the first favourable opportunity
of revenge.
commanding the passage of the Indus and most conveniently situated for
a depot and therefore when the army lesumed its march it was with prospects
fort
difficulties of
beyond the Scinde frontier. Here intelligence was received, which seemed
to necessitate an alteration in the movements which had been previously conSir John Keane, who had arrived with his troops ofi" the coast of
Scinde in the end of November, 1838, had not been permitted to land without
some opposition. With difficulty he made his way to Tattah. He had brought
certed.
no means of transport with him, and the Ameers, on whose friendly aid he had
ventured to calculate, were from feelings which may be easily understood intent
advanced up the
left
to Jurruk, only
opposite to Bukkur, and Shah Shujah with his contingent had actually crossed
the river and made his way to Shikarpoor, where he had been joined by Mr. Mac-
naghten and his suite. Both the Shah and the envoy were bent on pushing
onward, but Sir Henry Fane, who, with the intention of afterwards descending
the Indus and embarking for England, was still accompanying the army as
commander-in-chief, was decidedly of opinion that, in order to stimulate the
decision of the Ameers and give relief to Sir John Keane, the greater part of
the army, instead of crossing the river, should march down towards Hyderabad,
under Sir Willoughby Cotton. This change was immediately executed, and the
propriety of
Vol.
riT.
it
Difficulties
ofthe
Bombay
HISTORY OF INDIA.
346
A.D. 1838.
Threatened
Hyderabad,
[Book VITI.
different.
The
stationary in
in
it
to be his
first
wish that the Bengal army should push forward with all possible expedition
for Candahar, Mr. Macnaghten made a formal and emphatic requisition for such
a force as
would render
"
Afghanistan.
it
He
can be no appreheusion."
,
might
be, it
would, in
my
....
concluded thus:
"
for
an entire season.
gether."
The
collision
By such a postponement it might be frustrated altowhich had thus become imminent between the civil and
military authorities
The Ameers
of Hyderabad, thoroughly
Injustice
done them.
,,
ji
subsidiary force.
was couched
Nor was
as follows:
this
all.
The fourth
"Regarding
Chap.
III.]
347
and the nature of the mediation proposed was not allowed to remain long in ad.
doubt, for on the 26th of July the political secretary to government, in a long
isss.
him
to
make
the
lacs of
now
hold,
sacrifice."
In replying to this
not think," he says, "that the remote advantage (for such they will consider
it), of being relieved from the future claims of the King of Cabool, will have
any (or at least it will be very little) weight with these short-sighted and
"
suspicious chiefs."
we
Many
grasping policy," and to "revive a claim to tribute which has long been esteemed
obsolete," he intimates his intention "to request the governor of Bombay to
take early steps to prepare a force for eventual service in Scinde."
The nature of the favour which Shah Shujah proposed to confer upon the
Ameers, and the use which he intended to make of the money he expected
them to pay in return, were expounded in the 16tli article of the tripartite
treaty, by which Shah Shujah agreed "to relinquish for himself, his heirs and
supremacy and arrears of tribute over the country now
held by the Ameers of Scinde (which will continue to belong to the Ameers and
their successors in perpetuity), on condition of payment to him by the Ameers
of such a
sum
government,
as
may
fifteen lacs of
lion's
share of the
but
Ameer"
distracted state
rantable enmity
principal
in secretly
Money
them.
ex-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
348
A.u
1838.
uiijiist
of the
schuia
[Book VIH.
by which
their authority
it
"essential to
is
due to a j ust
regard for our own interests, that a British force of not less than 5000 men
should advance with the least practicable delay for the occupation of Shikarpoor, or such parts ot Scinde as
may
full effect to
facilitating-
the provisions of
The
statements
uy
tlie
liiitish
which ought to have set the pecuniary question at rest. In a letter, dated
October 9, 1838, he says: "The question of a money payment by the Ameers of
Scinde to Shah Shujah-ul-Moolk, is in my humble opinion rendered very
puzzling, by two releases written in korans, and signed and sealed by his
Their argument now is that they are sure
majesty, which they have produced.
the Governor-general of India does not intend to
again
for
what they have already bought and obtained in the most binding form a
I have procured copies of the releases, and will give them my
receipt in full.
After this statement, he proceeds, now very unnecessarily,
one would think, if double payment was not to be insisted on, to discuss "the
early attention."
ability of the
Ameers of Hyderabad
to pay/'
and gives
and
Repiy of the
governorgeneral.
ei-nor-general of India.''
-^
when
all
some counterpart agreement should not have been taken, the nonfulfilinent of the terms of which may have rendered null and void his majesty's
or that
Chap.
III.]
engagements.
34-9
is
one
a.d. isss.
injustice
towards the
Ameers
of
needs in addition to it a large sum for his own purposes; and the governorgeneral allows himself to become the instrument of extortinof both sums from
a third party,
who
is
it,
whom
and
the British
government was specially pledged to protect against all injustice. Such being
the manner in which advantage was taken of the supposed weakness of the
Ameers
to extort
it
is
easy to understand
how
suspicious
they were of every proposal made to them, and how they had recom-se to all
i)0ssible forms of finesse and tergiversation, in order to evade the conclusion of
iv.
pendence.
"I
province
offer
is
my
now
finally declared
proposed engagements
ai-e
and confirmed.
own
possessions,
and bound to
that Scinde
is
refer his
placed formally
under British protection, and brought within the circle of our Indian relations;
that a British force is to be fixed in Lower Scinde at Tattah, or such other point
tion of the Indus, from the sea to the most northern part of the Scinde territory, is
rendered free of all toll These are objects of high undoubted value, and especially
when acquired without bloodshed, as the first advance towards that consolidation of our influence, and extension of the general benefits of commerce
throughout Afghanistan, which form the great end of our designs. It cannot
so
1)6
far
towards
Treaty with
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
350
A.D. 1839.
The command
Treaty with
Hcinde.
[Book VIII.
juuctiou of the fivc rivers, will, by means of steam vessels, add incalculably to
the valuc of our frontier and the free transit of its waters, at a time when a
;
from which
may
when
army
to-
ghanistan.
along the right bank of the Indus, arrived at Sehwan, situated on the Arrul,
about four miles above its junction with the Indus. On the following day Sir
Henry Fane, who had now quitted the army and was hastening down the river
to embark for England, arrived, with his fleet of boats, at the point of junction,
and
after
At
Shikarpoor the plan of giving the lead to Shah Shuj all's force was abandoned,
and Sir Willoughby Cotton, leaving the 2d brigade behind, started at the head
of the other two, on the 23d, after a halt of only three days, in the direction of
Dadur, situated N.N.W., at the entrance to the celebrated Bolan Pass. The
Difficulties
experienced.
country which was almost desert, and the effect of excessive fatigue and deleterious forage on the carriage cattle became daily more and more manifest.
Even the road between the Indus and Shikarpoor had been
dead and dying camels.
other physical difficulties,
literally
strewn with
which had been previously cut were tolerably good, but nothing could be more
desolate than the tracts through which they led.
The soil, if such it could be
called,
was merely a hard sand impregnated with salt, which crackled beneath
where a few stunted thorny shrubs were almost the only
life.
"From Rojhan," says Havelock, "to the town and
mud-forts of Burshoree, extends an unbroken level of twenty-seven miles of
sandy desert, in which there is not only neither well, spring, stream, nor puddle,
signs of vegetable
but not a
tree,
dead monotonous
rapidly as
it
still
scantily supplied
Chap.
III.]
351
quality.
Head-quarters were fixed at Bhaj on the 6th of
water
found
in abundance, and grain in sufficient quantities
March. Here,
being
to supply immediate wants, the remainder of the march to Dadur, where the
a.d. is39.
little
increase.
Keane was
toiling
up the
much
of the Indus,
right
obstructed
army
John
bank
by
the
of boats
On the
as Eoree.
Sir
force
John
to assume
the
two divisions
bay,
formed
and a Bom-
The Bolan
Frum
Pass.
the
brigades,
infjintry
a Bengal
denominated
1st, 2d,
and
4th,
commanded by
Sir
Willoughby Cotton
Miiitaiy
-.w
and the
presidencies,
was given
The command
Scott.
to Brigadier Stevenson.
On the
14th of March, the leading column, consisting of the horse artiller}-, the
2d light cavalry, H.M. 18tli light infantry, and the 48th native infantry, started
from Dadur, and passed onwards to penetrate into the Bolan Pass, which gives
the only practicable entrance into Afghanistan from the south-east.
deep continuous ravine about fifty-five miles in length, intersecting the Bra-
It is a
huick Mountains, part of the range which, breaking off nearly at right angles
from the Hindoo Koh, stretches, under different names, from north to south
with
little
The pass
is
traversed
feet
above
tlie level
of the
The Boian
HISTORY OF INDIA.
352
A.D. 1839.
Description
^is^^"^'"'
[Book VIII.
abrupt precipiccs
fills,
so that
would inevitably
these narrow gorges.
an army caught in
it
lie
perish.
Nor
is this
The mountaineers,
fit
army
threaded by
army."^'^'
though marauders were numerous, no hostile force appeared, and the army,
which had cutcred the pass on the 16th of March, finally emerged on the 24'th
Three days afterwards it
into the Valley of Shawl, without an encounter.
say,
geance of the British government upon him, and cost him his life; but it is
difficult to believe that if he had been as treacherous and hostile as he was said
to be,
among
Halt at
Dadur.
gij.
it
our army
been ordered to halt at Quettah. This seems a simple operation, but was, under
On leaving Dadur, his supplies
the circumstances, one of serious difficulty.
were adequate to not more than a month's consumption. Half of that period
had already elapsed, and the calculation now was, that were the march continuous and unopposed, only a few days' supplies would remain in store when Candahar sliould be reached.
increased
by the
halt
How much
the
devised
was
Under
to
these circumstances
diminish consumption.
only expedient
of the
"Accordingly," says Havelock, "from the 28th of March, the loaf
European soldiers was diminished in weight, the native troops received only
half,
For
The
Chap.
III.]
hitherto found
on half a
a.d. is39.
the treaty which Sir Alexander Burnes had just concluded with
of Khelat, who, in return for a guarantee of his real independence by
Threatened
it difficult to subsi.st
seer,
obtained
the
853
Some
fi^oni
Khan
keep the peace with both sides, until he could see clearly which of the two
was to win. At the same time he made no secret of his opinion.
Shah
Shujah "ought," he said, "to have trusted to the Afghans to restore him;
to
whereas he
is
^*5,>^;*H7S^
his
1
own
1
're
keep him by
kingdom, your Shah Shujah will be driven beyond its frontier. He will never
be able to resist the storm of national and religious animosity which is already
raised against
him
It
is
who was
speaking of
and as
Shah Shujah,
He
all,
for the Barukzyes, it is utterly impossible that he can ever place the
slightest confidence in
Mutual
dis-
^^^^ ^
Shah
241
shujahaud
^
'^"^
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
354
A.D. 1839.
Question of
in
Afghan
expedition.
[Book YIII.
Company's service, was slighted by the preference given to his junior, apparreason than because he was a queen's officer,
ently, as he alleged, for no better
and remonstrated in as strong terms as the etiquette of the service would allow.
It
was in
vain.
Nott, after he had even gone the length of tendering his resignation, quitted
the divisional command which he had held under Sir Willoughby Cotton, to
resume the command of the 2d Bengal brigade, with the additional mortification of knowing that it was to be left behind in garrison at Quettah, and conHalt at
lost,
and the army again started the very next morning after Sir John Keane's
arrival.
It was now generally reported that the Candahar chiefs, after long
and unaccountable
locality
It
delays,
The very
mustering for the encounter.
Bolan.
as
difficult
as
that
of
the
almost
Pass,
were at
proved a
false
last
Kohan
Dil Khan,
the principal chief of Candahar, while reserving the main body of his troops
for the defence of his capital, had detached a large body of men, under two
One of the chiefs said to have been thus detached
chiefs, on a secret expedition.
was Hajee Khan Kakur, and certainly, in so far as he was concerned, the rumour
falsified, for early on the morning of the 20th April that chief entered
was soon
the British camp, at the head of about a hundred horsemen, and tendered his
submission to the Shah. This was only one of a series of treacheries of which
new
friends
it
was not
might have
sold,
Occupation all
of Candahar.
i--
^iioat the
troops.
He made
his entrance
only unopposed, but with some appearance of welcome, the sincerity of which,
however, was very problematical. It is said indeed not to have been volunteered,
Chap.
III.]
855
This was a resource in which the envoy appears to have had unbounded confidence, but Havelock doubtless takes a wiser view when, contrasting the results
of success obtained by arms and by mercenary means, he says that "one hour"
.
a.d. 1839.
occupation
ofCandahar.
Shah's reception.
The envoy's account is, "We have, I think, been most
fortunate every way.
The Shah made a grand public entry into the city this
morning, and was received with feelings nearly amounting to adoration."
in Afghanistan.
.,,..
m
...
Havelock speaking, not of the entrance into Candahar, but of a grand ceremony
the plains lying
of public recognition which took place on the 8th of May,
immediately to the north of it, says: "Unless I have been deceived, all the
.
was
imme-
diate retainers; the people of Candahar are said to have viewed the whole affair
with the most mortifying indifference. Few of them quitted the city to be
present in the plains, and it was remarked with justice that the passage in the
diplomatic prograTTiTne, which prescribed a place behind the throne for 'the
Subsequent
populace, restrained by the Shah's troops,' was very superfluous."
events go far to prove that Havelock's impression is the more correct, but
add that he was not personally present, and that many of those
fair to
it is
who
On
by
Bombay
division, the
whole
forces
army of the Indus, with the exception of those left behind in garrison or
for observation at Bukkur, Shikarpoor, Dadur, Sukkar, and Quettah, were
of the
shah shu
jah's reception.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
356
AD.
1S39.
Pursuit of
ch^fs,^^^
[Book VIII,
fugitive
Barukzye
chiefs.
was
it
Brigadier Sale
at the
was to
It
with success, since the chiefs with their families had been detained eight days
on the left bank of the Helmund, unable to cross it, and in daily fear of being
Sale returned from his fruitless expedition on the 28th, the same
day on which a striking exemplification was given of the lawless state of the
Several parties of officers had
country and the sanguinary spirit of its people.
overtaken.
gone out to enjoy a day's fishing in the TJrghundab. All of them breaking up
in good time returned in safety, except Lieutenants Inverarity and Wilmer, who
lingered on the
bank
till
The appearance
after sunset.
of
armed men,
sup-
posed to belong to predatory gangs in the vicinity, ought to have put them
on their guard, but with singular imprudence they had sent off" their horses
Lawless
country.
who was
Proceeding
home
in the clear
companion, was sviddenly assailed in a defile by armed men, cut down and savagely mutilated. Lieutenant Wilmer, totally unconscious of what had happened,
had no sooner reached the scene of the atrocity, than he was in like manner
attacked, but happily by parrying the first blows with his walking-stick was
able to flee
An armed
party
sent to the spot found Lieutenant Inverarity still alive, but so dreadfully
Shah Shujah, on being informed
mangled that he almost immediately expired.
of the atrocity, strongly expressed his abhorrence of it, and his determination to
and punish the perpetrators at the same time, blaming the imprudence which gave them the opportunity of committing it, he showed what
he thought of his new subjects by repeatedly exclaiming to the English
officers around him, "0! gentlemen, you must be more cavitious here: rememsearch out
Departure
from Candahar.
last,
the
n-'ii
j?
army moved from Candahar, leaving garrisons there and at Girishk, a tort
his
immediately beyond the Helmund, which Brigadier Sale had captured on
^
i.
The guns and mortars of the siege train, after being dragged with
almost incredible difficulty through the Bolan and Kojuk passes, were also left
behind.
As yet there had been no occasion to use them, and it seems to have
expedition.
This was
Chap.
III.]
35:
resistance
to
be
a.d. isso.
Arrival
Ghuznee.
for-
'When we came
much surprised to
before
Tomb of Runjeet
faisse hraie
and a wet
flanking
fire,
manding
fire
Sing, at
ditch.
The
whilst the height of the citadel covered the interior from the comof the hills to the north, rendering it nugatory.
In addition to this,
the towers at the angles had been enlarged screen walls had been built before
the gates; the ditch cleared out and filled with water
(stated to be unfordable),
and an outwork built on the right bank of the river so as to command the bed of
;
A nearer view having been obtained by clearing out some gardens in front,
which the enemy had occupied, he observes, " This was not at all satisfactory
the works were evidently much
stronger than we had been led to anticipate,
and such as our army could not venture to attack in a
manner with the
it."
regular
means at our
We
disposal.
itsformidInce^'^^''^^
HISTORY OF INDIA.
358
A.D. 1830
Alternative
onGim'^nee
[Book VIII.
The British army, brought thus recklessly in front of a fortress of a formidable character, and to the strength of which, according to Sir John Keanes
official accouut, the Afghans had for the last thirty years been yearly adding,
had evidently a very gloomy prospect before
or retreat
^g^j^-j^g
must yet
place,
The garrison was 3500
it
^jjg
retreat.
expected,
and the
mountain
forts,
Ghiljies,
either
it.
capture
it
territory,
studded with
the retreat must have been conducted, were, so far from cordi-
like not a
ining the works, in order to ascertain whether some irregular mode of attack
might not be adopted, discovered what seemed to be a tangible point in the
"The road up to the gate was clear; the bridge over the ditch
there were good positions for the artillery within 350 yards of
the walls on both sides of the road, and we had information that the gateway
Cabool gateway.
was unbroken
was not built up, a reinforcement from Cabool being expected." What a number of coincidences which the besiegers could not have anticipated, and the
a clear road,
existence of which must be attributed solely to their good fortune
many
On
if
he
decided on the immediate attack of Ghuznee, the only feasible mode of attack,
and the only one which lield out a prospect of success, was a dash at the Cabool
gateway, blowing the gate open by bags of powder." Sir John Keane, thus
He had in fact brought his army into a position
instructed, could not hesitate.
where there was no choice, and in resolving to burst open the gate, he did not
so
Resolution
much
exercise his
judgment
as yield to necessity.
The resolutiou being formed, no time was lost in making the necessary
As the Cabool gate was on the north-east side of the fort, the
preparations.
in
moved
two columns, and took up a position so as to command both
troops
the gate and the road to Cabool.
The latter object had become important in
consequence of a confident statement that Dost Mahomed in person was marchThe
ing at the head of a considerable force to attempt the relief of Ghuznee.
orders for the attack were issued on the 22d of July, and were mainly as follows:
"At twelve o'clock p.m., the artillery will commence moving toward the fort,
and the
road.
They must
all
be in posi-
"
the light companies of H.M.'s 2d and 17th regiments; of the (47th) European
Chap.
III.]
re(i-iment,
light infantry,
859
foot
a.d. isso.
H.M/s 2d
;
'
Assault of
Gliuznee
resolved ou.
formed in support, and will follow the storming party into the works." "Tlie
whole must quit their respective encampments in columns of companies at quarter
distance, right in front, so as to insure their arrival at the place appointed for
two o'clock am." "At half-past twelve o'clock the companies
the rendezvous
by
of the 13th light infantry, intended to act as skirmishers, will move up to cover
in front of the gateway, and be ready to keep down any fire on the party of
will move up to the
engineers who proceed to blow it open this last party
and
at
some
followed
before
distance,
by the assaultslowly,
daybreak,
gateway
;
column has passed the gateway, a signal must be made for the artillery to
"At twelve o'clock
turn their fire from the walls of the town on the citadel."
P.M., three companies of native infantry (48th) will quit camp, and move round
the gardens on the south of the town, where they will establish themselves,
and about three a.m. open a fire upon the place for the purpose of distracting
The infantry of the division, not warned for
the attention of the garrison."
duty,
was
to be
formed as a reserve.
These
orders,
which were
to
be con-
troops only in such portions "as might be absolutely necessary to secure compliance with their various provisions."
The explosion
*
party, on
whom,
Ghumee
in the first instance, everj^thing
^
1
o depended,
.
Lieutenant Durand the party moved steadily on, laid the hose, fired the train,
and in less than two minutes gained tolerable cover. The explosion did its
work
effectually,
much
difficulty,
timber had so choked up the gateway that the storming party had been unable
to enter.
Crediting this information the brigadier sounded the retreat, and a
The gairison, when once aware
halt took place which well nigh proved fatal.
stoi-med
HISTOEY or INDIA.
8G()
A.D. 1S39.
Pereonai
of Biigadier
^'^^^'
[Book VIII.
of the real point of attack, rushed down to the gate, and Dennie and his party
must soon have been overpowered had not the bugle, still sounding the advance,
and the statement of another engineer convinced Sale that his first informant
"Forward!" therefore, was the order again given, and a
was mistaken.
Sale himself
desperate struggle took place among the ruins of the gateway.
made an almost miraculous escape, which we must permit Havelock to narrate.
"One of their number (the garrison) rushing over the fallen timbers, brought
down Brigadier Sale by a cut in the face with his sharp shansheer (sabre).
The Afghan repeated his blow as his opponent was falling; but the pummel,
not the edge of his sword this time took effect, though with stunning violence.
He lost his footing, however, in the effort, and Briton and Afghan rolled
together
among
Ghcznee.
brigadier
was
Thus
to master the
weapon
of his adversary.
He
snatched at
it,
but
one of his fingers met the edge of the trenchant blade. He quickly withdrew
his wounded hand and adroitly replaced it over that of his adversary, so as to
But he had an
loss of blood.
Kershaw passed
the
his
shouted
crown
to the eyebrows.
The Mahometan
or spoke again."
secured there could be no doubt as to the
Chap.
III.]
number had
their
fallen
sword
'i^^
in hand.
a.d. issd.
JO
'
^^
achieving it, was most honourable to the British arms, not only on account of
the valour and prowess displayed, but also of the moderation with which victory
was used. Quarter was never asked in vain, and not a single female was outraged.
This
fact,
No
spirit rations
night.
On
this
conduct of
the captors
so rare
"No
candid
man
of
any military
and the
experi-
Humane
citadel
primed with arrack, or if spirituous liquors had been discovered in the Afghan
In proportion to the exultation of the British was the consternation
depots."
produced among the followers of Dost Mahomed. His son Afzul Khan, who
had been hovering in the vicinity with a large force, with which he hoped to
fall upon the besiegers when baf&ed, dispirited, and exhausted by a protracted
defence, took flight the
moment he heard
His desperate
In this, however, he was not serious.
struggle to the last.
In
the
of
the
was
manifest.
early part
position
campaign, supposing that the
main attack would be made in concert with the Sikhs by the Khyber Pass, he
had despatched his favourite son Akbar Khan in that direction, with the larger
part of his forces, and had been obliged to recall him when made aware of the
The
quarter from which the greatest danger was to be apprehended.
Khyber Pass thus left unguarded made it comparatively easy for Colonel Wade
to advance through it, with the force of which Prince Timour, Shah Shujah's
real
son,
be
it
was vain
therefore
Negotiation
brother Jubbar Khan, after the sanction of a council of
was despatched
to the British
camp
obtained,
kind of
be listened to for a moment, and the only thing offered was what was called an
honourable asylum within the British territories, on condition of immediate
Vol. hi.
242
constema-
Mahomeu.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
362
AD.
1839.
surrender.
was
[Book VIH.
When
useless to
his departure.
Flight of
homed.
Dost
out at
tlic
remonstrance, and reproof were equally in vain, and his ranks thinned so
He
rapidly that only a handful of followers worthy of confidence remained.
he
acquainted with this important fact, and in order not to repeat the blunder by
which the Candahar chiefs had been permitted to escape, it was resolved that
no time should be lost in commencing the pursuit. The task was undertaken
Shu
jah's entry
intoCabooi.
The army meanwhile conthe way, that the pursuit again proved fruitless.
tiuued its marcli without interruption, and on the 7th of August Shah Shujah,
mounted on a handsome and richly decorated Caboolee charger, and wearing a
dress
which
and
rubies,
made a triumphant
"An ocean
new
files
state of things."
After making his way with difficulty through the dense
of people which choked the narrow streets, and reaching the Bala Hissar or
Shah hastened up the great staircase, and ran with childish delight
from apartment to apartment. The great object of his ambition had been at
last secured.
After thirty years of exile he was once more seated on the
palace, the
throne.
"that the measure which has been accomplished of restoring this prince to the throne of his ancestors, will be productive of peace and
prosperity over the country in which he rules, and will confirm the just influ-
to be hoped,"
said,
On
this
further interference
view
to fulfil
Unfor-
Chap. IV.]
363
throne might be
suddenly as
it
safe,
had been
isss.
Bntish
force indis-
11
pensaWeat
the accuracy of the prediction attributed to the Duke of Wellington, that when
Cabool was reached the most difficult part of the task which the British
CHAPTER
IV.
thouo-h he
work
him
as shahsim-
of restoring
whose instrumentality
it
He
mentioning how
God and
accordingly addressed a
he had, "by the favour of
who accompanied
my
sake.
have
now
The
first class
he wished to confer on the governor-general, the commander-inBurnes, and Colonel Wade; the other two
my
"on every
it
officer
and
fullest confidence,"
wishes, which
soldier present
he concluded, "in
feel
me may
world."
t..
Queen
HISTORY OF INDIA.
36-t
AD.
1S39.
o-iving the
Withdrawal
troopffrom
Afghanistan
name
wliich nominally
airs of a
[Book VTII.
considering
how
thus proposed to be
left
several other
mountain
tribes
seemed
abandoning the aggressive schemes which she had verbally repudiated,
of
the
Khan
bent on giving practical effect to them by an expedition against
All these things considered, it was resolved that instead of a single
division of the army should continue
brigade, nearly the whole of the Bengal
in Afghanistan.
Khiva.
Expedition
against
Kheiat.
division
Bombay
^\^q
commenced
movements were not intended
its
Wellshire,
"i
Its
British
army with
to be
on its march.
voured to justify himself by pleading that the state of the country rendered
The excuse was certainly not without
the performance of them impossible.
foundation, and might perhaps have been accepted as sufficient, had it not
it
against
A victim
punishment by way of example. In the proKhan there was therefore more severity than
inflict
Mehrab
was wanted, and
it
fate to furnish
it.
the mam
Accordingly, on arriving at Quettah, General Wellshire, directing
Bolan
Pass, proceeded, on the
body of his troops to continue their march by the
365
Chap. IY.]
the S.S.W.
Ghuznee,
its
first
marches of his
it
capital, a letter
left
troops, that
no doubt as
still
pending,
?-^^|T-^l^i}^w
t^
completing
it,
-111
Gate.
that this
was no
idle threat
had resumed
made
To show
their appearance
sight,
its
A few
intention
it
gates.
One
b}^
of these
fugitives,
The
who
isso.
_a.d.
Capture of
Klielat.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
A.D. 1S39.
were entering
it
it,
[Book VIII.
and the
other, after a
few
shot, was so far demolished that a party, stationed for the purpose,
The garrison, thus cut off
Tushcd in and made good their footing within it.
f^.Qj^-y all means of escape, retired into the citadel, and fighting with the energy
rounds of
Capture of
Kheiat.
but before they could be executed the artillery, placed on a commanding height
and served with admirable precision, rendered them unnecessary, and the
Thougli the
Army of oc-
Bombay
commenced
its
of the 1st (Bengal) division of infantry-, the 2d (Bengal) cavalry, and No. G
light field batterj^, with a detachment of thirty sappers, were to remain
under the command of Sir Willoughby Cotton." The remainder of the troops
were to move toward Hindoostan on a day to be afterwards fixed. By a
subsequent order, issued on the 9th of October, the posts of the different
"Her
of occupation were definitely fixed as follows:
No.
6
field
battery, and
light
Majesty's 13th light infantry, three guns of
the 35th native infantry to remain in Cabool, and to be accommodated in the
})ortions of the
army
Bala Hissar.
The
majesty Shah Shujah's as are availThe whole to be under the command of Major Maclaren. Candahar will
of Skinner's horse,
able.
and such
details of his
have for its garrison the 42d and 43d native infantry, 4th company, 2d
battalion artillery, a ressalah of the 4th local horse, and such details of his
majesty Shah Shujah's troops as
siiahshujah
removes to
jeiiiiabad.
command."
The arrangements
may
be available.
having
^f-^^l^-^t'mL^
started for India on the loth oi October,
deemed necessary
Sir
John
Keane, and commenced their march in the direction
by
accompanied
of the Khyber Pass.
Shah Shujah himself also abandoned his capital to escape
the rigours of the approaching winter, by removing his court temporarily to
The envoy,
Jelalabad, which possesses a much milder climate than Cabool.
pletcd, the troops not
officials,
new
by
Ckap. IV.]
307
a.d. issd.
resti-icted as it
congratuin
tions on the
success uf
the Afghan
war.
Wade
a knight, and various other distinctions and promotions were distributed with a liberal liand.
Notwithstandto
the
the
belief
at
this
time
ing many warnings
contrary,
general
undoubtedly
was that the principal object of the Afghan expedition had been triumphantly
accomplished, and that the effect would be to give Gi-eat Britain a decided and
permanent ascendency in the countries immediately west of the Indus.
While this flattering prospect was sanguinely entertained at home, new
causes of apprehension had arisen.
The death of Runjeet Sing had endangered
.
^'"' ii-
plexities
and alarms,
our friendl}^ relations with the Sikhs. Not only had the obligations imposed
on them by the tripartite treaty been evaded, but the new government, only
nominally held by Runjeet Sing's imbecile son Kuruk Sing, and really administered by his turbulent grandson Nao Nehal
Sing, was suspected of fomenting
disturbances in Afghanistan, and actually intriguing for the restoration of the
Barukzyes. The failure of the Russian expedition against Khiva had not yet
been ascertained, and Burnes, installed at Cabool, was writing letters, in one
of which he says,
half million
of annual expenditure, and ere 1840 ends, I predict that our frontiers and those
of Russia will touch that is, the states dependent on either of us will and
that is the same thing.' The envoy participating in these alarms, did not
Lord Auckland act with vigour and promptitude to secure and open our rear, we shall soon be between two fires, if not
under them. France and Russia are advancing with only the remote continhesitate to declare that "unless
gency of
We
probably be the cause of our ruin. France gratuitously supplies Persia with
I
30,000 muskets, at a time when Persia may be said to be at war with us.
cannot, though I have repeatedly and earnestly pressed my request."
In explanation of the envoy's complaint, it is necessary to mention that he ^ sreat
game in
had begun to dream of playing what he caUed a great game in Central Asia, Central.\>ia
and had
failed in oljtaining
them
to give a free passage at all times to the British troops across their
Yar Mahomed
at Herat,
by wresting that
territory
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
3G8
A.D. 1840.
[Book VIII.
stoddart
release of Stoddart,
who was
la.st
then,
by a
from the former, and been received with open arms, and there was therefore
ground to apprehend that an effort would be made at the head of a formidable
army
to re-establish the
this danger,
least as it
was glad to make his escape into the territory of the WuUee of
Khooloom, under whose protection his own family were then residing, and by
whose aid he hoped to gain over several Usbek chiefs to his interest.
Shall Shujali and his court, as soon as the winter was past, prepared to
as a prisoner,
unsatisfac-
tory state
of
Afshau
istan.
return to Cabool, and took their departure from Jelalabad in the latter part of
The state of the country continued to be very unsatisfactory, and
April, 1840.
the envoy, unable any longer to shut his eyes to the fact, was obliged to con-
fess that
frontiers
had recently occurred would make him hesitate before recommencing hostilities.
Before his arrival at Khooloom, his family, previously resident there under the
charge of his brother Jubbar Khan, had, after some negotiation, been brought
Bamian, and placed under British protection, or
words surrendered as prisoners, without any other stipulation in their
favour than that of honourable treatment.
Under these circumstances Dost
by the
in other
good behaviour.
was not
hostages for
to be thus
THE
Chap. IV.]
tune in Afghanistan.
In other quarters the
-'
sicjns
o
3G9
GHILJIES.
his for-
maniof approaching
o disturbance were equally
i L
^
a. d.
is-io.
Expedition
against the
ohiijies.
duty
efl'ectually
refuge
other adherents.
few months they ventured to return, and halving re-occupied their forts resumed
General Nott,
their former practices with even greater boldness than before.
in
]
command
840, to
this
at Candahar,
purpose
all
'
panied by
afterwards,
when
ascertained,
it
was better
her Majesty's 5th regiment of infantry, and four guns of the 2d troop of horse
Anderson.
On the 16th of May the Ghiljie chiefs,
artillery, under Captain
now
in
open
rebellion,
were found in
When summoned
Turnuk.
^^^^^^^gement
and they
fled to their
mountain
fastnesses.
Notwithstanding
" the severe chastisement thus inflicted, the rebellion seemed
to gather strength, and so large a body of insurgents had concentrated in the
_
General Nott, appointing him "to the command of the force to be employed in
tranquillizing the Ghiljie country," intimated his intention to send strong
detachments from Cabool and Ghuznee, to unite with the troops which might
accompany him from Candahar. Nott convinced that the insurrection was not
so formidable as was supposed at head- quarters, and having, moreover, some
apprehension of a rising in Candahar
Vol.
III.
itself,
^'e^^ ais-
tui'banees
threatened.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
370
A.D. 1840.
native
of the 4<3d
The
[Book VIII.
infantry.
either
was resolved
to
keep them
in the vicinit}^, at
if
again
left to
it
recourse to others, in
Conspiracy
in Caiidahar.
has been mentioned, was apprehensive of a rising in Candahar, and for this reason among others refrained, when setting out for Khelat-
General Nott,
i-Ghiljie,
it
Khelat-i-Ghiljie.
in the possession of
chiefs residing at
troops.
From
letters found
Candahar were
ened in providing for the Ghiljie expedition as to give them a favourable oppor
tunity of rising, and massacring every European and Hindoo within the city.
The
fact that
is
a strong proof of
Nor
tlie
general
hatred with which Shah Sliujah and his allies were regarded.
to find the explanation.
According to Nott's account, which even supposing
it to be somewhat coloured, was doubtless substantially correct, nothing could
is it difficult
be more atrocious than the manner in which the government was conducted.
Prince Timour, the Shahzada, or heir-apparent of Shah Shujah, accompanied
by one of
The mode
his brothers,
was ruling
at
Candahar as
MISGOVERNMENT AT CANDAHAE.
Chap. IV.]
37J
a.d. i84o.
The
cruel treatment
Prince Timour,
who was
personally present,
Oppression
exercised
by siiau
officials.
General Nott, adopting this view, acted upon it with his usual decision.
Having caused the plundered property and the plunderers to be seized, he
intimated to the Shahzada and Captain Nicolson, the political resident, that
for
it.
he did not wish to interfere with his highness's servants, but as the plundered
looked to
property had been brought into his camp, the inhabitants naturally
whom
the
if
those
to
him for redress, and therefore,
duty properly belonged
mination, which I shall carry into effect at sunset unless you send your people
marauders in my presence, and as an example to all.' Well, sunset
to punish the
came,
when
unless a stop
was put
would separate
my camp
of such scenes in a
camp under
my
command."
That General Nott was right in the course which he adopted can scarcely
IV r^
"
be questioned, but he judged too favourably of the politicals and the "Cabool
avithorities" when he thought that they would not dare to write him on the
1
'
subject.
ment was
inflicted in
"
moment
The
prince,"
he
assured him,
hurt,
though he had
accompanied Sir C. Wade from Loodiana, and spent much of his time with
British troops, this was the first time he had met with conduct which would
and had
said that
'
doubtless produce a very bad effect on tlie Kuzzilbashes about his highness's
On
person, and lower him in the estimation of all the subjects of the Shah.'"
receiving this complaint Sir William
Macnaghten
fired at once.
Notfs mode
'^^
repress-
ingit.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
A
D. 1S40.
Notfsmode
of repress-
ing the
exnesses of
the Shah's
officers.
[Book VIII.
always
of his family.
feelings,
governor-general
and
perilous position
we
occupy
wall be
liim
Willoughby ap-
Nott
for explanation,
error in future."
plied to General
and on receiving
it
gave his
official
"
The
1.
2.
as the
ishing the prince's servants, yet
that
states
he
whom
to
political agent,
he fruitlessly applied on several occasions,
orders, it
deserve quotation: "I am sensible of the objects of the government in mainof impressing
taining by all means the dignity of the Shah and his family, and
I presume
but
of
his
the
of
the
the
independence
countiy
proofs
people
upon
;
not intended to sacrifice the discipline and order of the army, or the
credit of the nation for justice and moderation; and instead of being offended,
that
it is
should humbly imagine that any prince, either European or Asiatic, would
feel obliged to the general commanding for affording prompt justice to his ill1
and oppressed peasantry." The question ought now to have been set
at rest, but Sir William Macnaghten, describing the punishment inflicted by
General Nott as "an unnecessary act of violence,'' urged the governor- general
treated
'
For an account
p 352
RENEWAL OF DISTURBANCES.
Chap. IV.]
"
it,
if for
373
it
cannot
fail
Shujah-ul-Moolk
Almost therefore
a.d. i84o.
General
cedmedisthegOTw--^^
^"'-seiierai.
envoy, and Sir Willoughby Cotton was instructed to inform General Nott that
"
his conduct in arrogating to himself
the power of punishing the servants of
the Shah's son and representative within his majesty's dominions, where the
Shahzada was actually in the exercise of the vice-regal functions, had excited"
extreme surprise "in the governor-general in council, and created" an impression unfavourable as to his "discretion and perfect fitness for delicate duties in
such a country."
to the envoy,
by the censure
of a distinguished
similar spirit
Khan
is
it
found to prevail.
became necessary
slain,
The plan adopted was
territory.
it
When
to
annex
it
on
this condition,
and was
it
it
government of the
as a dependency to Shah Shujah's
to a
willing to
them.
to avail himself of
the strong feeling manifested in his favour, and no sooner made his appearance than the tribes hastened to rally around him.
Though the danger
Khan
liimself,
foreseen,
who
to avoid a
^ewdis-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
874
AD.
During
1840.
Detachment
Beioochees.
the
insurrections
various
[EooK YIII.
the
revolution in Khelat, disaster on more than one occasion befell British troops.
detachment of 50 horse and 1 50 foot, under Lieutenant Clark of the 2d Bom-
Kahun, situated in the southtwenty miles west of the Suliman Mountains, for the
purpose of obtaining supplies, was suddenly attacked by a body of 2000
Beloochees, and after much unavailing gallantry, cut off to a man.
Shortly
hay
its
commanded
by Captain Brown
The convoy
its relief
consisted of
bullocks; the escort mustered 464 bayonets, 34 rank and file of artillery, and
At Poolajee, a reinforcement of 200 Poonah
three twelve-pounder howitzers.
and Scinde irregular horse was received, and the whole proceeded through a
On the 31st of August, the
country presenting the most formidable difficulties.
pass of Nuffoosk
stoutest hearts
came
in sight,
were appalled.
The road
enemy, who, as soon as the convoj^ appeared, gave notice to the surrounding
country by setting fire to a beacon light.
Though his troops were already exhausted by a long and toilsome march, and suffering dreadfully from
thirst
m
S-.^.
-v"
-^,'r
KENEWAL OF DISTUEBANCES.
Chap. IV.
375
by this unequal conflict, the Beloochees, pouring down from tlie ridges sword in ad.
Not satisfied with thus clearing the pass, they
hand, bore all before them.
i840.
rushed into the plain and advanced to the very muzzles of the guns before
they
could be dispersed.
Their loss must have
more
whom
150 had
Nor was
fallen.
this
all.
had absconded
com-
the loss of
many
to Poolajee,
was
more than
miles distant,
effected.
The
more immediate
Clibborn's disaster
Kahun without
was
effect
of
Major
supplies
and almost
at the
of the enemy.
mercy
held
fifty
it
by the gallantry of
Simultaneous
outbreaks took place over the whole country, and serious attacks were made on
Quettah and other British posts. As these were repulsed without much difficulty,
unnecessary to give the details; but in order to show that success was in most
instances ov^ing much more to good fortune and to the discipline and courage
of our soldiers than to any wisdom in the arrangements of their superiors, it
it is
may
Nott
and 43d regiments garrisoning Candahar, and declaring that "if any
accident should occur to these regiments by detaching parties from them before
reinforcements shall aiTive, the game in this part of the Shah's dominions
of the 42d
would be
at
'
One regiment
(ovit
of six),
in view!
I
(all now at Candahai'), without noting the object
could earnestly wish the envoy and minister to impress upon these gentlemen
(the political residents) the propriety of at all times confining their application
to the officer in
command.
they reverse the order of things by calling for and particularizing the
But
number
Simultaneous outbreaks.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
376
A.D. 1S40.
Injudicious
mode of
suppressing
outbreaks
in Afclianistan.
[Book VIII.
Now no
and cavalry, without stating the object in view.
the
least
attention
to
would
such
a call.
officer of common understanding
pay
The officer placed at Killah Abdoollah for the purpose of watching and keeping
of guns, infantry,
open the Kojuk Pass, quits his post, takes a trip to Quettah, from whence he is sent
with others to beat the enemy (so report says) out of Moostung, without having
the means of attacking 300 men.
Away they gallop; and no sooner do they
get sight of the place than they find
again with the enemy at their heels!
a ruinous effect
Whose
orders
it
Even such a
silly,
paltiy affair
must have
among
is
this
vicinity,
and the
on the
line
officer
commanding
in
Shawl never
to
the Bolan, and even to Sukkur, might have been compromised, and all this in
consequence of the unmilitary and extraordinary orders issued to the Shali's
I repeat,
troops.
Revolution
in Klielat.
that
if this
system
is
to be continued, disaster
must
follow."
The
itself, and so dangerous as
an example of successful resistance to the new order of things, could not be
tolerated, and it was therefore determined either to oust Nusseer Khan,
Mehrab Khan's son, from the throne which his own sword and the affections of
revolution effected in Khelat, so serious in
,
his countr3^men
hold
In
had purchased
it,
him
to
the son of
in his place.
Khelat
Well,
me
instructions
him on
his father's
our authorities talk big for a day or two, and tlien send
retakes
him and
O'-'T
oil
Chap. IV.]
knew
of
The means
effect to
a.d. is4o.
/-v>
J.
Expedition
torecaptiue
Kheiat.
on the 25th of October, while the enemy moved rapidly on Dadur, situated
near the eastern entrance of the Bolan Pass.
fifty miles to the south-east,
about
Immediately on emerging from the pass, Nusseer Khan made preparations for
attacking the British post at Dadur, and on two successive days (the 30th and
He had not despaired of succeed31st) made ineffectual attempts to force it.
ing,
when
compelled
It was on this occasion that the fate of
of his camels and tents were captured.
Lieutenant Loveday, the political resident made captive at Kheiat, was ascer-
was
Barbarous
nnirder of
Lieutenant
dis-
covered lying with the throat cut on a small piece of carpet, with no clothing
a chain, the
except a pair of pajamas or cotton drawers, and fastened by
friction of
committed, as the
body was
still
if it
preceded by another, which was of still greater consequence, and which,
liad been duly improved, might have permanently secured the Dooranee dynasty
in Afghanistan.
spirit into his
insurrection."
envoy's interpretation of it, "implicated many chiefs in meditated
The Dost himself was also actively employed in levying troops, which, united
of,
and spread
so
much
Dost,
who with
the Wullee,
is
is
alarm,
"It
is
up
in
^ost Ma-
homed
in
concert witi,
the Wullee
of Khoo-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
378
AD.
1S40.
streno-th, so
while
much
we have
a formidable band
Dost Ma-
is
concert'with
of Kroo-'^
loom.
whose
^
fidelity
fall
back on Baraian,
An
^i^g
[EooK VIII.
The
first
was no sooner brought into proximity with the enemy than a company went
ofi'with arms and accoutrements to join the Dost, and it became necessary to
disarm the other companies, as the only effectual means of preventing them
from following the example. In a letter to the governor-general, dated 12th
September, Sir William Macnaghten pressed with additional urgency, that a
request which
he had repeatedly
made
Sale's
army
of
Defence of Jelalabad.'
ments.
terms
"I
now
tell
Lord
there
affairs,
and
when
his
Bamian, Brigadier Dennie hastened forward to that post with strong reinforcements.
He arrived on the 14th of September, but was unable to obtain certain
intelligence of the enemy's
movements
till
the l7th,
when he
bodies of cavalry were emerging from a defile into the valley, and were at the
distance of only six miles from Bamian.
These troops were supposed to be the
Chaf. IV.]
379
enemy's advanced guard, under the Dost's son Afzul Klian, and as they were ad.
Accordingly,
reported to have attacked a village, it was resolved to expel them.
on the morning of the 18th, the brigadier set out with a detachment, consisting
of four companies of the 35th native infantry, four companies of the Ghoorka
about 400 Afghan horse, and two horse-artillery guns. This comparatively small force, which expected to encounter only the enemy s advance,
found itself in front of his whole army. It occupied a series of heights, crowned
corps,
]84o.
Dostwarouted by
De^jf^jJ"'
forts,
dreadful
effect,
made
to
it.
the
defile,
made
fearful slaughter.
and
by the
dispei-sion
fleetness of
their horses.
This reverse so disconcerted the Wullee of Khooloom, that he gladly insured submission
of the
his own safety by accepting of terms which annexed part of his territories to wuUee of
those of
of
Mahomed
his family.
ings of
fled
about from place to place. As there was no doubt, however, that, if not
in Kohistan, he was intriguing with their chiefs and had received strong
promises of support, Sir Robert Sale, accompanied by Sir Alexander Burnes,
to
flit
marched thither
at the
head of a considerable
force,
The
fort
was immediately
after evacuated
by the
garrison, but
the moral effect of the repulse was dreaded, and the envo}', in writing to the
governor-general on the 12th of October, did not hesitate to represent both
Cabool and the country as "ripe for revolt." The Dost's cause certainly seemed
to gather strength.
Wlien he again raised his standard at Nyrow, many of the
Shah's soldiers deserted to him, and he began to
Cabool.
move
in the direction of
HISTORY OF INDIA.
380
AD.
1840.
that as if he
strange
threuvoy
as to the
treatment
of the Dost.
Mahomed
so
[Book VIII.
"Would
it
be justifiable to
set a price
"We
tliis
fellow's
above question the envoy was in earnest. Not only was he meditating to rid
himself of the Dost without any scruple as to the means, but he had even
This clearly
appears from a letter to the governor-general, in which, speaking of Sir Robert
"Should he be so fortunate
Sale's proceedings in Kohistan, he coolly remarks
of
Dost
I
shall
the
as to secure
Mahomed,
request his majesty not to
person
resolved in the event of his capture to
some higher ground in the rear, when the British cavalry moved
forward to outflank him, and left him no alternative but to fight or flee. He
moving
off to
preferred the former, and advanced to the encounter, at the head of a body of
horse.
Strange to say the British cavalry, native troopers, abandoning their
him
which he was
engaged.
Though he had put the cavalry to disgraceful rout, he did not venture to await the attack of the main body, and hastened to place himself out of
The Dusts
surrender to
Sir
William
while the Dost was wending his way thither to surrender himself a prisoner.
He had ridden from the battle-field for this very purpose, and had been twentyfour hours in his saddle,
when
ride
And
so it was.
The
ex- ruler of
Cabool, dismounting
Chap. IV.]
and by
381
his free
all
a.d. i840.
Shujah indeed
still
carry them
ous epithets to his prisoner, and refusing to admit him into his presence, excusing himself on the plea that he would be unable to behave to him with common
civility.
this
By
conduct
lie
now
the contrar}',
felt to
a price on the Dost's head, treated him with the greatest kindness, and placed
him under no more restraint than was absolutely necessary to secure his person.
Surrender of Dost Mahomed to Sir W. H. Macnaghtkn, at the entrance to Cabool from Killa Kazee.
From
This, however,
was
Mahomed was
handsomely than his majesty was but surely the cases are not parallel. The
Shah had no claim upon us. We had no hand in depriving him of his hingdoin, ivhereas we ejected the Dost, ivho never offended us, in support of our
;
policy, of vjhich he
concuri-ed with the
own
policy,
was
the victim!"
envoy
but he at
all
It
is
doubtful
if
the governor-general
is
con-
veyed to
The envoy, in a letter written after his deparstrong escort to British India!
ture, not only expressed his hope that he would be "treated witli liberality,"
but enforced
"e
Mahomed
Britisu
HISTORY OF INDIA.
882
A.D.
1S41.
Fanciei
of Afghanis
[Book VIII.
Tiie removal of Dost Mahomed rid Shah Shujah of the only rival who could
have competed with him for the throne of Afghanistan with any prospect of
succcss, and the envoy, become again sanguine, expressed his belief that the
was now
secured.
On
the 24th of
November he
wrote to a cori-espondent that his majesty, who at one time seemed doomed to
endure the winter of Cabool, was to start in a few days for his more genial
quarters at Jelalabad,
ing as
its
Sir
official quarters.
to return to India,
now saw
nothing to prevent him from resigning his command, and the governor-general,
as if satisfied that all real difficulties had at length been surmounted, conferred
the appointment not on General Nott, whose talents and services gave him the
best claim, but on General Elphinstone, who by his incompetency was destined
to teach a dreadful lesson on the subject of the abuse of patronage.
New
When
insur-
the year
realized.
gents,
1840
rection.
headed by a chief
closed,
was not
fully
detachment of the Shah's troops, who were assisting the officers employed in
the collection of the revenue.
On the 3d of January, 1841, the insurrection
was that
it
consisted
of Dooranees,
who
Yar Malic
med
Herat.
at
had come
to
insignificant in itself,
became formidable by
its ramifications,
and the
hostilities
by which it might be followed. The envoy's remedy would have been to fit out
an expedition at once against Herat, and annex it to Shah Shujah's dominions,
but as this was part of the "grand game" which the governor-general had
When
distinctly repudiated, it was necessary to act with more moderation.
at the
Elliot,
than
fight.
Acting in this
spirit
he offered
it,
resident at Candahar,
who
Chap. IV.j
RENEWED DISTURBANCES
IN
AFGHANISTAN.
383
"I
to induce the rebel chief of Zemindawer to abstain from disorders by the hope
of obtaining, through his forbearance, substantial personal benefits, I still think
that
of foreign aggression
a.d. i84i.
insmrections headed
by Aktm-
is
and dignified manner which can alone insure a due respect being
The accuracy of these views was soon confirmed. In
Aktur Khan was again in arms at the head of a
months
of
a
few
course
the
to muster before, threatening the
greater force than he had ever been able
that strong
'
till
These insur-
till
During^
this insurrection of the Dooranees, the Ghiliies were again in^ewGhiijie
insiirrectior.
Neither force nor money could wholly repress their native turbulence,
motion.
.
and
it
as the
most
efifectual
the Ghiijies for their boasted independence, and the attitude which they
assumed made it almost certain that an open rupture was contemplated, and
He
accordino-ly
^ -^ sent out a
troops,
^
who
.
...
it.
attack us?'
in a similar light,
it
is
followed
by a formidable
outbreak.
Proceedings
.of Lieuteu-
attacked the fort and captured it, but not without a conflict in which the chief
and many of his followers were slain. While the gallantry of the achievement
It
gence that a large body of insurgents, headed by two chiefs, were hastening
He had only time to bring his men into position when
forward to attack him.
ant Lyndi.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
384<
A.D.
1S41.
Defeat of the
Ghiij.es.
[Book VIII.
in numbers,
however, did not deter them from renewing the attack, and they maintained
the conflict for five hours before they finally gave way. .Their force was esti-
mated
at 5000 men,
it is
were inhabi-
who went
Prospect of
and
Turnuk and
at the
which was
still
in
open
rebellion.
Tireen and
When summoned
answered with defiance, and began musThe extent of the alarm thus
another struggle.
to submit, they
proves a
disappoint-
ment.
excitcd,
it
it
the troops
Candahar was withdrawn for the pm-poses of the expedition, and that General
Nott, who had received instructions some time before, not "on any account to
may
them
to be
still
ol
binding, complained
that so large a portion of the force under his command "should have been
ordered on what may prove to be a difficult service," while he was not per-
mitted to accompany
to act at his
He
own
reached the
it.
left
him
at liberty
of force had so
insurgent districts had the satisfaction to find that the display
overawed the insurgents as to render actual hostilities unnecessary. Chief alter
chief appeared in the
camp
to
make
his submission,
his
Meanwhile, in another
presence no longer necessary, returned to Candahar.
The
quarter an insurrection of a more formidable character had broken out.
NEW
Chap. IV.]
and every
retrenchment.
of large
department which of
385
GHILJIE INSUIIEECTION.
all
a.d. is4i.
XewChiijie
menced by sweeping reductions of the pensions and allowances which had been
An increase of disaff'ection was
granted to native chiefs and their followers.
compensating
for
between
Cabool and Jelalabad, made no secret of their determination to take the remedy
own hands. The sums allowed them had, they said, been fixed by
into their
regular compact,
to curtail
them was
therefore a breach of
faith.
for robberies
alleged,
been
made
their consent,
tlieir
responsibility
had
own
and
...
them
in their
fashion.
peculiar
^
take advantage of the intended return of Sir Robert Sale's brigade to Hindoostan,
to suppress the Ghiljie rising, and compel a re-opening of the passes.
Previous
attempts had indeed been made, but of so absurd a nature that nothing but
have been anticipated. Humza Khan5 acting as Shah Shujah's
failure should
representative
among
He was
the Ghiljies,
by
envoy expressed
it,
it.
"at
premium on
insurrection,
This
mode
of patching
its
On
narrow
defile,
hemmed
in
rocks.
The enemy
in number, but so
completely sheltered by their position, that they remained secure, while they
In this way
coolly shot down all who came within range of their muskets.
off"
and
wounded
a
Sale himself, by
ball which
they picked
sixty-seven men,
entered his left leg, near the ankle, shivering the small bone.
Vol. III.
Expedition
of Sale to
suppress
it.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
386
however
A.I). 1S41.
forced,
and
tlie
[Book VIII.
up an advanced
NewGiiiijie
''""''''*'"'
made on
his position at
Khoord Cabool.
On
ao-o-ravated
by the treachery
of the Shah's
Afghan
horse,
who
instead of
a
opportunity of carrying off
number
of camels.
Kobert Sale when reinforced hastened forward from Boothauk, and again
serious oppoentering the Khoord Cabool Pass, proceeded without encountering
Sir
The
sition to Jugdulluk.
real struggle
now commenced.
tageously posted on the adjoining heights, opened a destructive fire, which could
not be eftectully returned, and in the face of which it would have been destruc-
tion to advance.
Losssusthe British,
was Captain Windham of the 35th native infantry, who lost his life in performThe enemy, having broken in upon the rear-guard
ing an act of humanity.
it into confusion, was in full
pursuit, when Windham, already lame
a
to
a
from
hurt, dismounted
give
place on his charger to a wounded soldier.
By this delay, and the slackening of the animal's pace by a double load, he was
and thrown
Dehisive
"visws of
tranquillity,
unable to keep up with the other fugitives, and on seeing escape to be impossible, turned round, faced his pursuers, and fell fighting like a hero.
While war was thus raging, and disturbances had actually broken out or
wcre threatened in other quarters, the envoy was still dreaming of tranquillity,
and even expressed a hope that the formidable attack made on Sale's brigade
was shared
effort of
in both
there can
now be
resigned,
and with
by
the rebels."
He was
It
his place.
for the
Sir William
Macnaghten, as a reward for the services which he was supposed to have rendered,
had been appointed governor of Bombay, and was fretted
by every new occurrence which delayed his departure and Sir Alexander Burnes, who had
long been
;
Chap. IV.]
387
on Sir William
gained the great object of his ambition, and was, immediatelj''
and
full
uncontrolled
to
enter
on
the
discharge of the
Macnaghten's departure,
To all these officials, therefore, the first thing
duties of envoy and minister.
.
necessary was a tranquillity which, though more apparent than real, might
Under these circumsuffice to justify the completion of the new arrangements.
a.d. ]841.
Delusive
views as to
tranquillity
'
^^^^l^^
it is
noticed.
With
number
to General
Nott
to
had actually
started,
when
alarm-
The revolution
them.
ing tidings from Cabool rendered it necessary to recall
had now commenced in earnest, and the whole country had risen to retaliate on
soil,
who had
the invaders,
usurpation.
and in
it
its vicinity.
feet
sea.
Notwithstanding
which
is
from October to March, and during which storms are frequent and snow covers
the ground to the depth of several feet. At all seasons earthquakes, sometimes
of a very destructive character, occur. The river of Cabool, shallow, clear, and
in front of the city,
rapid, pursuing its course eastward to join the Indus, passes
which
means of
irrigation to
Though described
broken.
on three
sides.
to
form a
line
of
battlements, which are carried round so as to form a complete inclosure, but are
so unsubstantially and injudiciously constructed as to furnish a very feeble
Better protection was given by the Bala Hissar, which was at once
a royal palace and a citadel. Occupying the acclivity of a hill on the south-east
extremity of the city, it completely overlooked it, and was thus equally well fitted
to repel the attack of an enemy or put down internal insurrection. It formed
defence.
The
city of
Cabool.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
388
A.D. 1S41.
The Bala
Hissar,
Cabool.
accommodate a considerable
ramparts, strong enough,
force,
and from
[Book VIII.
its
It
to
elevation,
It is
depends, in a military point of view, on a firm hold of the Bala Hissar.
it
not
to
who
hold
allow
The
themselves to
the key of Cabool.
ought
troops
be dislodged but by a siege, and they must awe its population with their
Within the
Houses and
the
city.
was
little
deserving of
and extending
their
The
of a framework of
many
of
them
so
wood
town into
by
its
own
inclosure
and
gates.
districts,
and
own
at about
C0,000.
as
we have
seen, the
secure
Chap. IV.]
389
the troops, at once fixed on the upper part or citadel oi the Bala Hissar, but
"
The
encountered an opposition which ultimately proved insurmountable.
Bala His.-ar,' said Shah Shujah, "was his palace, and its privacy would be
a.d. i84i.
Proposal to
date the
troops
'in
^^^^aia
accommodation elsewhere.
and
so
much improved by
No
it.
But
this
its rejection.
once more interfered, and in addition to his former objections declared that the
occupation of any part of the Bala Hissar by a foreign force would make him
was most
within the citadel of the Bala Hissar, were appropriated by the Shah for the
his harem, while the British troops were obliged to content
accommodation of
Though
adopted
its
now
its eastern,
quarter at
its
Kohistan road, which leads nearly due south to one of the principal city gates.
east side of the parallelogram was about 250 yards from the canal already
The
mentioned, while about 300 yards farther east ran the river of Cabool. The
defences of the cantonments consisted of a shallow ditch and feeble ramparts,
together with a round bastion at each of the angles.
Immediately north of
the cantonments were two considerable in closures surrounded merely
by a wall.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
390
A.D. 1841.
British can-
cTbooT^''*
[Book YIII.
and nearer of the two was the mission compound or residency; the
other was chiefly occupied by the dwellings of officers, clerks, and other indivi-
The
larger
the stores were excluded and placed in an isolated fort situated without the
cantonments, about 300 yards north of their south-west angle, and separated
from them by a garden or orchard, which in the case of an attack would give
Nor was this the worst. The whole of the cantonments
cover to the assailants.
were commanded from various heights, several of them with forts, which had
neither been made strong enough to furnish a kind of outworks for defence, nor
Beside the cantonments,
dismantled so as to be unavailable to an enemy.
of
command
under
the
a small camp
Brigadier Skelton, the second in command,
had been established about two miles to the east, beyond a low range of heights
called the Seeah Sung Hills and for the purpose of keeping open the road to
The only
it bridges had been thrown across both the canal and the rivxr.
;
other posts which it is necessary to notice are the Bala Hissar, almost entirely
occupied by the Shah's troops under the command of Brigadier Anquetil, and
the residence of Sir Alexander Burnes, where a small body of sepoys acted as
his escort
and
the paymaster.
also
Bala Hissar, but the paymaster found the distance inconvenient, and on application was at once permitted to bring the treasure back into the town, and keep
it
as before at his
amounted
British
sports in
Afghanistan,
in the
sepoys indeed suffered severely from the intense cold, and the hospital soon
accustomed in their
own
and horse-racing
gave to the most active and robust their full share of bodily exertion; while the
more sedate found endless sources of interest and instruction in acclimatizing
plants,
far it
was
possible to
It is not to be
APPROACHING
Chap. IV.]
CRISIS
AT CABOOL.
391
denied that some, not satisfied with such pleasures, mingled with them or subthem others of a very different description. Licentiousness, instead
a.d. i84i.
stituted for
....
whom
Licentious
'iss
in the
British
'^^'
aware of having thus suffered in his happiness and honour, burned for revenge, and was not to be satisfied with anything short of the extermination of
chief,
It
Though
it
own
was not
management of those to whom their welwas intrusted, and the tyranny and
fare
injustice
of
istan.
Though a crisis had long been foreseen by those who, looking below the
surface, saw the causes which were workthe leading auand military, continued as*
ing to produce
thorities, civil
it,
all
were spell-bound.
it
ing preparatory to his departure; and Sir Alexander Burnes felt so satisfied
with the higher position on which he was about to enter, that on the evening
of the 1st of November he did not hesitate to congratulate the nvoy on his
Could
Some days
he be serious?
on the evening of that very day when he congratulated the envoy, the
same individual called upon him with new proofs of the plots which the chiefs
again,
was not
is,
Dreams of
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
392
A.D. 1841.
Suspicions
of a plot.
[Book VITI.
guard, as
it
adding rudely
The
superciliously,
plot, of
rebels,"
of the people of Cabool, they gave out that it was the order of his majesty to
this of course gained them a great accession of
put all infidels to death, and
It proceeds
strength."
his
name
on
was, to
whom
own
on
whom
it
and
Injudicious
proceedings
of Burnes.
was
incurred.
under orders
for India
would have
recall,
....
British interests.
Burnes,
made aware
him a
blustering
MURDEE OF BUENES.
Chap. IV.J
3l>o
and the
stir of their
to dispute,
in the street,
which
it
Oosman Khan,
was no longer
a.d. ]84i.
Conspiracy
Bm^ies.
possible
to return
He
take refuge in the cantonments.
that
he
danger
applied to the envoy for additional troops, and
also tried to conciliate Abdoollah Khan by a message assuring him, that if he
to a sense of
redressed.
entirely destitute of
means of
defence.
who had
escort,
just arrived to
diately adjoining.
in the cantonments.
After a furious
mob
thirsting;
^ for
had
blood and plunder
^
filled
the street in
and precluded
His house
attacked.
unavailing,
Broadfoot
earlier
had
and he became
fell
by a
pierced
fully
ball
effectual,
made
all
access to
awake ta the
through his
their
way
the cry,
for his
"Come down
own and
chest.
when Lieutenant
to
As a
last resort
he offered large
his brother's
danger,
sums of money
it,
life,
upon the Koran, that, if tlie firing was stopped, he would safely convey Burnes
and his brother to the Kuzzilbash fort, situated about half a mile to the northwest,
and then held by Captain Trevor, though with a very inadequate force.
must have been of this volunteered deliverance, it was
Distrustful though he
last chance,
The moment he stepped beyond it, his treacherous guide gave the signal, by
In a moment both the brothers were
calling out, "Tliis is Sekunder Burnes."
hands of the infuriated mob, who literally cut them to pieces witli
Afghan knives. The sepoys now left without a head made a fruitless defence,
in the
and were
murdered, and with them every man, woman, and child found
on the premises. Tlie paymaster's guard shared the same fate, and all his
Vol. III.
all
216
Himself
inmates
is
HISTORY OF INDIA.
894
AD.
1841.
treasure,
now amounting,
[Book VIII,
into the
fell
hands of the
insurgents.
TheinaurmigiTeasiiy
suppresse^d
While these
atrocities
had been immediately despatched, the outbreak could have been suppressed
without difficulty. The number of insurgents did not at first exceed 200 or
300,
and their success was so doubtful, that the leading chiefs kept aloof, and
commit themselves by taking open part with them. It was indeed
refused to
probable that the houses of Burnes and the paymaster would be forced and
plundered, but the success would only be momentary, and would be followed
was not
truly formidable.
first at-
Where, then,
it
that the
movement
first
qwu
made from
orders and
tempts.
Campbell.
Unfortunately, instead of taking a road which would liave led
to Burnes' house with little obstruction, they endeavoured to make their
way through the heart of the city, and placed themselves almost at the mercy
them
of the insurgents,
by becoming entangled
After an
imequal conflict, during which they are said to have lost 200 men, they commenced a disorderly retreat, and would probably all have perished had they
not obtained an unexpected relief
Brigadier Shelton had brought into the
Bala Hissar three companies of the 54th native infantry, the Shah's Gth infantry,
and four guns, the whole force which he then had in the small camp beyond
the Seeah Sung Hills
situated, sent out a detachment which helped to extricate them, but did not
succeed in saving the two guns. This movement
orders
been made
by
having
we
naturally turn thither to learn what consultations were held, and what steps taken as soon as
intelligence of the insur-
rection
was
received.
The application by Sir Alexander Burnes for support was received by the
"
On the morning
envoy at latest by 7 A.M. His own account of the matter is
of the 2d November, I was informed that the town of Cabool wfis in a state of
commotion and shortly afterwards I received a note from Lieutenant-colonel
:
was
besieged,
O
'
and
beoffriner
(DO
O for assist-
I"
INSURRECTION AT CABOOL.
Chap. IV.]
iince.
"
395
On
was in a great ferment, and shortly after the envoy came and told me
was in a state of insurrection, Ijut that he did not think much of it, and
the city
that
it
would shortly
"
it
was
appears to
in a great ferment,"
was
was taking the matter very
subside.''
coolly,
and prepares us
for wha.t
have been their common conclusion, that there was no necessity for
immediate despatch.
says,
might seem
move
coolness, as if
till
all
"
the rest
Burnes, as
if
the
life
men who
were sharing his danger, and the tlireatened plunder of the army chest, were
matters too trivial to occupy his thoughts. But even assuming that the detach-
ment of Brigadier Shelton was the only thing that promised to be of any
immediate utility, how came it that though the distance between the Seeah
a.d. isn.
cnipabie
General
""^
ami "he
'^"^'^'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
39G
AD.
1841.
Singular
in-
"
[Book VIII
it
Genera"
Kiphmstoi.e.
^^^2^^^ he says that "the envoy sent his military secretary, Captain Lawrence, to
intimate his wishes and obtain the king's sanction to this measure," and a fuller
"
Between nine and ten," he says, " I
explanation is given by the brigadier.
got a note from General Elphinstone reporting a disturbance in the city, and
desiring me to prepare to march into the Bala Hissar. ... I soon after got
The obvious reply to
another, telling me not to go as the king objected to it."
this
city, it
was
"
not a time for indecision, and that the measures adopted must be immediate
Having thus urged despatch, the brigadier received a third note telling him to
march immediately into the Bala Hissar, when further instructions would be
given him by the envoy's military secretary.
Believing everj'thing to be now
in
of
he
was
the
act
off
when he received a note from
arranged,
just
marching
the palace, was attacked in the act of dismounting from his horse by an Afghan
youth, who inflicted three severe wounds with a dagger, and from the confusion
moment
of the
carried back to the cantonments under a guard of fifty lancers, while the
military secretary himself brought his own answer, which was "to proceed."
As already mentioned, these repeated commands and countermands so frittered
away
the time, that Shelton did not reach the Bala Hissar
till
raid-day, and
then only to see Campbell and his Hindoostanees fleeing in disorder before
infuriated
Its fetal con-
On
^ cQ U6 lie cS .
general.
we had
The
is
city
is
in
officers,
an hour
lives.
sufficiently early to
fight-
They implore
assistance,
troops
is
On
friendly compulsion?
INSUERECTION AT CABOOL.
Chap. IV.]
will of
a monarch,
39';
by
British bayonets,
a.d. i84i
drawn.
to
march
IT
is
and the
relief of their
unhappy com-
At
A, Cantonment.
13, Mission residence.
.1,
G, Rikabashee fort.
I,
sent
furt.
Zulficar's fort.
ine,
and what
at Seeah Siuig.
Q,
K, King's garden.
L, Musjeed.
M, Spot where the envoy
murdered.
H, Mahmoud Khan's
Camp
Empty
who
understand,
fort
near bridge.
was
T,
Yaboo Khaneh.
N, Private garden.
O, Bazaar.
P, Kohistan gate uf city.
came there
than
I could
it
for.
"
it,
for of
it
to
how came
it
that he did
little
is,
that
it
Fatal results
oftheiudecisive
aud
proceediugs
Eiptottolie.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
398
A.D. isii.
from
[Book VIII.
force adequate to the
it.
Different
TOIltiGS
tlic
Sceali
bv
for
the defence of the cantonments, which were not then threatened, and within
which nearly 4000 men must then have been concentrated and their addition
to the force under Brigadier Shelton might have enabled him, instead of
remaining passive, to make at least a bold effort to accomplish the task which
;
Such an
effort
all
Seeah Sung to the Bala Hissar was considered the fittest to enter the city, but
was not the only route, nor, as far as one can judge from the plan, was it
it
most
practicable.
The Kohistan
of which the cantonments were constructed, leads in a line almost due south to
difficulty.
is
by a road which
mile.
by a
Where was
the impractica-
hemmed
situated in the
tion.
The
INSURRECTION AT CABOOL.
Chap. IV.]
31)9
and the vital importance of defending it is apparent from the fact that on the
Even admitting
2d of November it contained about 8000 maunds of grain.
that no general diversion from the cantonments could have been attempted,
surely the most strenuous efforts ought to have been made to save this fort
from falling into the hands of the enemy. Yet nothing was done.
Though it
was well known that on the very morning of the outbreak it was furiously
assailed
by the inhabitants
in its vicinity,
and
its
few defenders,
if
a.d. is.
incompeBritish au-
civi"and
muitary.
unrelieved,
must soon be overpowered, no steps were taken, or rather the only step taken
was in an opposite direction. Captain Lawrence ofl'ered to lead two companies
to its relief and was not permitted.
Other proofs of the utter incompetency of the civil and military authorities
meet the storm which had burst upon them crowd upon us, but enough has
to
been detailed.
The only
and
it
it
would in
all
probability be the
very
point against which the efforts of the enemy would be most strenuously directed, and yet, though there was a whole day during which free
access to it was uninterrupted, and it might have been so strongly garrisoned as
first
whatever was made to occupy and dismantle the adjoining forts by which it
Could it be alleged that the commissariat fort was, from
was commanded.
its
it
it
still
there
was
surely an alternative.
If
of the insurrection
While the envoy and general, with singular infatuation, frittered away the
time, and apparently despaired of being able to effect anything with the large
control,
no time was
lost in
sending
importunate messages, recalling the troops, which during the delusive interval
previous to the insurrection had been permitted to commence their march for
thus applying for distant aid, which owing to the state of the
not possibly have arrived before the crisis was decided, the
could
country
authorities only practised deception upon themselves, and found excuses for not
India.
By
exerting their
own
The note
Applications
Nott at
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
400
A.D. 1841.
[Book YIII.
fol^ardto"
xoT*^
officer
Ineffectual
to use the
He was
moreover required "to attach a troop of his majesty the Shah's horse artillery
Fortunto the above service, and likewise half the 1st regiment of cavalry."
already seen, he had on his own responsibility, in consequence
of alarming news from Cabool, recalled the troops which he liad despatched
under the command of Colonel Maclaren, after they had made only a single
we have
ately, as
march.
his
as he
far, therefore,
Cabool.
"First,
every foot of the ground, from the latter to the former place at any
rate they will arrive in so crippled a state as to be totally unfit for service;
to fight
weeks
which everything
will
way or other; thirdly, could I have kept the troops liere which
left this morning, I could ultimately have preserved the whole of Afghanistan,
be settled one
may
be,
use
day openly
How strange,"
Captain Woodburn, who was proceeding on sick leave to Cabool, was attacked
by a party of rebels after leaving Ghuznee, and barbarously murdered only six
out of his whole escort of 130 souls escaping the same fate. His account of the
;
climate also proved correct, for Colonel Maclaren, after a few days' march, lost
so many of his cattle by frost and snow, and found his difficulties accumulating
Similar
failure of
an
application
to Sale.
Unavailing
Khoord Cabool
>
left
to &
ffuard the
Chap. IV.J
credit of
"with
Major
all their
movement."
Griffiths
This, however,
was
all
it
in," says
401
Lady
Sale,
smnmons of recall Sir Robert Sale had quitted Gundamuck, and was advancing
on Jelalabad. The kind of difficulties encountered will be best explained in
own
"Since leaving Cabooi, they (the troops) have been kept constantly on the alert by attacks by night and day; from the time of their
arrival at Tazeen they have invariably bivouacked, and the safety of our posihis
words.
a.d. is4i.
Robert
Sale luiable
to afford
cabooi any
^^^^^*^'=^-
and very severe outpost duty; while each succeeding morning has brought its
with a bold and active enemy, eminently skilful in the species of warfare
affair
which their attempts have been confined, and armed with jezails which
have enabled them to annoy us at a range at which they could only be reached
to
by our
artillery."
Cabooi, where
his wife
it
to
and sick have increased to upwards of three hundred; that there is no longer
a single depot of provisions on the route, and the carriage of the force is not
I have at the same time
bring on one day's rations with it.
is
in
arms
and ready to oppose us
whole
that
the
country
positive information
in the defiles between this city and Cabooi, while my ammunition is insufficient
sufficient to
for
days at least.
Jugduluck or
Cabooi, I
it
am
Under
now garrisoning
holding
it
arrive from
if possible until
falls
Peshawer or India."
General
'
^_
we now
narrative,
the envoy
very
first
"
Since you
left
Our dilemma
is
me
a difficult one.
Shelton, if
reinforced to-morrow,
But
if this
Vol.
III.
247
Eliihiustoue
conjures
up
HISTORY OF INDIA.
402
A.D. 1841.
[Book VIII.
Miserable
We
must
see
what morning
brings,
of General
impossiblc.
EipMiistone
^^^j^q
we have
on the morrow when the insurrection had gained head, must have been stiU
more so on the day previous but instead of deciding on any one of them he
;
merely plays at hide-and-seek with them, and then goes to bed with the sage
must see what the mornresolution to trust to the chapter of accidents.
"We
ing brings, and then think what can be done," The morning came, and with
Thousands,
it, as might have been anticipated, a vast increase of the insurgents.
excess of caution had previously kept aloof, now openly declared themselves, while multitudes, hearing of the plunder which had already been
whom
The Kohistan
share.
little
road, along
to be
taken in the face of infuriated and exulting foes. The interval of a night had
brought no additional clearness of perception or energy of purpose to the
general and tlie envoy, and instead of boldly fronting the difficulties which
their
not
His employ-
ment
of
inadequate
own
till
It was
imbecility had mainly created, they cowered before them.
three in the afternoon of the 3d that any attempt was made to pene-
from the cantonments into the city. It proceeded upon the plan, which
had already proved abortive, of attempting to accomplish the most important
The whole
objects by inadequate means, and resulted in a complete failure.
tratc
force
the gross blunder of sending out so feeble a detachment, no care had been taken
to secure co-operation and support from the Bala Hissar.
There was still
first
till
be done."
it,
and make
Trevor, obliged to abandon his tower, was indebted to some friendly natives
for the means of
removing his wife and seven children to the cantonments and
;
Captain Mackenzie,
the
enemy
at
bay
who commanded
for
Chap. IV.]
403
messages for support, was compelled to quit his post as untenable, and happily
The fort, of course, with all
succeeded in making an almost miraculous escape.
its
a.d. is4i.
still
more
serious disaster.
.
now
The
and
Progress of
insiirrectioi
atcabooi.
Kohistanee road.
crowded with the enemy, who were allowed to ply their jezails and matchlocks
its walls with deadly aim, while no attempt was made to dislodge them.
from
Thus encouraged they ventured down into the lower ground and took undisputed
Meanwhile that fort, thus beleaguered,
possession of the intervening garden.
and though containing the provisions and medical stores of the whole army,
was held by a party which, according to Lady Sale, amounted only to fifty,
and certainly fell far short of a hundred. Lieutenant Warren, the ofiicer in
men were
deserting
enemy were mining the walls and preparing for escalade; and
would be impossible for him to hold out unless reinforced. On receiving
it
this letter,
waited upon the general, and pointed out that if the supplies were captured
the destruction of the whole force would become almost inevitable.
The
effectual,
In
having found counsellors as ignorant or imbecile as himself, did nothing.
an earlier part of the day a paltry reinforcement of two companies of the 44th
regiment had been driven back with serious loss, including that of Captains
Swayne and Eobinson, who were shot dead on the spot in the afternoon a
;
party of the 5th cavalry, designed to assist in the mad scheme of evacuation,
suffered still more severely.
Was not this proof that nothing more could be
and
that
it
remained
to do on the 4tli as had been done on the 2d
done,
only
and 3d
"see what the morning brings, and then think what can be done?"
Such appears to have been General Elphinstone's final resolution, but the
self-complacency with which he regarded it must have been somewhat disturbed
cinnder
upon
blunder,
HISTORY OF INDIA.
404
[Book VIII.
The British
riaTTiT
was even
A.D. 1841.
captured,
when
the commissariat
officers,
to
willing, as a preliminary measure,
take possession of
Mahomed
Captain Boyd, dehghted at the result of the interview, volunteered to carry the powder to blow in the gate, and he and his commissariat
the impression that the capture of the
colleague retired about midnight, under
gj^^^eef s
one
fort,
fort.
and the
impression was
all
aid
forcements,
store."
Though monstrous,
true that the general again changed his mind, and had nothing to say in
The garrison,
justification, except that the proceeding involved too much risk.
it is
mismanagement.
digging a
liolc
from the
and through
interior,
.
for a
it
made
their escape.
ys,
The
in
scene
carry
and
down from
at this extraordinary scene, could not help exclaiming, "Surely the English are
mad
"
The soldiers were of course indignant when their means both of subsistence and relief in distress were thus ignominously carried off", and called to
be led against the contemptible enemy, who were parading their spoils before
!
thus
The
general,
it by an
attempt to storm Mahomed Shureef 's fort. In a note to the
dated
5th November, 5 A.M., he thus announced his intention:
"We
envoy,
will first try to breach the place, and shell it as well as we can.
From infor-
repairing
mation
have received respecting the interior of the fort, it seems the centre,
about a hundred yards from the can-
in force, supported
fire
Chap.
I V.J
tired
and
ill
fed,
but
when
the
failure.
all niffht in
405
the works,
seem
moment
a.d.
]S4i.
Mismanage
General
^'p^'"*"-
first
forced
is
begins to
talk of terms.
from want of provisions, to retreat. You should therefore conwhat chance there is of making terms, if we are driven to this extremity."
to subsist, or,
sider
was
his language
He had an army
and he keeps
difficulties, till
men
as Sale
Afghan who
face,
it
every rebel
On
despised,
bouring
was
Shureef s
fort,
even of some disgraceful repulses, was taken at last in a manner which showed
that had a proper spirit been evinced at the outset, the insurrection might
have been put down before it assumed the character of a great national moveAfter Lieutenant Sturt had so far recovered from his wounds as to be
ment.
fit
for duty,
impetuosity that the enemy, after a short resistance, abandoned the place.
Lieutenant Raban of the 44th, while waving his sword on the highest point of
the breach, which he had been the first to moimt, was unfortunately killed, and
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
406
A.D. 1841.
Partial sue^
British.
[Book VTII.
diately
Before the
consternation, two
enemy
in
The idea of a
certain.
was
victory, however,
so far
beyond
the highest aspirations of the general, that he once more sat down to address
the envoy in language which could not have been more desponding if he had
General
Elphinstone's
fears.
f>
tiou
We
-I
from this
as
would
reflect disgrace
sight of"
At
ammunition
in store
was
sufficient to
last
twelve
Yet on
months, and therefore alarm in regard to it was utterly groundless.
this creation of his own brain he
the
the
of
conclusion
urges upon
envoy
hasty
a treaty which, though he disclaims
must
postscript:
but
it
structure
reflect disgrace
"Our case
is
it is difficult
it
goes very
to decipher their
on
us."
As
if
he
matical that
be. "humiliating,"
it
fast."
meaning.
mean
to impress that;
The words
According
are so enig-
to grammatical
the "case" that was going very fast, but not improbably he was
the
only calling
envoy's attention once more to the alleged deficiency of
it is
ammunition.
After
warning was,
"
We
all,
are in a
if it fails
our case
is
desperate."
Sir William
it
by
He
to
employ
it for
all
the
their confeder-
SIR W.
Chap. IY.J
MACNAGHTEN'S POLICY.
40^
acy.
that,
'^
'
i-
resorts to
who were
bribery
Mohun Lai,
very agent fitted for the purpose had been accidentally provided.
the moonshee of Sir Alexander Burnes, had saved his life when his master was
murdered, by taking shelter under the garment of a Kuzzilbash chief of the
name
of
Another
still
more
former,
latter,
"besides
added,
"
the rival of
him that he
assure
chiefship,
and
to enable
him
all
Ameer-
Mohun
Lal.
Life of Bost
Mahomed Khan.
to support
You may
it.
The
explained, but light is thrown upon it by a letter, written two days before to
Mohun Lai, by Lieutenant John Conolly, who, though then with the Shah in
the Bala Hissar, was the envoy's nephew and assistant, and in constant com-
"You
Conolly's letter contained the following passages:
his
can promise one lac of rupees to Khan Shereen, on the condition of
killing
and arming
rebels,
all rebels."
frequently.
the envoy.
Try and
all
of reward
who
promise 10,000 rupees for the head of each of the principal rebel chiefs."
On comparing the above two letters, the envoy's is seen to be the compleof his assistant's. Mohun Lai, though he had no scruples
kind of employment given him, naturally desired the written authority
Pioiosaisof
assassinatiou.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
408
A.D. 1841.
Proposals to
^
thTieh'Ji
''^^^^^'
and he received
it
[Book VIII.
doubt that the envoy and assistant perfectly understood each other and were
Even the
acting in concert.
is, is
it
improbable that he sanctioned Conolly's atrocious offer of 1000 for the head
We have already seen the envoy, when
movements
of Dost
Mahomed,
seriously asking,
"Would
it
be
on
this fellow's
is,
Within a month Abdoollah Khan and Meer Musjedee, two chiefs who had been
specially marked out as the first victims of assassination, were both dead, and
under circumstances so suspicious, that the blood-money was actually claimed
by the wretches hired to assassinate them, and was only evaded b}^ an abominable subterfuge.
hired assassins,
his steps
wall.
head
for
price of blood
him
Did the
envoy
f*anc-
tionthem?
in his sleep,
a letter has been produced in which the envoy, writing to Mohun Lai a few
"
I am sorry to find from your
days after the murder of the two chiefs, said,
letter of last night that
encourage assassination.
take unlawful means to destroy them." In passing judgment on the case, due
weight should be given to this unequivocal disclaimer, for unfortunately the
envoy had already too much to answer for, and he should not be burdened
with an additional load of guilt, so long as it is possible to doubt whether he
actually incurred
it.
While General Elphinstone was counselling submission, and the envoy was
409
DISASTERS IN KOHISTAN.
Chap. IV.]
endeavouring to put off the evil day by a lavish distribution of money, the
insurrection continued to spread rapidly over the whole country, and leave the
British troops at the different stations little more than the ground which they
Till
/>TN
Till
a.d. i84i.
Spreadofthe
insuirectioii
hero of Herat,
who was
occupied the castle of Lughmanee, only two miles distant, and succeeded after a
desperate struggle in uniting his handful of troops to the Ghoorkas commanded
by Captain Codrington. The crisis, however, had only now arrived. Large
bodies of the enemy immediately surrounded the fortified barracks of Chaiikur,
and continued to press on with so much determination, that an
dislodge
For
necessary.
artillery officer,
eflfort
to
field-piece,
and
Disastevs of
^imy-
men, having emptied their last pool of water, were perishing with thirst. It
was therefore resolved to evacuate Charikur, and endeavour by a rapid unen-
was overwhelmed by
a furious onset of the enemy and cut to pieces.
Ensign E,ose, who was among
the slain, sold his life dearly, having killed four of the enemy with his own
hand.
Dr. Grant's fate was still more melancholy.
After escaping from Kar-
and struggled on
durrah, he
till
it
reached Kardurrah.
Here
it
seized
for
a lucrative post, and he doubtless thought himself a most fortunate man when
he was made commander-in-chief of the army of occupation beyond the Indus.
short
trial,
satisfied
in his
right place, and he had not only the honesty to confess it, but had obtained
He had, as he expressed
permission on medical certificate to return to India.
Vol. III.
248
infinities
Eiphir-stoiu
HISTORY OF INDIA.
410
A.D. 1841.
Infirmities
[Book VIII.
been "unlucky in the state of his health." Fever and rheumatic gout had
made him almost a cripple, and on the 2d of November, the first day of the
"
a very severe fall the horse
outbreak, he had, as he himself relates,
falling
it,
Eiphinstone.upon
him."
Tliis
have completely shattered him in mind as well as body. His personal courage
never appears to have failed him, but any clearness of thought and energy of
purpose which he
may
at
any time have possessed were entirely gone. Succesmind like mere phantoms, and not unfre-
quently after long hours of consultation he would change all his arrangements
on the casual remark or frivolous objection of some one of the most forward
and
soldiers
was necessary therefore that some steps should be taken, though it was a
matter of some delicacy. So long as General Elphinstone found himself capable
of acting at all, he felt bound to retain his command till either General Nott,
It
whom
for
obtained was to call in Brigadier Shelton as the second in command, and allow
the heaviest and most active duties to be performed by him, as a kind of
deputy-commander.
He shares
maud with
sheitor"^
this
in acting
upou it, and Brigadier Shelton, about four on the morning of the 9th of
November, received orders to quit the Bala Hissar and come into cantonHe started
ments, with the Shah's 6th infantry and a six-pounder gun.
in little
after,
and as he himself
"
says,
marched
in
The
"
was
on arriving were
"
but could
read anxiety in
provisions.
generally indulged, and was more grieved to find the troops were dispirited."
On going round the cantonments he "found them of frightful extent, with a
many
facility of
cat,
with
The brigadier
of the o
complains
ereneral indulgence
o
o
i
it is to be feared that he was in
^
this respect
excellent as to
justify the
in
it.
TFIE
Chap. IV.]
EIKABASHEE FORT.
411
temper of a very different kind was required, and by the want of it, he in a ad.
all the
good of which he might otherwise have been
i84i.
manner neutralized
Brigadier
^^^^^^-
cannot read their statements without feelin^ that, thouo-h there were faults on
both
sides,
On
the 10th of November, the day after Brigadier Shelton's arrival, an An attack on
the enemy
offensive movement was resolved upon.
It was to be directed princij)ally proposed,
against
what was
called
The
force allotted
was in
men
Rikabashee's
men
fort,
so near the
in the bastions
this
2000
when he heard General Elphinstone observe to his aide-de"I think we had better give it up."
"Then," replied the aide-de-camp,
of all arms,
camp,
"
their
means of
defence.
at once ?
to
Unfortunately
gate.
the explosion onlj^ blew open a small wicket, through which the stormers
found it extremely difficult to pass in the face of a hot and deadly fire.
The
111"
way
this
Afghan
horse,
had pro-
duced a similar panic among the stormers outside the wicket, and Europeans and
On this occasion the
sepoj's in one confused mass turned their backs and fled.
brigadier did good service.
fugitives,
Disdaining
flight,
artillery,
to
tell,
compelled
and hastened
to return.
To prevent
the gate by which they escaped had been closed by securing its chain
with a bayonet.
This was but a feeble obstacle, and the enemy came once
more into deadly conflict with the few individuals opposed to them. Colonel
this,
fell
Bird, with
Difficulties
^'^"^ disas-
At
ters.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
412
A.D. 1841.
Question of
were
[Book Till.
nssassma-
Mohun
Lai as
follows: "There
is
man
called
little
Hajee
Ali,
who might
tion again
to
monted.
be induced by a bribe to try and bring in the heads of one or two of the
him know that 10,000 rupees (1000) will be
Musjids. Endeavour to let
I have written to him
given for each head, or even 15,000 rupees (1500).
two or three times." And that Mohun Lai might be urged to greater exer-
"You
the envoy himself again took pen in hand and wrote to him thus:
are aware that I would give a reward of 10,000 rupees for the apprehension of
Ameer-oollah Khan, and such of the Dooranee rebel chiefs." Attempts have
tion,
been made to distinguish between the two commissions thus given to Mohun
Lai, and it has been said that the blood-money offered by the one was not conit
may, it is quite certain
templated or sanctioned by the other. Be this as
and
therefore having some
of
such
idea
had
no
Lai
that Mohun
distinction,
any
doubts as to the mode of proceeding, he wrote directly to the envoy for explanation, telhng him that "he could not find out by Lieutenant Conolly 's notes how
the rebels are to be assassinated, but the men now employed promise to go
into their houses
A new
On
posi-
and cut
the 13th of
tion talcen
up by the
enemy.
fire
On
November
the
from two captured guns which they had placed in a commanding position.
this occasion the envoy displayed more of the military spiiit than either
the general or the brigadier, and insisting, in opposition to both, that a vigorous
attempt should be made to drive back the enemy and recapture the guns, carried
his point.
At four P.M., the earlier part of the day having been wasted in idle
debate, Shelton proceeded on the service at the head of a strong detachment, with
The troops moved in three columns and in different directions. Unfortunately the more serviceable of the two guns stuck fast in a canal, and though
two guns.
the other gun did good execution, the advanced column of infantry, bi'ought into
collision with the Afghan cavalry sooner than was intended, appears to have lost
presence of mind. When, at the distance of only ten yards they might have
poured in a destructive volley, they fired wildly without taking aim, and were
all
commencement did
At the
of
it.
As night was
413
Chap. IV.]
beginning to fall, and the enemy began again to press forwards, only one of the
guns could be brought into cantonments. The other was abandoned after being
spiked,
and some
lo.ss
a.d. isii.
Shortly afterwards intelligence arrived which spread a gloom over the cantonThe envoy,
ments, and shut out almost the only remaining ray of hope.
attemijt to
enemj"
who had
November
it
On a-scertain-
retire
to the
Bala Hissar, or
on where
we
Continued
occupation
of the canresolved on.
was most unfortunate that the envoy, instead of thus trusting to the
chapter of accidents, did not at once decide in favour of the second alternative
to the Bala Hissar.
It was in fact the only remaining chance
retirement
Once within
it
means of the stock of provisions already stored in the citadel, and the addition
which might have been made to it by suitable exertion, to pass the winter in
The envoy doubted if the heavy guns could
security and tolerable comfort.
be brought into the Bala Hissar, and foresaw a deficiency both of food and
firewood to cook it.
The general and the brigadier, now apparently intent on
retreat
was the
alleged difhculty
The
J?
tor
fo
off
one of
In order
to dislodge them, it
field.
destined this
HISTORY OF INDIA.
414
A.D. 1841.
'
[Book VIII.
two
Failure of
the^Afghaus-
made that
it failed.
now
lost,
Jezails.'
defined, the
British occupying
by a narrow
The
gorge.
one
fire
hill
hill o;k^erhanggalling, the brigadier left five companies on the extremity of the
remainder
of
the
force and the
with
the
and
the
the
ins:
villao;e,
crossinsf
fforo^e
Brigadier
Shelton's
misarrangements the
cause of
it.
Here he formed
hill.
his infantry
two squares, and crowded his cavalry behind them. This arrangement,
which has been strongly and justly censured, did not produce much mischief so
into
Afghan masses.
At
length, however,
when
tell
made
upon the
it
unser-
viceable, a severe penalty was paid for the folly of not having provided another
The Afghan jezails carrying much further than the British
to supply its place.
muskets, poured in a
havoc in the squares.
fire
kept in a position where they could not act with effect, and stood merely as
marks to be shot at, has never been satisfactorily explained. The result was
disastrous.
resisting
The
of
is
a formidable
weapon
in mountainous countries,
the
more
musket.
istan.
far
exceeds that of a
range
Hart's Character
and Costume of Afghan-
Chap. IV.]
415
a.d. i84i
The British
the Afghans
gun by the enemy. Their triumph, however, was short-lived. When everything seemed lost, the brigadier had the presence of mind to order the halt to
The men mechanically obeyed, reformed, and returned to the conto flee and leave the captured gun
The conflict still continued with alternations of success, but as
behind them.
the capture of the village for which it was commenced had become impossible,
it was
suggested to the brigadier, that as the spirit of the troops could no
be
trusted, the wisest course would be "to return to cantonments while
longer
it was still
"Oh no! we will hold the hill some
possible to do so with credit."'
time longer," was his answer, and there he stood sacriflcing valuable lives while
no possible advantage could be gained by it. If this was mere bravado, it was
Another Ghazee rush was followed by a second panic, and the
dearly paid for.
be sounded.
flict.
great
It
confusion.
So completely indeed were fugitives and pursuers mingled, that the cantonments themselves must have fallen had the Afghans known how to improve
their advantao;e.
"
This
Brigadier Shelton, in narrating the above events, coolly remarks,
concluded all exterior operations." The British troops pining with cold and
hunger, exhausted by incessant fatigues, and broken in spirit, had refused to
follow their
officers,
What
flight before
an enemy
-^n exterior
operations
abandoned,
whom
refused to entertain
much
When
the proposal to
move
was
rejected, there
must
have been some mention of a resource deemed preferable to it, and we are not
left
long in doubt as to what it was. The envoy had resolved to attempt to
obtain terms from the insurgents, and having ascertained their willingness to
treat,
called
The
it is feasible
"as to whether, in a
opinion, which
in the
following terms:
any longer
Resolution
treat for
**^'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
41 G
A.D. 1841.
Resolution
come
to to
treat for
teiins.
[Book VIII.
state of siege,
am of
requesting
Tlie
7
^h
Arrogant
demaiuls of
the enemy.
Ali
representing the Afghans, and Captains Lawrence and Trevor the British.
The former at once assumed a tone so arrogant, that after two hours' discussion
It
was
At
in a
unavailing.
The Afghan
chiefs
demanded that
tlie
British
should surrender as prisoners of war, and deliver up all their arms, ammunition,
and treasure, and when these terms were indignantly rejected, departed, uttering menaces.
Ruinous
delay.
Negotiation having
and
failed,
of events,
for
PUSILLANIMOUS CONDUCT.
Chap. IV.]
417
a.d. i841.
Newproposals for
negotiation
could.
all
cowards
alike/'
"Our
"are behaving like a pack of despicable cowards, and there is no spirit of enterIn this dilemma, the envoy displayed a fjir more manly
prise left amotig us."
spirit
and
word
While the
latter did
sent off
was pleased
These, he thought,
when
11th,
there
consumption of the
troops
now
at Cabool
would repair
to Peshawer,
and thence
;"
that
all
as the necessary
the
now
if
with
other Afghans
detained in India, and that at the same time the family of the Shah,
his
his family,
all
to return
Vol.
III.
249
Conference
with the
Afghan
HISTORY or INDIA.
418
A.D. 1841.
Draft of a
treaty sub-
mitted by
the British.
[Book VIII.
"the British troops shall be supplied with provisions, on tendering payment for
the same;'' that "the stores and property formerly belonging to Ameer Dost
Mahomed Khan shall be restored," and all the property of British officers left
foreign
and
The other
chiefs
was
finished proceeded
appearance of moderation.
wath some
It is difficult in-
just
what the
chiefs
is
ostensi-
bly accepted
by the
Afghans.
an
He
unconditional surrender.
however, was now past hoping for, and he could therefore look at the treaty
with some degree of self-complacency. "The terms I secured were the best
obtainable,
friends,
Such was the flattering side of the picture. But it had also a dark side. The
Afghans were notoriously avaricious, crafty, and vindictive, and where was the
guarantee that after agreeing to the terms they would fulfil them? Tlie British
This done they would
troops were to evacuate the cantonments in three dsijs.
be entirely at the mercy of foes, who would have the
02:)tion of exterminating
The
first
to
Chap. IV.]
The
inspire confidence.
were to evacuate
It
it
Til
should
the
fi
lelt
a.d. is4i.
to the cantonments.
not be
removal.
419
.p.
Evacuation
of the Bala
nissar.
day wore away and night had fallen before the troops were prepared to
Akbar Khan, who had undertaken to be their guide and protector, had
march.
men
Ghiljies,
whom
troops,
Sung
Hills,
the walls, devoid both of food and shelter, and exposed to the rigours of a
beffillen them had Akbar Khan proved treacherous, but he kept his faith, and
enabled them, though thoroughly exhausted, to reach the cantonments in safety
The third day, the one appointed for the evacuation of the cantonments,
had now arrived, but this was at once acknowledged to be impossible. The
^
'-
'-
Fortscom-
manding
the canton-
chiefs, under the pretext that they had no security for the evacuation, declined signed to
'^^^^^'
to furnish the supplies which they had promised, while the British protested.
to
fall,
forts
of sincerity,
complied.
It is
but
the advantage which they might derive from delay, the blame was not wholly
The envoy, even after he had signed the treaty, ceased not to wish
theirs.
to
country,
at Cabool
till
up
HISTORY OF INDIA.
420
A.D. 1841.
.Vow in-
t'le^nvoy.
[Boor VIII.
left indefinite,
tribes.
The
Barukzyes and their adherents claimed to be restored to their ancient ascendency, while the Ghiljies and Knzzilbashes, dreading this as the worst event
that could befall them,
it,
and began
to scatter
He
bribes on
all
hands.
obligations.
Thougli the 22d of December had been fixed for the departure of the
Treacherous
correspondence with
and Kuzziibashes.
us,
them
The
Afghan
nation.
If the Ghiljies
it
to
is
and we
to stay, let
end."
Do
the reason.
to
go away."
He had
the precaution,
however,
me
not
let
At
this
The kurwar
buishels.
Chap. IV.]
421
The game which the envoy was playing could hardly have been expected,
and certainly did not deserve to succeed. While he was pluming himself on
keeping it secret, the Afghan chiefs knew it all, and proceeded
well
entitled to counterwork him.
He accordingly received new
were
as they
overtures from the Barukzyes, and was easily caught by them, as they promised
his dexterity in
rival intrigue.
He
a.d. is4i.
Counter
intrigiies of
theAfgiians.
therefore intimated
Lai that "the sending grain to us just now would do more harm
to
than good to our cause, and it would lead the Barukzyes to suppose that I am
This reads ludicrously
intriguing with a view of breaking my agreement."
Mohun
but what
is
snow
but
we must
If these
consider not
what
is
agreeable
On
in
of a
new
string of proposals,
of such a nature that Captain Skinner remarked, half jocularly, to the envoy,
Their main purport was that
that he felt like one loaded with combustibles.
the British troops, having been drawn up outside the cantonments, Akbar Khan
and the Ghiljies would unite with them, and on a given signal attack the fort
and seize the person of Ameen-oolah Khan, who was known to be the original
as
Shah Shujah's
One
was
to present Ameen-oolah's
head to the
and told them to prepare to accompany him to a conference with Akbar Khan.
Extraorciin-
ary proposais.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
422
A.D. 1841.
Mackenzie,
having
time learned
his inten-
He
Infatuation
alone,
[Book VIII.
is
a trap."
and was simply answered "they are not in the plot." "Do
then
not
apprehend treachery?" rejoined the general. "None whatever,"
you
was the reply " I am certain the thing will succeed. What I want you to do
in the negotiation,
have two regiments and guns got quickly ready, and without making any
show, to be prepared the moment required to move towards Mahomed Khan's
is
to
'
fort."
<^
sense
displayed,
..-^,y|]f^^.
\^
^^K^^y^
=^^^\nS^^
Mahomed Khan's
Fort.
till
me;
About uoou
of the
'^
to a confer-
'
'
ence with
/.
among some
it is
crossed
by a
It
bridge.
was situated on a
slope
hillocks,
that a beautiful
price,
to return for
it,
is
said to
have remarked,
"
Death
is
preferable to the
life
we
MACNAGHTEN MUEDEEED.
SIR W.
Chap. IV.]
i:^3
the
Arab
steed,
and
a.d. is4i.
pistols,
which he had admired at a previous meeting, the parties repaired to the spot
The envoy reclined on the slope, and Trevor and
provided for their reception.
Conference
with Akbar
Khan,
Mackenzie seated themselves beside him, but Lawrence, whose suspicions were
already awake, continued standing behind him, till, as the only means of
avoiding the importunity of the chiefs, who urged him also to sit, he knelt on
one knee ready to start in a moment.
conference
by
an abrupt question.
stance,
by observing that
if
ought to be removed.
their whips,
moment
in doubt.
all in
Tlie
the secret.
envoy and
What
this secret
his companions,
who
envoy had been seized by Akbar Khan, and was struggling desperately with
him on the ground. It is said, probably with truth, that his antagonist meant
only to drag him off like his companions, and that it was not till resistance had
exasperated him, that he drew a pistol, one of those just presented to him, and
shot him dead.
During the struggle wonder and horror were strongly depicted
on the envoy's upturned face. The only words he was heard to utter were
"Az barae Klioda" (For God's sake). In the fearful tragedy which thus
terminated the life of Sir William Macnaghten, the most melancholy circumis that, whether because misfortune had unhinged his mind or weakened
moral principles, he was engaged at the time of his death, not in the faithful
discharge of his duty, but in a course of tortuous policy, which every honour-
stance
his
able
mind must
repudiate.
The murder of the envoy completely changed the relations previously formed
between the Afghans and the British, and left it optional for tlie latter to
choose their
own
course,
it
^iie
envoy
murdered.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
424
A.D. 1842.
Negotiations
Iftrrm'ur-
useless,
and
all
therefore that
now remained
[Book VIII.
was
to avenge their
Such was evidently the course which was at once safest and
honourable, but it was not that which the military authorities prepared
and swords.
Ml'cnightMi.raost
they would not believe that the envoy had been murdered,
and instead of taking the necessary means to dispel all doubt on such a subject,
to adopt.
At
first
an
officer to
by the Ghazees, and the envoy with the officers who accompanied him had
been removed to the city, their immediate return to cantonments might be
expected. The following day dissipated these delusions. A letter from Captain
Lawrence made known the full extent of the atrocity, and at the same time,
strange to sav, contained overtures from the murderers for a renewal of neeo-
found that they had only to ask in order to obtain, they immediately rose
in
given
up.
2d, All
must be
left
six.
3d,
behind.
The muskets
in
together with his wife and daughter, and the other gentlemen of rank wlio are
married and have children, until the arrival of the Ameer Dost Mahomed Khan
and the other Afghans and their families, and Dooranees and
Hindoostan, shall remain as guests with us." These humiliating
Ghiljies from
articles, after
a fruitless attempt to modify them, were submitted to, except the last, and
even it was not complied with merely because it could not be enforced.
Evaraation
of the can-
tonmeuts.
number
of those
who
fighting men, and 12,000 followers. The march of such a body at such a season,
through a rugged mountainous country, was in itself a most perilous undertaking,
and there were other circumstances connected with it which made it all but
The Newab Zemaun Khan, whom the Afghans had set up as their
wrote Pottinger warning him of the danger of setting out without the
desperate.
king,
promised safeguard, but it was too late to recede, and the unwieldy mass began
to move.
The same fatality which had hitherto frustrated all their operations
was again manifest; and while time was everything, so many delays were
interposed that the rearguard were not able to quit the cantonments till six
o'clock P.M., and after a fierce conflict with Ghazees and
not
plunderers, and did
Chap. IV.]
bank
march
two hours
till
after midnight.
This
first
425
PASS.
ad.
isi-2
difficulties.
When
the morning of the 7th dawned, a fearful scene was presented. Many
Hnidoo women and children, exhausted by fatigue and cold, had sunk
down on the snow to die.
Discipline was rapidly disappearing, and it was
Fearful
disasters.
of the
evident that ere long the whole force would become disorganized.
camels,
and baggage
Horses,
ponies, soldiers
in an inextricable mass.
The
ing on the flanks, and seized every opportunity of slaughter or plunder.
chance
of
would
been
a
have
which
the
only
safety
rapid march, by
passes
might have been cleared before the enemy could effectually obstruct them, but
this
was now
the plunderers
induced to
march during the night, had not the appearance of Akbar Khan on the
him to abandon it. The Afghan c'lief was at the head of about
GOO horsemen, and on being communicated with, announced that he had come
the
scene caused
to act as a safeguard,
tion of Jelalabad.
actually retired, he
them
and at the same time to demand hostages for the evacuawere given, and Sale's brigade should have
Till these
was instructed
it
could scarcely be doubted that the extermination of the whole force was
intended.
Another bivouac on the snow during a night of intense cold, would
on at
to
all
make
terms.
Khoord Cabool
Pass,
stretching for about five miles through a narrow gorge, hemmed in by precipitous mountain ridges, would have been cleared.
No sooner however was the
gorge entered, than the mountaineers rushed down to the attack, and a fearful
massacre commenced. Akbar Khan, who had promised protection, seemed willing to afford it, but it was beyond his power, and the British force, now a mere
rabble of fugitives, were shot
at resistance.
pass.
Vol. III.
5Q
Khoord
HISTORY OF INDIA.
426
A.D. 1842.
Delivery of
Officers
aiuf
[Book VIIL
The remnant of the force reached Khoord Cabool fort on the evening of the
"We had
8th, but it was not to obtain any mitigation of their sufferings.
asccuded," sajs Lieutenant Eyre,
"
to a
still
their fami-
number
jj^-,j^gj^se
AkbaiKii.iii.^^jjgj^j.ggg
of poor
The consequence
we had
was, that
left
"
an
wounded
from
all
ing troops had afterwards marched and proceeded about a mile, when another
It had been made as before at the suggestion
of those fatal halts was ordered.
of protection and supplies, and was
a
startling proposal whicli accompanied it.
preliminary to a compliance with
During the negotiation at Cabool, the Afghan chiefs had demanded the delivery
of
and
it.
removed
all
as hostages, this
mark
of trust
elicit
Afghan
balls,
conflict
we can
last
chance of safety.
It
was
Lady Macnaghten when told that she was to quit British protection,
and become what was called the "guest" of the man who had murdered her
feelings of
There was indeed some guarantee for their personal safet}^, in the
fact that Akbar Khan's own family were in the hands of the British, and it
therefore seems that the general's first reason ought to be sustained.
On his
husband.
might
elicit
fied the
is
surrender of the ladies did not apply at all to their husbands, and one
puzzled to understand why they, instead of remaining at their posts to share
the
common
Akbar Khan.
EETREAT TO JUGDULUCK.
UiiAP. IV.]
The command
whole
force,
against
it,
to halt
-t27
declared that
effect to a personal
a.d. isi2.
remonstrance
another day's march would carry them clear of the snow. The general listened,
but refused to be convinced.
The consequence was, that the native soldiers
own
set
soldiers,"
hands and
feet
all
;
now
"
The European
-^
almost the only efficient men left, the Hindoosuffered more or less from the effects of the frost in their
stances having
bodily powers of the strongest men, rendering them incapable of any useful
exertion.
Hope seemed to have died in every breast the wildness of terror
;
moving onward as if mechanically and unconsciAt a narrow gorge between two precipitous
where the promiscuous crowd of disorganized sepoys and camp followers
were so huddled together that they could neither recede nor advance, the
slaughter was renewed, and barbarously continued till, of the 10,000 persons
who
entirely annihilated,
of protection.
not,
and
resumed.
By
a rapid
movement
the
defile,
where
so
many
of the
camp
followers
had already perished, was reached, but before it could be cleared the enemy
Shelton, who commanded there, gave
opened a destructive fire on the rear.
another proof of his unflinching courage, and being seconded by a handful of
men who
but the deception which stern necessity alone could justify did not succeed,
Honors
of
the retreat
upon Jugduluck.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
428
A.D. 1842.
and the
fighting
men found
Little molestation,
able rabble.
[Book VTII.
the advanced guard after halting at Kuttur Sung for the arrival of the rearon for Jugduluck, still ten miles distant. It was reached at last
o-uard,
pushed
bj the advance guard, without much obstruction, but not without the greatest
commanded as before by Shelton, fought
difficulty by the rearguard, who,
their
AkbarKhan.
way
^t Jugduluck
Treacherous
conduct of
now few
number and
11
behind some rumed walls,
in
while
On
was resumed, and the troops proThe only object of the detained British
officers was to save the small remnant of the force still surviving, and they
not only earnestly implored Akbar Khan's interposition, but engaged Mahomed
Shah Khan, his father-in-law, and a Ghiljie chief of influence, to purchase the
forbearancc of his savasce countrymen at the price of two lacs of rupees. After
the morning of the 12th the conference
Murderous
attack by
theGhiijies.
...
...
by
a sound of
firing.
Ghiljies
It
had resumed
lips,
direction
their murderous
work.
The
upon
inflicted
the
firing
their victims,
first
They had
still
up
429
DISASTEOUS CONFLICT.
Chap. IV.]
which the
I'oad
front of a barricade
trees.
.
To penetrate
.
it Amuhiia-
seemed impossible, and either to halt or recede was inevitable destruction, since
the enemy, who had been lying in ambush, were already busy with their long
It was a most unequal struggle, and terminated in the
knives and jezails.
officers
way
to
and
officers,
forty-five privates
Gundamuck
tion of the
Britisiiforce
is42.
at
force.
managed
made
The
respite tlius
and make
their
obtained was of
short duration.
The enemy began to pour in from all quarters, and their
intended victims had become incapable of resistance, as not more than two
What was to be done? Obvirounds of ammunition to each man remained.
Major
make
sell
The former alternative seemed not unattaina messenger arrived with overtures from the
now the senior officer, set out to have an
Griffiths,
interview with the chief, and was only on the way, when the blood-thirsty mob
broke in upon his little band and massacred every man of them, except Captain
Souter of the 44th and a few privates, who were made prisoners. A few officers,
quitted the column at Soorkhab and continued in advance of it, still
who had
them
them
for their
off
iAiassacreof
Alajur Griffiths.andhis
'^P'^^-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
430
A.D.
184-2.
'~
after
Arrival of
atjeiaiabad
vivM-^of the
British
lorce.
Two
men.
of their
an ineffectual
flight,
[Book Vlll.
fate.
now
He
the only
rode a pony
SO jadcd that it could scarcely carry him, and on which, as he was both wounded
^nd faint, he was hardly able to keep liis seat. At length, however, on coming
within
Cabool
Colonel Dennie,
force.
somewhat unadvisedly,
rider,
man would
escape to announce
the destruction of
exhausted
who had
all
the
Gleig, in a voice
which "sounded
"
an
British force
British arms had sustained a disgrace greater far than had ever befallen them
It was some small relief however to learn
in any previous Indian campaign.
whom
captives were
but as it was
still
alive,
felt.
was not
literally fulfilled.
Instead
They were
so in fact,
more
CHAPTER
V.
Nott
in the Khyber Pass
Operations in different parts of Afghanistan Sale at Jelalabad Conflicts
Views of the Indian Government Conclusion of Lord Auckland's administration
at Candahar
Lord EUenborough governor- general Proposed evacuation of Afghanistan Double advance upon
Cabool by Generals Pollock and Nott Recapture of Ghuznee Re-occupation of Cabool Recovery
of
of
HE
5^
ijm
^1
^1
tire loss
difficulties
by endeavouring
SALE'S
Ohap. Y.]
431
roughly handled, and was so imperfectly provided with the provisions and ad.
military stores which would be absolutely required in marching back through
one of the most difficult countries in the world, and in the face of a population
understood to be almost universally hostile, that a council of war, summoned
to consider the
is42.
Sale's
^jritr&dB
tinues
coil''
its
-Mliabad.
were designated,
these cavalry
lost
The
result,
cantonments were burned down, the property disappeared, and the insurrection itself spread wider and wider over all the surrounding districts.
The brigade resumed its march on the 11th of November, and the insurthe
probably not yet fully prepared for action, offered little obstruction.
On the morning of the 1 2th, it became obvious that a different course was to
gents,
be pursued
By
hills
and sweep
all
before them.
Tlie task
kind
keeping them in check was intrusted to Colonel Dennie, who,
had
for
had
to
a
some
time
been
recourse
manoeuvre.
running fight
kept up,
Placing the cavalry in ambush, he led out the infantry to the attack, with
after a
of
of
instructions
when about
to
collision
with the enemy, as if a panic had seized them. The enemy mistaking the feint
for a real
flight, raised a wild shout, and to complete their victory rushed into
low ground.
A charge from the cavalry threw them into irretrievable
with their dead. After this
and they fled leaving^
the valley
t>
J covered
decided check, no further opposition was made to the march of the biigade,
the
confusion,
it.
Sale's intention
was
task
which he
words.
liad thus
far too
extensive for
yards.
for
feet high.
Earth
and rubbish had accumulated to such an extent about the ramparts, that there
There
were roads in various directions across and over them into the country.
was a space of 400 yards together, on which none of the garrison could show
ita"i^<ii
there.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
432
[Book VIII.
themselves excepting at one spot the population within was disaffected, and
the whole enceinte was surrounded by ruined forts, walls, mosques, tombs, and
A.D. 1842.
Sale's
o-ardens,
brigade at
Jelalabad.
from which a
fire
it is
After
could be opened at twenty or thirty yards."
almost superfluous to observe that the difficulty of
and
As soon
band of heroes.
was entered,
as Jelalabad
enouo-h to afford
whether
sufficient
it
it
accommodation.
latter
course were not wanting, but the former and bolder course was preferred,
and it was determined not to yield up an inch of the city except under dire
Jelalabad.
Its danger-
ous position
compulsiou.
.
The
was greatly
men and
increased.
horses
fell
When
short of
two
surrounding country, from which alone additional supplies could be looked for,
was so completely in the hands of the insurgents that not fewer than 5000 of
them were seen crowning the adjoining heights. It was in vain to think of proceeding with the defences, while the
aim
afforded a sure
attack
to give the
A general
Monteith of the 85th Bengal native infantry, moved out at day-break at the
DEFENCE OF JELALABAD.
CiiAP. Y.]
433
ad.i842.
fivefold.
was justified by
at every point,
way
gave
its success.
enterprise
The enemy
and suffered
show themselves
in force.
and
Sale
his brigade
a portrait by H. Moseley.
honour of the British arms, the tidings from Cabool were assuming a
darker hue, and on the 9th of January a letter arrived which disclosed the full
taining the
that
you
It
the troops
now
commanding
commencing
their
march
immediately after the receipt of this letter, leaving all guns the property of
Dost Mahomed Khan with the new governor, as also such stores and baggage
may not be the means of cai'rying away, and the provisions in store for
our use on
Abdool Ghuffoor Khan, who is the bearer
arriving at Jelalabad.
of this letter, will render
all
He has been
the assistance in his power.
you
as there
letter
This
mode
"We
same day:
of the 29th
Vol. III.
ult.,
251
jeiaUbadto
^^
'^'^^
HISTORY OF INDIA.
434
AD.
1842.
orderdisre-
the delivery
ll'l^f^^^'^
Afghans,
[Book YIII,
rcachcd
US.
We
Akbar Khan has sent a proclamation to all the chiefs in the neighbourhood,
urging them to raise their followers for the purpose of intercepting and destroyino- the forces now at Jelalabad.
Under these circumstances, we have deemed
our duty to await a further communication from you, which we desire may
point out the security which may be given for our safe march to Peshawer."
Only four days after this answer, the arrival of Dr. Bryden made it impossible
it
doubtful
if it
would be
retire voluntarily
possible to retain
it.
The
from Jelalabad,
it
became
necessary "as a measure of prudence, to get rid first of the corps of the Khyber
rangers, and next of the detachment of jezailchees, and a few of the Afghan
sappers, and a body of Hindoostanee gunners who had formerly been in the
At
rs lis viii ^
force in "the
ly er
^ss.
who, reduced to half rations, were already tasked beyond their strength."
vcry time the disheartening intelligence arrived that a prospect of
this
succour whicli had cheered them amid their privations was not to be realized.
j,^^^ reglmcuts had been despatched from India, under the command of Brigadier
Wyld, to the relief of Jelalabad. This force, which with some additions made
amounted to 8500 men, arrived at Peshawer on" the 27th of December,
to it
and shortly afterwards advanced to Jumrood, near the entrance of the Khyber
The Khyberees having been previously gained by Akbar Khan,
Pass.
Brigadier Wyld had to force his way in spite of tliem.
Accordingly on the
15th of January, 1842, he entered the pass, and succeeded so far as to carry the
This
fort of Ali Musjid, which commands the most difficult portion of it.
however was the limit of success, and he was obliged, after sustaining severe loss
make
a disastrous retreat.
This serious
and
down
groves, &c.,
DEFENCE OF JELALABAD.
Chap. V.J
435
with au outwork,
and excavated a ditch ten feet in depth and twelve in width, and were congratulating themselves on being now secure against any Afghan attack. "But,"
to borrow again from Sir Robert Sale, "it pleased Providence on the 19th of
A tremendous
Februaiy to remove in an instant this ground of confidence.
down
all
shook
our
built
w4th
so
much
earthquake
labour, injured
parapets,
up
a.d. 1842.
Tremendous
lueiaubad.
Peshawer
the
It
face,
made a
and
it
a sober
is
~g^^ _- z
of little
fact,
S--;=
dred
full
shocks
terrific
one hunof
this
phenomenon
of
nature."
commencing; to
pair the
day
re-
to
the
hut
fortifications,
no longer employed in
the extermination of
the Cabool force,
also
'^.,^iK^^
damage done
on the
alert,
'^^--
Fort of
Au
to
From Lieutenant W.
Barr's
was
and made
body of troops
at
Mur-
The previous
defeats sustained by his countryof immediate approach, and he therefore contented himself at fii'st with endeavouring to cut off the foraging parties of the
garrison. After a short time, he ventured on a bolder course, and having formed
kail,
two camps, one with his head-quarters two miles to the west, and the other
about a mile to the east, invested the city and established a rigorous blockade.
series of skirmishes ensued, most
harassing to the British, whose only object
was
run a mine, a vigorous sortie was made on the following morning, and terminated as usual in the flio;ht of the Afc^hans after considerable loss. This
to
otherwise improve their position, which was becoming more and more critical
from a deficiency both of provisions and military stores.
The former deficiency
Fortifica-
paired.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
43o
A.D. 1842.
was considerably
[Book VTII.
by a well-conducted
sortie,
which
captured several large flocks of sheep the prospect of supplying the latter was
also brigfhtenincf, as it was known that a large force which had assembled at
;
started.
Khyber
On
was
inquiring into
honour of a
in
it
was
preparatory to Akbar Khan's departure, who had resolved to break up his camp
and hasten to Cabool, to take advantage of a new revolution which had taken
place there. In either case, it seemed advisable that the Afghan camp should be
attacked,
moved out from the western gate of the city. Akbar Khan prepared
encounter by drawing up his troops, estimated at about GOOO men, in
columns,
for the
central
iiad
column directed
it
formerly given,
struggle
was
severe,
and
his left
on the Cabool.
The
and
cost Colonel
Dennie
his
life.
He
had led
his
column
with his usual gallantry, and after passing the outer wall was endeavouring to
Meanwhile Captain
penetrate to the interior, when he fell mortally wounded.
Havelock had penetrated the enemy's extreme left, and was engaged in dubious
conflict, when the recall of the 1 3th from the fort gave him a seasonable relief,
and a combined attack was made on the camp. The result is thus told by Sir
Robert Sale: "We have made ourselves masters of two cavalry standards,
recaptured four guns lost by the Cabool and Gundamuck forces, the restoration
of which to our government is a matter of much honest exultation among our
troops, seized
Akbar
in
open
complete and
field,
tents.
stores,
Mahomed
by the
signal."
last laurels,
they had
defence of Jelalabad.
state of
affairs at
Peshawer.
General Pollock reached Peshawer on the 5th of February, 1842, and found
the state of the troops there even worse than the sinister reports which
represented.
filled
them with
were holding
meetings by night for the purpose of resisting any order which might be given
to advance.
While this disaffection continued, no success was to be expected;
and the question therefore was, whether he should wait for reinforcements which
he knew to be on the march, or start with such materials as he had, at the
JELALABAD RELIEVED.
Chap. V.]
iSi
force
urgency
him no
left
was intended
to
amount
in all to 12,000
these, chiefly
Europeans, had not yet joined, while a considerable portion of the 8000 actually
assembled were Sikhs, in whom little confidence could be placed.
xV.d. ici2.
Geneiai
vance from
Before starting, attempts had been made to gain the Khyberees, and part
of a stipulated bribe had been paid in advance, but the maurauding habits of
the mountaineers were too strong to be overcome, and it soon became obvious
that force would be necessary.
Accordingly after reaching Jumrood, General
Pollock started about half-past three on the morning of the 5th of April, in dim
Immediately at the entrance of the
twilight, and with all possible secrecy.
pass the Khyberees had erected a strong barricade. It might have been stormed,
but the more effective plan was adopted of turning it, and two columns of
to
either side.
The Khybeian.ueiaia-
infantry began
ished at seeing themselves tlms compelled to maintain a hand-to-hand fight
on ground where, from deeming it inaccessible, they had never dreamed of being
baggage, began to
defile.
to be evacuated.
left
How
While the honour of the British arms was maintained, and the disgrace of Gimznee
Cabool partly retrieved at Jelalabad, the tidings received from the south and the Afghans.
his part at
Maclaren's
brigade, which Nott against his better judgment had detached to Cabool, after
a vain attempt to advance, retraced its steps, and reached Candahar on the 8th
of December.
was
The
in one respect
most unfortunate.
siesre
was
provided either
or a blockade, and the garrison therefore learned with no small
It
ill
retired.
encouraged by Maclaren's retirement, reappeared. An act of humanity, piaiseworthy in itself though injudicious under the circumstances, added greatly to
the difficulty of the defence.
The townspeople, instead of being turned out,
were allowed to remain, and repaid the kindness thus shown them by admitting
their
in the wall.
The
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
438
A.D. 1842.
Giniznee
[Book YIII.
consequence was that the garrison were compelled on the 17th of December to
There they continued to maintain
shut themselves up within the citadel.
tliemselvcs witli the utmost difficulty till a letter of similar import to that
by Pottiugcr and Elphinstone to Jelalabad arrived. Under the circumcommandant could hardly have been expected to imitate the spirited
refusal of Sale and Macgregor to comply with the letter.
He therefore on the
theAfgiians.sftnt
stances the
1st of
March entered
into
Ultimately the
discipline aside, perished almost to a
across the country to Peshawer, which
man
force their
in
an attempt to
way
place.
futile
and
their
"
promise of honourable treat-
At Candahar, though
the
mand
and distinguished
the
state
of affairs was
ability,
table spirit
"
very alarming.
people
The good
open
hostility,
also that
State of
Of the
latter a
affairs at
Candahar.
was
but treachery
to be dreaded.
cavalry in
Shah Shujah's
service, after
Only two days after the mutiny of the janbaz. Prince Sufder Jung, a younger
son of Shah Shujah, turned traitor, and joined Atta Mahomed, who, having been
sent b}^ the chiefs at Cabool into Western Afghanistan to raise the country, had
encamped beyond the Urgandab, about forty miles north-west of Candahar.
In a previous part of the above letter Nott had pledged himself that
if
fifteen miles of
Can-
dahar at the head of a force estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 men, and took up a
defence of CAXDAHAR.
Chaf. v.]
439
bank
of the Urgandab.
Nott lost no time in ad.
Starting at the head of a force consisting of five and a
half regiments of infantry, the Shah's 1st cavalry, a party of Skinners liorse,
and sixteen guns, he came in sight of the enemy after fom^ hours' march over
a very difficult country. Without waiting to recruit their exhausted strength,
1542.
Afghan
force
near can'*'*'''''
the British troops immediately rushed to the encounter, by crossing the river.
The enemy, scarcely waiting to receive them, broke and fled, but were not
now
past,
Mutual
ire-
was received
at
Candahar
hostilities Nott had been unremitting in his exertions, and not only improved
He had
the fortifications, but laid in a stock of provisions for five months.
able
to
maintain
his
never despaired of being
position, and from his recent
ever,
when
resident,
make
it
as to
it
order to
candahar
'''^'*'
"
"
I have only to repeat
on the subject of evacuation wrote as follows:
for
that I will not treat with any person whatever
the retirement of the British
letter
troops from Afghanistan, until I shall have received instructions from the
'
supreme government. The letter signed Eldred Pottinger and W. K. ElphinI conceive that these officers were not
stone may or may not be a forgery.
'
'
'
and therefore
have no weight
with me."
In order to hold Candahar and also attack the insurgents encamped in its
vicmity, it became necessary as a prelnnmary measure to expel irom the city
all
or believed
to be disaflTected.
In this predicament
issued for
No
direct
opposition was experienced, and the clearance was completely efiected by the
6th.
The very next day, the other part of the design was proceeded with, and
Preparations
HISTORY OF INDIA.
440
A.D. 1842.
^
Afghan
at-
take Cimdastrat!f"em
[Book VIII.
Nott, leaving only about 2600 men to garrison the city, marched out with the
remainder of his force to attack the enemy In proportion as he advanced they
retired, first across the Turnuk, and then across the Urgandab, keeping always
SO far in front as to prevent our infantry from coming in contact with them.
^his they were the more easily enabled to do, as in their whole force of 12,000
they had upwards of 6000 well-mounted cavalry, while the British had only
a single
to
At
horse.
open with
effect,
last
fled.
artillery
It soon
was part of a premeditated plan for instead of removing to a greater distance, the Afghans made a circuit which brought them into
The object was to carry it
the British rear, and hastened back to Candahar.
appeared that this flight
by assault while the greater part of the garrison was absent. Accordingly early
on the 10th, large bodies of the enemy made their appearance, and began to
During the day their
occupy the cantonments and gardens in the vicinity.
to increase, and towards evening Sufder Jung and Meerza
numbers continued
Ahmed
There could
arrived.
now
been previously closed for the night, he was refused, and threw down his load
His
against the gate, muttering that he would leave it there till morning.
conduct under the circumstances ought certainly to have aroused suspicion, but
no notice was taken of it, and the faggots were allowed to remain. Shortly
afterwards a party of the enemy stole up and poured oil and ghee over them.
A similar process at the citadel gate was only accidentally defeated. The
oflicer in charge of this gate was proceeding to fasten it, when something
It
inducing him to look outside, he perceived several faggots laid against it.
immediately struck him that they had been placed there for some bad purpose,
and he ordered them to be brought within.
About eight o'clock, the faggots
trated.
which burned
like tinder.
and
such a deadly
Had
fire
they been
able, as
ofl.
equally deter-
operations,
now
be necessary to withdraw a
little
Chap. V.]
441
still more
embarrassing by the state of political parties at home.
The Whig ministry was tottering to its fall, and was about to be succeeded by
a Conservative ministry, which having made political capital out of the blun-
was rendered
ders in Afghanistan,
tion, to
would be obliged
in
mere consistency, if not from convicLord Auckland was not the man to
struggle successfully against the difficulties of such a position, and his former
He could not now
confidence was succeeded by diffidence and vacillation.
hope that the government, on his resigning it, would be carried on in accordance with his views, and he seems to have resolved to conduct it in future in
such a manner as would be least embarrassing to his successor.
The outbreaks
Afghanistan, as
if to belie
the
promises of tranquillity,
destroyed all hope of a permanent
envoy's
settlement
before
his
successor
when
to these
intelli-
able to occupy
from being
would
it effi3ctually,
all
their
Ac-
a portrait by G. H. Ford.
it
continued, and both officers, contrary to what had hitherto been the usual order
of precedence, were no longer to be subordinate, but superior to the political
commands. The expediency of this arrangement, in unsettled countries where the sword was the only arbiter, cannot be
questioned, but it ran so counter to existing prejudices and interests, that some
residents within their respective
credit is
Vol. til
for
it.
A.D. 1542.
Views of
government
on learning
the Afghan
disaster.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
442
At
A.D. 1842.
First pro-
vigorous
measures.
some extent
discretion-
ary powers on the military commanders, the full extent of the Cabool disaster
was uot kuowH at Calcutta, but on the 30th of January letters were received
olamation
])romisiiig
[Book VIII.
which destroyed
hope, and
all
made the
reality
apprehended.
it
to the world,
ing such operations as may be required in that quarter for the maintenance
of the honour and interests of the British government/'
proclamation,
issued from Fort William on the 81st, after making the above declaration,
government
ation, has
able to overcome a
body of
removed by distance
and
difficulties
stability
spirit
and valour
up,
Xhc resolutiou displayed in the above proclamation was but feebly followed
and the governor-general soon relapsed into a state of despondency and
perplexity.
He
ever to interfere with his successor's policy, and yet he would fain, before taking
his departure, have achieved some success which might partially retrieve the
government proved a
disaster.
Brigadier
Since
we
it.
Wyld had
No wonder
now saw no
difficulties at
we
a position in the Jelalabad districts for any effective purpose, we have made
our directions in regard to withdrawal from Jelalabad clear and positive, and
we shall rejoice to learn that Major-general Pollock will have anticipated these
more express
desponding
orders,
spirit
his successor,
by confining
same
closed.
objects."
In
this
Lord Ellenborough,
Chap. V.]
-i't3
The new governor-general, having previously held the office of president of ad.
was not ignorant of the nature of the duties on which he
is42.
and possessed both the talents and the information which should have
Circumstances also were on the
enabled him to discharge them with success.
whole greatly in his favour. He was not at all responsible for the policy which
entered,
ceededby
borough,
to
disaster,
difficulty in
coming
At
first,
however, he seems to
before even his council received any distinct intimation of the course which he
meant
to pursue.
as governor-general
survey of previous events, and arrived at the conclusion that the tripartite
treaty, in consequence of the suspicious conduct which Shah Shujah had been
latterly pursuing,
PoUcyofthe
new gover
norgenerai.
and decisive blow upon the Afghans, which may make it appear to them,
to our allies, that we have the power of inflicting
atrocities and violate their faith; and that
who
commit
those
punishment upon
signal
and there was every reason to believe that it would forthwith be acted upon, as it was subscribed by all the members of council except
the commander-in-chief, to whom it was addressed, and whose views were
cated
by
this
lettei',
it.
On the part of the governor-general
To be
himself there was abundance of activity and apparent determination.
nearer the scene of action he started from Calcutta on the Gth of April, and
opportunity of displaying the full extent of his own unaided abilities. On reaching Benares his independent activity commenced by the announcement of views
which, to say the least, gave no great promise eitlier of firmness or consistency.
mise belied.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
44^
A.D. 1842.
Change of
Lord Ellen^^^
'
[Book
V^III.
and
That opinion
is
financial situation,
and
oj"
upon Sukkur."
asb.
^y|.^j^^
^^^^
which, by
its
chequered character,
While cheered by accounts of the triumphant defence of Jelalabad, the dispersion of Akbar Khan's camp, and the junction of Sale and Pollock, he learned
that these successes in the north were counterbalanced
far less
by
disasters in the
Ghuznee had
south.
fallen,
field force,
41st, six
troop of Bombay cavalry, fifty Poonah horse, and four horse-artillery guns.
On the 28tli of March he arrived at the entrance of a defile leading to the
village of Hykulzye, where he intended to halt for the remainder of his brigade,
which was then advancing through the Bolan Pass. In the hope that General
Nott would send two or three regiments to the Kojuk Pass, he had i-esolved
they should arrive and it was only after
learning that no such co-operation was to be expected that he had moved
forward towards Hykulzye. Tins movement was made without due considerato halt in the Pisheen valley
tion.
till
He had
his passage
DEFEAT IN KOJUK
Chap. Y.]
445
PASS.
an event
disastrous as
it
a.d. is42.
General
defeat.
was
ment and
by General Nott,
as to render
it
expedient to take immediate measures for the ultimate safety of that officer's
corps,
by withdrawing
it
Both to Pollock and Nott the peremptory orders to withdraw were mortifying in the extreme, and neither of them was slow m giving utterance to his
...
feelings.
hope
that the governor-general might yet adopt a more manly policy, tliat he dexterously availed himself of a deficiency of carriage, and declared that until it was
General
condemiia-
tionofthe
generaiT
poi^**^^
have been
still
more mortifying.
more
to
in his
attempt to penetrate the Kojuk Pass, and thus coolly addressed his
superior officer:
tion,
it
and that
"
Whenever
am
so
it
informed of
it,
be able to
make
pushed from Quettah to Candahar with the supplies noted in the foregoing
I therefore have to acquaint you that I will direct a brigade of
paragraph.
three regiments of infantry
cavalry, to
artillery,
with a body of
be at
Chummun,
This
instant.
on the
morning of the 1st of May, and possibly on the 30th of this month. I shall
therefore fully rely on your marching a brigade from Quettah, so that it may
The
reach the southern side of the pass on the above-mentioned date."
.of
Hykulzye, which was reached on the 28th, the enemy occupied the same
and in greater force than before; but it was only to show how
unable
utterly
they were to cope with British troops properly handled, for
barricades,
after little
and
fled.
Newadvance
General
England
Kojuk
Pass.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
446
A.o. 1S42.
On
sending his
Irritation
to
Genemi
Nott bretire.
[Book VIII.
tlie
advance-guard along
heights,
by the Candahar
had the
tlie
Kojuk
Pass,
troops.
and
con-
tinned their march without interruption, and reached Candahar on the 1 0th of
It was at the very time when Nott had received the supplies, the want
]y[ay.
^f ^yhicli had kept
him almost
inactive,
and was
nothing more than a reiteration of the cuckoo note "WithHis mortification appears to have been so great that he could not
which was
draw."
in fact
17th of
it,
shall
be carried into
manner circumstances
will
admit of"
His real feeling was doubtless expressed by Major Rawlinson, who on the
"
The peremptoiy ordei' to retire has
following day wrote to Major Outram,
come upon us like a thunder clap. No one at Candahar is aware of such an
order having been received except the general and myself, and we must preserve
a profound secrecy as long as possible." He added the reason for this secrecy
"
When our intended retirement is once known, we must expect to have the
baggage and
stores,
and be content
to
march with
sufficient food to
convey us
to
brigade which he had prepared for the relief of the garrison of Khelat-i-Ghiljie
to assist the garrison in evacuating the place after destroying its works.
This
was indeed a humiliating employment. Only two days before the garrison,
which, under the
torious defence,
command
had crowned
a formidable assault, during which 500 of the enemy are said to have
fallen,
and now the only result was something like an acknowledgment of defeat by
an abandonment of the place as no longer tenable.
Lord EUeuborough, while he scarcely omitted an opportunity of repeating
"determination to withdraw," was not without misgivings as to
iii
Lord Ellenborovigh's
misgivings,
his Unaltered
soundness.
He was well aware that it was generally reprobated, and that
the best Indian authorities, civil and military, were unanimous in condemning the evacuation of Afghanistan, at least until the English captives were
its
released,
British
Avliich v/ould
the country.
At
first his
able,
had
it
show
Chap. V.]
447
"The danger
thus vauntingly:
officials,
expressed himself
communication with India, too far off to return quickly at any season, unable
from the season to return now, without adequate supplies of food or courage,
This
man
every
in
it
all
who ought
a.d. 1542.
is
to give
me
it
Opposition
to trie
governorpolicy.
in spite of
them
all."
These were mere words. At the very time when his lordship
used them, he was beginning to feel his position untenable, and preparing to back
out of it, provided he could devise some means by which he could save or at
seem
He
he had been flattered into the belief that the chiefs would
is little
if
countrymen, he would at once have given them the preference, and forgotten
all the obligations which he owed to the British government.
But as it was
only too probable that he might be again compelled to apply to it for an
asylum, his true policy seemed to be to avoid as far as possible coming to
an open rupture with either the British or the Afghans. His own letters completely furnish signal proofs both of his cunning and his perplexity, but it is need-
He was
not to be a
loser.
power
He was
totally
to allure
him beyond
its walls.
aware of his danger, but they succeeded at last by throwing doubts on his
sincerity, and insisting that he could only wipe off the suspicion by placing
to
it
it
unharmed.
was
therefore
The
fact
seemed to
announced that on
FateofShaii
HISTORY OF INDIA.
448
A.D. 1S42.
Murder
of
[Book Vril.
the following morning lie would review his troops encamped at Seeah Sung,
He kept his word, and having
and forthwith start with them for Jelalabad.
descended at an early hour from the Bala Hissar, under a salute and with all
the insignia of royalty, was proceeding towards the camp, when a party of
the
then threw
into a ditch.
it
It
assassins
had mis-
calculated their strength, for before the night closed, Futteh Jung, the second
son of Shah Sbujah, was carried to the Bala Hissar and proclaimed king. He
was able in consequence to rescue his father's body from further indignity, and
to bring
it
bestowed upon
it.
The
anarchy, during which the guns of the Bala Hissar were opened on the city,
and rival factions met in deadly conflict in its streets.
The details however
are devoid of interest,
to exhibit a
new phase
of the
governor-general's policy.
Tlie order to
withdraw
from Afghanistan
virtually
counter-
manded.
he had forgotten, or was disposed to ignore the ftict that that office was still
held b}^ Sir Jasper Nicolls, began to communicate his orders directly to
Generals Pollock and Nott.
Lord Ellenborough, by his last instructions, had
consented, at least by implication, that Pollock should not retire from Jelalabad
if
October, and on this ground had given Nott to understand that a similar
While thus obviously changing
delay on his part would not be objected to.
till
his policy, he
able.
yet in these very letters express permission was given to the one to advance
upon Cabool, and to the other to meet him there, after a march through the
heart of the country, by way of Ghuznee.
The inflexible resolution to withdraw, and the permission to advance, look very like a contradiction, but Lord
Ellenborough had succeeded in reconciling them by a very extraordinary device.
"
Withdraw
effecting
and
it.
"
was
Chap. V.]
44-9
by the Khyber Pass and the Punjab. Some may say that to speak of such a
march as a " withdrawal," was a mere play upon words in short, a despicable
a.d. is42.
quibble.
the
means of
As
In a
words.
letter
prudence,
is
Letter from
nor-generai
must be permitted
thought of
it
in other
to explain it in his
me
to
change
my
to General
>^ ott.
own
"Nothing
he
first
commended by
at
consistency,
the device, whatever may be
wrote as follows:
and saw
differently,
own
effected, consistently
efficiency of the troops, into positions wherein they may have easy and certain
communication with India; and to this extent the instructions you have
received remain unaltered, but the improved position of your army, with sufficient means of carriage for as large a force as it is necessary to move in
Afghanistan, induce
shall
to
by Quettah and Sukkur, and the other by Ghuznee, Cabool, and Jelalabad.
By the former, "there is no enemy to oppose you," and "the operation is one
its success."
On the other hand, "if you determine
and
Ghuznee,
Cabool,
Jelalabad, you will require for the
upon moving upon
of
a
amount
of carriage, and you will be
much larger
transport
provisions
admitting of no doubt as to
practically without
"I do not underadding more in the same strain, his lordship continued thus:
value the aid which our government in India would receive from the successful
execution of a march through Ghuznee and Cabool, over the scenes of our late
disasters.
I know all the effects which it would have on tlie minds of our
soldiers, of
all
our
allies,
It is
more than myself would rejoice to see effected but I see that failure in the
attempt is certain and irretrievable ruin, and I would inspire you with the
necessary caution, and make you feel that, great as are the objects to be
;
obtained
by
and cold in
this
question open, had not only decided it in his own mind, but was perfectly
satisfied that on the part of Nott there would not be a moment's hesitation.
Accordingly, the greater part of his letter proceeds on the assumption that
Vol. III.
253
Responsiwon the
^^"'^'^'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
450
A.D. 1842.
instnictions
[Book YIII.
"
If you
the longer, but more honourable route, would certainly be chosen.
raain
to
of
a
de
Ghuznee
and
should be enabled by coup
Cabool,
get possession
you will act as you see fit, and leave decisive proofs of the power of the British
You
Mahmood
of
Ghuznee
its
humanity.
his club
will bring
inducement to choose the Ghuznee route, Nott was infonned that a copy of his
letter would be forwarded to Pollock, with instructions to make a forward
movement
loss
Xhc
march
from Afghanistan
by
tlic
somewhat
selfishly
regiments and a
half, twelve guns, and some cavalry, for the purpose of returning by the Bolan
Pass, he himself prepared to take the much longer and more difficult route with
the remainder of his force.
Candahar was finally evacuated on the 7th of
to
move.
direction
of Ghuznee.
tion,
first
five
as far as
some
proteceffects,
was
at hand.
Shumsooden, the governor of Ghuznee, was in the field at the head of a considerable force, and had taken up a position which is said to be the most
First en-
and with a
On
the 28th of
result not at
with the
August the
enemy.
first
actual skirmish
place,
all
them
to flight
foot of
Chap. V.]
451
find
a.d. isie.
good order, until a kind of panic was produced by a charge of about 150 of the
enemy's horse, and the British troopers actually turned and fled. On seeing
the approach of the British main body, the enemy, satisfied with what they
him with
to think
bejjan
much
so
to the
number
of
Slmm-
confidence that he
of assuming the
offensive.
moved
parallel to him,
on the
hills to
afternoon,
force.
and a
more
half of his
battle
than in the
general's despatch.
in
the most bold and gallant manner, each division cheering as they came into position
their left being upon a hill of some elevation,
:
lidge, until
with men.
their centre
Gassyara, or Grass-cutters.
From
i^efeatofthe
Afghans.
capturing their guns, tents, ammunition, &c., &c., and dispersing them in every
direction; one hour more daylight would have enabled me to destroy the
whole of their infantry. Shumsooden fled in the direction of Ghuznee, accom-
on to Ghuznee.
full
also occupied."
"
I at
once
them
was gained.
The
village of Bullool
is
situated
about 600 yards from the walls of Ghuznee, upon the spur of the mountain to
Recapture
of
Ghuzuee
HISTORY or INDIA.
452
AD.
1S42.
Recapture
ofGhiiznee.
it
[Book VIII.
ordered
it
to be occupied
heavy
by two
camp before daylight on the morning of the 6th, but before they had
reached the position assigned them, it was ascertained that the enemy had
evacuated the fortress." Possession of the place being thus obtained, what was
the
called the
and setting
work of
fire
retribution
and shield
tomb, said to be those of the ancient Hindoo temple of Somnauth, was not
In regard to the club and shield, his lordship could not be gratified,
forgotten.
had disappeared some time before but he was delighted above measure
on learning that tlie gates were secured, and expressed his delight in a private
as they
letter to
mode
in
final destination.
xott'svic-
Maidau.
After the capture of Ghuznee Nott continued his march and met with no
oppositiou till .the 14th of September, when on arriving at Maidan, only twenty
miles south-west of Cabool, he found Shumsooden, Sultan Jan, and other
Afghan
chiefs,
was immediately
attacked.
The
result
is
Their
commanding
force,
estimated
despatch on the subject: "Our troops beat them and dislodged them in gallant
This was the
style, and their conduct afforded me the greatest satisfaction."
march
"jf
General
PoUock.
The
now be
sfiven.
under General Pollock, mustering about 8000 men, made its first
p
marcli ffom Jelalabad on the 20th of Auo-ust, and reached Gundamuck on the
,
forco
-r
Here, as the
enemy appeared
in
some
force, several
under Sir Robert Sale, while the second division under General M'Caskill
On the 8th when the advance reached Jugduprepared to follow next day.
453
CABOOL RETAKEN.
Chap, V.]
while the shells of our howitzers were bursting among them, but the impetuous
gallantry of the assailants, composed chiefly of the old Jelalabad garrison, was
irresistible,
The
...
chiefs
The Afghan
inability to offer
any
chiefs,
a.d. i842.
and resolved
resolve to
offer
sill)-
mission,
to
and offer on the part of the Afghan chiefs submission to any terms he
be
might
pleased to dictate, provided he would stay the advance of his army on
Cabool.
Troup knowing that the time for negotiation had passed, represented
Pollock,
moved
his
to Tezeen.
sary to decide whether this valley, where the bones of one British force already
lay bleaching, was again to become the scene of a similar disaster; or whether,
on the contrary,
it
was
still
national independence.
more glorious
and
it
might be the
knew
that
loss of their
Their companions in
calling aloud for vengeance, and the only question now was, whether by
victory they were to give a true response to this call, or by defeat to be in like
manner exterminated.
The
battle
liorse,
who,
tempted by the baggage in the plain, descended in the hope of plunder. Before
they could effect their object they found themselves in a whirlwind of British
who at once threw them into confusion and put them to disastrous
In
the meantime the British had climbed the heights, and trusting only
flight.
to the bayonet were carrying everything before them.
The enemy thus
cavalry,
deprived of the double advantage which they expected to find in their elevated
nosition and the long range of their jezails, made a very ineffectual resistance.
Recaptm-e
of Cabool.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
454
A.D. 1842.
As soon
their
Recapture
of Cabool.
as they
defeat
Ghorebund
[Book VIII.
saw that the British had cleared the ascent they acknowledged
and
Akbar Khan
dispersed.
fled
their safety
valley, leaving his troops to seek
while General Pollock continued his march without further interruption through
Khoord Cabool and Boothauk, and encamped on the 15th of September on the
On
race-course at Cabool.
tion
all,
now
The first
was
the
release
of
the capundoubtedly
tives.
The married families were, as has
will
be necessary to advert.
been already
related,
committed
to the
force
On
was
the
Englisli
captives.
and lodgcd iu the fort of Tezeen. On the 13th when they were taken to
Jugduluck, they found General Elphinstone and Captain Johnson, who liad
been detained as hostages for the evacuation of Jelalabad. They were after-
wards carried from place to place in Akbar Khan's train, and on the 1 7th were
lodged in the fort of Budeeabad, belonging to Mahomed Shah Khan, Akbar
Khan's father-in-law. Here Akbar Khan left them, and they continued to
reside for nearly three months, suff'ering many privations, but also enjoying
some comforts, of which none were more highly prized than the privilege of
meeting together every Sunday for religious service.
Shortly after Sale's
signal defeat of
followers,
Akbar Khan,
from Budeeabad.
Of
new
of
to depart
destination he said nothing, but like a meanhearted wretch he busied himself in plundering them.
Thus stripped of everytheir
Chap. V.]
455
thing of value, the whole of the captives were removed under a guard of fifty
Afghans, and commenced a mysterious journey, no one knew whither. After
a.d. 1542.
Adventmes
various
On
English
'^^^^ '^''^'
May
fewer than they had been at any previous period of their cajDtivity, and
they were even permitted to exchange visits with the British hostages detained
in the Bala Hissar.
Ever and anon, however, they were alarmed by rumours
far
that
to carry
them
off to Turkestan.
These rumours
luoval to
were only too well founded, for on the 25th of August they were ordered to
start for Bamian under an escort of 300 men.
They reached it on the 3d of
In the intention of Akbar
September.
Their re
only the
first
Bamian.
stage of their
journey to a hopeless captivity beyond the Hindoo Koosh, but the inhuman
Saleh Mahomed, the commander of the escort,
design was happily frustrated.
was not
inaccessible to a bribe,
a letter from
and deliver
and on the
lltli of
rupees a month.
"I
know
nothing of
General Pollock, but if you three gentlemen (Pottinger, Lawrence, and Johnson)
will swear by your Saviour to make good to me what Syud Moorteza Shah
states that
he
is
authorized to
offer, I
will deliver
"^
'-
Arrangemeiits for
drawn out
in Persian,
and Lawrence.
shall free us
It
was
and
"Whenever
Saleh
agree to
Mahomed
make him
of 1000 rupees
The
four
"We
whose signa-
pay
Pottinger, and Captains Lawrence and Johnson, on condition of our
Major
release being
settingtiiem
at liberty.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
45G
A.D. 1842.
Arrange-
ments
for
setting the
captives at
hberty.
[Book VIII.
draw from the date of our release from captivity. We who are married do
further agree to pa}^ the same amount for our wives and families as for ouri
ggiyes.
We
>
We
above scheme."
No
British flag
Mahomed
Village of Urgundeh.
Their final
release.
prepai-ations
was immediately
it
in a state of defence,
and furnish
it
with the
the
20th,
it
to send
CAPTCTKE OF TSTALIF.
Chap. V.J
457
General M'Caskill with a detachment against Istalif in the Kohistan, where ad.
Ameen-oollah Khan was reported to be collecting the remains of Akbar Khan's
and deposit
and the
i842.
Expedition
against
istaiif.
was
anticipated,
employed was proportionably large. M'Caskill arriv^ed
within four miles of Istalif on the 28th of September, and found that its
The town rose in terraces on the
strength had apparently not been overrated.
slope of a mountain,
force
forts,
was
accessible
Fortunately the enemy, confident in the strength of their position, had not
been very careful in making their arrangements for defence, and when the
British troops advanced on the morning of the 29tli to the attack with the
greatest gallantry, they soon cleared the approaches.
The
assault immediately
Futteh Jung, who on the murder of his father had been set up as a puppet
king, had soon been displaced, and after suffering imprisonment, had found his
way in a state of utter destitution to General Pollock's camp at Gundamuck.
Puppet
cabooi.
His reception was friendly, and he was even encouraged to hope that British
influence
force to Cabool,
through the town to take possession of the Bala Hissar. When the British flag
was hoisted on the ramparts, he had already seated himself on the musnud,
not very wisely, the
a
chair of state on the
principal British officers assisted, Pollock sitting in
The countenance thus afforded
right and M'Caskill on the left of the throne.
him was of
little
avail,
installation, at which,
to
be thrown on his
own
resources
Vol,, III.
254
HISTORY OF INDIA.
458
A.D. 1842.
The Bala
secured.
Destruction
of the Great
Bazaar,
Cabool.
[Book VIII.
Hissar,
the Great Bazaar, one of the finest of its kind in the East, which, after an
Evacuation
of Afghanistan.
The
it
British
army
finally quitted
series of triumphs,
The
and Lord Ellenborough
was
all
On
the 1st of
take advantage. Exactly four years before, on the very same day, and from
the very same room, Lord Auckland had issued his manifesto explaining the
grounds on which he had undertaken the Afghan war. The contrast between
that document and the one
now
issued
was very
striking,
it
necessary to
be
still
more
made
explicit,
to
possiit;
but
and without
exactly saying it in words, took care to let the world know that he was a far
wiser and more successful statesman than his predecessor.
In no other way
can we account for the appearance of the proclamation with the date 1st October.
It was not issued for many days after, and had it not been antedated, might
have communicated the gratifying intelligence that the English captiv'es, about
whose fate the public mind had been kept anxiously on the stretch, were at
length released.
was known
mention
it
date.
The
October,
to
him when he
original
when
it
expressed it in his gruff" way, that "the captives had been thrown overboard
by the government."
Having
up
then await the honours which the crown might be pleased to confer as rewards
|
)
CiiAr. v.]
459
which he had been so puerile and minute in his instructions, and to which he
attached so much importance that he had required Nott to guard them as he
his colours,
and
upon
it, it
commencement.
"From
the Governor-general to
India.
"
all
My
glory, the
To you,
proof of your superiority in arms over tlie nations beyond the Indus.
princes and chiefs of Sirhind, of Rajwarra, of Malwah, and of Gujerat, I shall
commit this glorious trophy of successful war.
You will yourselves with all
honour transmit the gates of sandal wood through your respective territories,
to the restored temple of Somnauth.
The chiefs of Sirhind shall be informed at
what time our victorious army
When
the
it
doubts of
to exult
its
folly of
guilty.
gates would not be complete without mentioning that Lord EUenborough, when
he indited what the Duke of Wellington called his "song of triumph," was
The gates were not those of Somnauth,
totally in error as to the point of fact.
and their date was much more recent than the time of Mahmood of Ghuznee.
1842.
Lord Eiienprocilmainth?*'^'^
^^^^^ ^
Somnauth.
HISTORY or INDIA.
460
[Book VIII.
CHAPTER YL
New treaty Proceedings
Ellen'oorough's policy in regard to
Capture of EmaumghurBritish residency at Hyderabad attackedBattles
Meanee and DubbaSubsequent proceedings Annexation of Scinde Relations with Scindia
Hostilities commenced Victories of Maharajpoor and Puniar New treaty with Scindia Abrupt
Relations with
Scinde^Lord
it
of Sir
Charles Napier
recall of
of
Lord Ellenborough.
|URING
and the
A.D.
18-1-1
relations established
with
its
Ameers
or rulers, were
with Scinde.
race,
by the substitution of the Talpoora ti'ibe for that of the Kalloras. The government was a kind of family confederation. The Talpoora chiefs, when they first
obtained supremacy, were four brothers, who portioned out the countr}^ into
four separate independencies, one for each brother, though they still continued
so closely related, that they
issue,
the
number
By
the
reduced to three, and on the death of Ali Moorad, the last surviving brother,
in 1833, family dissensions broke out, and were not suppressed till the country
Its native
government.
had been subjected to the calamities of a civil war. By the ultimate arrangement, the government stiU remained vested in the three families, at the head
and Roostum Khan, perhaps because he was the oldest, and nearest to
the original stock, was regarded as their head.
These three Ameers, considered
nized,
were
all
way, Roostum Khan had for his colleagues in the government at Khyrpoor
Nusseer Khan, Ali Moorad Khan, and Shakur Khan, and Nusseer Khan at
Sobhdar
attention
Chap. VI.]
-tGl
much
and
violence, this
Owing
to misunderstandings
and
a.i). isss.
Commercial
scinde.
The
and was at
last
withdrawn.
be more explicit than these articles, which, notwithstanding subsequent arrangements, remained intact, and were in full force in 1838, when Lord Auckland,
Auckland, by his simple fiat, set the treaty aside, and intimated to the Ameers
he found it inconvenient to fulfil, he had resolved to violate its obliga-
that, as
The Ameers, after struggling in vain against this injustice, were obliged
succumb, and then learned that much worse was in store for them. At the
tions.
to
.,,
I'l'i
very time when the governor-general was openly violating solemn treaties
because he could not conveniently observe them, he did not hesitate to station
a body of reserve at Kurrachee, for the avowed purpose of keeping the Ameers
This was but a preliminary step to a forced treaty, by which they
were not only deprived of their independence by the admission of a subsidiary
force, but taken bound to pay for this force a sum of three lacs per annum.
It was in vain that one of the Ameers, taking the previous treaties from a box,
in check.
indignantly asked, "What is to become of all these?" and then observed that,
"since the day that Scinde has been connected with the English there has
remain."
An army was
at
hand
to
if it
accepted, and the Ameers had no alternative but to resign their independence,
by agreeing to accept and pay for a subsidiary force, and at the same time
deprive themselves of
all tolls
regard of its
^ '''^^ ^'^'^-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
462
A.D. 1842.
Lord Elleninstrirctions
cimries
Ameers of
Scinde.
[Book VIII
his instructions
to the chief
command
in Scinde, in the
"
t/
it is
proceed in this course without the most ample and convincing evidence of the
guilt of the accused," and hence Sir Charles Napier considered it as his first
business to ascertain whether such evidence could be found.
communicated
Report by
Sir Charles.
The
result
was
"
entitled
to
stands.
We are here by
by the Ameers, and therefore stand on the same
it
footing as themselves; for rights held under treaty are as sacred as the right
which sanctions that treaty. There does not appear any public protest registered against the treaties
therefore to be considered as
Having thus
cleared
would
"
be,
to
favour
England and of
that
it
must
fall
its
subjects,
despotic,
hostile alike
to
the interests of
own
its
"
The
coming into collision with us. The consequence may easily be foreseen.
more powerful government will at no distant period swallow up the weaker;"
would
it
must sooner or
later
To
If
so,
this question,
" / think
proposed by himself. Sir Charles Napier gave the following answer:
it would he better
This point of honesty,
if it can he done vnth honesty.''
which
was
easily disposed of
by the
following
Chap. Vl.J
The
simple consideration
463
to gratify
a.d. is42.
Oppressive
refractory
their avarice,
making a trial
He made his preparations accordingly, and with full confidthough he knew that in point of numbers his little force
December the
Lord Ellen-
treaty, as
terms
Its
still
In
name.
raent
to
"the
England."
the treaty
ject
efliixv
of the sovereio^n of
was worded as
if
the ob-
refusal,
that
it.
From
a portrait by Smart.
We
the
the latter,
"Your
of
igl-nS 'Z
'^"'''"^
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
4G4
A.D. 1842.
~~
The Ameers
[Book VIII.
the inhabitants to Sukkur, and destroy your capital city with exception of
leave standing alone, as a mark of my
your highnesses' palace, which I would
of
and
for
my conviction that you have no authority
your highnesses,
respcct
I
should
also
entrench
so far on your highnesses' treasury
over your subjects.
Tiieir pro-
camp would inevitably draw down upon Khyrpoor, in order that you may
warn your people against committing any act of hostility."'
Tliesc mcuaces, notwithstanding the jocular terms in which they are
Sslilr'^
expressed,
were not
lost
cand secret
g^Q^s of submissiou
and
hostility
against the
therefore
Britisli.
territory,
profes'-
He knew that his brother Ali Moorad, by strong professions of submishad gained the ear of the British commander, and was intriguing to
supplant him.
According to the form of government established in Scinde,
alarm.
sion,
Ali
Moorad was
not disposed to concede, and he had set his heart on securing the succession to
the turban to his own son.
After crossing to the left bank of the Indus, and
to say
tliat,
own family, he had resolved to escape to the British camp. As it was feared
that his presence there might prove a source of embarrassment, the answer
returned to his proposal was that he would find a more appropriate asylum in
his
the
camp
of Ali Moorad.
private arrangement, Meer Roostum took refuge in Ins brother's fort of DeejeeMeanwhile Meer Roostum's formal
kote, about ten miles south of his capital.
acceptance of the
new
treaty and
all its
who
refused to follow in
were held
to
be public enemies.
who
leaders,
who
believ-
it,
Chap. VI.]
deemed
it
465
Sir Charles
A.D. 1843.
Napier determined to teach them that they were not so secure as they imagined,
and immediately began to prepare an expedition against Emaumghur.
for the expedition the British commander was somewhat
the
disconcerted by
escape of Meer Roostum, apparently with Ali Moorad's
The point is not of much consequence, but as Ali had previously
connivance.
While preparing
in Illustrated
tliree principal
Ameers of Scinde.
London News.
induced or compelled his brother to resign the turban to him in the most formal Expedition
manner, the probability is that he wished to make his possession more secure Eniaum^""'
by frightening Meer Roostum into a flight which would leave him sole master.
At
first
it
necessary, as the
enemy were
but it was ultimately found that there was no necessity to deviate from the
As the Duke
original plan, and the march into the desert was commenced.
reported to be mustering in great strength at a place called Dhinjee,
"
one of the
Wellington afterwards declared the march upon Emaumghur
most curious military feats which I have ever known to be performed, or have
of
life,"
some
be
Napier's
own words:
all
my
My camel battery also shall go, and as many irregular horse as it shall
be prudent to take, and then
slap upon Emaumghur in the heart of the desert;
rations.
if it
fire
surrenders, good
fly
out of
provisions,
four shells,
to say
its
if not, it shall
While
eyes.
and water
this is
going
on,
my
abundant at Emaumghur.
out of the four hundred, with my battery,
is
am
shall
make
the
prepared."
255
HISTORY OF INDIA.
466
AD.
1843.
Expedition
Emaum^^"*^'
[Book VIII.
and provisions
days water
from
twenty-five
Deejeekote, was
had
shown
no
reached.
himself,
repeatedly
opposition was
Though the enemy
encountered, and at last, on arriving on the 12tli before Emaumghur, it was
On
for four."
found to be evacuated.
with round
horse,
The
fort, built
for fifteen
miles
was of great strength, and capable of resisting any force without artillery.
In this arm, however, Sir Charles was, as we have seen, well provided, and
must therefore have made good the capture, though it might have been preceded
wall,
by a
perilous delay.
Emaumghur
retraced
steps,
its
so long as
was necessary
Proceedings
at Hyderabad.
to shatter
on the road
...
ghur would smooth the way and render actual hostilities unnecessary. At the
outset it seemed that this hope was about to be reahzed.
The Ameers, afraid
to
commit themselves
it, and even fixed the day on which they were formally to sign
Procrastination, however, was their object, and they managed to weave
ness to accept
it.
Sir Charles'
Napier
advances
Charles Napier should leave his army behind and come in person to Hyderabad.
"Tliis," Said the coiiimissioner, "will remove all difficulties."
"Yes," was the
On
with their followers, being taken in arms, were arrested. On Hyat Khan,
held the chief command, was found an order from Mahomed Khan, one of
the Hyderabad Ameers, directing him to assemble every male able to wield a
On
sivord, and join his victorious Beloochee troops at Meanee on the 9th.
tribe,
who
the very day when this discovery was made, the Ameers met in full durbar,
and with the exception of Nusseer Khan of Khyrpoor,
signed what was justly
a
and
was to them a most obnoxious
styled
penal,
This, which ought
treaty.
to
have been the conclusion of a peaceful arrangement, was only the consummaThe Ameers had only been endeavouring to gain
tion of a system of
duplicity.
WAE WITH
VL]
Chap.
SCINDE.
467
a.d.
is-i3.
last
intentions, refused
to listen to their
procrastinating pleas,
Advance ou
^'^"^^''*^-
few troops within the inclosure, though not exceeding in all 100 men, after
all the attempts of an
enemy, estimated at 8000, to force an
gallantly resisting
entrance, were able, when their ammunition was nearly expended, to embark
on board a steamer which lay in the river, and thus escaped the slaughter to
which the Beloochees had doomed them.
The sword being now the only arbiter. Sir Charles Napier moved his camp
to Muttaree, and then to Meanee.
The latter place, situated only six
miles north of Hyderabad, was reached on the 17th of February, and was
first
When
day
closed, to
become famous
was
how
After mentioning
an accident can
dangerous
he says: "It is
25,000 or 30,000, and these are
and
my
It
supplies.
1.
must be given
in his
own
the Jamhallaka
words.
Tanda
odds.
2.
me
oflffrom
stiflf
be."
to choose
road,
for
man
victory
Nothing can show more
happily his well-known hardihood was tempered with caution
is
the river
should
a
us, and certainly it is no over-estimate to say, that with a beaten force I should
have to fight a way to Sukkur through 50,000 men." In regard to the river
"
if worsted, my
It is shorter, and my right flank is secure
more
are
the
safe
in
the
river
the
the
nearer
ditches, and
provisions
steamers;
road,
he says
river
myself"
The
Bi'itish force,
artillery,
Preparations
"tOT*
ilJIi t"lp
HISTORY OF INDIA.
A.D. 1S43.
Victory of
[Book VIII.
and the
1st grenadier
infantry,
"
Napier,
the enemy."
yards,
In this order of
The
was soon
traversed,
The combatants coming at once to close quarters, " fought for three
hours or more with great fury, man to man.
Then," continues the despatch,
"
was seen the superiority of the musket and bayonet over the sword, and
The brave Beloochees, fir,st discharging their matchlocks
shield, and matchlock.
river.
and
pistols,
dashed over the bank with desperate resolution, but down went
swordsmen under the superior power of the musket and
At one time the 22d, 25th, and 12th regiments were almost overbayonet."
borne by the coui'age and numbers of the enemy, but a brilliant charge by the
9th Bengal cavalry and the Scinde horse completely relieved them, by forcing
the right of the enemy's line, capturing a standard and several pieces of
and even driving a large body of horse beyond their own cam}).
This charge," says Sir Charles, " decided in my opinion the crisis of the action,
for, from the moment the cavah'v were seen in rear of their light flank, the
artillery,
''
enemy slackened, the 22d regiment forced the bank, the 25tli
and 12th did the same, the latter regiment capturing several guns, and the
The loss of the British was 256 killed and wounded;
victory was decided."
resistance of the
enemy was estimated at 5000. The results of the victory were the
of
the
whole of the enemy's artillery, ammunition, standards, and camp,
capture
with considerable stores and some treasure, the personal submission of the
that of the
Notwithstanding the splendid victory of Meanee, the war was not yet
Shere Mahomed of Meerpoor, the most talented of all the Ameers,
was on the way to join his confederates when he learned their signal defeat.
terminated.
The
a
after his victory. Sir Charles
Napier was not able to muster
disposable force of 2000 men, and therefore, instead of entering on a new cam
WAR WITH
Chap. VI. J
469
SCINDE.
paign, prudently
and also
which carried his supplies. Here he remained waiting for reinforcements, and
consoling himself with the reflection: "If he (Shere Mahomed) assails my
a.d. is43.
Sheie Ma-
inarms.
works, he will be beaten if he does not, the delay will exhaust his money,
the Beloochees are as rapacious as they are brave."
He had
.seeing that
;
The
miscalculated.
not
Ameer
ap
gradually
and
nearnearer
proached
er,
cess,
March,
miles
he
distant,
.sent
allow the
letter offering to
says
"
Napier,
was
fired.
On
delivered this
Sir
Charles
the evening
There, said
the 21st of
From Edwards'
I,
With
Yes.
Well, that
is
your answer.'
force,
Sketches in Scinde.
gun
consisting of 20,000
men
of all arms, were found strongly posted behind a kind of double nullah,
formed by two deep parallel ditches, the first 8 feet deep and 22 feet wnde, and
the second 17 feet deep and 42 feet wide.
Between the two was a bank
48 feet wide.
British
V
artillery opening on the enemy's position, while the line led by her majesty
22d advanced in echelons from the left.
In a short time the enemy were seen
left,
British
and apparently
artillerj'.
This
retreating, as if unable
moment was
chosen to
ordei-
nullah
and carried
closel}'-
followed
by
it,
loss.
The
2 2d were
the 25th, 21st, and 12th native infantry, and the victory
victory at
Dubba.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
470
was
A.D. 1843.
decided.
On
[Book VIII.
was again
in motion,
and arrived
immediately taken.
"
to watch the Indus, which will soon swell, and
obliged, as he says,
me off by the inundation." Unwilling, however, not to reap the full
Victory at
Dubba.
may
cut
fruits of
This was
express was immediately sent after Whitlie ordering him to return.
abandoned.
As soon
had
been
was
that
Omerkote
for
the
real
fact
uufortunatc,
Capture of
was known, a second express was sent off countermanding the first. By
this time, however, Whitlie, who had received the first express, was acting upon
it, and had only consented to halt at the urgent request of CaptainBrown, who,
feeling sure that the order to return had been given under misapprehension,
volunteered to ride back to head-quarters and return with new instructions.
as this
This feat he successfully performed. The result was, that Major Woodburn,
who had succeeded to the command, hastened forward to Omerkote, and found
it
without defenders.
the British
commander
attached
have
it if it
costs
as the following
Scinde
war.
'
Annexation
of Sciude.
"
:
every place
Omerkote
is
Never again am
in
wards seen that in these anticipations he was too sanguine, but in the meantime
it will be
necessary to give some explanation of the main ground on which he
founded them.
announced March
terms:
5,
1843,
by a
was
it.
What
this
was
to be
it
was
became
neces-
first publicly
the
a
exception above mentioned was henceforth
of Scinde
fire
\i
WAE WITH
Chap. VI.]
SCINDE.
471
post with
Shah
Mahomed
four guns,
to
Sehwan with
ofsiiere
^j)j ""^^^
'"'^^^'
of Lai Shaz
in Scinde.
branch of the river, a tribe mustering some 5000 was threatening to intercept
the communications with Bombay.
Instead of uninterrupted trani^uillity,
therefore,
His actual
force
was the
largest,
and there
was reason to fear that he might be able to double or triple its numbers by
penetrating into the delta of the Indus, which formed the principal part of his
original territory,
The
first
Encounter
with Shah
Mahomed.
_,.
This
chief,
Sehwan and
Roberts at
and burning
his
him by
surprise,
and
HISTORY or INDIA.
472
A.D.
1S4.3.
[Book VITT.
on to Hyderabad. His arrival here wa.s mo.st opportune, for the intended
insurrection, of which he was to be one of the main supports, was immediately
liim
abandoned in
despair.
consequence.
His sufferings and
out of Hyderabad in the very middle of the hot season.
those of his troops were dreadful, and on the 15th of June, he and forty- three
down by sun
Mahomed,
all
Defeat of
strokes.
were
it
in the liquor
tered Shere
provement.
cation
and
difficulty,
irrigation,
in repres.sing
crime,
fertile tracts,
which the
withScindia.
...
Two
Row
His
daughter of a person named Jeswunt Row Goorpurra, and only twelve years of
While the illness of the sovereign and the youth of his wife thus left the
age.
who had
but
it
Among
these the
Mama
if
to a regency
it
influ-
death, as all the persons composing the regency were notoriously at enmity
Lord Auckland,
G walior,
in communicating
in February, 1841,
suggested that
he should be
Chap. VI.]
473
"the mother and her adopted son should be supported by the British government from foreign and domestic enemies." The answer was, that in the event
of the maharajah's death
widow
to his
"
without male
British
tion
may
authority
would be
a.d. 1843.
^^^'^""'^
withScindia
to
The day
all
two
pressing-
On arriving there
he
and was informed that the Tara Ranee (the late maharajah's widow,
themselves, and
whom they
present,
eight
Bhageemt
Row's succession to
me
and seems
"adopted, with the apparently general concurrence of the chiefs and people,"
the boy whom he "had himself deemed to be nearest in blood to the late maharajah,"
but added, "The adoption of a boy too young to administer the govern-
by whom
and the governor-general awaits with much
interest the
the regency.
He considered that "it would be most for the benefit of the Gwalior
that the regency should be confided to one person, in whom, during the
It would
minority of the maharajah, may reside all the authority of the state.
state,
be for the regent to nominate the ministers, and they would be responsible to
him."
Having thus given his opinion in favour of a single regent, invested
the authority of the state, the governor-general ventured on still
delicate ground, and declared he would "gladly see the regency conferred
with
the
all
Mama
the 2.3d
more
upon
of the
proclaimed by the ministers, with the full concurrence
Ranee, that the Mama Sahib had been nominated regent.
it
was
On
officially
the
receiving notice of this appointment, the governor-general gave
Vol. III.
256
HISTORY OF INDIA.
474
A.D, 1S43.
"You will
[Book VII I.
Mama
inform the
Sahib, that
|
havino- understood from you tliat he has, in your presence, been nominated
Mama Sahib recent of the Gwalior state, I recognize him as the responsible head of that
At the time when Lord
TrSntof state, and am prepared to support his authority/'
thus pledged himself to the regent, he was not unaware of the
^ha'sritth Ellenborough
government,
Not
g^^g^^ ^.^ which it might iuvolve him in the internal affairs of Gwalior.
in arrear, while the available funds
only was the pay of the troops heavily
were insufficient to meet it, but an infantry brigade of three battalions had
One of these battalions, under a native commanifested a mutinous spirit.
mandant named Ishuree Sing, when proceeding into Malwah, had before quitting
The resident advised
the Gwalior territory been guilty of several outrages.
that an example should be made of its commander, and the late maharajah gave
orders that he should be recalled, and on his arrival at Gwalior, be not only
fort.
by
two
to
make common
The governor-general, fully alive to the danger of these procause with him.
to the former,
ceedings, wrote a second letter to the resident, which referring
concluded as follows:
time
prepared to support the authority of the regent, without taking at the same
the necessary pi-eliminary steps to enable him to give at once the most effectual
It is inconvenient that there should be prosupport if it should be desired.
tracted suspense on this point, and the governor-general is anxious to know,
as soon as possible, whether the state of affaii'S at Gwalior is such as to render
improbable that his immediate aid will become necessary to support the
The thing intended could not now be mistaken. The
regent's authority."
it
governor-general
moment's
notice, to
military aid
proffered
by
nor-generai.
Tf>i
prudcuce
prefer awaititig
punishment on a mutinous
brigade,
was
by
iiip-j.ij.1,
military ardour
neutralized
the
much
which the
of the regent,
would
inflict
officers
force/'
'..
Chap. VI.]
475
intrigues,
which though
a.d. is43.
Court in
trigues dis-
place the
he might be able to remove her and her faction from the palace.
The governorgeneral, after being thwarted in an important military operation which he had
was in no humour
contemplated,
and
boy adopted by a
girl,
induced to
retire, after
for herself,
but
soon
it
appeared that a still more formidable intriguer was resident in the palace.
This v/as the Dada Khasjee Walla, who had originally aspired to the regency,
and was labouring incessantly to undermine the Mama Scdiib, whose position in
consequence became untenable, and he was obliged not only to resign the
regency, but to retire into the Deccan.
xew form
regent or minister having been appointed after the expulsion of Mama of adniiiiisSahib, the resident suggested, that as the maharanee held durbars daily, the tration.
No new
best
mode
would be by
direct
communication
witli herself
The governor-general caught at this suggestion, and was inclined
to think that this direct mode of communication, while there was no ostensible
minister, might be that which would practically give the resident "the most
to be his
impression
is
in
which she
is
who continued
Sahib,
in his
journey southward at
by an
if
had
that
he
Colonel
instructed
and
therefore
unprovoked aggression,
Spiers
the least apprehension of
of
Gwalior
de
the
of
intention
facto government
any
general determined not to allow the rights of an ally to be infringed
HISTORY OF INDIA.
476
A.D. 1843
[Book VIII.
herself,
Affairs of
'Sincerely attached to peace for the sake of the benefits it confers upon the
is resolved that peace shall be maintained, and he
people, the governor-general
will direct the whole power of the British government against the state by
"
tion
which
Intrigues of
t}ie
Dada
Khasjee
it
shall
-j
be infringed.'
The Dada Khasjee Walla, thus interdicted from gratifying his vindictive
it
temper on a personal rival, showed his rage and disappointment by exerting
I'li
-\
himself in opposition to British interests, and the governor-general in consequence became convinced that the tranquillity of Gwalior could only be secured
by
,
his removal.
At
first his
way
as
seemed
has passed, would not be sufficient to afford security against similar intrigues
to that in which he has been the mover, and to place the relations between the
beyond
the
Qii the vciy day preceding that on whicli the governor-general gave the
abovc insti'uction to the resident, the Dada was a prisoner in the hands of the
chiefs
who had
at the
head of
all
affairs,
never be re-established, they had determined to keep no terms with him. His
fears and those of the ranee, whose favour for him had suffered no diminu-
own
tion, led to
him into British custody, but an unexpected obstacle arose. The troops
who had been gained over to the Dada mustered in full force, and having
surrounded the campoo where he was confined, threatened to take liim away
deliver
by
to
force if he
temporize, and hence, as the resident reported, "during the whole of these
disturbances not a sword has been drawn nor a drop of blood spilt." The
be
result was that the Dada, though he still remained in
custody, could not
delivered to the resident at Dholepore, as the chiefs who seized him wished and
had intended. The ranee still stood by him, and even when warned that if
Chap. VI.]
On
477
to leave Fort
necessary."
it.
"When
it,
is-ts.
Military preparatloiis
to enforce
delivery of
*'' ^'^'^'
turbance within
a.d.
is
still,
we might perhaps have waited upon time, and have abstained from the adoption
The Sikhs,
of measures of coercion," but the circumstances were not ordinary.
no longer friendly, have within three marches of the Sutlej "an army of 70,000
men," and though "it may perhaps be expected that no hostile act on the part
of this
army
to
take every precaution against it, and "no precaution appears to be more necessary than that of rendering our rear and our communications secure by the
re-establishment of a friendly government at Gwalior."
^
Dada was
therefore oidy the first of a series of measures which are thus enumer-
"To
an
affront,
which
if left
unpunished would
affect
in its preservation
stances,
oovemorgeneral's
Scindia, of
without a government willing and able to maintain order, and to preserve the
policy.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
478
A.D. 1S43.
relations of
any
Movement
troopfS
wards the
frontier of
Scindia.
amity with
its
neighbours.
The
between
itself
havc
[Book VIII.
British
India.
GwALioR
the future tranquillity of the common frontier of the two states, for the maintenance of order within the territories of
Scindia, and for the conducting of the government of those territories in
ment
until I
have
Owalior.
government."
This letter, which produced the greatest consternation at Gwalior, was immediately followed by the actual surrender of the Dada, who was sent forward
under charge of an escort, and brought on the 18th of December into the British
The maharanee seems to have expected that the delivery of the Dada
camp.
would be accepted as a sufficient compliance with the demands of the British
government, and therefore, in answering the govern er-general's letter, expressed
her earnest wish that the march of the British army might be arrested, and
official
intercourse resumed
by the return
herself with
was
At
the
his lord-
i^egard
between the two states." This declaration, which the governor- general
had volunteered only two days previously, certainly pledged him to all wdiich
the maharanee understood
by it when she thus expressed herself: "Your lord-
treaties
CHAP. VI.J
47!>
purpose that the treaties and engagements which have been iii force for
not be changed or interfered with, is gratifying.
This purpose
forty years shall
The parties
has its origin in the good feeling and integrity of j^our lordship.
sliip's
to all
and engagements
these treaties
felt
them
a.d. is4m.
ulterior
visws of
tllt^
for govemor-
This home-thrust
the good faith of the British government is well known."
to
have
had
in
some
for
in a subsequent
difficulty
appears
parrying,
regarding
^'"'^'^-
his lordship
letter
to
the maharanee,
Khasjee Walla is the best indication of the sincerit}^ of your highness's friendhe veiled his future intentions under such vague expressions as these:
.ship,"
'I have, myself, no more earnest wi.sh than that of
re-establishing the good
understanding between the two states, and of giving it a firmer basis." To the
now Colonel Sleeman, who had succeeded Colonel Spiers, he was
resident,
much more explicit. "He was gratified," he said, "b}'- the delivery of the Dada,
but was no longer disposed to accept it as sufficient atonement for the past, or
The British armies could not be arrested without a
security for the future.
guarantee for the maintenance of tranquillity on the common frontier, and the
establishment of a government willing and able to coerce its own subjects, and
maharanee and
the governor-general
held on the 20tli of
tent, for
point discussed
the meeting
was the
place of meeting.
The
chiefs
encamping ground at
This," they said, 'was the usual place where all former governorsDholepore.
general had been met by the rajahs, on occasion of their visits to Gwalior," and
"
any deviation from that established usage would detract from the honour of
his lordship's present
"
was not
here,
the maharajah
might "take place at such spot as they shoidd both arrive at on
the same day."
The chiefs showed the importance which they attached to the
the governor-general, with the commanderand the British army, passed the Gwalior frontier before the maharajah
had a meeting with his lordship, it would be a breach of all precedent, and
place of meeting,
by urging "that
if
in-chief
When
his
xegotiations
view with
rajah.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
480
AD.
184.3.
lordship
still
[Book VIII.
the maharajah.
who were
army across the frontier before the meeting." Findmove on was irrevocable, the chiefs asked " to know
the longest time his lordship could give the maharajah to come out
"
If the maharajah should
him here." The answer was as follows
:
and meet
been placed in the hands of the chiefs, the details of which should be prepared
to-morrow, and they would guarantee that his highness should do so, the army
should not pass the river Chumbul (the boundary between the two states) till
after that day; but that if his lordship were induced thus to delay the passing
fail to
redeem
was already
their guarantee,
to be charged to
but one cannot help thinking that if he had really had this "disposition," he
would have taken a different way of proving it. As must have been anticipated,
the terms were declined.
March of
troops into
Scindia's
territory.
On
first
head-quarters,
by the 26th the whole of the right wing of the army, with the heavy
at Hingona.
Up to the
guns, had crossed, and had been placed in position
27th, it was considered probable that the Gwalior troops, notwithstanding their
vaunts and menaces, would not venture to oppose the British advance, though
circumstances were not wanting to suggest and justify an opposite conclusion.
22d, and
the 25th, Bapoo Setowlea, who had been appointed prime-minister, and
relations on the very
professed his earnest desire for tlie restoration of friendly
terms which had been offered, suddenly quitted the British camp, in which he
He prohad arrived to conduct the negotiations on the part of the durbar.
On
army.
as
provcd by
attri-
if possible,
The
fact,
journey was
On the 26th
not to prevent hostilities,
direction
it was ascertained that
troops and guns were leaving Gwalior, in the
both of Cliandore and Hingona, in the former to encounter General Grey, who
but to take a prominent part in them.
meet the
HOSTILITIES COMMENCED.
Chap. VI.]
481
tlie left
wing of the army through Bundelcund, and the
the further progress of the
right wing under the commander-inthe same day, Sumbajee Angria, another of the Gwalior
negotiators,
A.D. 1843.
latter to resist
On
chief
Disaffection
of chiefs.
tlie
forgotten their
to
troops,
power of the
state.
tinuing to
hope
for
and con-
appear to have
it,
when
hostilities actually
On
commenced.
when a
were examin-
ing the
the batteries
them.
none now.
The Gwalior
troops, so far
Sir
From an
engraviiiK by J. R. Jackson.
struggle,
and sent
initiative,
Hugh Gough,
their defiance
Hostilities
commenced.
it,
and both armies immediately prepared for battle. The inequality in point
of numbers was not so
great as usual in battles in India, the British troops
mustering about 14,000, with 40 guns, and the Mahrattas 18,000, with 100 guns.
By eight o'clock on the morning of the 29th, the whole British troops, after
passing over a country rendered extremely difiicult
ing the
Kohary
by deep
ravines,
and
harajpoor.
cross-
This place, contrary to expectation, was found occupied by the Mahratta,s, who during the previous night had taken possession of
it with seven
regiments of infantry, each with four guns, which they had
in front of
Maharajpoor.
"Major-general
ordered
it
Vol. Ill,
to
in front of Maharajpoor, I
while
direct,
Major-general Valiant's brigade took it in
Littler's
advance
257
Battle of Ma-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
482
A.D. 1843.
liarajpoor.
reverse
field
Battle of Ma
[Book VIII.
loyalty
and devotion
and here
must do
soldiers.
by
Her
sword in hand with the most determined courage. General Valiant's brigade
with equal enthusiasm took Maharajpoor in reverse, and twenty-eight guns
were captured by this combined movement: so desperate was the resistance,
that very few of the defenders of this very strong position escaped.
During
these operations. Brigadier
complete, the
Battle of
Piinniar.
Maharajpoor, the left wing, under General Grey, which had crossed the frontier
from the south-west, and pushed on rapidly to Punniar, which is only twelve
miles from Gwalior, was there achieving a similar success against another
Mahratta force of
Rigorous
terras dic-
tated to
Gwalior.
C^HAP. VI.]
483
by a regular
treaty,
number
/-I
of the Gwalior
to
a.d.
is43.
Terms
dic-
tated to
Gwaiior.
the
The
Gwalior government.
fort of
Gwalior was
in future to
be garrisoned
Truly might
the
over
gained
troops
the
Gwalior
but
premacy,"
it
truly
at the
also
same time
might
have been declared that this
result
tained
by vigorously
exer-
Soltykotf,
disclaiming them.
While the governor-general
was carrying; matters with a
^
.
\oyage
liiffh
.
dajis rinde.
hand
so little
j
leavincr
govern India. His policy in regard to Scinde was particularly objected to.
He had concocted a series of charges against the Ameers on insufficient evidence,
to
made
the
;
governing
it.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
484
A.D. 1844.
"
'
Lord Ellenreoan."'
[Book VIII.
which he had thrown out, that he was medihad yet carried on. Such were the leading
he
war
than
any
tating a greater
pubHc grounds on which Lord EUenborough was assailed, but he might perhaps
havc passcd unscathed through the ordeal to which they subjected him, had
he not imprudently provoked jealousies and animosities between the two great
branches of the public service, by the mode in which his patronage was distriLord Auckland had set him the example of making the political
buted.
was reason
when
special circumstances
seemed
to
this, which had hitherto been the exception, was made by Lord
the
rule, so much so indeed, that he both spoke and acted as if
EUenborough
he thought that the first qualification for office of any kind was to be a soldier.
require
it
but
service,
The
eflfect
and though they had never before exercised it, they saw so much to
disapprove in the mode in which the government of India was conducted, that
possessed,
nothing but the urgent remonstrance of the British cabinet prevented them
from exercising it. At last, however, even remonstrance proved unavailing,
" that on
Wednesday
is
said to
though
it
have been received with loud cheers from the opposition benches,
could hardly be called a party triumph, as eighteen of the twenty-
four directors were supporters of the ministry, and yet the vote of recall had
been unanimous.
This fact aflfords a strong presumption that it was not
dictated
by
explained the whole matter were withheld, on the ground that they could not
be made public without injury to the public service, w^e are necessarily left
to conjecture.
This
is
it left
them
his
admims-
tiation.
or'
indiscreet exercise of
Characterof
"^
brother-in-law,
SIK
Chap. VII.]
HENEY HAEDINGE.
485
view taken by Lord Ellenborough himself appears from one oi his letters to a d. 1344.
"You will have heard that the court of directors has ^,,^j^j.jjp^gj.^f
Sir Charles Napier.
done as
and he
successor,
military
am
I expected.
recalled.
experience."
[^^j^o^^f,''"'
administiation.
experi-
Militarj^
and hence, during his whole administration, he had done little more than
India,
endeavour to acquire
fluence of
Under
it.
the in-
tills
ment
It
make the
Viscount Haedinge.
After a portrait by Sir
Ros.s K.A.
"
India
following^
announcement:
is
CHAPTER
Sir
His
VII.
Disorder
Invasion
the
Sobraon
Termination
of
AHwal
Battle
Moodkee Battle of Ferozeshah Battle
hiU
in
Scinde
Sir
Charles
of
war
campaign ResigNapier's
peace Proceedings
Punjab
Treaty
of
Assemblage of troops
of
of
of
first
In
months of
his
in
making
judicious
Loni
policy.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
4813
A.D. 1S44
[Book YIIl.
with the
Sikhs.
After the death of Runjeet Sing in 1839, the friendly relations wJiich he
His son
had always carefully maintained underwent a sudden change.
Khurruk Sing, who succeeded him, possessed none of his talent, and ruled only
name under his own son Nonehal Sing. This youth was unfortunately as
hostile as his grandfather had been friendly to British interests, but before his
hostility could be fully developed he was killed by a stone or beam which fell
in
upon him as he was passing under a gate. This tragical event, though represented as an accident, was in fact a murder, which had been planned for the
purpose of securing the throne for another claimant. This was Shere Sing, who
was by repute one of Runjeet Sing's sons, but not acknowledged by him, because
he suspected his wife's fidelity. Still, however, his status had been so far
recognized that he was allowed to rank as one of the Lahore princes, and hence
Sing,
who had
Runjeet Sing, and hated Khurruk Sing and his son for having dismissed him
order to
make way
first
in
till
cession of
nilers in
He had
Rapid
suc-
Lahore.
tion,
having thrown
off"
raised.
to vicious indulgences,
all restraint,
The pernicious consequences were not at first fully developed, as Dhyan Sing,
whom all power now centred, was an able administrator, but ultimately the
in
Dhyan
Sing liimself
Chap. VII.]
487
was not permitted to escape, and was sLot dead by Ajeet Sing, the same chief
who had murdered his master. After all these atrocities, and a short interval,
a.d. 1845.
power was in their hands, began to clamour for increased pay, and never hesitated, whenever their demands were refused, to take summary vengeance on the
individuals obnoxious to them.
his successor
In this
who
affairs.
Her authority,
was
power
usurped by the army,
all real
by means
exercised
it
The
soldiers
were
Po^'ei- of the
army.
sufficient in
with plunder, unless they were to invade the British terriThe temptation was under the circumstances irresistible, and notwith-
enrich themselves
tories.
unprovoked war.
so as
not to bring
While
down
its
this
vengeance.
at Lahore, and a
While these crimes and revolutions were taking
^ place
'
formidable army, subject to no control, was assembled on the frontiers, the
invasion of
Britisli ter-
being-
overwhelmed by the bursting of a storm for which they had made no preparations.
Lord Ellenborough had placed the threatening aspect of affairs in the
Punjab in the foreground, when seeking to justify the coercion he was about to
use towards Gwalior, and the force then employed had been pushed forward to
take up centrical positions at Ferozepoor, Loodiana, and Umballa.
So strong,
however, was the
known
caution,
the necessary measures of precaution when the time for action arrived.
Having
reached Umballa on the 2(1 of December, 1845, he moved with his camp on the
6th towards Loodiana, to
fulfil
his previously
ritorybya
HISTORY OF INDIA.
488
A.D. 1845.
[Book VIII.
the Sikh protected states, according to the usual custom of his predecessors.
His movements were made in as peaceful a manner as possible, because he was
not only anxious not to furnish the Sikhs with any pretext for hostilities, but
had not ceased to hope for an amicable settlement. He only deemed it probable
that some act of aggression might be committed by parties of plunderers, fur
the purpose of compelling the British government to interfere, and as nothing
was further from his wish than to be thus involved in war, he resolved to carry
The wisdom of this resolution may be queshis forbearance as far as possible.
A more
tioned.
spirited conduct
Frociama
the
left
bank of the
tion of thegoveiiioi-
general.
On
and
left or
British
government,
peace.
Maharajah Dhuleep
banks of the Sutlej confiscated or annexed to the
British territories."
Preparations
Fcrozcpoor was at this time held by a bod}" of about 10,000 troops, with
This place
twenty-four guns, under command of General Sir John Littler.
being only fifty miles S S.E. of Lahore, and thrice as far north-west of Umballa,
had
his head-quarters,
by an
was
seriousl}^
name
threatened the
of Tej
moment
Their
ing for
its relief
On
now
advanc-
two
Sikh cavalry who occupied it retired as the British advance appeared, it was
not supposed that an encounter w^as at hand. Under this impression the
British troops took up their encamping ground, and were preparing refreshafter a fatiguing march of twenty-two miles, when scouts arrived with
the intelligence that the enemy were hastening forward, and were only three
miles distant.
They had, it appeared, begun to entrench themselves at Feroze-
ments
shah,
to
BATTLE OF MOODKEE.
Chap. VIL]
489
advanced guard.
was
It
three
about
in the after-
enemy
British troops,
already
in a state
of great exhaustion,
sufficient
to
move
to their posi-
wdien
they
were ordered to adtions,
found the
enemy
Geoup of
in position.
is
flat,
Sikhs.'
Hugh
and dotted with sandy hillocks. The enemy screened their infantry
and such undulations as the ground
artillery behind this jungle,
afforded, and whilst our twelve battalions formed from echelon of brigade
jungle,
and
White and Gough, to make a flank movement on the enemj^'s left, with a view
With praiseworthy gallantry
threatening and turning that flank if possible.
the 3d light
with
the
2d
of
cavalry, consisting of the bodydragoons,
brigade
of
guard and 5th light cavalry, with a portion of the 4th lancers, turned the
'
1,
From
An
Tower
of
Lon-
flon.
2,
Vol. III.
3,
left
de VInde.
258
a.d. is45
lioodkS.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
490
A.D.
1845.
sweepmg along
[Book VIII.
its
this
of the 4th lancers, the 9th irregular cavalry, under Brigadier Mactier, with a
This manoeuvre was also successful.
light field-battery, to threaten their right.
Had
not the infantry and guns of the enemy been screened by the jungle, these
brilliant charges of the cavalry would have been productive of greater effect.
When the infantry advanced to the attack, Brigadier Brooke rapidly puslied on
his horse artiller}^ close to the jungle,
The
sides.
of the
amongst wood
Harry Smith,
Gilbert,
and
Sir
everything at stake,
attack of the infantry now commenced, and the roll of fire from this powerful
arm soon convinced the Sikh army that they had met with a foe they little
expected and their whole force was driven from position after position with
;
great slaughter, and the loss of seventeen pieces of artillery, some of them of
heavy calibre; oar infantry using that never-failing weapon, the bayonet,
stood.
Night only saved them from worse disaster, for
was maintained during an hour and a half of dim starlight,
amidst a cloud of dust from the sandy plain, which yet more obscured every
The victory though glorious was dearly purchased, the British loss
object."
this stout conflict
amounting to 872, of
former were two
Battle of
officers,
who was
Robert Sale, who was
John
Sir
whom
M'Caskill,
who had
Among
the
Sir
The British troops having returned to their camp at midnight, halted during
the 19th and 20th.
Durmg this interval two heavy guns reached Moodkee,
by her majesty's 29th, the 1st European infantry, and the 11th and
41st native infantry, and an express was sent off' to Sir John Littler, directing
him to join with as many troops as he could safely bring, without compromis-
escorted
was now hastening to the attack of the entrenched camp at Ferozeshah. During the operations which followed, the governor-general, who had volunteered
to act as second in command, had
charge of the left wing of the army, while
the commander-in-chief
personally conducted the right.
The
British force
BATTLE OF FEROZESHAH.
Chap. VII.]
491
This
mustered about 50,000 men, with 108 pieces of cannon of heavy calibre.
of
numbers
was
not
the
of
the
for
only advantage
superiority
enemy,
they
occupied an entrenched camp, which extended in the form of a parallelogram,
about a mile in length and half a mile in breadth, and included within its area
For a description of the operations we must
numerous
silence
artillery, of
much
and
some
shell, oiir
infantry advanced
and carried these formidable entrenchments; they threw themselves upon their
guns, and with matchless gallantry wrested them from the enemy, but when the
were partially within our grasp, our soldiers had to face such a fire of
musketry from the Sikh infantry, arrayed behind their guns, that in spite of
batteries
the most heroic efforts, a portion only of the entrenchments could be carried.
Night
fell
enemy remained
in posses-
mingled with theirs, kept possession of the remainder, and finally bivouacked
upon it, exhausted by their gallant eflbrts, greatly reduced in numbers, and
In
thirst, yet animated by an indomitable spirit.
wore
Near
the
the
middle
of
it
one
of
night
away.
things
long
their heavy guns was advanced, and played with deadly eflfect
our
upon
troops.
Lieutenant-general Sir Henry Hardinge immediately formed her majesty's
suffering
extremely from
this state of
by
their
colonel
the
commanding
Wood
outset.
officers,
and animated
They were
in their exertions
this
whilst
tumbrils.
At
this
moment
Our
line
left,
fire,
a.d. 1845.
Battle of
HISTORY OF INDIA.
492
A.D. 1845.
Battle of
Ferozesliah.
[Book VITI.
opposition,
,
its
all
and dislodged the enemy from their whole position. The line then
on a day of manoeuvre, receiving its two leaders as they rode along
t
...
halted, as if
had won, but even here its labours were not to cease. In the course of
two hours, Sirdar Tej Sing, who had commanded in the last great battle, brought
which
it
fi-esh
battalions,
and a large
field of
artillery,
supported by
encamped near the river. He di'ove
in our cavalry parties, and made strenuous eflforts to regain the position of
Ferozesliah.
This attempt was defeated but its failure had scarcely become
when
manifest
He
artillery.
the sirdar renewed the contest with more troops and a large
commenced by a combination against our left flank, and when
was
frustrated,
his fire
and
to
abandon the
field."
Critical rosi-
tion of the
British.
''
obvious from the above despatch, and the inferences which though
not mentioned may be legitimately drawn from it, that the British army was
It
is
as
much
skill in
21st.
On the evening of that day, the
Sikhs not only retained possession of a
large portion of their entrenched camp,
but their cavalry and infantry kept
moving about, harassing and firing on the
British as they lay bivouacked, and feared to make
any return lest it should
"
only discover their position and increase their danger.
This," as Macgregor
justly remarks in his History of the Sikhs (vol. ii. p. 105), '-was a fearful
in, and from the intervals between the European infantry regiments and the native brigades with them
being left vacant, there was no
position to be
possibility of
forming a
line, or
493
BATTLE OF ALIWAL.
Chap. VIL]
^.
approach to
it
and no wonder
if,
a.d. is45.
critical poai-
tionofthe
British,
Never in
Governor-general of India felt the precarious position of the troops.
the annals of warfare in India had matters attained such a threatening crisis."
amounted
to 2-il5, of
whom
were
694"
On
defeat
their
at
Ferozeshah
the
Sikhs had hastened to place the Sutlej between themselves and their conquerors.
Their expectation
be immediately pursued.
This, however,
or
at
least
force
should arrive.
Emboldened by
which they
mistook
for
and with
this
lay,
little
below Hurreekee.
and
fort of
From
G.
W. Smith, G.C.B.
a portrait by Palton.
this de-
fear
or
indecision,
the
Sikhs
prepared
to
No
sooner had this task been successfully accomplished than it became necessary
to march to the relief of Loodiana, which was held by only three battalions of
native infantry under Brigadier Godby, and was threatened by Runjoor Sing
at the head of a
body of 10,000 Sikhs, who had crossed the Sutlej at Phillour,
and entrenched themselves in the vicinity. Sir Harry started with his small
from Durrumkote, and proceeding along the direct road to Loodiana was
force
at
of his
baggage, but succeeded,
his
by a
series of
still
more conse-
Battle of
Aliwal.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
494
A
D. 1845.
Battle of
Aiiwal.
[Book Yllf.
Jiis
was now
It
Even
26th of January,
was
still
by the
further increased
arrival
of 4000 regular troops, twelve pieces of artillery, and a large force of cavalry.
Thus strengthened, Runjoor Sing was obliged to yield to the impatience of his
troops,
Sketch to illustrate
BATTLE OTALIW^VL
JimX 22^1816
-ir
imagining
that the British retreat
Scale 22Iile/
4-
who
their
loss of
baggage was
equi-
:i
valent to a confession of
their inability to main-
tain
the conflict,
were
confident of obtaining an
.^
easy victory.
They
ac-
rdxf{h.TroopS
KriArrLy
CI,.-..
il:
when
v<^
b
c
a,
b,
Advance to attack.
c,
n n, Charge of 8d cavalry.
GO, Advance of two troops of H.A.,
with 53d foot and 30th N.I.
line,
d,
left
flank,
h,
q,
from Boondra.
Village of Aiiwal stormed by the
31st Foot and Nussereeii bat.
r,
drawn up
close
village of
Aliv.'al,
to the
about
Loodiana, their
left rest-
my
s s,
the battle.
lancei"s.
their entrench-
ing upon
ed camp, and their right
some manoeuvres,
"per-
formed," says Sir Harry Smith, "with the celerity and precision of the most correct field-day," the British line advanced, but, continues the despatch, "scarcely
had it moved forward 150 yards when, at ten o'clock, the enemy opened a fierce
At
cannonade from
his
whole
line.
by bringing up
of large calibre.
my
The
right,
and the
native regiments contending for the front, and the battle became general.
The
BATTLE OF SOBRAON.
Chap. VII.]
495
enemy had a numerous body of cavalry on the heights to his left, and I ordered
Brigadier Cureton to bring up the right brigade of cavalry, who in the most
manner dashed in among them, and drove them back upon their infantry.
gallant
ad. i8.
Battle of
Meanwhile a second gallant charge to my right was made by the light cavalry
and the body-guard. The Shikawatee brigade was moved well to the right in
common focus, the passage of the river. The enemy completely hemmed
were fleeing from our fire, and precipitating themselves in disordered masses
into the ford and boats in the utmost confusion and consternation.
Our eioht-
the
in
every direction."
The main body of the British army moving up by the left bank of the
Sutlej, encamped on the 18th of January in the vicinity of Khodawala, nearly
opposite to the point where the Sikhs had constructed their new bridge.
Having been permitted
to complete tins
work without
greatly strengthened
by a tete de pont, thrown up with
on the left bank, and then proceeded, under the direction, it
it
much
is
military skill
said, of a Spanish
of still
stronger construction they would be able to repel any attack that could
be made upon them.
They had accordingly occupied it with 30,000 of their
best troops, and lined its battlements with a numerous and powerful artillery.
The British army, after waiting at Khodawala for the arrival of heavy ordnance
and the junction of Sir Harry Smith with his victorious force, moved out of
0th of February.
centrated their whole force within their entrenchments.
camp
at three in the
morning of the
and
embrace
field artillery,
all
cannonade at daybreak, but so heavy a mist hung over the plain and the
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
496
A.D. 1845.
Sobraon.
became necessary to wait till the rays of the sim had cleared it
Meanwhile the different corps had taken up the positions previously
river that
away.
Battle of
[Book VIjI.
it
the
attack
in
ad-
The
in-
THE BATTLE OF
mirable order.
SOBPcAO^
halted
they
correct
The
when
only
to
necessary.
latter took
suc-
up
^ihalkcc
gallop, until
at length
A, British camp.
B, Position preparatory to attack.
C,
D
E
Heavy
artillery.
enemy.
F, Enemy's bridge broken down.
of
the
heavy
and
J,
K,
Fourth
regularity,
line ditto.
and coolness,
scientific character
Tite de pont.
was the
fire
of cannon, musketry,
of seeing the gallant Brigadier Stacey's soldiere driving the Sikhs in confusion
before
foot
was
as gallant
and
effective.
59th native infantry, brigaded with them, emulated both in cool determination.
of this first success I directed Brigadier the Honourable T. Ash-
At the moment
this
it
was soon
was
seen
be
likely to
BATTLE OF SOBRAON.
Chap. VIL]
49^
thrown upon the two brigades that had passed its trenches, it became necessary
and serious attacks the demonstrations with skirmishers
a.d. is46.
and artillery of the centre and right, and the battle raged with inconceivable
The Sikhs, even when at particular points their
fury from right to left.
Battle of
entrenchments were mastered with the bayonet, strove to regain them by the
Nor was it until the cavalry of the left, under
fiercest conflict sword in hand.
Major-general Sir Joseph Thackwell, had moved forward and ridden through the
openings of the entrenchments made by our sappers in single file, and re-formed
.ii.
.1
^'^"^2:^^
Outpost at Sobraon.
From
^\-^'V^^^
they passed them, and the 3d dragoons, whom no obstacle usually held formidable by horse appears to check, had on this day, as at Ferozeshah, galloped over
as
and cut down the obstinate defenders of batteries and field-works, and until the
weight of three divisions of infantry, with every field-artillery gun which
could be sent to their aid, had been cast into the scale, that victory finally
full
111-
The
of the Sikhs
fire
first
ii-m
ceased, and the victors then pressing them on every side precipitated them
masses over their bridge and into the Sutlej, which a sudden rise of seven inches
had rendered hardly fordable. In their efforts to reach the right bank through
the deepened water, they suffered from our horse-artillery a terrible carnage.
Hundreds fell under this cannonade hundreds upon hundreds were drowned in
;
sullied
mercy.
must pause
hardihood and bravery with which our two battalions of Ghoorkas, the Sirmoor
and Nusseree, met the Sikhs wherever they were opposed to them. Soldiers of
Vol. III.
259
overthrow
of the Sikhs.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
498
A.D. 1S4G.
Battle of
subraoii.
[Book VIII.
the charge
they vied in ardent courage
short
nation, and, armed with the
weapon of their
spirit,
and vast munitions of war, captured by our troops, are the pledges
and trophies of our victory." It was indeed a victory most honourable to the
British arms, and was well described by the governor-general as one of tlie
standards,
"
;
by whicli in open
by formidable redoubts
manned
in killed
river
submisson
"
"
'
hopeless,
durbar, proceeded to the British camp at the head of a deputation, in the hope
He arrived on the 15th of February,
of being able to act the part of mediator.
while the governor-general was still at Kussoor, and was immediately put in
He at once
possession of the terms which it had been resolved to enforce.
declared that he
Terms
dicta-
ted to
them
nearer to the capital, the governor-general, so far from assenting, distinctly told
him that the treaty, if signed by him at all, would be signed only at Lahore.
Qu thc 22d of February, after a brigade of British troops with the
-i
ill
their oii
commander-m-chiei
capia.
i-iiiir
had
their
head
taken
-i-
military possession
i-il
the
oi
citadel,
"The
at
the
will
has
now brought
and
India.
Sutlej
of the
of the
The
to the
friendship between the two states, had limited military preparations
defence of its own frontier.
Compelled suddenly to assume the offensive by
its territories,
the British
army under
the
command
Chap. VIL]
499
SIKHS.
will
On
outrage."
with
his
officers
principal
and a numer-
was
treaty
and
new
signed
Of
ratified.
its
cated
which
territories
confis-
the Sikh
all
on the left
bank of the
Sutlej,
of the Jalindar
Doab; stipulated
for
the Hon. C.
S. Hai-diiige's
Recollections of India.
discharged
by ceding
Sikh Guns, captured at Lahore. From originals in Guard Chamber, Windsor Castle.
S[KH Shields, and Matchlocks. From originals in Toner of London.
An
Akalee's Cap,
for
in future to
cavalry.
2,000
sjkhs,
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
500
A.D. 1S4G.
Arrange-
ments with
Gholab
Sing.
[Book VIII.
2th and 13th article, Gholab Sing was to be recognized "as an independent sovereign over the territories which the British may make over to him,"
and "all disjiutes between Gholab Sing and the Lahore government were to be
By the
These
rendered
articles
it
and
3d,
by which the
pay
to the British
government
''seventy-five
be paid on the
and twenty-five
of October of the
on or before the
1 st
current year, a.d. 1846." The Lahore durbar, aware that the troops had hitherto
been their masters, were afraid of the consequences of disbanding them, and petitioned the governor -general to leave a
l)ody of British troops in their capital. He
consented, though not without some degree of hesitation, and a supplementary
treaty was in consequence concluded on
the 11th of March.
It consisted of eight
Gholab
Sing.
tlie
Sikhs.
which only the first three deserve notice. By these it was agreed that
articles, of
the British government "shall leave at Lahore, till the close of the current year,
A. D. 1846, such force as shall seem to the governor-general adequate for the
purpose of protecting the person of the maharajah and the inhabitants of the
city of Lahore during the reorganization of the Sikh army;" and that the force
left "shall
government further engaged to pay all the extra expenses incurred by this
arrangement, and "to apply itself immediately and earnestly to the reorganization of its
State of
affairs in
Sciude.
Chap. VIl.J
501
TKIBES.
a.d. 1844.
Among
it
** of
affairs in
sciude.
these the
was
there-
not impossible that while indulging their pillaging habits they might
become the nucleus of a political confederacy, designed once more to revolutionize Scinde, and again subject it to the tyranny of the Ameers.
Influenced
fore
by a
government from
their half-savage invaders, and defeat the designs of those who fomented these
frontier disturbances for political purposes, Sir Charles Napier drew up the plan
at once
...
sir charies
Napier's hill
campaign,
When
and more especially among the 78th Highlanders, who had been
recently brought up from Kurrachee, and were not at all inured to the climate.
So great was the mortality that on the 19th December, 1844, he wrote as
the troops,
"I have
follows:
lost
the 78th.
as fast
at this
This place
is
-r
rugged rocks called the Cutchee Hills, stretching nearly due west from the
river towards the Bolan Pass.
These hills were inhabited by numerous fierce
ever got
who
beyond the
first defiles in
their land,
100,000 men."
Piiysioai
features of
cutcUGuu-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
)02
A.D. 1844.
sirChaiies
enamel corps-
rendered
it
[Book Vlli.
was now to be
of Khusmore, stretching between the Hala Mountains
almost inaccessible.
To the
by which
south,
it
desert
approached, ky the
north-east direction, with a breadth of about eiglity miles.
in
a
ludus
aud thc
To an Ordinary army, owing to the want of water or the erection of hill-forts
its few springs occurred, the passage of this desert presented the
difficulties but against these Sir Charles Napier had in some
formidable
most
wherever
Egypt.
the
to
command
fjintry soldier,
were accustomed to
fissures
Express Camel Trooper, 6th Irregular Cavalry.
From
in-
and holes
fire
from the
in the plains,
lance
If assailed
by
superior numbers the camels were to kneel in a ring, with their heads inwards,
and pinned down so as to furnish a bulwark for the men. The camels, more-
men's cooking utensils and packs, " and thus," says Sir William
Napier, from whose Administration of Scinde this account is taken, "a body
when
required, having
Inhabitants
Catch
Gundava.
of
make marches
this
no
tents,
com-
of sixtv miles
shields, thrust
them
like a razor
success of his
recentl}^
added greatly
to
Chap. VII.]
renown among
surprise him in his
his
Cutchee
Hills.
bis
TKIBES.
With
Tait,
to
ad.
is4.5.
oO'o
him
march across the desert. The result was that they lost their way, and
on arriving at eight in the morning exhausted with fatigue,, found Beja, who had
been fully apprised of their design, prepared to receive them with a garrison of
The surprise proved a complete failure, and
several ]iundred matchlock-men.
after some loss a retreat became necessary, which must have terminated in
a foi'ced
disaster
had not water been found at an abandoned post which had been
fortu-
enemy when
complete the
list
Doomkees made a
successful incursion
When ordered
Glutinous
spirit of
the
sepoys.
and, as if to
to proceed
foreign service.
rate.
who, on finding personal remonand being even assailed by missiles, brought out the whole
garrison of Sukkur, to which place the mutinous regiment had been moved by
his orders, seized
thirty or forty of the mutineers, and having disarmed the
the decisive measures of Brigadier Hunter,
strances vain,
rest,
made
it
from Sukkur to Shikarpoor, and on the 15th arrived at Khangur. Jacob, who
had started with the left wing from Larkhana, arrived on the same day at
Rojan.
The
relieved
left
felt
on account of a detachment
^'^ ci.aiies
Napier's
liill
cnmiaign.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
504
A.D. 1845.
Sir Charles
famSi^''^
[Book VIII.
which had preceded him, by learning tliat Captain Salter, who commanded it,
had on the previous night defeated 700 hill-men, led by the Jackranee chief,
was at the same time received
Dcyra Khan. Intelligence equally gratifying
from Captain Jacob, who had surprised and totally defeated a body of hill-men
under Khan Beja's son. Wullee Chandia, a friendly chief, had also been successful at Poolajee; and thus at the very outset Beja Khan and his confederates
had sustained a
triple defeat,
among
the eastern
hills.
tlie
This
campaign.
movement
neces-
Salter remained
at
to Poolajee
days'
of a square, the one menacing the passes from the desert on the south, and
the other commanding the western mouths of the long parallel valleys which
that such troops would have no chance in warring with hill-men among the
but it was now
rugged precipices and narrow ravines of their native hills,
skilful
hemmed
in
it
on
Duriug the year 1847, though the intrigues of the ranee at Lahore
Internal re-
for
soZLoTgeneral.
not disturbed, and the governor-general was permitted to give his almost undivided attention to internal improvements. Among the acts of his government
none did him higher honour, or was in its effects, direct and indirect, more
beneficial, than that by which he prohibited the Christian part of the population
from labouring on Sunday. Education also received new encouragement, and
the natives were made to feel that nothing but the want of qualifications, which
it would be their own fault if they did not acquire, could henceforth exclude
them from employment in the public service. The finances, previously deranged
by the enoi-mous sums which had been wasted in Afghanistan, and not improved by the military tastes and expensive shows of his predecessor, were again
in
Chap. YIU.J
of revenue.
jealousies
and as
its
public
505
service.
a.d. i84t.
cioseofLord
Hardinge's
administra-
indeed a calamity, and we cannot wonder at the general regret which was felt
when, at the end of little more than three years from the date of his entrance
upon
office,
It only remains to
add that
These honours were doubtless well earned, but there was another whose merits
were as great as theirs, and it would be difficult to give any satisfactory answer
to the question, Why was not Sir Charles Napier also rewarded with a
peerage ?
CHAPTER
YIII.
The Earl
Sing,
of
Dalhousie governor-general
of
of Sliere
of
Its
of
of
of
>N the end of 1847, when Viscount Hardinge quitted India, and the
T'if-r\n'
f
Jiarl 01 Dalhousie arrived to assume the reins of
government, the
Punjab seemed to be
settling
down
It was,
however, only the lull before the storm, which at length suddenly
broke out in the south-west, in the province of Mooltan.
Here
Sawun Mull, a chief of great ability, had been succeeded as dewan, in 1844, by
I
his son
Moolraj, who, following out the ambitious designs of his father, aspired
almost openly at independence.
His succession had been confirmed at Lahore,
on the understanding that he would pay into the treasury a slump sum of thirty
lacs of rupees.
foiled to
this
Ultimately,
through British mediation, an arrangement was made, by which Moolraj allowed
the withdrawal of a considerable tract of
territory previously included in his
sum
in
name
bound
260
for
an
Loni
Dalhousie
governor^"^'"^'^
"
HISTORY OF INDIA.
506
A.D. 1S4S.
[Look YIIl.
amount
Henry
as resident,
his desire to resign the charge of the MoolHe was advised to recontan province.
and
diu'bar.
them to
Resignation
of Mool raj
as dewan.
as his reasons
1st,
insufficient, in
and
become
2d,
been recently conferred upon them. The latter was the principal reason, for
under this right of appeal his exactions, which had before been unlimited, were
restrained;
and he even
offered to
withdraw
in future
refused,
one a guarantee that, on his resignation, a jaghire would be given him, and the
other that his resignation should in the meantime be a secret.
Mr. Lawrence
could not guarantee the jaghire, though he gave him to understand that it would
be favourably considered the promise of secrecy he gave in a written document, which, however, contained the reservation that he should inform his own
;
government and
On
to consult the
Frederick, after Moolraj had repeated his wish to resign, laid the matter before
the council of regency.
The resignation was in consequence accepted, and
NEW
Chap. VIIL]
SIKH WAR.
507
He was accomSing, the newly appointed dewan, set out for Mooltan.
two
British
officers
Mr.
P.
A.
Vans
of
the
civil
service, and
Agnew
panied by
Khan
Lieutenant
W.
Bombay
fusiliers.
a.d. is48.
but partly also to supply the place of a portion of the Mooltan troops, which
were to come to Lahore, Mr. Agnew had with him the Ghoorka regiment,
sing
at jK.oitan.
above GOO strong, 500 to 600 cavalry, regular and irregular, and a troop of
These troops marched by land, while the British officers
horse -artillery.
In this way the officers and the troops met for the first
proceeded by water.
time on the 18th of April, at the Eedgah, a spacious Maliometan building
within cannon-shot of the north face of Mooltan
Moolraj paid two
new
given up to the
own
sentries,
and
fort.
visits to
after
of the
Ghoorka companies
by promises
They had
and entered on the bridge over the ditch, when one of two of
soldiers, who were standing on it, rushed at Mr. Agnew, knocked him
inflicted
his
Before he could complete the murder the assassin was tumbled into
the ditch by a trooper of the escort.
Moolraj, instead of interfering, forced his
sword.
and rode
who had
Am
Khus, situated
was afterwards
attacked by some of Moolraj's personal attendants, who wounded him so
severely that he was left for dead, till some of tlie Ghoorkas found him, and
carried him on a litter to the Eedgah.
Thither, too, Mr. Agnew had been
outside the fort.
brought
by the
Lieutenant Anderson,
assistance of
Khan
who
as yet escaped,
and of Rung Ram, Moolraj's brotherplaced him on his own elephant, and hurried
Sing,
with him to the camp, rudely binding up his wounds as they rode along.
Mr. Agnew was able to report these occurrences to the resident, and also to
off
with a small force in settling the country and collecting the revenue in the
He also addressed a letter to Moolraj, calling upon him to
vicinity of Leia.
his
own
innocence, by seizing the guilty parties and coming in person to
prove
"
All the
In his answer Moolraj denied his ability to do either.
Hindoo and Mahometan, were," he said, "in rebellion, and the Britisli
the Eedgah.
garrison,
had better see to their own safety." At this very time he was presiding
over a council of his chiefs, while the garrison, composed indiscriminately of
Afghans, Hindoos, and Sikhs, were taking the oath of allegiance to him in the
officers
On
the evening of
original intentions, he
was now
in
open
Barbarous
murder of
two British
HISTORY OF INDIA.
508
A.D. 1848.
Mooiraj in
[Book VIII.
which had been brought from Lahore, were placed in battery. The
was almost desperate, but there was still a hope that if the place could be
six guns,
lion.
case
maintained for three or four days succour might arrive. Unfortunately the
When on the morning of the 20th the guns of the
worst was not yet known.
opened on the Eedgah, the six guns stationed there replied with only a
The Lahore artillerymen had refused to act,
sinole round, and then ceased.
fort
and the
efforts to
when evening
the
should quit the countr}^, and the attack upon them should cease. It
would seem that even before these terms could be communicated to the inmates
officers
contempiated advance
'
Mooitan.
without blood.
prisoner,
British officers.
The
/>
in
their
own
with horrible
Rushing
and barbarously murdered the two
rewards on those
made
his
own by
conferring
officers
of British
it
occurred,
the
its
force
would be
;|
Chap. VIIL]
509
letter a.d.
city, irrespective
year.'
i848.
"In
to
Loi<i
Go"gh
decides
against
force"^fi*
'^'^"^"-
"
liend,
Meanwhile,
opinion,
Lieutenant Edwardes,
who was
at
zumboorucks, and
when he
mustered his
and about
companies,
infantry
350
quarter.
left
bank of Military
self at Leia,
the
Chenab
document
Mooltan
fell
to
the
when an important
deserters in
On
it
him
confidence
It
reached
it
Afghans,
who had no
feelings
in
common with
the Sikhs.
He was
thus
employed when he received intelligence that Moolraj had actually crossed the
Chenab with about 5000 men, and eight heavy guns, and would reach Leia by
the 1st of
May. Doubting the fidelity of two-thirds of his men. Lieutenant
Edwardes deemed it prudent to avoid the encounter, and recross the Indus with
the view of
halting under cover of the fort of Girang.
of Lieut,
^"
^^'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
510
A.D. 184S.
Successes of
Edwaides.
[-^^ook
VIII.
the 4th of May by General Cortlandt, with Soobdan Khan's infantry regiment
of Mahometans, and six horse-artillery guns.
By the 19 th of May a British force assembled, mustering in all about 4000
ii^sn who Were believed to be faithful, and about 800 Sikhs who were known to
be disaffected.
fidelity
was advancing
sti'ong did Lieutenant Edwardes now feel, that on the 20th of May, he wrote
to the resident, "I am prepared to undertake the blockade of that rebel
(Moolraj) in Mooltan for the rest of the hot season and rains, if you should
So
honour
Capture of
Kh;ui.
me
Khan
to assist me."
Foi-
the present, however, the main object was the capture of Dera Ghazee Khan,
and this was happily effected in a mode as gratifying as uiiexpected. The
country around Dera Ghazee Khan had been given by Moolraj to a native of
the
name
of Julal Khan.
bitter
clan,
general, without attaching much importance to tlie offer, accepted of it. Gholam
Hyder Khan was as good as his word, and having with his father's consent
Lunga
Mull,
Julal Khan, at the head of the Lugharee tribe, did not decline the challenge, and
up without further
Auxiliary
Khan
law
of
rivei",
opposition.
After the defeat at Dera Ghazee Khan, the division of Moolraj 's force which
had been higher up the Indus moved down towards that place, and took up a
u pool.
^^^^.^.^^
on the
left
bank opposite
Tlieir
object had been to seize a fleet of boats which had been collected by Lunga
In this they were
Mull, and thus obtain means of effecting the passage.
the
disappointed, and the two armies remained opposite to each other with
broad river i-olling between them. This state of inaction was interrupted by
movements of Bhawul Khan, who in the beginning of June crossed the Sutlej,
with the design of moving on Soojabad, which is only twenty-five miles south
by west from Mooltan. The effect was to draw off" the enemy from Koreyshee,
the
Chap. VIII.J
511
Chenab
a.d. is4g.
-^"^iiiaiy
force of the
Khan
of
by either name. Meanwhile the Mooltan force had been concenand was advancing on Soojabad, with positive orders from Moolraj to
Bhawul Khan before the British could come to his aid.
criminately
trated,
fight
The relative strength and position of the three armies are thus described
Year in the Punjab (vol. ii.
Lieutenant
Edwardes, in his work entitled
by
"The rebel army, of from 8000 to 10,000 horse and foot, and ten
p. 376, 377):
,
stiengthand
position of
thediffeier.i
''"''
regulars, foot
and
artillery of the
Sikh
service,
about 1500
men and
ten guns,
under General Cortlandt, and another of about 5000 irregulars, horse and
foot,
and thirty zumboorucks under my own personal command), was on the right
bank.
Rung Ram's camp was pitched across the highroad to Mooltan, three
miles south of Soojabad Futteh Mahomed's at Gow^eyn, fifteen miles farther
;
and mine
at
allies."
to attack
Bhawulpoor army with the least possible delay, for though the numbers
were nearly equal, his troops were far better disciplined, and could hardly have
the
failed to give
he lost
it
him
the victory.
by waiting
till
knew
must
cross.
the
allies,
were expected.
nonade,
wdiich
conflict
had commenced.
Rung Ram
hurrying on from Bukree before dawn to seize the ferry, and finding it occupied,
took up a strong position on the salt-hills of Noonar, and opened his fire.
Battle of
Kineyree.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
512
A.D. 1848.
Lieutenant Edwardes arrived in the very nick of time. Tlie Daoodpotras had
rushed impetuously for\vai"d without waiting for an order, and were met by a
fire so different from that of their own border warfare, that they fell back in
The
Edwardes on om-
"Oh,
exclaimed:
Mahomed Khan
1
mbecility
of the Bha-
wulpoor
^ienerai.
[Book VIII.
arrival,
sir,
was from an
our army
first
salutation that
European, who
He
met Lieutenant
asked
for Futteh
disorganized."
pointed to a large peepul tree, round which
is
"
"
and looking over
I galloped up," says Edwardes,
a crowd was gathered.
the shoulders of the people, saw a little old man in dirty clothes, and with
nothing but a skull-cap on his head, sitting under the tree with a rosary in his
hands, the beads of which he was rapidly telling, and muttering in a peevish,
helpless manner,
U Ihumdoolillah !
UlhumdooUllah!" (God be
praised!
God
be praised!) apparently quite abstracted from the scene around him, and utterly
unconscious that six-pounders were going through the branches, that officers
were imploring him for orders, and that SOOO or 9000 rebels were waiting to
my
face, I
difficult.
it
was supplied by
from the opposite bank of the
until their place
British artillery,
river.
The
difficulty
was
to avoid
defeat
during the interval which must necessarily elapse. The plan adopted was to
continue the cannonade with the Daoodpotra artillery, imperfect as it was,
and keep theii" troops within the jungle, as much under cover as possible.
With
this the
the British
exposed to
dissatisfied,
but
it
was not
all relished
by
force,
fire
demanding to be led against the enemy. In this unsatisfactory state six long
hours had been spent, when the British guns, six in number, arrived, and with
of regular infantry.
When the new guns opened, the
that they had silenced all the guns which could he
the rebels.
brought against them, were taken b}^ surprise, and made a very ineffectual
After a successful charge by one of the new regiments which had
the
whole allied force began to advance over the contested ground,
arrived,
resistance.
The
the
enemy
CnAP VIII.]
513
a.d. i848.
on the 22d of June he suggested to the resident that the siege of victory of
Mooltan should be immediately commenced.
"We are enough of us in all conscience," he said, "and desire nothing better than to be honoured with the
strong, that
guns, a mortar-battery, as
and
floated
down
This was
to Bhawulpoor."
up in
was fought
Suddoosam, where Moolraj, commanding
his fort
It
amounting in
all
to about 18,000
men.
Of
these,
however, 4000,
who had
camp only three days before, and formed the converging column
under Sheikh Emam-ud-Geen, could not be depended on, and in fact scarcely
took any part in the action.
On this occasion the enemy took the initiative,
arrived in
and about noon advancing in line were close at hand before the
allies
became
amounting to twenty- two pieces, while that of the enemy did not exceed ten.
The conflict, however, was maintained with considerable obstinacy till Moolraj
put spurs to his horse and
fled.
the victors continued the pursuit till they were almost under the walls of
Mooltan.
This victory, which obliged Moolraj to take refuge within his fort,
again raised the question as to the practicability of immediately laying siege to it.
Lieutenant Edwardes had, as we have seen, offered to undertake it, and suggested
a plan which he
thought would "obviate the necessity of a British army taking
the field at all."
The resident "was disposed to think that the addition of a
British
single
brigade with ten guns, and twenty mortars and howitzers, would
Lord Gough adhered to his former opinion, and the governorThe letter conveying this
council entirely concurred with him.
the resident was despatched on the 11th of July, but on the 10th of
be sufficient."
general in
decision to
same month, and of course a day before it was written, he had taken the
decision into his own hands, and directed General Whish, commanding the
the
with
its
of the fort of
f.bandonmg
VoL. III.
it
immediate measures
it
to the governor2gl
Preparations
for siege of
iMooitan.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
514
A.D. 1848.
[Book VIII.
general greater than the danger of prosecuting it, he informed the resident that
since he had considered it necessary, in exercise of the powers conferred upon
him, "to assume this responsibility," the government being anxious to maintain
his authority, confirmed the orders he had issued, and tlierefore enjoined him
"to proceed with vigour to carry out at all hazards the policy which he had
now
General
Whish.
resolved upon."
The
Advance of
made with
all
horse-artillery guns.
It
moved
in
of Ferozepoor.
After a sketch by H.
Pilleau, Esq.
left,
Of
landt, 7718 infantry and 4033 cavalry were commanded by Lieutenant Edwardes,
5700 infantry and 1900 cavalry formed the Bhawulpoor army commanded by
Lieutenant Lake, and 909 infantry and 3382 cavalry formed the Sikh army
commanded by Rajah Shere Sing. To this besieging force of nearly 32,000
men, Moolraj was not able to oppose more than a garrison of 1 2,000 men, with
an
Description
of Mooltan.
its
inundations,
is
'
make
gardens.
These, liowever,
fail
to
it
SIEGE OF MOOLTAN.
Chap. VIII.]
515
a.d. 1848.
Otseiiption
of Mooltan.
it
into a powerful
means
was not
which had long
of defence.
so
It
now stronger
father lavished
upon
it,
when, with the view of asserting his independence, he withheld the revenue due
to Lahore, and employed it in strengthening the citadel so as to make it, as he
It had in consequence become one of the strongest and
thought, impregnable.
most regular of the Indian fortrt^sses constructed by native engineers.
Beyond
its
deep and wide ditch faced with masonry rose a rampart, externally forty feet
in lieight,
done for
requisite to enable it to
On
the
I'th
inviting
majesty the
Sing."
Queen of Great
Britain,
and her
after
"
Maharajah Dhuleep
hostilities on a
commence
must insure early destruction to the rebel traitor and his adherents,
who having begun their resistance to lawful authority with a most cowardly
act of treachery and murder, seek to uphold their unrighteous cause by an
The
appeal to religion, which every one must know to be sheer hypocrisy."
which
the
notice
of
was
a
shot
from
taken
this
citadel,
only
proclamation
scale that
Whish and
his staff
from a distance
miles.'^
Moolraj, after making proposals for surrender, had
received
new
At the very time when he was compelled to
confidence.
recently
ohut himself up in his capital, the general disaffection of the Sikhs became more
manifest than ever, so that the resident, who in the beginning of July had been
sanguine enough to expect "that the rebel Moolraj will either destroy himself
or be
destroyed by his troops before the next mail goes out," was obliged to
confess on the last day of the same month, that "plans were forming, combina-
were being made, and various interests were being enlisted, with a view
grand struggle for our expulsion from the Punjab and all tlie territories
tions
to a
west of Delhi."
Shere
Sincj, thousfli
Proclamation of Gen-
eraiwhish.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
51G
A.D. 184S.
Siege of
Mooltan.
[Book VIII.
had continued
to
advance on Mooltan.
This outbreak derived additional importance from the fact that Chuttur Sing
was the father of Shere Sing, who, though now encamped with his troops before
'
Mooltan as part of the besieging force, must have previously been made
and in all probability given his sanction
acquainted with his father's designs,
to them.
j
of the 7th of
'
September.
of 1 GOO yards, said to have
./
Progrei
siege.
of
been rendered necessary by the nature of the ground. On the night of the 9tlr
an attempt to dislodge the enemy from some gardens and houses in front
night attack.
owing
This repulse so
to the darkness
much
SIEGE OF MOOLTAN.
CiiAP. yill.]
517
bring the besiegers about 800 yards nearer, and consequently within battering
Its speedy capture was now confidently
distance of the walls of the city.
but
after
tlie
anticipated,
troops had nearly spent two days in securing the
/idvance
which
tliey
a.d. i848.
all
these expectations.
ill
when
14th September,
his
desist
till
off to
the
Defection of
Sliere Sing.
morning of the
Mooltan, he himself
summoned
general
a council of senior
oflicers,
of opinion
may
think
proper to send."
When
new
in his
friends,
them
and
them
Reception of
bjMooimj.
remain under
to
its
it
The
...
on the 14th of September, was not resumed till the 17th of operations
ot contendThe interval, however, was not one of entire inaction. The British lug parties.
siege, raised
.
December.
in
however, to remain dependent on his own resources, he looked round for allies.
In the choice of these he
displayed considerable political sagacity, making his
first offers to Dost Mahomed of Cabool, and the chiefs of Candahar, whom he
tempted with the oflfer of making the Indus their mutual boundary after they
should, by their united exertions, have expelled the Feringhees.
The plan of
,
but to
make
11-1
ciiange of
plan of
siege.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
518
A.D. 1849.
Siege of
Mooltan.
[Book VIII.
only so
much
Am
first
objects to
was
directed, not a
so successful that
On
the 80th of
December, a considerable part of the citadel was laid in ruins by the explosion of
the principal magazine. It was situated beneath the dome of the grand mosque,
till it
was pierced by a
shell
from one of
one breach in the city wall was declared practicable, and another sufficient to
allow of its being attacked as a diversion.
The latter breach proved to be far
more imperfect than had been imagined, for the storming party assigned to it,
,
after passing
under a heavy
fire
city
taken.
about thirty
feet in height,
unbreached and
'
totally impracticable,
as
the citadel remained, and there was every reason to presume that it would
not be yielded without a desperate struggle, for Moolraj retired into it with 3000
picked men, as soon as he saw that the city was lost, and shutting the gates,
Still
left
SUKRENDER OF MOOLTAN.
519
in, liis courage gave way, and he made an overture for surrender, by
letter to Major Edwardes in the
a
sending
following terms:
"Having sundry
to make before you, I write to say that, with your
permission,
representations
hemmed
I will
my own
to wait
a.d. 1349.
Jiooirajs
tell
you
answer to General Whish, who refused to receive any
confidential person, unless he were sent simply to state, "My master wishes to
come in, and will do so at such an hour, and will come out from the fort at such
He was
all."
referred in
He was
accordingly admitted on
dismissed.
his defence,
sortie
On
had authority
was at once
not,
noi'th
seemed so nearly practicable that the assault was fixed for the morning
the 22d.
There could have been no doubt as to its success, but this was
face,
of
not put to the proof, as Moolraj at the last moment of respite allowed him
came out and yielded himself a prisoner. The fort v/as immediately taken
possession of without opposition.
During the siege, whicli had lasted twenty-
was 210
killed
Moolraj was
afterwards tried at Lahore, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged, but a^ his
judges had recommended him to mercy as "the victim of circumstance," the
sentence
seas.
On
the 24th of
Lahore at the commencement of the outbreak, had been carried to Kohat under
the pretext of
giving her a more secure asylum, had no alternative but to place
himself and his assistant also in his power.
The
result
was
as
Revolt in
Hazareh.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
520
A. D. 1849.
[Book VIII.
part
Lord Gough
+"1
tpa
^"
fl^
field.
Operations
of Lord
Gough.
governor-general set out for the north-west provinces, after instructing the
commander-in-chicf to assemble an army at Ferozepoor. Lord Gough accordingly
field,
two channels the one on the left bank being, except in the
rainy season, little more than a dry sandbed or nullah, with a small fordable
stream, while the main channel on the right bank was of considerable depth and
divides
width.
it
into
Though posted
chiefly
on
and were moreover reported to have both troops and guns on the left bank,
These Lord Gough resolved to dislodge or capture, and therefore ordered
Brigadier Campbell (now Lord Cl^'de) with an infantry brigade, accompanied
by a cavalry division and three troops of horse - artillery under Brigadier
Cureton, to
for
this
purpose.
After reaching
Ramnuggur, from which the enemy had retired, they continued their march
towards the river. From oversight or the impossibility of obtaining accurate
information, the difficulty of the ground
artillery consulting only their courage
ousiy forward
was not
till
they found themselves within the range of twenty-eight guns,
which opened upon them with deadly effect. These
guns were placed in three
batteries, two of which on the right bank crossed their fire so as completely to
EEPULSE AT KAMNUGGUR.
Chap. VIII.]
command
521
it point blank,
thus
checked
in
their
were
artillery
career,
suddenly
obliged to retire
with the loss of one of their guns, which having tumbled over the high bank
-iij
11
oi the nullah along witJi two ammunition waggons, could not have been
Nor was this the worst. When
recovered without a fearful sacrifice of life.
a.d. is49.
The
nil
Repulse ;.t
Ramnugijur.
enemy saw the confusion produced by their fire, they sent over from 3000
4000 of their cavalry under the cover of their guns. These, from some
mistake, it is said, of an order given for a dififerent purpose, were charged in the
the
to
and
cavalry,
on.
their giving
way by
1-ith
were followed
He had
balls.
till
close
word when he fell dead, struck by two matchlockColonel Havelock was also killed, and Captain Fitzgerald mortally
scarcely uttered the
wounded.
Shere Sing
bank of the Chenab,
still maintained his ^position on the right
^
/
with a force estimated at about 35,000 men, and as the unfortunate affair
.
it
how
was resolved
difliciilt
it
would be
to dislodge
strength of
the Sikh
position.
him by an
With this
\dew General Sir Joseph Thackwell, who commanded the cavalry, was sent up
the river with a detachment, consisting of three troops of cavalry, the horse
had detached in the hope of overwhelming him. At first Sir Joseph was
somewliat puzzled how to act, as his instructions were not to attack, but to
content himself witli repelling aggression, unless he found the enemy in retreat.
He therefore ordered a halt, which the Sikhs as usual mistook for fear.
Under
this
by numerous bodies
of cavalry.
On
finding that
cannonade was not returned their confidence increased, and they were
advancing as if to certain victory, when the British artillery opened a most
their
destructive
fire,'
all
their opera-
tions.
also
untenable,
the retreat
Vol.
TII.
and hastened
oflf
disorder,
262
it
was
T'leu-
repulse.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
522
A.D.1S49.
strength of
stiuuu-
[Book VIII.
confidently predicted that the whole Sikh force would immediately disperse.
Shere Sing's strength was still unbroken,
This prediction was far too sanguine.
and by retreating to the north, where his father was still at the head of a
formidable insurrection, he undoubtedly took the most efiectual means of preHis troops accordingly, so far from
jiaring for a more decisive struggle.
in
increased
numbers, and he was ere long at the head of
dispersing, rapidly
Lord Gough having crossed with the whole of his army to the right bank
march northwards in the direction which Shere
Sing had taken, and on the 12th of January, 1849, on arriving at Dingee
found the Sikh chief with his whole force encamped in its vicinity, with his
light on the villages of Lukneewalla and Futteh Shakechuck, the
main body
at
by
and
ravines,
ill
we must
They
ad-
vance anew
to the
allow Lord
Gough
day was far advanced, the despatch continues thus: "The engineer department had been ordered to examine the country before us, and tlie quartermaster-general was in the act of taking up ground for the encampment, when
the enemy advanced some horse- artillery, and opened a fire on the skirmishers
in front of the village.
them
I immediatel}^ ordered
to be silenced
by a few
rounds from our heavy guns, which advanced to an open space in front of the
The fire was instantly returned by that of neaily the whole of the
village.
enemy's
field artillery,
and would probably advance his guns so as to reach the encampment during
I therefore drew up in order of battle
the night.
Sir Walter Gilbert's division
on the right, flanked by Brigadier Pope's brigade of cavalry, which I
;
strengthened by the 14th light dragoons, well aware that the enemy was strong
in cavalry upon his left.
To this were attached three troops of horse-artillery
Brind.
He
it.
to be
'
BATTLE OF CHILLIANWALLA.
Chap. VIII.]
523
This appears both from the order given to the engineers to "examine
the country," and also from the fact that the actual position of the enemy's field
artillery was unknown, till they themselves, at a later period of the day,
imperfect.
divulged
by openmg
mi
it
their
fire.
the
a.d. 1549.
i-ord
Gougli's
advanced
hour and imperfect knowledge of the ground seem sufficient to justify the
determination to defer tlie battle, and the question naturally arises, On what
ile-
tennination
^'
Does
intended to fight."
it
was bound
to
to choose his
enemy
But then
it
by the advantage of allowing the troops a night's repose after the fatiguing
march they had already undergone, since this would not only have enabled
them to commence the conflict with recruited strength, but given them a full
day to decide
his lordship
On
it.
gave
these
it
may
be questioned whether
battle."
* been arranged
lie down, while the heavy guns opened a powerful and well-directed fire on
^
to
and the
opened
theirs
on the
flanks.
which had
to
move over
ground, began the advance, and was shortly afterwards followed by the right
The
division, protected on its flank by Brigadier Pope's cavalry brigade.
advance of both divisions was ultimately successful, though not unattended
on their
'
g-allant
comrades.
Somehow
this act
was mistaken
for
"
native corps,
who
of thicker
jungle,
moment a
their gallant
field officers
Battle of
Chillianwniia.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
)24
A.D.
1849,
it
Chilliau-
walla.
At
was ordered
left in
up, but
this crisis
its
reserve,
Penny's brigade,
support
for, adds Lord Gough, "Brigadier-general Campbell, with
til at
steady coolness and military decision for which he is so remarkable,
having pushed on his left brigade and formed line to his right, carried every-
Brigadier
Battle of
cnme
[Book VIII.
proved unnecessary,
thing before him, and soon overthrew that portion of the enemy which had
The untoward
obtained a temporary advantage over his right brigade."
occurrence in the right division was still more serious, and must like the other
who
successful,"
divi-
and spiking
the whole of the enemy's guns in their front, and dispersing the Sikhs wherever
"The right brigade of cavalry, under
they were seen," continues thus:
I
was
to
Either by some order,
not,
say, so successful.
regret
Brigadier Pope,
or misapprehension of
an
much
confusion,
hampered
the
fine
separated from their guns by the false movements of our cavalry, and notwithstanding the heroic conduct of the gunners, four of their guns were disabled to
flight the
enemy
Lord Gough
in
the above extract speaks only of the impossibility of withdrawing the guns "at
the moment," and spared himself the mortification of confessing that the enemy
carried them off as trophies, and along with them five stand of colours.
It was
not indeed a victory to be boasted of, for the Sikhs, though they acknowledged
their defeat
battle-field,
by
retiring
were so
little
and carry off unobserved all the guns that had been
from
them, except twelve which had been previously secured.
captured
Nothing shows more clearly how indecisive the above battle of Chillianwalla
had been, than the fact that the enemy, instead of being driven across the*
in the course of the night
Indecisive
result.
ments, and
arrived at Wuzeerabad,
was able
guarding the fords above and below this town, and also to
effect
his
by
own,
Chap.
BATTLE OF GUJEKAT.
VUL]
junction with
British array
tlie
525
The
now amounted
to 25,000
men;
that of the
enemy had
GO, 000, of
whom
1500 were
Afghan horse, under Akram Khan, a son of Dost Mahomed, who had obtained
of Peshawer, and openly become a Sikh ally.
The vast inferiority
possession
of the British in point of numbers was compensated, both by the superior
excellence of the troops,
artillery, consisting of
camp nearly
a.d. 1349.
also gained
encircled the
strength of
tive forces,
100
town
of
it
was greatly strengthened by this nullah, and he had skilfully availed himself of
it by placing his guns immediately behind it, and his infantry in front, under
"^''"*'"y
Gujerat.
two watercourses was an open space of nearly three miles, which presented no
and was therefore selected by Lord
Gough
as the
which
it
despatch:
On
His
plan,
Bombay
column,
lordship's
commanded by
the
Major Blood.
on the nullah,
On
Bombay
its
right resting
Upon
general Sir
W.
the right of the nullah I placed the infantry division of MajorGilbert; the heavy guns, eighteen in number, under Majors
Day and
commanding
artillery
17 light
field
HISTORY OF INDIA.
526
A.D. 1849.
Battle of
"^"'^
colonel Brind.
My
right flank
[Book YIII.
'
command
and baggage.
my
rear
of Lieutenant-colonel Mercer,,
With
my
right
wing
proposed penetrating the centre of the enemy's line, so as to turn the position
of their force in rear of the nullah, and thus enable my left wing to cross it with
and in co-operation with the right to double upon the centre the wingt
of the enemy's force opposed to them. At half-past seven the army advanced in
the order described, with the precision of a parade movement.
The enemy
little loss,
opened their fire at a very long distance, which exposed to my artillery both
the position and range of their guns. I halted the infantry just out of fire, andi
advanced
tlie
and as
whole of
the
terrible in its
and the enemy well and resolutely maintained his position, but the.
force of our fire obliged them, after an obstinate resistance, to fall back.!
rapidity,
terrific
then deployed the infantry, and directed a general advance, covering the
movement with my artillery as before. The village of Burra Kalra, the left
I
one of those of that name in which the enemy had concealed a large body
of
infantry, and which was apparently the key of their position, lay immediately
in the line of Major-general Sir Walter Gilbert's advance, and was carried in
the most brilliant style by a spirited attack of the 3d brigade under Brigadier
Penny, consisting of the 2d Europeans, and the 31st and 70th regiments of
native infantry, which drove the enemy from their cover with great slaughter.
very spirited and successful movement was also made about the same time,
against a heavy body of the enemy's troops, in and about the second or Chota
Kalra,
Compiete
of the Sikhs,
by part
beautiful
fire
enemy
at all points.
The
whole infantry line now rapidly advanced, and drove the enemy before it; the
nullah was cleared, several villages stormed, the guns that were in position
camp captured, and the enemy routed in every direction, tlie right
wing and Brigadier-general Campbell's division passing in pursuit to the eastThe retreat of the
ward, the Bombay column to the westward of the town.
carried, the
Chap. VIII.]
527
track strewn with the wounded, their arms and military equipments,
wiiich they threw away to conceal that they were sokliers."
their
gratifying
ad.
is49.
imp.ataiit
battle of
^"J"^^*-
six,
cost at
which
it
might the governor-general say in his letter to the secret committee, "Under
Divine Providence the British arms have signally triumphed.
On the 21st of
February an action was fought which must ever be regarded as one of the
memorable in the annals of British warfare in India; memorable alike from the
greatness of the
occasion,
For the
encounter.
brilliant
and decisive
issue of the
first
means at our
the
all
The day
head of a force
ol
...in the
about 15,000 men, with forty guns, resumed the pursuit of the fugitives
direction of the Jhelum, but on reaching Noorungabad, on the left bank, found
that Shere
P"i>*"it "f
^^"^
Alglian
auxiiiMies.
Sing had already crossed, and was encamped on the right bank with
army, estimated at about 8000 men. The Sikh leader, how-
time,
to the
General Gilbert having crossed the Jhelum, directed his attention chiefly
He so nearly
Afghans, who were now in full flight toward the Indus.
overtook
before
they had time entirely to destroy the bridge of boats, with the view of precludHe was therefore able to convey his troops across, and
ing further pursuit.
enter the territory of Afghanistan, but as there was now no hope of reaching
the
flying
desisted
With regard
^
the o
to the future o
government of the Punjab,
governor-general
o
J
had already decided, and therefore no time was lost in acquainting the Lahore
'
their consent
not taken
part in the rebellion would be liberally dealt with, gave
and
to a
the
of
name
in
the
made
n\aliarajah,
signed by
treaty, which,
though
Extinction
of the Sikh
dominion.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
528
AD.
1849.
liim,
since he
his,
[Book VIII.
Extinction
of the Silch
dominion.
By
years of age.
for ever renounced
maharajah
rupees.
may
liere
five lacs of
be mentioned as an
by the
Sikhs, the
cle-
mency extended to them after their discomfiture, and the most ungrateful return
wliich they
"
fierce
RfiCoIIee'Jons of India.
"The
and
it
it
guard the interests of those committed to its charge. To tliat end, and as the
only sure mode of protecting the state from the perpetual recurrence of unpro-
Punjab.
and
whom
(as
whom
own
now shown) no punishment
their
events have
can deter
Wherefore the
the
Governor-general of India has declared, and hereby proclaims, that
kingdom of the Punjab is at an end, and that aU the territories of Maharajah
Dhuleep Sing are now and henceforth a portion of the British empire
The action of
Chillian walla,
when
the news of
it
in India.
ment became in consequence so loud and determined that the directors, though
he Was almost at open war with them, were compelled to yield, and the
SIR
Chap. VIII.]
conqueror of Scinde,
CHAELES NAPIEE.
529
a.b. is49.
During the
he received intelligence of the victory of Gujerat. As
the circumstances under which his appointment had been made were thus
for it
voj^age,
when
off Ceylon,
as he
siicharie.s
ceedsto
commMder"''"^"'^f-
smarting under his severe though probably not undeserved censures, began to
wait for his halting. The governor-general was far above entertaining any such
feeling himself, or of countenancing it in others, but he was jealous of his
authority,
and
is
new
commander-in-chief, at their
very first interview, that he must beware of encroaching on it. There was thus
from the outset no great prospect of harmonious co-operation, and before a year
elapsed a collision took place. Believing that a mutinous spirit prevailed among
the sepoys serving in the Punjab,
it
was a diminu-
Subsequently he
had not only disbanded the 6Gth native infantry, on the ground of mutiny, as
he was entitled to do, but also by another stretch of authority had given its
colours to a Ghoorka battalion, which was henceforth to rank as the 66th instead
This latter proceeding the governor-general simply
but
the former proceeding was deemed too serious an
by
encroachment to be thus quietl}^ disposed of, and the decision in regard to it
of the regiment disbanded.
^
disapproved of
letter,
letter addressed
issued to
secretary to
understand for his future guidance "that the governor-general in council will
not again permit the commander-in-chief, under any circumstances, to issue
to
which shall change the pay and allowances of the troops serving in India,
and thus practically to exercise an authority which has been reserved, and most
orders
properly reserved, for the supreme government alone." After such a reprimand
nothing but resignation could have been anticipated, and accordingly on the
22d May, it was transmitted through Lord Fitzroy Somerset to the Duke of
England
in March, 1851,
and
263
it
Misunderstanding
description, both in
was told
by the government
is
with the
general.
illSTOEY OF INDIA.
b^O
A.D. 1853.
Eesignation
Sir Charles
Napier.
[Book Till.
ou Wednesday ?
Oh
yes
am
I,
yes
let
me
and
I will
queen that you are there she will be glad to see you safe back, and
so is everybody."
As an appi'opriate supplement to this anecdote, it
to tell the
so
may be mentioned that Sir Cliarles was one of the pall-bearers at the duke's
Disease had indeed
funeral, and caught a cold wliicli accelerated his death.
long been preying upon him, but he was permitted to exceed the allotted span
of life, and was in his seventy-second year when he expired on the morning of
the 29th of August, 1853.
CHAPTER
A.
IX.
of
Burrnah
of
India Company.
HE
Sikh war was no sooner triumphantly terminated, than attenUnder the treaty with
tion was called to an opposite quarter.
Burrnah, British subjects trading to its ports were entitled to
Bur-
mese war.
they stated that they had "for a long time suffered from the tyranny and gross
injustice of the
Burmese authorities"
at Rangoon,
"seriously
He was
utmost caution.
first
was not
with a
of Ava, which
was
letter to the
of a refusal
oflficer
to be carried
If compensation was
governments.
King
to
Chap. IX.]
531
a.d. 1352.
Proceedings
dore
Lam-
was unpleasant
despatch will be
used for forwarding the same, and
I hold you respon-
an answer
sible for
being delivered in
these waters within five
this
weeks from
The
day."
governor
general
Commodore Lambert
Moulmein.
had "exercised
him "not
resort,
by "cutting
off
terrible
either decline to
answer the
letter, or
refuse to
into a
to
of
the
On
Ava
officers
ashore to deliver
it.
Hopes of au
settlement.
HISTOUY OF INDIA.
532
A.D. 1852.
New
Bur-
mese war.
[Book VIIl.
but inevitable.
is
as follows:
"Having
failed
in
carrying out the instructions of the government of India by the conduct of the
governor of Rangoon, whom I considered as speaking the voice of the court of
Ava,
I could regard it as
the British
flag,
to
Commander
Fishbourne, of
Ava by way
King
mouth of the river.
The Fox met with no obstruction, but when the Hermes was seen towing behind
lier the vessel familiarly known in the port of Rangoon by the name of the
Yellow Ship, and belonging to the king, the Burmese opened their fire upon
She of course returned it with shot and shell, and had
her from a stockade.
the
Hermes
of reprisal."
little difficulty
he set
sail for
Actual
of
the
hostilities
Hermes
to Calcutta to report.
Still
anxious,
if possible, to
oflf
in the
extremity of war,"
Redress
refused
the
liy
Kiii^'
of Ava.
to insult at the
that city
Immediate assent
on or before the
to these conditions,
now be
oflfered.
and
their complete
Cii.vr.
SECOND BURMESE
IX.j
The
WAR
533
tlie
naval com-
The Madras
armament had not yet arrived, but delay being deemed inexpedient, it was
resolved forthwith to attack Martaban, situated on the east coast near the mouth
mander-in-chief,
in H.M.S. Rattler.
toMoulmein.
The
attack
made
at daybreak
was
=sL
.tifiM-
of the 5 th of April.
numerous
the
shoals
moved
up
tremendous
fire
effected
an easy capture.
moved up the
'^
river,
and anchored close off" Rangoon. On the 11th of April the fire which tlie
enemy had opened from both banks was silenced by the steam frigates, and on
the 12tli the troops, after landing, began to move forward.
"They had not
proceeded
far,"
says General
Godwin
in his despatch,
"
ground to our right, guns opened on us, and shortly after skirmishers
showed themselves in the jangle. This was a new mode of fighting with the
Burmese, no instance having occurred last war of their attacking our flanks, or
taken place. I make
leaving their stockades, that I remember ever to have
rising
now
this
oiierations
at Rangoon
HISTORY OF INDIA.
oSi
A.D. 1852.
[Book VIII.
the storming party," that though it was only eleven o'clock A.M., the general
"
in as strong a
resolved to halt where he was, after concentrating the force
halt
12tli
was
followed by
of"
This
on
the
admitted
position as the country
another on the 13th, because the heavy guns could not be forwarded "before
the middle of that day," and the troops therefore did not move again till the
Before proceeding to detail the subsequent operations, it
will be proper to mention that in 1850 the old city of Rangoon was almost
entirely destroyed by fire, and that in consequence, instead of the old town
morning of the
Position of
goon.
14th.
which stood on the river bank, a new town had been formed about a mile and
"
It is," says General Godwin, "nearly a square, with a bund
a quarter from it.
or
mud
wall about sixteen feet high and eight broad; a ditch runs along each
and on the north side, where the pagoda stands, it has been
very cleverly worked into the defences, to which it forms a sort of citadel.
The distance from the pagoda to the south entrance of the town is about three-
it
(the
new
gate,
settled that
captiireof
An
we
town, and
should attack
assault
to force his
turned
all
the north-west through thick jungle, passed the stockaded town, and got to
the east side of the pagoda, the capture of which, as the key of the place, was
his main object.
battery of heavy guns was forthwith erected, and opened
with so much
an hour sooner, and was completely successful. The city and all the country
around fell with the pagoda. The next capture was Bassein, situated about
captured on the 17tli of May after a sharp contest, and the general, contenting
himself with leaving a small garrison in it, returned with the remainder of his
force to
Rangoon.
Though the Burmese had already lost three of their most important towns,
and sustained defeat in every encounter, they were so far from showing signs
of submission, that on the 26th of
May
it
small garrison,
much
by
signal gallantry,
Chap. IX.]
still
more
decisive measures
would be necessary
535
in order to
humble them.
It
With
Prome.
this
early in July, to
ad.
1852.
capture of
Proms.
examine
way up
the river in
thrown in
advantage of
it,
only carry off a few guns, spike others, destroy the stores, and return.
The apparent determination of the Burmese not to yield, having shown the
necessity of carrying on operations on a
more extensive
scale
it
army
of Ava, to the
whole
number
in preparing reinforcements,
and
force,
title
of
defence.
"
Upon
our advanced
guard reaching the pagoda," says General Godwin in his despatch, "it found
that the enemy had abandoned that position, as well as the heights beyond it,
leaving in our possession an entirely evacuated town, overgrown with thick
and rank vegetation, and I regret to add abounding in swamps." The general
appears to have been somewhat puzzled at the facility with which a place, on
which he had so long hesitated to advance, had been yielded, but adds, as if in
justification of his own dilatoriness, that he had been "for a long time aware
of the assemblage of a large force about ten miles east of Prome," and that he
had "ascertained, from very good authority, that they have now about 18,000
men well posted in two or more stockades." After this statement one naturally
expects
him
feeling
add that he was just preparing to encounter this host, and tlius
crown his hitherto comparatively tame campaign with a signal victory.
Nothing, however, was further from his intention and it is therefore with a
to
surprise, that
them
may
any way,
as
by
find
is
him
not
my
in the
very
intention to
now
which
at present in
we
follows: "It
was to be expected.
Early in June a small force had been detached to Pegu, situated on the
General
desultory
^'^'^^^
^'
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
53G
A.D. 1852.
Capture of
Pegu.
[Book Vlll.
name, about
the detachment
fifty miles
to leave a garrison in
it,
and as a natural
conse-
Madras
fusiliers,
and
sailed
despatch contains the following description of the locality: "The site of the
old city, wherein the enemy was posted, is formed by a square surrounded by a
high bund, each side of which is presumed to be about two miles in length.
The west side faces the river, and the square is surrounded by a wet moat,
between seventy and eighty paces wide. From the south-west angle there is
This causea causeway over the moat, close to and parallel with the river.
made
and
had
the
traverses,
breaking it
way
enemy
exceedingly strong by
down at various intervals to prevent our advance. On the whole of the south
face of the bund, fronting our position, they
extending
for
As
was
so
the moat, and to turn the left of their position on the south face of the square."
In carrying out this plan the troops had to struggle " through the almost
impenetrable grass and jungle along the outer moat," exposed to a warm fire.
At last, however, they reached a part of the moat which admitted a j)assage
beyond the enemy's left, and turned their position. Here, having gallantly
stormed a post which was defended by two guns, they halted for some time to
refresh themselves and collect the wounded, and then again advanced by an
excellent path in the direction of the great pagoda, which was occupied without
After garrisoning it with
difficulty, and completed the capture of the place.
It is re-
assanlted
by the
Burmuse.
400 men under Major Hill, General Godwin, who had personally superintended
the capture, returned with the remainder of the force to Rangoon.
In leaving
Pegu so feebly garrisoned, he furnished another instance of that desultory and
inefficient
Hill,
Chap. IX.]
scarcely able to maintain
liis
first,
and
was obliged to make an urgent applicaThe general now did what lie ought to have
position,
done at
537
Pegu with a
force of
During
his
passage up the river he paid the penalty of his former negligence, by the state
of fearfvd suspense in which he was kept, while scarcely venturing to hope that
his small garrison had been able to hold out against their numerous and perse-
vering
foes.
till
a.b. issi
Successful
defence of
Die
isritisii
he obtained a distant
view of the pagoda, and ascertained by his telescope that a single individual
observed upon it was a Madras lascar.
The garrison had indeed made a most
gallant defence,
"admiration of the noble defence of the Pegu pagoda (against a host of enemies)
made by Major Hill and the brave handful of officers and soldiers under his
command,
for so
many
days and anxious nights, cut off as they were from the
succour of their comrades by the works of the enemy in the river, as well as
by the distant communication with the head-quarters of the army." It seems
not to have occun-ed to the general when penning this order, that he would be
expected to explain why, when he had it in his power to provide an adequate
garrison, he left only what he himself calls a "brave handful."
On
of
the 20tli of December, after receiving;
of the capture
1
& intellifjence
&
'
"The court
Pegu, the governor-general issued the following proclamation:
of Ava having refused to make amends for the injuries and insults which
British subjects
had
suffered at the
hands of
and
cities
its servants,
by
the Burmese
have been dispersed wherever they have been met; and the province of
The just and moderate
Pegu is now in the occupation of British troops.
demands of the government of India have been rejected by the king; the
forces
ample opportunity that has been afforded him for repairing the injury that was
done has been disregarded and the timely submission which alone could have
;
been effectual to prevent the dismemberment of his kingdom has been withheld.
Wherefore, in compensation for the past, and for better security in the
future, the governor-general in council has resolved, and hereby proclaims, that
the province of
Pegu
is
and
of the British
government,
whose rule
Vol. III.
264
-*^"'^^^*^''"
of Pegu.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
538
AD.
1S52.
But
if
the King of
Ava
shall fail to
renew
[Book VIII.
it
possession of the province
forth the
general in council will again put
power he
and
holds,
Submission
of the King
of Ava.
the
the interior was entirely stopped, and provisions rose to famine prices
Burmese capital. The old king, to whose obstinacy the continuance of the war
was
attributable,
missioners
lasted nearly
that the king could not "assent to any treaty by which a cession of territory
should be made.
They were of course immediately dismissed, and it seemed
'
Peace with
war was about to rage more fiercely than ever. It happily proved
otherwise.
The objection, it afterwards appeared, was not so much to the
as if the
king,
it
recommenced, managed to avert them by addressing a letter to the governorwhich he virtually granted all that had been asked of him. The
general, in
governor-general accepted this equivalent, and on the 30th of June, 1853, issued
a notification, proclaiming the restoration of peace.
Thus terminated a war
home
anxiously desiring peace, had been forced to take up arms in order to repel
ANNEXATION POLICY.
Chap. IX.]
539
unprovoked aggression, and in inflicting punishment had not exceeded the due
measure of retribution, by the extinction of the one kingdom and the dismem-
a.d. is52.
Annexation
berment of the
other.
simple ground that the territories annexed had lapsed to the British government, as the paramount power, by the failure of other heirs. The first case of
importance in which this principle of annexation was fully avowed and acted
upon was that of Sattara. In a previous part of this work it has been told how
who were
of all
When
rajah Pertaub Sing with a real sovereignty, and for this purpose
entered into a treaty with him, by which he himself, his heirs and successors,
were guaranteed in possession of a territor}'^ yielding about 200,000 of revenue.
Pertaub Sing, for alleged violations of the treaty, was deposed by the British
titular
government in 1839, and succeeded by his brother, who died in 181-8. He left
no issue, but a few hours before his death adopted a boy distantly related to
This adoption having been made in regular form was recognized as
binding, so far as to give the adopted son all the rights which his adoptive
father could convey to him, but it was denied that the succession to the raj
him.
which
effect
home
was thus
given,
is laid
down
1849: "That by
under no pledge direct or constructive to give such consent, and that the
general interests committed to our charge are best consulted by withholding it."
In the above case of Sattara two questions were considered. Had the British
are
Was
it
expedient,
seize
all
Both these questions were answered in the affirmative, and Sattara ceased to
exist as a separate
sovereignty.
It is necessary, however, to
remember that
occurred
was of
this
description.
On
circnmstances
leading to it.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
540
A.D.
185.}
Thegover
tin'^rtoi 111
aimex'ti'ou'
of Kerowly.
[Book VIII.
is situated about
eighty miles
Kerowly, a minor Rajpoot state, whose capital
south-west of Agra, died without issue, but though he was a mere youth he
had adopted a son, without applying for the sanction of the British govern-
though he at the same time freely admitted "that the continuance of the raj
would be a measure calculated to reassure, and conciliate the good- will of the
Fortunately, in this instance the directors took a safer
think a far more equitable course, and on the 26th of January, 1853,
states of Rajpootana."
and we
announced their decision that the succession of the adopted son should be
sustained.
They had not, they said, abandoned the principle established in the
case of Sattara, but they
distinction
between the
cases," Sattara
It stands
princes from a period long anterior to the British power in India.
to us only in the relation of a protected ally, and perhaps there is no part of
Case of
Jhansi.
it
is
less desirable,
miles,
all
his rights
were
forfeited,
war, the inferior right implied by his title was overlooked, and a treaty was
entered into, by which at his special request the right of succession was "confinned in perpetuity" to Row Ram Chund his grandson.
Accordingly, by the
second
constitutes
his heirs
and
Row
British agent in
1838.
brother,
of
ANNEXATION POLICY.
Chap. IX.]
Row
Sheo
For a time
541
a.d. 1354
agent continued to administer the government, and the revenue, which previous
had greatly diminished, began to flourish. At last, in 1 843, an arrangement was made which restored the native administration, and Baba Guno-hadar
misrule
Row
continued to rule
till
his death,
new
form.
Gunghadar
Row
line
of Sheo
raised,
Annexation
As he
though under
extinct, but
his family,
by adopting a distant relation the very day before he died. The principle
adopted in the Sattara case was obviously applicable here, and the governorgeneral lodged a minute, in which he declared his opinion that the territory of
Jhansi had lapsed to the British government, and "should be retained by it
His council having
equally in accordance with right and with sound policy."
concurred in this opinion, he proceeded to act upon it, and on the 4th of March,
1854, announced the decision to the home authorities in the following terms
:
"
The chief of the state of Jhansi, which was created by the British government a tributary and dependent principality, adopted a son the day before his
We
deatli.
same
descendants,
'
government."
not allowed to pass without contradiction, for the widow of the late chief, who
would have been entitled to the regency during the adopted son's minority,
merely "heirs of the body or collateral heirs," but "successors in general," and
"
any party whom he (the chief) adopted as his son, to
properly implied that
perform the funeral rites over his body, necessary to insure beatitude in a future
world, would be acknowledged by the British government as his successor,
and one through whom the name and interests of the family might be
This reasoning proved unavailing, and as soon as the sanction of
preserved."
the home authorities was obtained, Jhansi shared the fate of Sattara, and was
erased from the
list
of native states.
The
on a
much more
existing
Mahratta
extensive
states.
and
frequently designated from his capital. Rajah of Nagpoor, died on the 11th of
December, 1853. He left neither issue nor collateral heirs, and had not even
Nagioor.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
542
A.D. 1S54.
Annexation
agixjoi.
[Book VIII.
^^
^^^^
Sb
Nagpoor
and
successors."
At
the
date of this treaty Ragojee Bhonsla, who had just attained majority, assumed
the actual administration, but he had been the recognized ruler since 1817,
when, though only maternally descended from the Ragojee who originally
founded the state, the British government conferred the sovereignt}^ upon him
instead of
Appa
Sahib,
who had
forfeited it
by treachery and
rebellion.
In
to the
government
"paramount
power" could not be questioned, and accordingly the governor-general, true to
annexation policy, recorded his opinion "that by the death of the Rajah of
Nagpoor, without any heir whatever, the possession of his territories has reverted
liis
to the British
and
thus regained should not again be given away, since their alienation a second
time is called for by no obligation of justice or equity, and is forbidden by
every consideration of sound policy." His lordship's language, though open to
criticism, is
minute on the
on the ground of
its
"
So
we can
far as
foresee the
ultimate destiny of this great empire," says Mr. Dorrin, "its entire possession
must infallibly be consolidated in the hands of Great Britain. Thoroughly
believing in this dispensation of Providence, I cannot coincide in any view
shall have for its object the maintenance of native rule against the
which
Oude.
As
breach of public
faith, it will
be proper to consider
it
with some
care.
About
760,
when the Mogul empire was falling to ruins, Shujah-u-Dowlah, who was its hereditary vizier, and also held the soubah of Oude, seized upon the latter, and became,
though still professing a nominal allegiance to the emperor, an independent sove-
He
made common
reign.
shortly
afterwards
cause with
768, the
recovery of
ANNEXATION
Chap. IX.]
543
POLICY.
a.d. 1819.
Early reia-
oude.
500,000, 555,000, and 700,000, and at last in 1801, Sadat Ali, then nabob,
was induced or rather compelled to enter into a treaty by which he ceded one
half of his whole territory in perpetuity as a substitute for the pecuniary
subsidy, and the CompamT-, in return for the territories thus ceded, yielding a
revenue of more than 1,500,000, became bound to defend him from all foreign
and domestic enemies. The ceded territories were declared to be in lieu of all
former subsidies, and demands of every kind for the maintenance of troops in
Oude, whether to repel foreign foes or to suppress occasional internal disturbances or rebellions; but in order somewhat to modify the extent of this obligation,
his dominions,
the
consult
the
Company, and
one half of
its
so carefully
husbanded
his revenue,
empty on his
m i-iiTT
countenancing oppression and injustice, and the resident had therefore been
instructed not to afford military aid until he was satisfied that the occasion
justified
ic.
The task thus thrown upon him was, however, of too vague and
its
and
successor, Ghazee-u-din, a
mere imbecile
late
1,000,000 each,
by the
upon him
its creditor.
when
On
the contrary, a
it
con-
ferred
in 1819,
its
nabob
assumes the
title of king.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
544
A.D. ]83r.
Relations
[Book VIII.
were
between
to be actively
^
and energetically
employed
o
i
^
/
in the
Oude
territory
j in cases
commotion and
of real internal
"This
and acted upon during successive governments, must still be firmly asserted, and
resolutely adhered to and the resident must consider it to be a positive and
;
indispensable obligation of his public duty to refuse the aid of British troops until
he shall have satisfied himself on good and sufficient grounds (to be reported in
each case as soon as practicable, and when the exigency of the case may admit
before the troops are actually employed), that they are not to be employed
but in support of just and legitimate demands." Ghazee-u-din and his minister,
when thus precluded from employing British troops in the perpetration of
of
it,
own
injustice,
Succession of
denaucnee
princes.
who
imitated
big reckless course, and kept up his large armj^, of which nearly two-thirds
were entirely without discipline, and the remaining third, though accounted
regulars, were so only in name, being badly trained, paid, clothed, armed, and
accoutred, and placed for the most part imder idle, incompetent, and corrupt
commanders.
in Januar}^, 1831,
Lord
William Bentinck, in a conference with the king, distinctly warned him of his
determination to make a strong representation to the authorities in England,
on the subject of the misrule prevailing in Oude, and solicit their sanction to
the adoption of specific measures, even to the length of assuming the direct
administration of the country, if the evils were not corrected in the interim.
it
a false security.
serious has
am
wound your majesty's feelings." These warnings passed unheeded, but in 1887, when Nuseer-u-din died without issue, and
was succeeded by his uncle Mahomed Ali, advantage was taken of a new reign
fallacious,
but
unwilling to
ANNEXATION OF OUDE.
Chap. IX.]
545
expressly stipulated, not only that the king should exert himself in concert ad. iscs.
with the resident to remedy the existing defects of his government, but that in
the event of his neglect to do so, and a consequent continuance of misrule, the condition
British government would have right to appoint its own officers to the management of all portions of the Oude territory in which such misrule might have
occurred,
deem
as
it
might
receipts and
his
assumed
territories to
majesty when the proper period for such restoration should arrive.
Afghan war and the military operations subsequently undercontemplated by Lord Ellenborough, the increase of troops, which the
Owing
taken or
British
at its
to the
own
was twice vacated by death and reoccupied before the final crisis came. In
1842 Mahomed Ali was succeeded by his son Soorya Jah, and he again, in
The latter was by no means
February, 1847, by his son Wajid Ali Shah.
deficient in natural talents,
no avail,
In the very
first
fell
visited
its iniquities
were
Lucknow, and
in a conference
with the
being both entitled and bound by them "to interfere if necessary for the purpose
of securing good government in Oude," could not permit "the continuation of
the satisfaction within the period specified of two 3'ears of checking and eradihis own
cating the worst abuses, and at the same time of maintaining
if he
sovereignty and the native institutions of his kingdom unimpaired; but
does not, if he takes a vacillating course, and fail by refusing to act on the
Vol. III.
265
increasing
degeneracy
in the ad-
tiou.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
546
A.D.
IS.VJ.
o-Gvernor-sfenerars advice,
It
quences.
lie
is
[Book VIII.
to the
whole world
that,
whatever
may
'
llenionstraiice
with King
of Oiide.
W. H. Sleeman, the
resident, should
make
a tour throughout the country and ascertain its actual state by personal inspecThis tour, made in 18I<9 50, and since published, completely established
tion.
the worst that had been alleged against the King of Onde and his creatures,
and made it clear that the British government could not, without loss of character,
refrain
Sir \V. H.
Sleemau's
report.
from interference.
resident's report
is
thus given
in a letter
and oppressed
and employ
nothing but knaves of the very worst kind in the administration. The king is
a crazy imbecile, who is led about by these people like a child, and made to do
whatever they wish him to do, and to give whatever orders may best suit their
At present the most powerful of the favourites are Decanutod-Doula and Hussein-od-Doula, two eunuchs Anees-od-Doula, and Mosahibod-Doula, two fiddlers; two poetasters, and the minister and his creatures. The
ministei- could not stand a moment without the eunuchs, fiddlers, and poets,
private interests.
and he
benefit.
is
obliged to acquiesce in all the orders given by the king for their
the
fiddlers have control over the administration of civil justice
The
eunuchs over that of criminal justice, public buildings, &c. The minister has
the land revenue and all are making enormous fortunes."
After adverting to
what he conceived to be the proper remedy. Sir W. Sleeman continued thus:
;
"
What
the people want, and most earnestly pray for, is that our government
should take upon itself the responsiljility of governing them well and permanently.
the
the king,
for this
educated
may
leave, not
invested in our government securities and the humbler classes, because they
are now abandoned to the merciless rapacity of the starving troops and other
public establishments, and of the landholders driven or invited into rebeUion
;
by
There
is
not, I believe,
another government
ANNEXATION OF OUDE.
Chap. IX.]
547
a.d.
is5'2.
the people as that of Oude now is at least I liave never seen or read of one.
People of all classes have become utterly weary of it."
;
Though the
necessity of interference
was
was allowed on
much
so
hostilities in
for a
all
hands to
new
annex omie
inaia.
far too
manly
though the
that
state
absolutely necessary, he
of his health
would remain
made an
if
home
to the directors
who having
authorities,
left
him a
ment nor
Outram, the
resident, can
we
Bv
series of
Oude
territory, for
taken bound to
formity to the counsel of the Company's officers by the latter treaty it was
stipulated that in the event of a reformed administration not being established,
;
the British
It is impossible to see
how anything
countenance annexation.
to reform its
administration, and the other defined and fixed the penalty to be inflicted in
the event of its failing to do so.
When the treaty of 1837 was framed, there
was no idea of annexation, and an important point was understood to be gained
when, by the insertion of a penalty, means were provided for giving gradual
effect to the vague promise of the treaty of 1801.
Now, however, when
annexation was to be resorted to, the treaty of 837 was found to present a
1
J"stice of
the measure
.luestioned.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
548
A.D. 1S52.
Questionable justice
in annexa-
tion of
Oude.
serious obstacle.
that whicli
persisted in,
not binding.
[Book VIII.
it
Its
it
whom
manner
forced,
had subscribed
with great reluctance, the governor-general had ratified it, and nothing
occurred to throw the least suspicion on its validity.
On the contrary, Lord
it
it
was concluded,
referred to
it
in 1839, in
intelligence
that he
payment of 160,000
In
expense, were ashamed to enforce tlie payment, and therefore remitted it.
other respects, however, the treaty remained in full force, and even the
extortionate clause demanding double payment having been remitted only
all
Views of
successive
govemoi'sgeneral.
"
it
The thing
there any mention of the kind of penalty obviously intended.
clear that it is scarcely necessary to add the testimony of Lord Broughton,
as president of the Board of Control at the time must have known the
'
My impression,"
government
he says, "certainly
is
is
so
who
fact.
may refer
Tlie resident is
ANNEXATION OF OUDE.
Chap. IX.]
549
The resident
is
it
was received in
Oude was
informed at that time that certain provisions of the treaty of 1837 respecting
an increased military force would not be carried into effect, the entire abrogation of the treaty
The
majesty.
by
a.d. isss.
and want of
full
communication
is
felt
to
cmious
reasoning in
oTam!exl
^'0"o^Oude.
be embarrassing to-day.
It is the more embarrassing that the cancelled instrustill included in a volume of treaties which was
published in 1845
ment was
"If the king should allude to the treaty of 1837, and should ask why, if
further measures are necessary in relation to the administration of Oude, the
powers which are given to the British government by the said treaty
force, his majesty must be informed that the treaty has
large
was proposed to "meet the difficulty full in the face," and we can now
wonder how it could have been supposed possible to do so by a method so
which
onl}-
it
unworthy.
Havinof
more dexterously than honourably to escape from the
o manasfed
a
obligations of the treat}' of 1837, it only remained to deal with that of 1801.
./I
.^
difficulties arose.
By
its territories,
ment
it
fulfil.
It did
eng-ao-ed to
Company's
not reform
its
reform
officers.
its
adminis-
This engage-
administration, and so
from listening to the advice of the Company's officers, turned a deaf ear to
repeated and earnest remonstrances. This, as a palpable violation of the treat}',
far
gave the British government the option of either declaring the treaty
an end, or of insisting on the faithful performance of its obligations.
itself at
If the
former alternative were adopted, matters would return to their original footing.
summaij
repudiation
of a formal
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
550
A.D. 1852.
the British government simply withdrawing its guarantee and giving back the
if the latter alternative were
adopted, the
[Book VIIJ.
King of Oude might have been compelled by force of arms, if more peaceful
1-I
means proved unavailing, to perform to the very letter everything to which
the treaty bound him.
This, however, was the utmost extent to which British
interference could
to the extreme
measure of annexation.
own
its
frontier,
such precautions,
and
therefore,
it
deed was executed in defiance of him, and published to the world by a proclaitself, will not bear criticism.
Lord Dalhousie's
prociama-
and sliow
liow,
with
tion.
all its
it
sovereigns had not only remained faithful to the British alliance, but
had again and again come forward in periods of the greatest emergency, and
by liberal loans replenished the exhausted treasury of the Company. To
years
its
abandon such an
.tage of his
might have been taxed as ingratitude, but to take advanweakness to strip him of his territories was an act for which, unless
ally
far
as invaders
prosperity and happiness they scouted as mere pretence, and ascribed the loss
of their native independence to an unbounded ambition to extend our already
Oude was
Were
it
his
had merits of another kind which gave him a foremost place among
C'HAP. IX.]
551
effected
by questionable
,..
At
means.
least
,.
made in
two of
1-11
whicli the
wars
were legitimate conquests
of the Sikhs and Burmese had rendered inevitable
tration of the former of tliese provinces, carried on
is
^lents of
Lord Dal-
1-1
unprovoked aggressions
The admirable adminis
under
housie's
Tion"""''"
better
"
iso.',.
menced
to
4000 miles of
an expense of
2000 miles of road bridged and metalled, near the
little
to
whole distance from Calcutta to Peshawer; to the opening of the Ganges canal,
the largest of the kind in the world; to the progress of the Punjab canal, and of
other im])ortant works of irrigation all over India; as well as to the
re- organization of an official department of public works.
Keeping equal pace
many
with these public works, he could refer to the postal system, which he introduced in imitation of that of Rowland Hill, whereby a letter from Peshawer to
Cape Comorin, or from Assam to Kurrachee, is convej'ed for |cZ., or iV^h of the
old charge to the improved training ordained for the civil service, covenanted
such as permitting Hindoo widows to marry again, and relieving all persons
from the risk of forfeiting property by a change of religion." As the Marquis
of
Dalhousie was only forty-four years of age when he quitted India, on the
it was hoped that he had then only
performed the first act
and virtues
which
his talents
so
part
case the principal act in the drama of m}'the curtain should drop now on ni}' public
words were almost prophetic, for he only returned with a broken
and while
life is
I feel that in
my
career."
The
if
and
die.
tution of the
Company.
new
1
The
85-i, it
which regulated
was deemed necessarj'
act
legislation,
7 Vict.
c.
95)
the territories then in the possession and under the government of the East
India Company were to continue under such government in trust for her
all
majesty.
As
the act was avowedly temporary, and only remained in force for
change
the cousti-
tutionoftht
HISTORY OF INDIA.
552
A.D. 1853.
the consti-
tutionofthe
an analysis of
its
Change in
it
[Book VIII.
ompany.
^^^^^
majesty
mention
and
its
civil service,
directors
BOOK
IX.
CHAPTER
TIME.
I.
Mutinous
prevalent among the Bengal sepoys Objection to
spirit
of
of
at
l^^^^^^^^^^alHEN
commenced
29tli
his administration,
of February,
1856,
a period of tranquillity
^^
ftW't^ .'ir7V\'?s=tr^
serious apprehension.
Mutiny had repeatedly broken out in tlie
native army, and the measures of repression resorted to had rather
evaded the danger than fairly met and extinguished it. During the
i^im'm^^=^
-'
Burmese war
disafiection
overawed the
by no means
disaffected,
exorcised.
in-chief, disaffection,
was
did not hesitate to denounce a large portion of the Bengal native army
and ever after took credit to himself for having, by the vigorous
measures he adopted, prevented a sepoy revolt which might have proved fatal
officer
as mutinous,
to our
Indian empire.
It
by
is
true that he
is
its
true cause.
VoL. III.
a.d. i856.
266
Mutinous
spirit of the
Bengal
^^^"
HISTORY OF INDIA.
554
A.D. 1S56.
(?anses of
mutinous
spirit
among
the Bengal
sepoys.
[Book IX.
derating influence over their comrades, had become convinced that their services
could not be dispensed with, and that the fate of our Indian empire was conse-
quently in their hands. They had only to combine and present a united front
in order to intimidate the government; and, if necessary, coerce it into comCombination had accordingly become a kind of
pliance with their demands.
watchword among them, and eveiy subject which affected their interests was
discussed and agitated as a common cause.
Hence, when the question of
increased pay arose, the language of some of the sepoys of the 32d native
infantry is said to have been, "We shall
wait
till
come
up,
his
commanding
characteristic decision
when he
supplied
the place of a sepoy regiment disbanded 4
Lord Caxnimg.
for
by showing how
could be supplied.
Unfortunately he was not seconded either by the Indian
or the home authorities, and matters remained on the same unsatisfactory
footing as before.
ignored, its
existence
fact
of sepoy disaffection
Even Lord
was
virtually
tations,
times
"
;
feeling
on the eve of
Calcutta, he reminded
them "how
The danger thus pointed out, and proved to exist both by overt acts of mutiny
and indications of wide-spread disaffection, though it must have suggested,
Chap.
I.]
new measures
555
a.d. isse.
ment continued
to slumber
on,
annexation policy.
results of the
At
Two
diminished.
Russian war, had not been replaced; four regiments of infantry, and the greater
part of the 14th dragoons, had been called away to serve in the war which had
suddenly broken out in Persia and a large proportion of the remainder were
stationed far in the north-west to maintain tranquillity in the Punjab, where
;
it
To
subjugated Sikhs.
and disbanded
this
soldiers,
backed by a
hostile population,
was
Mahometan
intrigue,
,.,.-,..
For along
almost every man who earned a name for himself in the civil or
military service of the East India Company had lifted a warning voice, and
called attention to the precarious tenure by which its possessions were held
series of years
subsequent events had shown that such fears were not unfounded, and that
causes were at work which threatened to realize their worst forebodings; but,
as if the fi'equency of
crisis
was permitted
to approach,
ernment totally unprepared to meet it. The fearful disasters which followed
must now be narrated. This, the latest portion of Indian history, is also in
many
minuteness of
detail, care,
The
it
is
so large
be popular.
Though far more beneficent than that of preceding conquerors and
of the existing native princes, it is the rule of aliens in blood, in manners, and
in religion;
and
is
long as there
is
it
off,
iiself into
it
imprudent
conduct of
government,
HISTORY OF INDIA.
556
A.D. 1857.
Unusual
of
had obtained the mastery, and was in a condition to dictate terms to the government, revolt sooner or later became inevitable, and the only point that
Mahome- in
H^iliMs
[Book IX.
once dominant
religionists
class,
their numbers.
The
apart,
effect of this
and make
it
and
final
was
alone was to
The cry
raised
The
weight with
it.
were not unwilling to give credit to any accusation, however monstrous, which
The delusion spread like
might seem to justify their meditated treachery.
wildfire,
and a circumstance
it
with gravity became, not perhaps the cause, but certainly the occasion, of a
by any which history has yet
intro-
The improved
rifle, now generally substituted for the old musket, is loaded
^
with a grcascd cartridge, the end of which at the time of using it requires to
be bitten of
In the beginning of 1857, after it had been resolved to arm the
^
duce.i into
Bengal
army.
Bengal sepoys with this weapon, the manufacture of the necessary cartridges
at the military depot of Dumdum, situated about eight miles
was commenced
north-east of Calcutta.
It
was any-
thing in these cartridges by which any religious prejudice could be offended, but
it was not
As the story goes, a sepoy (a
long before they were undeceived.
filled
the lotah would thereby be defiled, observed, "You think much of your caste,
but W9,it a little the sahib-log (literally
"gentleman-strangers") will make you
;
Chap.
I.J
bite cartridges
The mention
557
soaked in cow and pork fat, and then where will your caste be?"
two kinds of ftit was as artful as it was malicious, the one
being the abomination of Hindoos and the other that of Mahometans and it is
hence easy to understand how the subject once mooted was not allowed to
;
drop,
pretended alarm.
first
for
made aware
as
of
issr.
officers,
officer
real,
commanding
objections
to the use
ofgieased
Dumdum, when
it,
any complaints.
missioned
a.d.
of the
"perfectly respectful,"
stated their
new
front,
objection
rifle-musket.
method
"The mixture employed
to the pi^esent
of
for
greasing the cartridges was," they said, "opposed to their religious feelings,"
and "they begged to suggest the employment of wax and oil in such proportion
The spirit of modeas, in their opinion, would answer the purpose required."
ration thus manifested at the outset
may have
by the
assur-
ance that the cause which produced it had ceased to exist, continued to increase.
At first only the grease employed had been objected to, but it was now dis-
covered that there was something wrong with the paper. Unlike that formerly
used, it had a glazed appearance, which, in the opinion of the sepoys, indicated
commanding
"A
am
and
and unwise
now
so rooted in
them that
it
would, I
..,
letter of
General
They are
employed
a iretext
^
^^enw."
as
HISTORY OF INDIA.
558
A.D. 1857.
Mutinoits
cited
Lieutenant
purpose of maturing the plot, and aiTanging the mode of execution.
much
to
so
a
credit
deemed
without
statement,
Allen,
extraordinary
attaching
when
the
was
to
be
visit
the
lines
and
felt
it necessary to
held,
alleged meeting
among reassured,
throui'i7^
theii- reii-
gious prejiidices.
[Book IX.
least
it.
'-'
them.
instilled into
"I
myself," he
"
says,
energetically and explicitly explained, in a loud voice, to the whole of j
the men, the folly of the idea that possessed them, that the government, or
that their
Unavailing
attempt to
officers,
remove their
byargu
tliosc
^"*'
down
i.e.
Protestants; that
I told
we admitted no
proselytes but
who, being adults, could read and fully understand the precepts laid
therein; that if they came and threw themselves down at our feet,
imploring to be made Book' Christians, it could not be done; they could not
be baptized until they had been examined in the tracts of the Book, and proved
'
themselves fully conversant in them, and then they must, of their own good-will
and accord, desire to become Christians of the Book ere they could become so.
I asked them if they perfectly understood what I said, especially the 2d grena-
government rather liastily indulged the hope that the excitement was about to
die away.
The general himself must have had a very different presentiment
when he wrote
thus:
"May
I state
my
opinion
here,
i^oint
all
they do
is
and expect by
so doing
they will escape censure, as not actively implicated. This has always occurred
on such occasions, and will continue to the end of our sovereignty in India.
Well might Sir Charles Metcalfe say, that he expected to awake some fine
'
morning, and find India had been lost to the English crown.'"
'
Chap.
OUTBKEAK AT BEEHAMPOOH.
I.]
First,
its
ostensible cause
559
now
liad
Berham^'""
open mutiny. A small guard of the 34th native infantry, one of the regiments
which had enjo^^ed the benefit of General Hearsey's harangue, having arrived
on the 24th of February at Berhampoor, about 110 miles north from Calcutta,
the men composing it were, as usual in such cases, feasted by their countrymen
of the 19th native
cartridges,
along with it other grievances, real or imaginary. The result was soon disclosed.
On the very next day, when the commanding officer, Colonel Mitchell, ordered
had not even a shadow of excuse, as the cartridges offered had been
rifle was thought of, and were the very same as
those that had been used for years without objection.
With some difficulty
the refusal
they were intimidated, and after receiving the ammunition in sullen silence,
to their lines.
Their determination, however, was taken.
In the
retired
having broken into the hells, or small huts, where the native arms when not in
use were deposited, seized them, and walked off, shouting defiance.
Colonel
Mitchell had the option of two courses, either to march out against the
mutineers in the dark, or to remain on the defensive
morning. Neither
from serious objections. There were no European troops at
the station, and no other native troops in addition to the mutinous regiment
than a detachment of cavalry and a battery of artillery. Thus tlie whole work,
course
was
till
free
ments of cavalry, while the torchlight reflected from them, would, in the case
of actual encounter, have enabled the mutineers, themselves unseen, to
open a
destructive
Mitchell
fire.
When
fully
aware of the
Colonel
injudicious
to repress
it.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
560
A.D. 1857.
European
regiment
brought
from Rangoon.
part agreeing as a
first
step to
withdraw
[Book IX.
his troops,
theirs
disaffected to lose
Hills, to
4th of March, and only two days later the Oriental Company's ship Bentinck
was steaming to Rangoon with orders to bring up her majesty's 84th foot with
Meanwhile the
down
to
of artillery.
now forward
in expressing their
sympathy with the 19th, who they thought merited not punishment butl
reward, for the stand which they had made in defence of their religion.
In India the native mind
Anothei
overt act
of mutiny.
is
so impulsive, that
pass]
Hence the
34th, though they could not but be aware of the advantage of remaining quiescent till they should be reinforced by their countiymenj
from Berhampoor, were unable to refrain from previously giving an unequi-j
into deeds.
On the]
vocal manifestation of the mutinous spirit which animated them.
29tli of March, two days before the 19th reached Barrackpoor, it was reported'
to Lieutenant Baugh, adjutant of the 34th, that a sepoy of the name of Mungul
Pandy, belonging to that I'egiment, had intoxicated himself with hang, and was
walking in front of the lines, armed with a sword and a musket, calling upon his
in
his
rise,
Chap.
MUTINY AT BAERACKPOOR.
I.]
561
blow was not mortal, and before it could be repeated, tlie sergeant-major of the ad. issr.
regiment, who was a little behind Lieutenant Baugb, sprung forward, and by
drawing the attack upon himself, saved the life of his superior officer by
endangering his own, for he too in his attempt to seize the miscreant was
Meanwhile a jema<Iar and twenty sepoys, though
severely wounded by him.
Mutiny at
poor,
not more than thirty yards distant, refused to render any assistance, and the
two Europeans would to a certainty have been murdered, had not a Mahometan
general mutiny.
in his hand,
On
which
way
is
the whole regiment to obey orders, the seizure of arms with violence, and a
tumultuous but combined resistance of the authority of its officers, with arms
loaded, is an offence for which any punishment, less than dismissal from the
service,
would be inadequate
mutiny
so
by any
by fear of coercion, or by the seductions and deceptions of others.
It must be met promptly and unhesitatingly,
and without the delay of a day more than may be necessary." It may be
sensitiveness of religion or caste,
questioned whether Lord Canning acted up to his own ideas of the enormity
of the crime when he proposed simple dismissal as the severest punishment to
be inflicted on
it.
At
this time,
however,
much enamoured
present and prospective, derived from it, that they dreaded nothing so much as
It would seem that the 19th still partook so much of this feeling
expidsion.
that the prospect of their disbandment
fortunate, for it
secret deputation
more formidable
grief,
and they
it
from the 34th, and urged without effect to concert a new and
On the 31st of March, when they entered Barrackrising.
The disbandment was immediately carried into effect. On one side of the
parade ground stood the European troops and batteries, and the body-guard;
Vol
III.
267
Disband-
mutinous
infantry.
5G2
A.D. 185T.
Disband-
i9thnatice
in antry.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book IX.
34;th,
commou
19th, however,
The
cause.
when
ordered to lay
down
their arms,
it
down
and boats
"
employed in bringing
bewailed their
punishment,
fate,
Govcmment,
Total inade
had been
to put
many men
set at rest,
down
their families.
disaffection,
suffice
and
It is
actually engaged a vessel to carry the 84-th regiment back to Rangoon.
difficult to understand how the governor-general and his council could have
Mungul Pandy
fires,
was
by
visible in
flying messengers, of
many
Hindoos
generallj'^ are
doubtful
if
tlie
little
quarters, even
but
it
is
be a punishment, and rather provoked than suppressed the crime against which
it was directed.
It in fact only anticipated the course which the men were
own
accord, and
in derijiion,
oude.
On
Oude irregular
Lucknow cantonments, when
its
still,
from
this
brougl^t to bear
upon
it,
Chap.
MUTINY IN OUDE.
I.]
563
took the name of a religious scruple, was of a very different and more
Accordingly, it appeared on the very next day that the
in
the regiment, not contented with the mutinous spirit which
ringleaders
though
it
a.d. 1857.
criminal nature.
prevailed
among
it
Mutinous
oude.
We
who was equal to the crisis. Sir Henry Lawrence, the moment the intelligence
reached him, mustered his forces, and set out with a wing of her majesty's 32d,
a field battery, and various detachments of native infantry and cavalry.
Previous to his arrival, the mutiny had assumed a more aggravated form, and
had been threatened with violence. As soon, however,
completely indeed had they yielded to their fears, that every sj^mptom of
violence had disappeared, and the whole regiment had become perfectly quiet.
On
the other native regiments till the work of disarming was quietly accomplished.
The first act of overt mutiny in Oude being thus suppressed, the chief-commis-
He knew
secured.
seized
and put in
effect of
irons,
moral suasion.
in isolated positions.
and
With
this
view he held a
their fidelity by disclosing the attempts made to tamper with the regiments to
which they belonged, delivered an address in Hindoostanee, pointing out the
advantages conferred on India by the British government, and the folly as well
as the futility of
any endeavour
to
overthrow
it.
is
said
have been powerful, but of this some doubt may be entertained. The time
for argument had
passed, and there is good ground to suspect that every
attempt at conciliation was regarded by the natives as an indication of fear.
to
At
first
Sir
Henry was
and thereafter allow those of the soldiers who might be found guiltless to be
re-enlisted, but the governor-general in council, we think, acted more wisely
when, approving generally of the prompt measures adopted, he resolved that
Lawrence.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
564
AD.
1857.
Mutinous
[Book IX.
oude.
day, to take
next, whatever
may
which would greatly weaken the general effect of the measure of disbandment
as an example."
The idea of a general disbandment was in consequence
abandoned, and only the native officers, with one or two exceptions, and
about
Formidable
mutiny
at
Meerut.
fifteen sepoys,
were dismissed.
mand
of the district possessed none of the abilities which characterized the chiefcommissioner at Lucknow, and the consequences were most disastrous. In the
week
first
when
As
which they had been accustomed to use without objection, the refusal could
only be regarded as mutinous, and accordingly the commander-in-cliief, when
the affair
was reported
Bengal
rifles,
artillery, all
Gross cave
lessnessof
theautho-
infantry,
and in
their
presence fastening the chains and marching off the convicts to the common jail,
The
preparatory to their removal to some of the ^^
government central ^
prisons.
7
jail
precaution, the jail remained as before under the sole charge of a company of
native soldiers.
While the authoiities, civil and military (for both must bear
the blame), were thus neglecting the plainest dictates of prudence, the native
troops in Meerut completed their plans, and made rearly to take the initiative
in a general revolt.
In the course of the day ominous warnings were given by
which called upon the natives to rise and slaughter the hated FerinNothing, however, but an actual rising seemed capable of arousing the
placards,
ghees.
Chap.
MUTINY AT MEEEUT.
I.]
disturbance,
At
first this
5G5
and
it
was
Mutiny
at
There was no
a.d. isst.
how much
still
darker deeds.
work would be done, and at all events the approach of night would give an
Most providentially, either hurried on by their thirst
opportunity of escape.
for blood and plunder, which had become too impatient to be any longer
the
service
restrained, or deceived
by
had already commenced, they broke out prematurely, and thus
partially
At
jail,
the
and, besides rescuing the eighty-five convicts, liberated all the other
Meanwhile the remainder of the regiment had broken out in open
prisoners.
mutiny.
Their European
officers
would seem, not wholly in vain, for the 20th, the only
which
had
The impresregiment
yet seized their arms, returned to their lines.
was
for
rushed
out
sion, however,
only momentary,
they suddenly
again and
their duty, and, it
began to fire. The 11th showed more reluctance to carry matters to extremes,
and yielded to their officers so far as not to touch their arm.s, and allow Colonel
Finnis their
commander
rate attempt,
to
a volley of musketry
officer,
It
who was
All restraint
was a despe-
received witli
and the whole of the native regiments shouting defiance, continued their
work of plunder, fire, and murder. "The mutineers," says General Hewitt, in
aside,
a report written on the following day, "then fired nearly all the bungalows in
rear of the centre lines south of the nullah, including Mr. Greathed's the
commissioner and
commissariat
my
officer's
house and
and the miscreants associated with them, was in the immediate vicinity? To
this question General Hewitt gives only the following unsatisfactory
reply:
Proceedings
of the
mutineere.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
566
A.D. 1857.
Incapacity
Hewitt.
"As soon
as the alarm
[Book IX.
artillery, carabineers,
and 60th
rifles
were
got under arms, but by the time we reached the native infantry parade ground,
it was too dark to act with efficiency in that direction
consequently the troops
;
and
officers' lines
of the artillery, carabineers, and 60th rifles, which were, with the exception of
one house, preserved." In other words, instead of advancing on the city he
it, and placing a nullah between himself and
the insurgents, left them at full liberty to do their horrid work, and then
That there was the grossest mismanagement it is
escape without molestation.
we
this
Peshawer
gencies."
command
commissioner of the
had been removed because "physically unfit" for its "emerDuring the time he commanded the Peshawer division," adds the
division,
"
command
the massacre at
Meerut.
whom
official
blundering placed
is
capable.
is
The stables of that house were first burned. We heard the shrieks of the horses.
Then came the mob to the house itself with awful shouts and curses. We heard
the doors broken in, and many, many shots, and at the moment my servant
said they had been to bring away Mrs. C, but had found her dead on the
ground cut horribly, and she on the eve of her confinement." Mr. Rotton the
chaplain gives his testimony, in his work entitled The Chaplain's Narrative,
"It was
mutilated corpses of men, women, and children, were here and there to be seen,
some of them so frightfully disfigured, and so shamefully dishonoured in death,
that the very recollection of such sights chills the blood." After reading these
accounts it is no small relief to find that in the midst of the massacre there were
natives whose fidelity remained unshaken, and
lives in saving others.
who
own
Chap.
ATEOCITIES AT DELHI.
I.]
507
General Hewitt says in his report, "I am led to think the outbreak was
While
not premeditated;" but this is only another of his egregious blunders.
he was satisfying himself with defending the barracks and taking credit for
1
having driven the mutineers out of the station, they were carrying out their
and hurrying along the highroad to Delhi, where they had by previous
Had General Hewitt
arrangement made sure of a welcome reception.
plans
a.d. 1357.
The muti
'"^"^rs
per
mitted to
jieerut/
was more than half-way between the two places, the mutinous infantiy, at
It is
least, could not have crossed before his dragoons came up with them.
said that an officer of this regiment volunteered to undertake the duty with a
it
small detachment,
vengeance which might have been inflicted, the mutineers hurried on without
interruption, and on the morning of the 11th were descried approaching Delhi.
So certain were they that the native regiments would not oppose them, that at
Their
amvai
at Delhi.
first about seven o'clock a body of troopers, numbering not more than thirt}^ or
forty, on reaching the bridge of boats which here crosses the Jumna, galloped
over without slacking bridle, rushed into the city, and made their appearance
in front of the palace, calling clamorously for the king.
On being asked what
they wanted, they told at once that they had revolted, and come from Meerut
resolved on fighting for their faith
and
Had
there been
no traitors in the palace this answer would have sealed their fate, but they knew
better, and delayed not a moment to commence their murderous work.
Captain
of the palace guards, and Mr Simon Fraser, commissioner at Delhi, were among the first victims. The latter after shooting a trooper
Douglas, the
who had
commander
him with
their swords
till
apj^etite,
He was
daughter and another young lady. They were all ruthlessly murdered. After
these horrible atrocities a general massacre of Europeans commenced.
About
in
of
Mr.
themselves
the
house
had
barricaded
a
of
who
Aldwell,
them,
thirty
government pensioner, made a resolute but unavailing defence, but the only
persons who escaped were Mrs. Aldwell and her three children, who, by
dress, succeeded after several hairbreadth escapes in
and
were there confined with about fifty other Europeans,
the
palace,
reaching
whose lives the king was said to have guaranteed. In what way the guarantee
was
fulfilled will
afterwards be seen.
Honibie
HISTORY OF INDIA.
568
A.D. 1857.
AU
the
native
troops at
Delhi join
the mutiny.
[Book IX.
Shortly after the first troopers had crossed the bridge and rushed to the
palace, others took the direction of the cantonments, showing how well they
were aware that the native troops there stationed, instead of encountering them
would at once fraternize with them, and take part in their atrocious
as enemies,
The
British officers
still
when brought
it.
face to face
now
All idea of
it
practicable,
Graves had posted himself there with two guns and al out 300
This exception to the general
sepoys, who were still apparently obeying orders.
for Brigadier
treachery was of short duration, and the handful of Europeans, almost entirely
Meanwhile within tlie
deserted, could only disperse and run for their lives.
city the
rebellion.
The king
Attempts
of the
mutineers
to gain
the Dellu
magazine.
effect to
The next steps were, if possible, still more explicit. The magazine,
situated only at a short distance from the palace, immediately attracted the
mentioned.
attention of the mutineers, and between nine and ten on the mornino- of the
11th
it
was intimated
commanding
king
had sent a guard to take possession of the magazine, and either carry up all the
Europeans within it to the palace or prevent them from leaving. At this time
number
of these Europeans
were animated by a more heroic spirit, and prepared to meet death sooner than
abandon their post. Their first measure accordingly was to close and barricade
the gates, and to place guns double-charged with grape, so as to
command
the
Chap.
I.]
5G9
most likely to be attacked. Inside the gate leading to the park stood
Crow and Sergeant Stewart with lighted matches in their hands,
points
a.d. isst.
sub-conductor
orders, if
Attempt
to
sionofthe
miigazjne.
yards of
howitzers,
act
it
six -pounder
cross-roads,
in
firing
it.
when
not immediately thrown open the king would send down ladders and scale the
After a short delay the ladders arrived and were placed against the
walls.
south-eastern turret.
by climbing over a sloped shed inside the wall, and thus gaining the ladders,
which enabled them to descend on the other side. The mutineers then began
mount, and crowded into the inside of the turret, from which they kept up
a fire of musketry.
Meanwhile the handful of beleaguered Europeans were not
to
magazine they
moment,
Vol. III.
268
Heroic
by nine
officers
ana
soldiers.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
570
A.D. 1857
Signal
played in
wounded
that his
thT^w^r-^
dreadfully
ziue at
Delhi.
[Book IX.
think
life
escape was
so
impossible.
women and
the others
Among
who had
so
after the
saw him
who
I don't
perished
fled to the
magazine at
the commencement of the outbreak.
Lieutenants Willoughby and Forrest
succeeded in reaching the Main Guard at the Cashmere gate.
The latter evenchildren,
he had received,
fell
by the
injuries
Meerut and
was barbarously murdered. Lieutenant Ray nor and Conductor Buckley, who
had sought the same place by a different direction, were more fortunate in
The
reaching it.
Delhi was
now
rebellion
regularly
organized.
entirely in the
throwing
any disguise which he had previously worn, formally accepted the
On the very evening of the outbreak,
sovereignty which was tendered to him.
a royal salute of twenty-one guns announced the fact, and on the following
off
since 184!2,
into the hall of audience, the king took his seat upon it, received the homage
of the chiefs, and began to issue royal orders.
His eldest son, Mirza Moghul,
and were entirely owing to the blood-thirsty rabble, which it was then
impossible to restrain; but a deed of horror must now be related which
at court,
completely destroys this excuse, and proves that the king and his sons were
capable of repeating, in cool blood, the worst atrocities that had yet been
Mention has already been made of some Europeans who fled to
perpetrated.
the palace in the hope of finding it an asylum.
Others had been brought
as
till
number
thither
the whole
exceeded fifty. The recesses of the
prisoners,
palace were sufficiently large to have concealed them all, had they been ten
times more numerous, and the king had only to give the order, which would
by this means have secured their personal safety. The suggestion was actually
made to him, but he declined to accede to it, and shut them up in a place,
We
"We
were
all
human
being,
much
less for
the
It
number
was not
of us
fit for
who were
there.
Chap.
left
I.]
ns without light or
571
air.
a.d. issr.
'~
Mahometans, and also slaves, if the king granted us our lives but the king's Horrid
special armed retainers, from which the guard over us was always furnished, ei^I^m
incited the sepoys to be content with nothing short of our lives, saying we
ehudi^^"'^
;
should be cut up in small pieces and given as food to the kites and crows."
^^^*^'" *''
the palace.
The agony
in
is
'
up, saying,
The army
"
that
it
a people
who
When taken, she and they were disguised as Mahometans, and she
had afterwards managed to complete the disguise by learning and teaching
them the Mahometan confession of faith. In this way they passed as Mussulmans from Cashmere, and were specially excepted, when the order arrived to
escaped.
"
were counted, but I do not know the number a rope was thrown round
whole group, the same as prisoners are usually kept together
when on the move and in this manner they were taken out of my sight." All
out,
to encircle the
marched
off*
women and
children.
"On
thus narrated by a native eye-witness:
reaching the first court-yard, I saw the prisoners all standing together,
surrounded on all sides by the king's special armed retainers, or what you may
The subsequent massacre
is
term his body-guard, and some of the infantry mutineers. I did not observe
any signal orders given; but on a sudden the men just mentioned drcAv their
swords,
and
all
precincts of
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
572
A.D. 1857.
at tliem
till
all.
[Book IX.
men
"
Maasacreat
Delhi.
were the
first-fruits
it,
the principal localities in which about the same time similar outbreaks occurred,
and thus furnish a oreneral idea of the extent to which rebellion was carried,
before effectual measures could be taken to curb or suppress
CHAPTER
The
II.
The
Doab
meet the
crisis
^^^STHE
1^
Delhi, operated as a
common
State of
the Punjab,
it.
could be done
by the
The utmost,
therefore, that
was
to
which the sepoys possessed, by depriving them of their arms. Nowhere was
this policy more quickly adopted and more vigorously carried out than in the
Punjab.
It
must
at the
there
the
possessed peculiar advantages.
warlike spirit of its inhabitants, dictated the necessity of keeping a firm grasp
of it, and hence the troops within it amounted to 59,656.
Of these 10,326
to encounter a
Punjab were admirably turned to account by the authorities, and the province
from which at one time danger was most apprehended, not only remained
comparatively tranquil, but became mainly instrumental in the final suppression
of the mutiny.
Chap.
II.]
573
The Meerut outbreak and the possession of Delhi by the mutineers were
at Lahore by telegraph on the 12th of May.
Sir John Lawrence,
chief-commissioner, was then at Rawal Pindee, situated about 150 miles to
N.N.W., and owing to a stoppage of the telegraph could not be instan-
a.d. issr.
made known
the
the
to
felt
critical
the Punjab,
be
having summoned a
by depriving them
by disarming them
was
at least of their
entirely.
The
latter,
6th, 26th,
light
vigorous
adopted by
'
gomery.'
from this decisive act of disarming extended much further than the removal
of the immediate danger.
It dealt with the Asiatic mind in the manner
which has always proved effectual, and while it confirmed the well-disposed,
deterred many whose hearts were full of treachery from engaging in any overt
act of rebellion.
It
it
frustrated.
On
how
little
On
Bwmderat.
Ferozepoor,
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
574-
A.D.1S57.
Biunderat
eiozepoor.
[Book IX.
by
Sir
John Lawrence,
"On the
in his report
g^jj^pj^^y
native infantry.
repulsed, they
But
No adequate efforts
at their pleasure during the whole night of the 14th May.
or
even
to
Ev^en
those
were made to destroy
who, in their flight
punish them,
from the station towards Delhi, had been seized by the police and the country
people, were not brought to trial until reiterated
orders to that effect
had been
issued.
But un-
fortunately at
for
disarmed,
their
horses were
kept
secret,
From a photograph by
Caldesi,
B aodford, &
withstanding
Co.
circulated
was perpetrated.
At Umballa the native troops had for some time given proofs of disaffection.
As early as the 19th of April mysterious fires began to occur, and were geneof Europeans
Another
blunder at
Umballa.
of the sepoys.
On the 8th of May a prediction
60th native infantry stationed there, "that in the
work
them
afterwards induced to desist, but the portion of the 60th stationed as a guard
over the treasury persisted in retaining their arms during the whole day.
the
Strange to say, this overt act of mutiny was unconditionally forgiven by
military authorities, and the result which might have been anticipated was,
that large portions of these regiments afterwards joined the rebels at Delhi.
The above blunders committed in the Punjab and the Cis-Sutlej states were
in
fortunately only exceptions to the judicious management generally evinced
the same quarters.
The important fort and arsenal of Philour, on the frontier
into
in a
company of European
the fort, and dispossessing
Chap.
II.]
they had
for
had time
575
which
a.d. isst.
saved,
At the time
indispensable to the maintenance of tranquillity in that quarter.
of the outbreak it was occupied by a detachment of the 59th native infantry,
and only seventy European artillerymen. The latter must have been overpowered had they not been reinforced by half a company of her majesty's 81st
hurried over in ekas or native one-horse gigs from Lahore.
"What the former
would have done may be inferred from the fact that it afterwards became
'
necessary to disarm them.
On the 11th of May, when the telegraph announced the outbreak, the forces
occupying the Peshawer valley consisted of about 2800 European and 8000
column of picked
troops.
At
state of af-
peshawer
^^^^*^"
had been
tingent
cripple
off*
it
all
notorious,
for intrigue,
by breaking
to isolated outposts.
general interest
was not
it
first
up into detachments,
steps taken
was
to
has since so greatly distinguished itself, quitted its cantonment at Murdan six
hours after it got the order, and the next morning had accomplished the distance
of thirty miles
Delhi.
on to
assist in
the recovery of
to the sepoys,
become known
and
their
mutinous intentions
The
Precautions were accordingly taken.
disguised.
a
million
was
removed
treasure, amounting to nearly a quarter of
sterling,
from the centre of cantonments to the fort outside, which was at the same time
could no longer be
office,
by Europeans.
garrisoned
revelations.
them
Another
letter,
which did
not pass through the post-office, but fell into the hands of Brigadier Cotton,
commanding at Peshawer, was a formal communication from part of the 51st
native infantry stationed there to the 64th.
After some preliminary salutations, it
instant.
proceeded thus:
Of
this
you
'"The
This
is
on the 22d
addrejssed to }'ou
by the
deuce
HISTORY OF INDIA.
57G
A.D,
1857.
correspon-
dence
detected.
Therefore
brothers
soldiers should
know
Do
all
you
this.
Mahometans
is
all
all
you think best. High and low send their obeisance, benedic"
and
service."
It was added by another hand.
The above is
tion, salutation,
the state of affairs here.
In whatever way you can manage it, come in to
written?
as
instant.
The
its
authorities thus
Outbreak at
Attock and
Nowshera.
Here
Mutinous
whole regiment.
[Book IX.
On
it,
though not
part of the 55th, on duty at the Attock ferry, suddenly quitted their post and
marched away towards Nowshera. On the way they were joined by a detachment of the 24th native infantry, who were escorting commissariat stores to
however, only proved the signal to a more serious outbreak, for the moment he
Nowshera with his prisoners, three companies of the 55th stationed
re-entered
came
to the rescue,
disarming.
After such overt acts a general disarming of the native troops could no
It began with the regiments stationed at Peshawer,
longer be delayed.
consisting of the 5th light cavalry,
infantry.
Another regiment, the 21st native infantry, was exempted, because an infantry
regiment seemed indispensable to carry on the duties of the station, and this
one had hitherto shown no sympathy with the mutineers. Besides the above
there were two regiments of irregular cavalry, the 7th and 1 8th.
These also
were exempted
was
The
at least problematical.
Four native
The next
step necessary
at Murdan.
Chap.
II.]
577
European infantry, 250 irregular cavalry, horse-levies and police, and eight
guns, left Peshawer under command of Colonel Chute of her majesty's 70th,
a.d. issr.
Nichoisdn
defeats the
mutineers,
ligence
hills
than they rushed from the fort and fled tumultuously towards the
They had got so far ahead before the pursuit commenced, and
of Swat.
was
overtaking them. Thus brought to bay the mutineers faced about, and a
Nicholson's
desperate encounter took place, but not with doubtful issue.
impetuous charge drove his enemies before him, and they fled, scattering themselves over the country in companies and sections.
The pursuit was continued,
and with
so
much
slain
and
either anticipated
at Boolundshuhur.
officers in
the
sympathizing with the mutineers, had readily assisted in hunting down some
troopers of the 3d cavalry, wlio, after taking part in the atrocities at Meerut,
had wandered into their neighbourhood, probably in search of plunder. They
had given a still stronger proof of fidelity, by not only refusing to listen to a
Brahmin, who had come among them as a secret agent to incite them to
mutiny, but by taking him prisoner and handing him over to their commander.
It
is difficult
The
up
to this time,
though they may have been shaken by the sinister influences brought to bear
on them, they had not formed any decided resolution, but were waiting the
course of events in that dubious vacillating state
from either side is sufficient to turn the scale.
We
was an impulse of
Vol. III.
2S9
Mutiny
in
HISTORY OF INDIA.
578
A.D. 1857.
Mutiny
in
the Doab.
on
tlie
parade ground
when
the sentence
was
[Book IX.
....
sight filled
r,
their
"
treasury, plundered
that no blood-thirstiness
lives
were taken.
This out-
break, which took place on the 20th of May, was forthwith responded to by
the other three detachments by that of Mynpoorie on the 22d, of Etawah on
After
tlicsc revolts in
in Hiine-
and Rohiicund.
week
elapsed without
any other
sudden onset, and a signal retribution inflicted for the atrocities of which they
had been guilty, the revolt would have received its death-blow. The recapture
troops which could be hastily mustered for the
purpose was impossible, and the continued possession of the old Mogul capital
by the insurgents gave a new and irresistible stimulus to revolt. AH at once,
of Delhi, however,
after a short
by any
and delusive
place,
though in
perpetrated.
together with a
Chap.
not,
S PEE AD
II.]
OF THE MUTINY.
579
The
first
Bombay
hght cavalry (lancers), showing how little sympathy the army of that presidency
liad with that of Bengal, hastened to the rescue, and repeatedly charged the
a.d. 1857,
Outbreak at
Bareilly.
mutineers.
It
success.
The
disparity of
numbers was
European
escape.
Bareilly,
residents,
protected
by the
lancers,
women and
The
children
evil
subsided that the danger seemed, at least for the present, to be passing away.
The sepo3's themselves employed all the arts of Asiatic treachery in countenancing this delusion.
Professing deep contrition for having been misled by
counsel, they were now only anxious that the past should be forgotten,
and they requested, as a proof of restored confidence, that the women and
With this
children who had been sent off to Nynee Tal should return.
evil
request
assuring them, in confident terms, of the fidelity of his troops, provided their
fears were set at rest by an assurance that they were not to be punished for
any previous
irregularities.
The
when
destination,
traitors at
31st of
opening on their officers both with grape and musketiy, firing the bungalows,
plundering the treasury, and throwing open the jail, which contained nearly
8000 prisoners. These mingling with a populace notoriousl}'' one of the most
turbulent in India, had full scope to commit every form of outrage.
The
insurrection being thus completely triumphant, soon found fitting representaof the former, in the person
tives, both of the military and the civil authority
of
artillery,
Treachery of
the sepoys.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
580
A
D. 1S57.
numerous
Atrocities
and
shaii-^
jehanpoor.
[Book IX.
staff;
and of the
who
latter, in
repaid
the person of
British government,
which had pensioned him, by turning traitor, and employing the forms of law
In this way two of the European judges, charged with
^^ niurder its officers.
imaginary crimes, were subjected to the mockery of a
trial,
condemned
to death,
thirsty, were so intent on plunder that they allowed their officers to escape.
It was otherwise at Shahjehanpoor, where the 28th native infantry, choosing
the same Sunday as at Bareilly, shot one officer on the parade ground, and
ness and ferocity of this sacrilegious attack, the greater part of the European
residents escaped into Oude.
Here, however, instead of the asylum which
they hoped to find, the whole party, men, women, and children, fell into the
hands of savages, still worse than those from whom they had fled, and were
Mutiny
at
Neemucli,
inScindia'D
dominions.
'
now naturally
J
lead US to tracc the course of the revolt in that province, but some advantage
localities.
Neemuch belonged
to
there-
included in
it,
drawn
was indeed scarcely any room for doubt. At the very commencement of
the outbreak he had come forward of his own accord to place his body-guard
there
and
of the Gwalior contingent, if any efforts on his part could secure it,
would remain unshaken. One more ominous feature was thus added to the
fidelit}^
revolt,
when
it
Chap.
MUTINY AT NEEMUCH.
II.]
those of Bengal,
Neemnch
anS would
581
The troops
and 72d regiments of infantry, the 1st regiment of cavalry, and the 4th company of artillery. For some time symptoms
of disaffection had been visibly manifested, and on the two last days of May,
at
and the
a.d. iss
Mutiny at
an actual rising was hourly expected. From some cause, however, it suddenly
On the 3d another
subsided, and the 2d passed in comparative tranquillity.
change took place, the disturbance became worse than ever, and at last,
towards midnight, the discharge of a gun, the preconcerted signal, announced
that the
regiment seemed not to have fully made up their minds, and the
left wing
and joined the right wing in the fort,
both making loud protestations of unshaken fidelity. Meantime the work of
destruction went on below, and many barbarous murders were committed.
The officers within the fort, looking down from its ramparts, saw the air lighted
marched
residents,
gave so much credit to the loyal professions of the garrison, that they scarcely
doubted their own individual safety. On this point, however, they were soon
when
picket placed at the gate had been intrusted, coolly ordered it to be thrown
When the officers attempted to resist this treacherous order, they were
open.
significantly
garrison,
reminded
though
tliat
This intimation
left
At
this Mutiny
situated
The
ment, had given utterance to it in the most unequivocal form, by spurning the
Under such circumstances,
pension allotted to her by the British government.
it
was not
to
Jhansi.
at
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
582
A
D. 1S57.
Mutiny at
Jhausi.
[Book IX.
the
first intelligence
sufficed to
keep both the sepoys and their tempters in check, and the actual mutiny did
not take place till the -Ith of June.
The Europeans, forewarned of their danger,
fearful.
fifty-five,
women and
wretches by
whom
children included,
amounted only
to
hundreds of blood-thirsty
The struggle at once commenced, and
to withstand the
the heroic band, fighting for life and all that was dear to them, made good
their defence for four days.
At last, when their resources had begun to fail,
and
Horrible
nias^sacre.
was nearly
The ranee sent her
their position
desperate, a
formidable
enemy
surrender must speedily have been forced, we can easily understand how
readily the terms were listened to, when the mutineers offered, on the delivery
of the
fort, to
all
within
it.
This
offer,
after
it
had been
confirmed by the most solemn oaths, was accepted, and all who had survived
the miseries of the siege, having laid down their arms, were beginning to retire,
and
Jlutiny at
Agra.
off"
all
to a place of execution,
all
India,
and
still
Fortunately, indeed, it
troops, and it was therefore certain that, happen what might, it would not fall
The troops stationed in it at the time of
like that city without a struggle.
the revolt were the 8d European fusiliers, a troop of European artillerj', and
two sepoy regiments, the 44th and 67th native infantry. Among the latter,
when
the first intelligence of the mutiny arrived, the excitement was extreme,
and the mischief which they meditated was indicated by numerous incendiary
fires.
Their object in raising them apparently was to lure the European troops
to their lines, for the purpose of extinguishing the flames, and take advantage
of their absence while thus employed, to make themselves masters of the fort.
If this was the plan, the judicious arrangements of the authorities defeated it.
Knowing
that everything depended on the possession of the fort, they made its
and never reduced the garrison so far as to give any
Chap.
MUTINY AT ALLAHABAD.
II.]
583
parade ground, and harangued them in a manner which called forth the loudest
The sepoys in particular seemed unable to
protestations of inviolable fidelity.
a.d. issr.
state of
matters
at-
Agia.
give sufficient utterance to their applause, and continued to make the air ring
with their cheers long after he had retired. At this time the depth of native
duplicity
was
effect
which
his address
there-
who
act of treachery.
could
It proved otherwise.
own
ill
No
open mutiny,
The incident was so far fortunate that it completely opened the eyes of the autliorities, and by compelling
them to disarm both regiments, as utterly unworthy of confidence, undoubtedly
prevented a more serious cata^rophe.
and marched
ofi
While Agra thus narrowly escaped, Allahabad, situated at the junction of Mutiny at
AUahabad.
11 miThis
the Jumna with the Ganges, was subjected to a stul more nery ordeal.
of the lower provinces of Bengal, and
city, though justly regarded as the key
containing an arsenal with 40,000 stand of arms, large numbers of cannon, and
had been left entirely at the mercy of native troops.
few soldiers, forming the magazine staff, were Europeans, but the garrison
within the fortress was composed of a regiment of Sikhs, about 400 strong,
and a company of the 6th native infantry, while the remainder of the latter
regiment occupied the cantonments. In this state of matters an assault by the
sepoys must have been successful, and Allahabad, with its immense military
Fortustores, would, like Delhi, have become a stronghold of the mutineers.
HISTORY or INDIA.
584
AD.
1S57.
Mutiny
Allahabad
when they
found themselves suddenly displaced. They endeavoured, however, to make a
merit of necessity, and as a cover to their treachery, the whole regiment made* |
such professions of fidelity, that the thanks of the governor-general were
principal gate of the fortress,
at
[Book IX.
publicly conveyed to
know no
them on
they
sat at mess,
officers as
their comrades,
still
startled
by the
intelligence that
hastened to the
lines, in
the
nearl}"
3000
prisoners,
work
its
of
The
for
which containedj
fifty Europeans
and were obliged!
About sixty miles below Allahabad, and nearly due east from it, stood!
If religion had anything to doj
Benares, the great stronghold of Hindooism.
with the revolt, it might have been anticipated that this was the place of allj
Its
it would burst forth with the greatest fury.
population]
was
notorious
for
and
the
80,000
turbulence,
only troops in whomj
exceeding
full confidence could be placed were 190 of her majesty's 10th foot, and a smalll
others where
1
contrary, were
to deprive
known
them of
to be mutinous,
their arms.
it
was
resolvec
to have been!
immediately executed, but was fixed only for the 5tli. In the interval theJ
sepoys, through some unknown channel became aware of what was intended;]
and
Azimghur, a
place
about
disarming was commenced by suddenly locking the bells or huts where the arms
were kept. By this time the sepoys were equally on the alert, and havingi
burst open the doors of the bells gained possession of their arms by open force.
The struggle now commenced. On the one side stood the Europeans, mustering
not mpre than 200, and on the other native troops to the
number
of about 2000.
Chap.
EEVOLT IN OUDE.
II.]
585
themselves.
is
a.d. isst.
cause
Jrutiny at
suppressed.
with the Bengal troops, acted rather under the infiuence of some unaccountable
Favoured by this combination of
panic than from any premeditated design.
circumstances the Europeans gained a comparatively easy victory, only four,
one of
til
em
the
one wounded.
commander
This
first
of the irregular cavalry, being killed, and twentyhad an excellent eflfect upon the populace,
success
who, contrary to what had been feared, did not venture to rise.
We now hasten towards Oucle, which had become and was destined long
Its first mutiny, and the suppression of it,
a main centre of revolt.
be
to
in Illustrated
London News.
*^
doubted, Sir
gained,
and endeavoured
Lucknow, situated on the north side of the city, close to the right
of the Goomtee.
Beside it were the treasury and the hospital, and a
residency of
bank
ofiices.
a cruciform building used as barracks by her majesty's 32d, the only European
At some distance to the north of the barracks
infantry then in the province.
stood another building called the Kuddum Rasool, which had been converted
into a
powder magazine.
About a
mile above the residency, and on the same side of the river,
Khana and Sheesh Muhul, forming part of an old palace of the Kings of Oude.
Vol. III.
270
Mutiny
Oude.
in
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
586
A.D. 1S57.
Respective
positions of
the Euro-
pean and
native
troops in
Oude.
[Book IX.
In the one were the head-quarters of the brigadier commanding the Oude
irregular force, and in the other a magazine containing many stands of arms
and native guns. Still farther up the river, and to the westward, was the
of the 4th and 7th
palace of Moosa Bagh, occupied by the commanding officers
were
cantoned
in its vicinity.
which
of
Oude
irregular infantry,
regiments
About a quarter
Goomtee was
crossed
by an
iron bridge, the road from which led almost in a straight line to the Muriaon and
Moodkeepoor cantonments. These, situated three miles north from Lucknow,
were at this time occupied by the 13th, 48th, and 71st native infantry, a regiment of regular native cavalry, and two batteries of native and one of European
artillery.
of the 2d
river,
as the
The only other military station in the vicinity of Lucknow was that
Oude irregular cavalry at Chukkur Kotee, on the left bank of the
nearly opposite to Kuddum Rasool, and nearly as far from the residency
Muriaon cantonments. Sir Henry Lawrence, who obtained full military
powers giving him the command of all the forces in Oude, at once saw the
Four guns were
necessity of altering the above arrangement of the troops.
brought from the Muriaon cantonment to the lines of her majesty's 32d, and
120 men of this regiment were intrusted with the protection of the treasury
and residency, which had formerly been entirely at the mercy of native guards.
while the
tinje,
strength where the military stores might be concentrated, and an asjdum might
be found in case of attack, was still wanted. For this purpose choice was made
Muchee Bhowun, situated on the right bank of the river, about half-way
between the residency and the Dowlut Khana. At the same time, though an
attack on the residency was scarcely feared, some slight defensive works, chiefly
of the
as a precaution against
The treasury
also
different districts,
Position of
Sir
Hugh
Wheeler at
Cawnpoor.
During the above preparations the progress of the mutiny in other quarters
had added greatly to the difficulty of maintaining tranquillity in Oude,
where there was reason to apprehend that any rising would, in all })robanot only involve the whole province, but extend beyond its limits,
particularly to the important town and district of Cawnpoor, only separated
bility,
from
it
by the Ganges.
would march
he formed
Chap.
EEVOLT IN OUDE.
II.]
587
Reinforcements had been promised by the government and were daily expected, but the case was so urgent that Sir Henry
Lawrence could not refuse his application for aid, and detached to him on the
furnish a temporary asylum.
21st of
May
of cavalry.
a.d. isst.
Position of
men
tempting to be refused.
It consisted of
wheeierat
'-'^"''^p'"^'-
cavalry and
of Bajee Row, the last of the peishwas, who, when reduced to extremit}^, had
obtained by treaty a pension of 90,000 a yeai-, and a residence at Bithoor,
situated on the
was
his death
his claim
refused.
o'clock,
when
the light
company
Rising in
residing in the cantonment, hastily proceeded with his staff to that part of it where the Europeans,
mustering 800 men, with six guns, were stationed. Two of these guns were
sufficient
warning.
Sir
71st, after
'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
588
A.D. 1857.
Defeat of
the Oiule
mutineers
Book IX.
European officers, who was found pierced with bayonets and musket-balls.
The 48th, whose position on the parade ground was so distant from the guns as
to be beyond the reach of grape, did not at first take an active part in the
their
fift}^-
seven
men around
the colours.
In the
conflict
bungalows, and laying the cantonments in ruins, had sustained a defeat; but it
still remained for them to show whether they had so much confidence in tlieir
London News.
mob.
During the above proceedings great alarm was felt in the city. A company!
who had been removed from the Mucliee Bhowun for disaff*ection|
a few days before to another station, on
being marched to the residency
of the 71st,
andj
ordered to pile their arms, refused to obey.
From fear of precipitating an
This indication of weakoutbreak, it was deemed prudent not to coerce them.
ness
its
natural result.
On
budmashes or mob of the city rose, and about 6000 of them, after crossing the
Goomtee by a ford, moved towards Muriaon in order to join the mutineers,
with
whom
trated the
budmashes returned
When
this
scheme was
frus-
Chap.
REVOLT IN OUDE.
II-l
and
the insurrection
to
be neglected,
was
and
589
after
suppressed.
the European
all
an hour of heavy
firing a.d.
issr.
Its occurrence,
women and
residency.
The mutiny
at
Lucknow operated
Outbreak at
them
as
purposes, Oude, after its incorporation with British India, had been distributed.
Beginning with Khyrabad, or the north-west division, our attention is first
called to its principal station Seetapoor,
Lucknow had
day, a cry having been raised that the 10th irregulars were plundering the
treasury. Colonel Birch, of the 41st, hastened with two companies to the rescue,
Two
it
to a strong
police.
It
was
His defenders,
upon him, and commenced an
when
called
upon
by firing
women, and children.
The European fugitives from Shahjehanpoor had arrived on the 1st of June
Mohuindee, another station of the Khyrabad division, then occupied by a
company of the 9th Oude irregular infantry. By judicious management they
were for a time restrained, but on the 4th, when fifty of their mutinous comat
rades
came
in
Seetapoor, at the
spare the lives of all the Europeans at the station, but take
protection.
With
them under
their
were obliged to be contented, and the whole party, including eight women and
The next morning, the 5th, the
four children, commenced the journey.
Europeans were abandoned by their escort, and told to go ahead wherever they
~ the worst they pushed on, but were overtaken within a mile
Fearing
liked.
Aurungabad. "Then," says Captain Patrick Orr, one of the only two indif
L
11
viduals whose lives were spared, "the most miernal carnage ever witnessed by
of
111T
man
began."
Shells, an old
under a
tree,
Ti
seized a gun,
and were
there,
body of
the
Atrocious
massacre
nearAu
ruugabad.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
590
A.D. 1857.
infantry,
and a regular
to a talookdar of the
[Book IX.
Shahgunge, in
its vicinity,
belonged
name
Proceedings
of Kajah Mansingh, who, in consequence of information rcceived from Calcutta, had been arrested by order of Sir Henry Lawrence,
tineersat
^^^ ^
'
threatened, ofiered, if
when
This man,
offer, and
mutinous
The
Mansingh,
troops,
perhaps made aware of the agreement, resolved on immediate action, and began
by demanding, on the plea of greater security, that the treasure should be
The authorities feeling themselves helpless were
placed under their charge.
obliged to comply, and at the same time began to prepare for the worst, by
sending their families to Shahgunge. The ladies in the cantonments, however,
declined to quit them, because they were satisfied with the assurance of full
protection given by the native officers, and solemnly sworn to by those of the
22d.
Matters were in this precarious state on the Sth of June, when the 17th
native infantry, who had mutinied at Azimghur, on the frontiers of Oude, and
carried off" a large amount of treasure, arrived at Begumgunge, within a march
of Fyzabad.
On
threw
off* all
iMassacre
at
Begum-
gunge.
disguise,
and told
fell,
drowned or cut
was
to pieces the
and carried
offT
the bank.
"
either
Colonel Goldney
I
am an
old man,"
he said; "will you disgrace yourself by my murder?" The appeal was vain.
The miscreants knew no pity, and shot him down. A few by almost superhuman exertions distanced their pursuers and escaped.
Perilous
condition of
Luckuow.
While mutiny thus spread itself at all the principal stations of Oude, the
its capital became daily more alarming, and the idea of a siege,
condition of
weakness than of
that
Chap.
REVOLT IN OUDE.
II.]
591
mto
it,
lines, in
now amounting
to
it
consideration,
a.d. 1857.
be disarmed.
Sir
Heniy
illness that
homes
till
tion
and
November.
but ultimately
all
were
and go to
with a great show of zeal
were Sikhs.
of
whom
a large propor-
3d regiment of military
Immediately
which furnished the jail guard, and took most of the
Lucknow, mutinied, and marched off on the road to Sultanpoor.
police,
By
to
him
The
civil duties at
so far recovered as to
be able
attention
to stand a siege.
of treason, to be arrested,
and confined as
Fortification
and provisioningof
dency
state prisoners.
a brother of the ex-king, and two Delhi princes, who had for some time been
resident at Lucknow.
New levies of troops were also raised, particularly a
officers
of
disbanded regiments. A large addition was also made to the native police, no
fewer than 2000 having been enlisted, not so much with a view to permanent
their
still
more important
step.
At
morning there
had assembled at the iron bridge a force consisting of 520 infantry, 300 of
them belonging to her majesty's 32d, 116 cavalry, of whom thirty-six were
rest Sikhs,
sir
Henry
Lawrence
marches
mutineers
at
Chmhtt.
HISTOEY or INDIA.
592
A.D. 1S57.
.
Sir
Henry
mTrohir
against the
mutineers
at Chinhut.
[Book IX.
Some
Lawrence, heading this force in person, set out to attack the mutineers.
time was lost before the march commenced, and the heat became oppressive.
The
which
is
^^gyQ^j
^Iic
''
and no
Kokrail.
which apparently from some oversight no refreshment was served out, the
force began to move sluggishly along this embankment, and the videttes had
proceeded a mile and a half when they were fired upon from the village of
The howitzer was ordered to the front, and was
Ismailo-unere, on the left.
followed
the British line deployed, the 82d taking post on the left, between Ismailgung(
and the line of road, and the native infantry crossing the road to the right,j
advancing with their wdiole army, cavalry, infantry, and artillery, in two large'^
of
separate masses, one on each of the British flanks, evidently for the purpose
had
turning them. This attack was met by a fire of grape, which, however,
little effect in checking the advance, as parties of cavalry continued pushing
forward, while the infantry made for Ismailgunge to cut off the 32d, who were
At this crisis,
the fire.
posted beyond it, and lying on the ground to avoid
four guns belonging to Alexander's Oude irregular battery were ordered from
the right to the left in order to check the enemy's progress. The difficulty of
Disastrous
result.
the ground, and some reluctance on the part of the drivers, deprived this
movement of the advantage expected from it, and the cavalry were ordered to
Not so the Sikhs, who
The volunteers did their part admirably.
charge.
fled.
Ismailgunge having in consequence fallen
and a deadly fii-e been opened from it, it was absoThe 32d advanced boldly for this purpose,
lutely necessary to dislodge them.
This repulse
but after losing several of their officers fell back in disorder.
It could not
but be disastrous.
was
It
Chap.
MUTINY AT CAWNPOOR.
II.]
It
consisted, as
593
was afterwards
ascertained, of
5550 infantry, 800 cavalry, and 160 artillery, with twelve nine-pounder guns.
The Chinhut disaster was, almost as a matter of course, followed by the
defection of
faithful.
many
native soldiers,
7th,
who had
till
a.d. i857.
Blockade of
ths rGsi-
dency at
Meanwhile, the exulting mutineers continued their pursuit unchecked till they
reached the Goomtee, and attempted to force the brick bridge above the Muchee
residency.
When
city,
Three days before the disaster at Chinhut, a horrible massacre had been
There the mutiny, which for some days had been
perpetrated at Cawnpoor.
broke
out
at
last on the 5th of June.
It began with the
hourly dreaded,
2d light cavalry, and soon extended to the three infantry regiments, the 1st,
The whole, after setting fire to some bungalows, and commit53d, and 56th.
ting other outrages, set off in the direction of Newabgunge, a village situated
a little to the north-west.
Three days before the rising, all the non-military
Christian residents
furnished with provisions, calculated to maintain 1000 persons for thirty days.
Unfortunately, the entrenchment itself was totally unfitted to stand a siege of
such a duration.
Vol. III.
It
different quarters,
2T1
and
Mutiny
at
Cawnjjoor.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
i94
A.D. 1857.
if
assailed with
bank inclosing
Sir
it
Hugh
Wheeler's
experience and
entreuchmeiit at
Cawnpoor.
[Book IX.
and
it is
ability as Sir
difficult to
explain
how an
have
officer
fallen into
of so
it.
much
He had a
guns and military stores, and near it the treasury, which happened at the time
to be well replenished.
Nor were these the only advantages possessed by this
Ravines on the one
locality.
side,
other,
gave the magazine strong natural defences while a high inclosing wall of
masonry, together with numerous substantial buildings, supplied at once the
;
means of
clung to the belief that either they would not mutiny at all, or would at the
The
worst, after temporary outrage, quit the station and hasten off to Delhi.
latter
was the
course on which they had resolved, and they would have carried
it
had they not been diverted from it by Nana Sahib, whose treachery
was now about to be consummated. His troops had been intrusted with the
into effect,
The
it.
When
Attack on
Sahib.
it
"We have
His application, dated the 14th June, was in the following terms:
been besieged since the 6th by the Nana Sahib, joined by the whole of the
native troops
who broke
twenty-four pounders
Sir
two days
it.
On the
18th of June,
Chap.
MUTINY AT CAWNPOOE.
II.]
was then
"
Sir
Hugh
o9o
regrets
Our
guns.
Our
loss
a.d. isst.
we
and we are
siege of
by Nana
^^^'^^''
theii"
heavy
have been cannonaded for six hours a day by twelve guns. This evening, in
upwards of thirty shells (mortars) were thrown into the entrench-
three hours,
This has occurred daily for the last eight days an idea may be formed
and how little protection the barracks afford to the women
ment.
of our casualties,
Any
aid to be effective
position
must be immediate.
would be untenable."
mentioning that the attack had commenced on the Gth, and been continued
for
"
The condition of misery experienced
nights, proceeds thus:
by all is utterly beyond description in this place. Death and mutilation in all
their forms of horror have been daily before us.
The numerical amount of
been
casualties has
was about
Of
900.
tants, while
frightful,
these, not
more than a third of the whole (330) were women and children.
classes, death was making fearful havoc, and the dead bodies
In both of these
'
....
the 13th of June, the enemy's live shells, which had previously obliged the
officers to strike their tents, set fire to the barrack which was used as an
assistance,
and
wounded, who
day in holes which had been dug in the ground, and were obliged to pass the
night in the open air, beneath the bank of the entrenchment. It was impossible
ranks of
tlie
garrison,
was
was
at hand.
The
first
thought
Horrors of
t''^ siege.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
596
A.D. 1857.
Siege of
cawiipoor.
was
to
assume the
offensive,
and by a desperate
[Book IX.
effort either seize
and spike
known, it
We
that
Sir
the 24th of June, Mrs. Greenaway, a very aged European lady, who, with
her family, had been captured by the Nana, and only spared on the promise of
On
paying a lac of rupees for their ransom, arrived at the entrenchment, bearing a
note from him, the purport of which was, that all soldiers, and Europeans who
had nothing to do with Lord Dalhousie's government, and would lay down
their arms,
Captain Moore
Sir
Hugh Wheeler
he should consider
best,
authorized
and on the
into,
by which
Sir
menced.
all
These having been completed, on the 2Gth, the whole garrison, men,
children, quitted the entrenchment, and proceeded towards the
women, and
These they were permitted to enter without the least molestation, but
no sooner had they embarked, than a horrid massacre began. Two guns, which
had been concealed, were suddenly run out, and opened their fire. At the same
time tlic scpoys, TOshiug in from all directions, began to ply their muskets. In
boats.
Treachery of
the rebels.
the confusion, the men, instead of attempting to unmoor the boats, jumped into
swim for their lives. Three boats out of the whole number
the water to
succeeded in reaching the opposite side but it was only to encounter a new
In attempting to continue their flight, they were so closely pursued,
attack.
that before they got a mile down the stream, two of them were swamped, and
;
mark
who by pouring
made
it
In this extremity
impossible to employ any
fourteen of the party undertook the desperate task of rushing to the bank and
that
charging their savage assailants. The heroic deed was so far successful
effectual
off
flight.
Chap.
MASSACKE AT CAWNPOOE.
II.]
proceeding in this
way about
597
it
troops,
was
and
a.d. 1857.
Treachery of
up wood
The smoke and heat soon became
meet them
in
open
fight,
piled
five
the rebels,
by
swimming. Though
took aim at them at every available point, none of them was struck, and they
had gone nearly three miles, when one of the party, an artilleryman, feeling-
swim on
He
Atrocities of
NanaSaLib.
fell
to
his back.
into the
women and
now
whom
he had
become the victims of one of the most inhuman massacres ever perpetrated.
Having taken a general survey of the progress of the sepoy revolt, and
pointed out the leading localities in which the successive mutinies occurred, our
next task must be to explain the measures employed by government to meet
the crisis.
For a time, as has been seen, the danger was greatly underrated,
and in the belief that the disaffection was limited to a few regiments, and
would either disappear of its own accord or be suppressed without difficulty,
the interval
due account.
which elapsed after the first notes of warning was not turned to
The European regiment which had been brought from Rangoon
was on the point of returning, when the disastrous tidings from Meerut and
Government
measures.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
598
AD.
1857.
Measures
government,
The
Delhi arrived.
[Book IX.
authorities,
which they were dreaming had been the gathering of a fearful storm, would
fain have acted with vigour, but found themselves for a time almost destitute
Large reinforcements of European troops were absolutely
but
required,
though no time was lost in urging their immediate despatch from
of the
means.
all
The orders
made to
dimensions.
the harangues
"The Govemor-general
=>
tionbythe
governor
A wider
general.
,...
ttii
that offence to their religion or injury to their caste is meditated by the government of India, are malicious falsehoods. The governor-general in council
He knows
and
made
to persuade
have been already deceived and led astray by these tales. Once more then the
governor-general in council warns all classes against the deceptions that are
declaration,
and he emphatically proclaims that the government of India enterand that nothing has
observances of religion
of India has never deceived
council
is
now
calls
upon them
addressed to those
shown
who
its
hitherto
by
lies.
This notice
protection
and
justice.
to pause before
into danger
and
The governor-general
they listen to
false guides
aU such persons
who would lead them
in council enjoins
and
traitors
diso^race."
subject
Chap.
II.]
of religion
was the
599
date government
knew
a.d. isot.
of
the atrocities which whole regiments of sepoys had perpetrated at Meerut and
Delhi.
It was surely too much to ignore these facts, instead of boldly de-
all
Proclamation of Mr.
dis-
unnecessary to wait for final instructions, and on his own responsibility issued a proclamation, which, by offering a
general pardon to all except the murderers of private 'persons, seemed to
governor-general on the subject, thought
it
Fortunately the want of foresight which had been evinced in allowing India to
be so much denuded of European troops was remedied to some extent by two
most opportune contingencies.
The Persian war having been brought to a
successful termination sooner
while those which were prosecuting their voyage for the war in China
had not proceeded so far as to be beyond reach, and in consequence of a message
dition,
effect
where the astounding intelligence from India had produced an almost unparalleled amount of excitement and indignation, the general voice had proclaimed
that,
of troops
on a
scale
it
While large reinforcements from other quarters were thus secured, immediate steps were taken to collect all the available troops within reach of Delhi,
and hurry them forward in order to attempt its recapture. As part of the force
_
near Simla, where the Honourable George Anson, the commander-in-chief, was
then residing, started under his immediate directions, and arrived on the 23d
of May at Umballa.
Here at that date the troops assembled included, in
addition to the above regiments, the 9tli and a squadron of the 4th lancers, the
He had formed them
60th native infantry, and two troops of horse-artillery.
into
two small brigades, the one under Brigadier Halifax and the other under
Preparations
for recovery
of Delhi.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
600
AD.
1S57.
Preparations
of^DeikL^'^
[Book IX.
Brigadier Jones, and was preparing to leave for Kurnaul, where he expected
that the whole would arrive on the 30th, when he was seized with cholera, and
General Reid immediately succeeded as provincial commander-in-chief, but was in such wretched health as to be incapable of condied on the 27th.
ducting the intended operations against Delhi, which were therefore intrusted
To co-operate with the force thus advancing, a detachto Sir Henry Barnard.
consisting of a
rifles,
two squad-
rons of 6th dragoon guards (carabineers), 50 troopers of the 4th irregulars, twoj
companies of native sappers, and six guns, four of them belonging to Scott's
battery, and two (eighteen-pounders) belonging to Tombs' troop of horse-
ally regarded
as unfounded,
about four in the afternoon, a picket of irregulars who had been stationed
beyond the bridge galloped into the camp to announce that the enemy was atj
panics of
charge
rifles
ment was
decisive,
and the
first
made a gallantj
The move-
rebels,
outnumbering
Five guns, two of heavy
calibre, were]
the trophies of the victory.
The struggle, however, was not yet terminated.
Trustino- to the strength of the village in which thev had entrenched themfold,
flight.
by which they did not fail to profit, and they kept their guns at such a distance
that no new captures could be made.
This cowardly precaution, and the intense!
which
made
all
but
heat,
pursuit
impossible, favoured then* escape, and enabled]
them to bear the tidings of their own defeat to their comrades at Delhi.
Encounter of
The Mccrut brigade did not again start till the 4th of June, and proceeded!
the Meerut
-m
ib-i-it
ij!
u\
brigade with
,-,
the du'cction
i^
Ohap.
II.]
GUI
Tii^
and
gallantry,
fire
this service
to Lieutenant-colonel Herbert,
is57.
victory of
Badulee Ke
serai.
officer,
non-commis-
officer, and men of the 75th regiment, my thanks are most especially due;
the 1st Europeans supported the attack, and on the second brigade coming up
sioned
and threatening their right, and Brigadier-general Grant showing the head of
his column and guns on their left rear, the enemy abandoned the position
guns on the ground.
Ke
After
all
Serai
is
work
"
of the day
British force
arrives
on
the heights
enemy might take advantage of the delay, and interthan those he had just overcome. He resolved
formidable
obstacles
more
pose
therefore, though aware that his men were much exhausted, to push on, and at
into
to Brigadier
till
extremity of the city. The second column, as soon as it came within range of
the guns in position on this ridge, was exposed to so destructive a fire that the
design of forcing it by a direct attack in front was abandoned for a movement
it
in flank.
now
first
The
abandoned their guns and retreated into the city, while the columns
advancing from opposite directions swept the ridge, and finally met upon it at
Hindoo Row's house, which thenceforward became the key of the British position.
rebels
On
was
force received a most valuable addition by the arrival of the guides, forming the
On the 12th of May, when
first instalment of reinforcements from the Punjab.
they received orders to march, they were at Hotee Murdan in the vicinity of
Peshawer.
By the following morning they had made a march of thirty miles
still
Arrival of
the guides
from the
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
602
AD.
1S57.
[Book IX.
ordinary rate of marching must have been two months in reacliing it, but
forward had always been their watchword, and by one of the most rapid
by
had
British
loud
marched into
^'^
;?,
Varions
attempts of
the rebels
to turn the
British
position.
all
morning was
head
march they
Officer of thk Guide Corps.
at the
1.
it,
wei'e
certainly
was
The
afternoon
to aid in repelling it, displayed a gallantry amounting to rashness, and followed the fleeing rebels up to the walls of Delhi. Having thus exposed themselves to a murderous fire they suffered severel}'.
Captains Daly and Hawes
w^ere
commanded the
following day.
the enemy persisted for several successive days.
On the 9th, 10th, and 11th,
their endeavour was to turn our right ffank by gaining possession of Hindoo
Row's house, where our heaviest guns had been placed in battery. Foiled in
they turned to the left flank, and on the 12th assailed it with the utmost
At this time the British left extended no farther north along the ridge
fury.
than the Flagstaff" tower, immediately beyond which was a deep cut, through
this
which a steep road, leading from the city to the cantonments, had been carried.
erected at the tower commanded this road, and made it impossible
for the rebels to approach by it but to the north of the tower the ridge sloped
A battery
rapidly
down toward
the sandy
cantonments.
bank of the Jumna, while another compararound the extremity of the ridge towards the
facilities
of attack in this
situ-
Chap.
II.]
ated close to the river, about a mile and a half north of the
603
city,
and laying
it
in ruins, had placed a battery in the grounds, and made their position so strong,
that a military council, held in the British camp on the 11th, had decided
ao-ainst
The danger
of allowing
them
a.d. isst.
Attempts of
the rebels
to tum the
position.
the extremity of the ridge to gain the cantonments, and thus place
themselves in the British rear. This alarming attack was only discovered when
round
b}'
and created
so
much
was
for a short time in imminent danger, and a lodgment was nearly effected in
the cantonment itself
It was not long, however, before sufficient means of
resistance
rebels, repulsed at
Even
which followed, they were completely driven from the Metcalfe grounds, which
thereafter remained in British possession.
It
would not
12tli of
of wresting
impossibility
'
^
Delhi
,
more
brilliant success
before Dellii.
From
Illustrated
The
London News.
The
boldly taken up a position before it, had already become apparent.
magazine blown up by Lieutenant Willoughby was only that which contained
the small arms, and the rebels consequently possessed an almost inexhaustible
The short trial which had been made
supply of guns and military stores.
sufficed to
show that with an artillery far inferior both in number and calibre
enemy, and troops barely sufficient to maintain the position, and
to that of the
operations
before Delhi.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
604
A.D. 1S57.
Proposal to
by
suiTrise.
[Book IX.
was impossible ; and hence, as the importance of recovering it, in order to crush
the mutiny before it had assumed still larger dimensions, had been strongly
urged by government, it became a question whether it might not be practicable
to Carry it at once
by a sudden
thorough discussion,
assault.
resolved that at the dead of night, while the cavalry remained in charge of the
camp, the whole of the infantry should move out, and after blowing in two of
the gates by powder bags, rush in and seize possession of that part of the city
where the palace stood. The execution of this plan had been actually comitisabandoned.
whcu
mcuced,
it
his
would be unable
On
how
unfortunate
it.
objections which
The troops, it is
ultimately prevailed had not been previously considered.
alarm
had been given
but
the
which
retired
without
true,
sustaining harm,
put the enemy upon their guard, and thus precluded any similar attempt at
surprise, when it might have been made imder more hopeful circumstances.
Nothing therefore now remained but to strengthen the position on the ridge,
and wait the arrival of a siege train with adequate reinforcements, in the
meantime submitting
to
rebels,
was now
inevitable,
seems the proper place to give a more detailed account of Delhi and its
vicinity, in order that the subsequent operations before it may be more easily
this
understood.
Description
Delhi, whicli in 1658 superseded Agra as the capital of the Mogul empire,
stands on the right bank of a branch of the Jumna, which leaves the main
stream about five miles above the city, and joins it ten miles below. Its site,
still
sea, is
a comparatively barren
more rugged
in appearance
tract,
much
heaps of ruins,
by
magnitude and importance
which the city must have attained in very early times. The modern city,
founded by the emperor Shah Jehan in 1631, is above seven miles in circuit,
and contains, exclusive of the suburbs, a population of abovit 140,000, in which
which,
by the
number of Mahometans far exceeds the usual proportion found in the cities
of India, being only a few thousands less than that of Hindoos. The wall on the
east, facing the river, is nearly straight, but on the other three sides forms a
the
Chap.
DESCEIPTION OF DELHI.
II.]
As
by the
by the excavation of a
originally built, it
a.d. isst.
ditch,
GO."
bastions, each
mounting
Description
of Delhi.
the
by the bridge of boats across the Jumna, the Cashmere on the north-east, the
Moree and Cabool on the north-west, the Lahore on the west, the Ajmere on
the south-west, and the Delhi on the south.
The houses are in general
substantially built, but almost
all
a photograph.
can be described as spacious and handsome are the principal one, called the
Chandei Chauk, running eastward from the palace to the Lahore gate, and
another, leading also from the palace southward to the Delhi gate.
surpassing
all others,
The
edifice The
on
south,
its
west
side.
The
which the
perpetrated,
first
and
is
succeeded
aisle,
first
it
Dewani Khas,
by a noble
Beyond
if
not by the
palace,
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
GOG
A.D. 1857.
Description
[Book IX.
spectacle.
edifice
fronted the British position, by the Delhi canal the other, called the Subzee
Mundee, was situated considerably farther to the north-west, on the trunk
it
road leading to Kurnaul, and in some degree enveloped the British position,
as it extended beyond the southern extremity of the lidge, and to the rear of
strong
position of
the British.
certainly the
been
purposes.
selected
for
defensive
encamped on the parade ground of the cantonments, which, having been burned
by the mutineers, now existed only in name. On the west side it was
protected by a canal, or rather outlet, from a large jheel or lake at Nujufglmr,
and on the east by the lidge, which in the course of a few days was rendered
unassailable
by any
force
which the
it.
Besides the
But
placed more in front, bore directly on the suburbs already mentioned.
it
were
the
of
this
there
strength
position secured
against being forced,
though
Cholera had
various circumstances which increased the difficulty of holding it.
made
appearance, and though not yet adding largely to the mortality, was
The rebels
creeping on insidiously, and might ere long rage like a pestilence.
too, fuUv alive to the kind of tactics which their native cowardice as well as
its
superiority of
attack,
no respite from
spare, and threatening
to give
ill
to
reinforcements be obtained.
long march
The
to accomplish, but
by
to
surmount
all
opposing obstacles.
for daily use,
they had to
were able
Chap. II.]
rebels,
by
607
a.d. i857.
To cut
Hap])ily this, tlie greatest danger of all, was not realized.
to
the
rebellious
not
occur
did
or
the supplies either
sepoys,
required more
starvation.
off
iroin first to last, however great the privaenterprise than they possessed, and
endured in the British camp, a deficiency of provisions was not one of them.
tions
attack
by the mutmeers.
they had been permitted to complete it, would have enfiladed the
and seriously affected its security. This was the erection of a battery
if
which,
position
in
New
To conceal
their design
and with-
companies of
rifles,
twenty sappers and miners, and four guns; and the other under Major Reid,
consisting of his own Sirmoor battalion of Ghoorkas, four companies of rifles,
and four companies of 1st
not a
little
disconcerted
fusiliers.
when
the columns,
by
separate flank
were
movements
to
and left, placed them between two fires. Their resistance, though by
Not only was the battery captured and
no means obstinate, cost them dear.
the right
British annals,
passed quietly,
Row's house was expected, but it soon appeared that something different
'>vas intended, as
they were observed passing through Kissengunge, and disappeared
among the
the British troops were recalled, in the belief that the attack had been abandoned.
This proved to be a hasty conclusion.
The rebels, after proceeding
westward by a circuitous route, had turned round, and were within a mile and
a half of the British rear.
As soon as the alarm was given, Brigadier Hope
Grant,
commanding
all
the British
when the
Attempt of
to gain the
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G08
A.D. 1S57.
Operations
before Delhi.
to retreat.
[Book IX.
and
acknowlcdgc it, the rebels again made their appearance on the following day,
and advanced so boldly and rapidly, that they were pitching their round shot
.
At last, by bringing
that could possibly be spared from the British camp, the
were driven across the canal, and compelled once more to seek the
camp
enemy
man
Mutual rein-
rebels, had not the effect of diminishing their real force, which
daily augmented by reinforcements of revolted regiments.
mutineers, comprising the 1 5th and 30th native infantry, had already arrived,
and on the 21st, no less than four regiments the 6th light cavalry, and the
8d,
city.
Elated by
these
after it
and rendered
still
morning of the 23d, 100 men of her majesty's 75th, 100 of the 1st fusiliers,
three companies of the 2d fusiliers, and the 4th Sikhs, 400 strong, inarched into
Capture of
the Subzee
Mundee.
the
The
caiiip.
caiinouade from
struggle
all
from which, under cover of its high inclosure, the enemy's fire of musketry was
most destructive.
This hand-to-hand fight issued as it always does when
Asiatics are brought into contact with British bayonets. After a short resistance
and a fearful carnage, the rebels fled and the whole suburb was cleared out.
Chap.
II.]
609
The advantage thus gained would have been lost had the enemy been allowed
to return, and therefore permanent possession of the Subzee Mundee was
secured, by establishing a strong European picket at the Sammy house, and at a
The British loss was less than might
serai opposite to it on the Kurnaul road.
a.d. 1357.
capture of
Muudee.
intense
struck down,
that,
and in the
fusiliers,
live
were
six
were
by sun-stroke.
The centenary of Plassey, which, according
disabled
in
before Dellii.
which the only hope which the rebels had of forcing the British position at Delhi
T
m
may be said to have expired. By the end of June the effective force of the
r*
British
enable
(>
r-
any danger of being compelled to raise the siege, nor any reason to
doubt that sooner or later the recapture would be effected. For tliis brightening
longer
many
Vol. III.
still
some ground
to
hope that
British rein
forcements
HISTORY OF INDIA.
610
A.D. 1857.
Siege of
[Book IX.
rcwards due to their constancy those soldiers who fall away now, will lose their
It will be too late to lament hereafter when the time has
service for ever.
;
now
is
Punjab
alone.
There
If the
'
...
Delhi,
was hence necessary in order to keep open the communications between them. Here happily no difficulty was experienced. The
and whose
friendly aid
still
in the
Maharajah of
Pattiala,
not too
much
last,
and rendered
services of which
when
was
received.
Of these measures,
one
this
part of the original column, have akeady been seen pushing forward to Delhi,
and performing excellent service on tlie very day of their arrival there, after
completing a march of about 600 miles with almost unexampled rapidity. The
week
it
intelligence arrived
eastward to
Chap.
III.]
Gil
which had broken out at Julendur might prove infectious, ad. i857.
the mutineers had been permitted through some mismanage-
more especially as
to escape and were roaminor the country.
The moveable column after
which
was
in
or
this delay,
emplo^^ed
cliecking
suppressing disturbance,
again started for Delhi, commanded no longer by Brigadier Chamberlain, who
ment
^^"^ f'"'"^^<'
Punjab.
In the months of
May and
new
had been
June, five
new
force
amounted
to 34,000.
It
not too much to say that, but for these exertions in the Punjab, the siege of
Delhi must have been abandoned.
is
CHAPTER
Siege of Delhi continued
Sir
Repeated
Defeat
RepulsesDeath of
Reinforcements
assault Recapture of
on both sides
III.
of Brigadier-general
of the rebels at
Nujufghur
Wilson
to the
Preparations
command
for the
Delhi.
Then
the
month
force before
of tlie siege
Still,
which
it
was impossible
to overlook, produced
Difficulties
These
some degree
of
despondency, and more than once the abandonment of the siege was gravely
mooted.
The arrivals from the Punjab did little more than supply the Avaste
ofDeihi.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
612
A.D. 1857
Siege of
Delhi.
[Book IX.
casualty and disease, so that the effective force of all arms did not exceed
nSOO, while every successive mutiny was adding whole regiments to the rebels,
by
and increasing the already too great disproportion between them and their
There is reason to believe that Sir Henry Barnard was not indisposed
to follow the advice of those who would have withdrawn from Delhi.
Havinor
assailants.
to the eastward,
and concentrated
districts
connected with
Though opinions were divided on this subject at the time, only one now
exists, and it is admitted that a withdrawal from Delhi would have given such
it.
assault
again piolX)sed.
its final
suppression
all
but impos-
will be
manded
remembered, had sanctioned it when formerly proposed, and counterit when on the point of execution.
The same irresolution was again
to be repeated.
to effect an
entrance by blowing in the iron grating of the canal near the Cabool gate and
another was to blow in the Cashmere gate, and have the double chance of
entering by it and by an escalade of the adjoining bastion, while a party moving
;
stealthily
east.
camp, and
it
out,
would
by a
circuitous route,
A large
and there only waited the departure of the storming party to hasten
forward and seize the camp while denuded of its usual defenders. Providentially this fact became known in the very nick of time, and the idea of a sudden
rear,
It is again
abandoned.
assault
cholera,
Tlie
event produced a feeling of deep and universal regret, a regret rendered all the
more poignant by the fact that he had been brought by no choice of his own
into a position in which the excellent qualities which he undoubtedly possessed,
both as a
command
man and
The
a commander, were not displayed to advantage.
now devolved on General Reid, the provisional
'
Chap.
III.J
613
a.d. issr.
force, b}^
day been far more largely augmented. The Bareilly brigade, consisting of three
whole regiments of infantry and some irre-
Reinforce-
bothlides.
known
siderable
made by the
Subzee
would seem that the punishment which had there been inflicted upon
them induced them to turn their views in a
Mundee.
But
it
Mayall.
different direction.
The village of Alipoor, forming the first station to the westward on the Kurnaul road, was known to have furnished large supplies to the
British camp, and had therefore been marked out by the rebels for
vengeance.
the Lahore
was sad enough that the aid which they had given to us should
have brought such a disaster upon them but though on this ground alone it
of Alipoor.
It
was most desirable that the rebels should not be allowed to return with impunity, there
deter
It
Only the day before the village was destroyed, a large number of sick sent
from the camp had passed througli it, and but for a most providential delay
tlie
plunder would have included, in addition to that obtained from the village,
convoy of treasure and ammunition. The force sent out from the
a valuable
rebels before
Rebel exI'
edition,
against
Alipoor.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G14
AD.
1S5T.
lish
[Book IX.
Renewed
attempt on
the British
men
in charge of
them
to join them.
A short
it, gave rise to grave suspicions of treachery.
time previously, the few Bengal sepoj^s mingled with the irregulars had been
turned out of the camp, because they were believed to be in communication
resistance offered to
city.
It
now appeared
cannonade was kept up from the city, and volleys of musketry were directed
After
against the British station from every available point in the suburbs.
the expulsion of the sowars, it became necessary to dislodge those who, with
the view of supporting them, had taken post in the gardens and other inclosures
of the vicinit}^
This task, after a sanguinary contest, was successfully accomplished.
One
result of the
affjiir
of the 9th
was
to
make
Qu
attack
by the
week
to
the 16th, the mutineers from Jhansi, stained with the blood of an
rebels.
On
custom was
not forgotten, and after a day's rest, they were sent out to take the lead in a
new attack, in order at once to signalize their zeal and display their prowess.
As
ended in a
repulse.
musketry, which, as both parties were under cover, produced few casualties, the
British became the assailants, and drove the rebels before them.
On more
than one occasion the British, after repulsing the enemy, had in the ardour of
The repetition
pursuit exposed themselves to a deadly fire from the city walls.
of such fatal mistakes was at length corrected by a distinct order that
theyj
should in future act strictly on the defensive, and rest satisfied with repelling!
ficial effect,
The
respite
Chap.
III.]
615
and the
introduced,
and
health, spirit,
a.d. isst.
Disunion
rebels!
Meanwhile the large increase of numbers obtained by the rebels had not added
Mahometans and Hindoos, though they had combined,
to their real strength.
were by no means united, and intrigues, factions, and dissensions prevailed to such
an extent that the king would gladly have saved himself by the sacrifice of his
nominal supporters.
"Only recognize him as titular king, and secure him in
and through
is
it
almost unnecessary to add that though Sir John Lawrence, when consulted on
had replied, "Treat, but beware of treachery," the negotiation came
the subject,
The
to nothing.
position
time cannot be more briefly stated than in the following letter of General
"It is my firm determination to hold my present
Wilson, dated 31st July:
and
to
resist
attack
to the last.
The enemy are very numerous,
position,
any
and
may
possibly break through our entrenchments and overwhelm us, but the
Luckily, the enemy have no head and no method,
and
we
am making
If
we
can hold on
till
they
Reinforcements are
arrive,
we
shall
be
of our position."
General Wilson, so
At
of August.
first
addition which
when
it
much
some disappointment was felt when its strength was ascerthan rvimour had assigned to it, but the importance of the
made
is
natives; the
however,
still
to
much weightier
make
metal,
and more complete equipment, had been proand Ferozepoor, It was already on the way,
line of gun carriages, tumbrils, and carts,
Meanwhile the
rebels lost
much
of their
confidence.
Anivai of
moveable
column
uiiticr
Nicholson.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
616
A.D. 1857.
Siege of
Dellii.
[Book IX.
them the very miscreants who had ordered and exulted in the massacre of
European women and children, had the effrontery to send letters into the
of
British camp, in which they sought to escape the retribution about to overtake
them, by declaring that "they have been all along fondly attached to us, and
only want to know what they can do for us."
As
depended on the safe arrival of the siege train, it was neceswhich it was to pass of all mutineers and marauding
the
districts of Paniput and Rohtuk required special
respect
everj'thitig
In this
parties.
The Raughurs,
attention.
a turbulent
there,
taking advantage of the revolt, withheld their revenue, and when threatened
answered with defiance. An attempt to coerce them had not been completely
Hodsouat
*'
...
in the intelli-
gence department in the camp at Delhi and as the chivalric leader of a body of
irregular horse, invest his brilliant but brief career with pecidiar interest, set
out on the IGth of August at the head of a small force, and pushed on for
Rohtuk, Avhich had become a rallying point for the rebels. The task assigned
him seemed beyond the means at his disposal. His detachment consisted
almost entirely of cavalry, and how could he hope with them to overcome
an enemy shut up within a walled town, and apparently resolved to make
a vigorous defence? Too clear-sighted not to perceive the ho^Delessness of
iiL
the vicinity.
forward at
liim.
keep up a galling
city.
fire
and were nearly a mile beyond their inclosure, when he gave the order
The fancied pursuit was at once converted into a disorderly
to face about.
flight,
and on the
followinof morninof
Rohtuk
itself
was found
in the
to be evacuated.
direction of Rohtuk,
another and larger detachment, having the same object in view, had proceeded
from the camp. Mahomed Bukht Khan, an old sepoy soubahdar, who had
become commander-in-chief of the rebels, in order to wipe off the disgrace of
Chap.
SIEGE OF DELHI.
III.]
from the
city,
617
issr.
Defeat of the
Niijufgimr
might not be
volunteer,
officers in
retreat.
It
was situated
by the nullah already mentioned, and the canal or outlet from the
Nujufghur Jheel, meeting it at right angles. Within the area the rebels fronted
cent sides
guns were
which was
defended by four guns, and formed the key of their position. Nicholson at
liis
plan of attack, but owing to detention in fording the nullah, it
once formed
was
guns towards the bridge. The enemy made little resistance, all
guns were captured, and the conflict seemed to be at an end, when it was
reported that a village a few hundred yards in the rear was still occupied.
their line of
their
it
The
been
left
on the other side of the nullah, and in escorting the guns, that pursuit
was impracticable.
own
to their
On
The enemy's
confession, to
loss
was however
above 800.
the 8d of September,
before the rebels had recovered from the conster'
nation produced by their defeat at Nujufghur, the siege train arrived, and the
erection of heavy batteries within breaching distance was immediately com-
menced.
being
now
at
menced thus:
Vol
III.
was made
to the force
by the
The crisis
hand. General Wilson issued an address to the troops. It com
"The force assembled before Delhi has had much hardship and
a seasonable addition
arrival of reinforcements,
including a contingent
from Cashmere.
274
^^i^-i' "f
the siege
train.
HISTOKY OF I^DIA,
G18
A.D. 1S5T.
Arrival of
the siege
train.
Book IX.
major-general
by
officers
commanding
and men.
The time
is
now drawing
near
when
the
they will be rewarded by the capture of the city for all tlieir past exertions, and
"
It concluded
for a cheerful endurance of still greater fatigue and exposure
with the expression of a confident trust " that all will exhibit a healthy and
"
the brilliant termihearty spirit of emulation and zeal," and thereby secure
nation of
ah.
their laboui's."
In regard to the direction from which the assault should be made, there was
no room for choice. The north wall fronting the British position could alone
be selected for that purpose, but the particular part of it to be selected for
breaching was not so obvious, and some degree of stratagem was used to conceal
it.
Considerably in advance of Hindoo Row's house the ridge terminates in a
kind of plateau.
Here, nearly on a line with the Sammy house, the first
run
on the 6th of September. It consisted of six nine pounders
was
out
battery
-TiVr.
Water Gate
Batteries
erected.
of Palace, Delhi.
"T-
From a photograph.
,;
the
the
place, convinced the rebels that
Castle, wliich, though they had a strong picket stationed at it, was wrested
from them almost without a struggle, and became the site of battery No. 2,
Chap.
SIEGE OF DELHI.
III.]
mounting on its right division seven eight-inch howitzers and two eighteenIt was commanded by
pounders, and on its left nine twenty-four pounders.
a.d. issr.
'
Majors
till
where two other batteries were forthwith planted, the one mounting ten
mortars under Major Tombs, at the Koodsia Bagh, near the banks of the Jumna,
and the other in front of
it,
at a building
tlie
custom-
Tliis building,
make any
impres.sion
upon
it.
AU
tliese batteries
which the fire from the right flank was chiefly directed, was
and
the Cashmere bastion towards the north-east, though it had
easily silenced,
been recently restored and strengthened at the expense of the British
governbastion, against
ment, began to crumble away within an hour after the twenty-four pounders of
Ludlow Castle began to play upon it. Nowhere however was the fire so
destructive as at the
Water
idle.
These,
though they could not postpone the day of retribution, produced man 3^ casualties.
The plan of attack as previously arranged, and the assault, fixed for three
o'clock in the
Wilson's
official
the artillery
Gaitskell
their respective
commanding
officers
Major
forward the work, two excellent and most practicable breaches were formed in
the walls of the place, one in the curtain to the right of the Cashmere ba.stion,
the other to the left of the
j
G19
Water
The
1st
J.
and
the breaches,
enemy commanding
The assault was delivered on
four
75th regiment (300 men), the 1st European Bengal fusiliers (200 men), and
the 2d Punjab infantry (450 men), assaulted the main breach, their advance
Tiie assault.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
620
A.D. 1857.
Siege of
[Book IX
being admii'ably covered by the 1st battalion of her majesty's GOth rifles, undei
Colonel J. Jones. The operation was crowned with brilliant success, the enemy
after severe resistance being driven
Guard, and its vicinity, in complete rout. The 2d column under Brigadier
Jones of her majesty's 61st regiment, consisting of her majesty's 8th regiment
(250 men), the 2d European Bengal fusiliers (250 men), and the 4th regiment
of Sikhs (350 men), similarly covered
Water
position,
faction.
by the 60th
rifles,
advanced on the
own
The Cash
forced.
over-
coming a strenuous opposition from the enemy's infantry and heavy artillery,
I cannot express too warmly
wliicli had been brought to bear on the position.
place,
in
During the advance. Brigadier Nicholson was, to the grief of myself and the
whole army, dangerously wounded; the command consequently devolved on
and pouring
Brigadier Jones, who finding the enemy in great force, occupying
from the roofs of strong and commanding houses in the city
on all sides, the ramparts themselves being enfiladed by guns, prudently resolved
on retaining possession of the Cabool gate, which his troops had so gallantly
a destructive
fire
won, in which he firmly established himself, awaiting the result of the operaColonel Campbell, with the column
tion of the other columns of occupation.
under his command, advanced successfully from the Cashmere gate, by one
the main streets beyond
of the city, towards the
oi
Jumma
con
important post
opposition, however, which he met from the great
centration of the enemy at the Jumma Musjid and tlie houses in the neighbour-
The
hoodhe
wounded
satisfied
him that
his most
SIEGE OF DELHI.
Chap. IIL]
621
course was not to maintain so advanced a position with the cbmparaforce at his disposal, and he accordingly withdrew the head of
limited
tively
and
liis column,
placed himself in communication with the reserve, a measure
])rudent
a.d.
isst.
Advance of
troops into
^
''^"
The
should be taken.
an entrance
effecting
in this difficult
force
employed
duty I intrusted to Major C. Reid, commanding the Sirmoor battalion, whose
distinguished conduct I have already had occasion to bring prominently to the
.
much
regret, severely
Partial
failuie.
wounded on
His column consisted of his own battalion, the guides, and the
men on duty at Hindoo Row's (the main picket), numbering in all about 1000,
supported by the auxiliary troops of his highness the Maharajah Rumbeer Sing,
under Captain R. Lawrence. The strength of the positions, however, and the
desperate resistance offered by the enemy, withstood for a time the efforts of
The
delay, I
am happy
to say, has
was unable
to .be
enemy have subsequently abandoned their positions, leaving their guns in our
hands.
In this attack, I found it necessary to support Major Reid with cavalry
and horse-artillery, both of which arms were admirably handled, respectively
by Brigadier Hope Grant of her majesty's 9th lancers, commanding the cavalry
brigade, and Major H. Tombs of the horse-artillery, who inflicted severe punishment on the enemy, though I regret their own lo.ss was very heavy."
The above account, admirably clear so far as it goes, is too brief to enter
mto detail, and hence necessarily omits several points of interest whicli must not
.
/.
pass unnoticed.
The rendezvous
while the 2d column took up a still more advanced position at the old
custom-house, in the immediate vicinity of the breach adjoining the Water
bastion
hastion.
"
road,
having at
its
head the
assault was to be
exploding party," by whom at daybreak the signal for the
Home
of the engineers.
and
Lieutenants
Salkeld
of
This
consisted
given.
party
Sergeants Smith and Carmichael, Corporals Burgess and Smith of the Bengal
sappers and miners, and Bugler Hawthorne of her majesty's 52d, to sound the
Blowing
open of the
cashmere
^"^ ^'
HISTORY OF INDIA.
622
AD.
1857.
advance.
The
Cashmere
^**^"
was
by blowing
in the
For
Cashmere
Blowing
signal
[Book IX.
this
ji
Cashmere
gate, Lieutenant
found that part of the drawbridge had been destroyed, but passing along the
precarious footway supplied by the remaining beams, they proceeded to lodge
their powder bags against the gate.
The wicket was open, and through it the
j:
enemy kept up a heavy fire upon them. Sergeant Carmichael was killed wliile
laying his powder bag, Havildar Mahore being at the same time wounded.
Tlie powder being laid, the advanced party slipped down into the ditch to allow
the firing party under Lieutenant Salkeld to perform its duty.
While endeato
fire
the
Salkeld
was
the
arm and leg,
Lieutenant
shot
vouring
charge,
through
who
mortally wounded
Havildar Tellah Sing of the
to Corporal Burgess,
fell
just as he
Home, happily not wounded, caused the bugler to sound the regimental call of
the 52d as the signal for the advancino; columns.
Feai'inff that amid the noise
of the assault the sounds might not be heard, he had the call repeated three
times, when the troops advanced and carried the gateway with complete
I feel certain that a simple statement of this devoted and
success.
glorious
^
deed will
suflice to
stamp
it
on record in military
history."
The
rusli
was
irresistible,
and
in a few
minutes the Cashmere gate and the Main Guard adjoining it were carried.
The 1st and 2d columns had been equally successful, though the rebels some-
what recovered from the consternation into which the explosion had thrown
them, and beginning to have the advantage of day-light opened a deadly fire
from every available point. Brigadier Nicholson, who had been the first to
mount the breach assigned to his column, taking the right of the Cashmere
gate led it along the Rampart road, clearing the ramparts without meeting
much resistance, till the whole of them as far west as the Moree bastion, and
then southward to the Cabool gate, were gained. Here, had the attack on the
suburbs of Kissengunge succeeded, he would have been joined by the force
was
left
his
his
own
resources.
SIEGE OF DELHI.
Chap. III.]
column,
now
G'23
ad.isst.
gate after a rather serious check had been received, when he was shot through
the chest from an adjoining window, and fell back mortally wounded.
After
lamentable event no further progress was made, and the Cabool gate
been me for the time the limit of advance in that direction.
The same cause
this
General
mortally"
wounded.
When
cleared the
was to
under cover from the deadly fire which the rebels had opened,
with what had been already gained.
Enough had been
retire
and rest
satisfied
achieved for one day; enough too had been sacrificed, since the killed and
wounded amounted to 6Q oflicers and 1104; men, or nearly a third of the whole
number enwio-ed.
The next day passed without any new eff'ort to advance.
The reason,
must
be
stated.
tlie
discreditable,
assault,
though
During
though no mercy
was shown to the mutineers, whose atrocious barbarities could not be forgiven,
the assailants did not forget their humanity, and gave full effect to the general's
call to
Their natural love of justice and abhorspare all women and children.
rence of cruelty sufficed for this purpose, without requiring
The
rebels, well
still
be
regarded as tho besetting sin of British soldiers, particularly when their passions
have been routed, and their bodies exhausted by almost superhuman exertions
under a burning sun, had taken care to place the means of unlimited indulgence
within their re^ch, by piling up beer, wine, and brandy within the shops, and
even outside along the pavement. The bait proved irresistible, and for a time
discipline
was
it
carried,
general's consideration,
and only avoided by ordering that all intoxicating liquors should be destroyed.
The remedy thus applied allowed the advance to be resumed on the 1 6th, when
the magazine v/as carried, and the position at Kissengunge so far turned that
it.
Every successive day was now signalized
The nature and extent of it is thus described by General
"During the 17th and 18th, we continued to take up advanced posts
by some new
Wilson:
abandoned
success.
rebels,
Effect of in
toxication
mretdniins
capture
HISTORY OF INDIA.
62i
A.D. 1857.
On
wounded.
Capture of
IJuJii.
killed,
being
[Book IX.
Burun
killed
and
palace,
and
Jumma
as
we
our light guns and mortars were brought forward, and used with effect in the
streets and houses in their neighbourhood.
The result of this heavy and
unceasing bombardment, and of the steady and persevering advance of our
troop.s, has been the evacuation of the palace by the king, the entire de.sertiou
of the city
by the
inhabitants,
Delhi.
and the
who abandoning their camp property, many of their sick and wounded, and
the greater part of their field artillery, have fled in utter disorganizationsome 4000 or 5000 across the bridge of boats into the Doab, the remainder
down
the right
bank
of the
Jumna.
The gates
in, it
Flight of
the king.
The king appears to have at first accompanied the rebels in their flight,
it was feared that the influence of his name might still suffice to rally the
Whatever his intentions may have
fugitives, and keep alive the rebellion.
been, he soon abandoned the idea of resistance, and took refuge in the tomb of
and
Humayoon,
tlie
alert
As soon
and ready
any
enterprise,
Chap.
CAPTURE OF DELHI.
III.]
625
obtained permission to proceed with a party of his irregular horse to the tomb,
and endeavour to obtain possession of the king's person. On his arrival, a
negotiation commenced, and was protracted for above two hours, the king
a.d. issr.
Capture of
'
own
life
Deliii!""
Jumma Bukht
general's sanction
as a prisoner
till
women and
It is not
children, been permitted to escape on the same terms.
improbable that, on the following day, when Hodson searched them out and
obtained the unconditional surrender of two sons and a grandson of the kinsr,
doom which awaited them, and which they certainly deserved, when, on finding
was about to be made while he was conveying his
prisoners to Delhi, he shot them dead on the spot with his own hand.
While vengeance was thus taking its course, an event of a very different
John Nicholson was on his deathbed.
description was visibly approaching.
From the course which the ball had taken, there could scarcely be a doubt that
vital parts had been injured, and therefore skill and
friendship could at the
utmost do nothing more than alleviate his sufferings, and minister comfort, till
Deatiiof
Nicholson.
filled
the British
looked up to
ate
till
it
The capture of
when
in
it
was
which the
officially
lansjuag-e of exultation
,
treason
for four
army
are leagued
ment
it is
Vol. III.
faithlessness,
Lord Can-
uingonthe
rebellion,
and
capture of
HISTORY OF INDIA.
626
A.D. 1857.
[Book IX.
that before the government could gather its strength against them, their ends
would be gained.
They are now undeceived. Before a single soldier of the
many
thousands
who
England
to
of the British power has set foot on these shores, the rebel force where it was
strongest and most united, and where it had the command of unbounded military
or scattered,
appliances, has been destroyed
by an army
limits of the
by the
endurance of that gallant army
alone
its
true to their allegiance, that, under the blessing of God, the head of rebellion
has been crushed, and the cause of loyalty, humanity, and rightful authority
vindicated."
"
the head
of
rebellion has been crushed," gave utterance as mucli to his wishes and hopes
as to his convictions.
Though checked and virtually crushed in the north-
west,
it
and even
threatening,
now
we
must
turn.
CHAPTEH
Successes of General Neill at Benares and Allahabad
Henry
Lawrence Arrival
of Sir
from Persia
His
victories Third Cawnpoor massacre Campaign
Tlie Ganges recrossed Battle Bithoor.
of a relieving force
victories
of troops
lY.
brilliant
in
Oude
New
of
^N answer
where mutmy
ments forwarded by
him, wlicu
Nana Sahib
to Sir
Hugh
Wheeler,
r-
this regiment.
DEFENCE OF LUCKNOW.
CHAr. IV.j
C27
tliongb it
[
to be lost in
pushing on
troops, the railway officials would have started without them, because the time
was up. Colonel Neill in this emergency gave proof of the
energy and decision
which characterized his subsequent proceedings, and by seizing the
enginedriver and stoker, prevented the departure of the train till as
many of his
On
had taken
their seats.
the 3d of June,
of his
numbers,
when he
out.
its
able
a.d. is57.
Reinforce-
warded by
8^^^"*-
commander
and before evening closed, the insurgents had paid the penalty of their crime
in the loss of a hundred killed and twice as
many wounded. This success,
followed
dated
tlie
up vigorously by other measures of repression, so completelj^ intimimutineers, and the populace, who would willingly have made common
cause with them, that Colonel Neill was able to leave Benares in
tranquillity,
and hasten westward to Allahabad, where his presence was still more
urgently
It has been told how its fort, and the immense
required.
military stores of its
Cliunar.
modern
Lucknow
But
times.
to
it
as one of the
that the
if driven to it, of
These labours were constanding a siege.
but
no
means
when
the repulse at Chinhut
advanced,
siderably
by
completed,
left him no alternative but to retire within his defences.
He was at first
isolated it so
state of
Lucknuw.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
628
A. D. 1857
TheMuchee
biow'ITp.
[Book IX.
commimiccation between them, and the order to evacuate could not be given
and made fit to
till an old telegraph on the top of the residency was repaired,
transmit the following brief message: "Spike the guns well, blow up the fort,
Colonel Palmer executed this order with perfect
and retire at midnight."
success.
The
and
garrison moved out with their treasure
reached the residency without being discovered.
little
two or three
About half
the
air.
cliildren
and the
large
number
of
women
which attained
2,
The broad black line 1, 1, 1, sliows the ground occupied by the garrison previous to the arrival of Generals
Oiitram and Havelock ou September '25.
The space marked 2, 2, 2, indicates the position occupied by the relieving force subsequent to their arrival.
3,
Residency.
8,
4,
Hospital.
9,
5,
Treasury.
1,
6, Post-office.
7,
18,
t
Barracks.
Native Hospital.
Brigade Square.
10, Sikhs'
11,
13,
Sheep-house.
14,
Church.
Square.
15,
Racket Court.
16,
Redan battery.
Ommaney's house.
Cawnpoor battery.
17,
12, Cutcherry.
Johannes's house, from which the enemy kept up a most destnictive fire on the Cawnpoor battery.
t t Shows the position of the enemy's gims, which was constantly changed during the siege.
the low
greatest height at the residency, and sunk down rapidly from it to
it was
where
Towards the north,
Lucknow. grounds OH the right bank of the Goorntee.
Position of
at
under
British force,
its
DEFENCE OF LUCKNOW.
Chap. IV.]
029
and the other the Bailey Guard gate, forming the principal
entrance to it from the east.
These gates were defended by barricades, as
The other
well as by guns placed on the streets which they terminated.
f
111
defences consisted of a series of batteries, thrown up on all the most comthe residency,
manding
On
points.
i^
left of
the
Water
gate,
a.d. isst.
British
position at
Luokuuw.
and above
the residency, were two batteries, called respectively Evans' and the Redan,
with a mortar battery between them; at the south extremity, the Cawnpoor
battery, and at the south-west Gubbin's battery.
Owing to the suddenness
of the siege,
two
batteries
side could
little Description
of the
Its
enemy, and
nnmerous
its roof,
mental balustrade, was wholly exposed. The upper stories were necessarily
abandoned at the very commencement of the siege by all the ladies and
the ground floor was occupied by the soldiers, while their families
found good shelter in the tykhanas, or underground rooms.
little to the
east of the residency stood the banqueting hall, a building of two stories.
children
Having very large lofty rooms, it was converted into an hospital, for which it
would have been well adapted, had it not, like the residency, been too mucli
The defect was however partially remedied by closing the doors
exposed.
and windows of the most exposed sides with any available materials. Still
farther east stood the treasury, close to the Bailey Guard gate.
Immediately
on the opposite side of the street leading from this gate, was the house of
Dr. Fayrer, a large but not lofty building, with a flat roof, which, being well
protected by sandbags, afforded a good cover for musketry, and with a tykhana,
when the firing became heavy, the female inmates were able to retire.
thus
used for defence, the house and its inclosure or compound were
Being
called Dr. Fayrer s garrison, a name which was for the same renson applied to
to which,
Cawnpoor
battery.
On
its
more formidable
the
strongest batteries
in
and
position
in
many
it
resi-
dencyand
tions.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G30
A.D. 1S57.
[Book IX.
When
was on
all sides
surrounded.
rejected
was too
late
a ceaseless
Death of
Sir
Henry
Ijawreuce.
to
remedy
it
and destructive
effectually.
fire.
The
It burst
without
to
remove
to
less
exposed
been
his constitution
less
life
by having recourse
but with
his
it
impaired,
his
to amputation,
attenuated
frame,
the
Henry L.vwrence.
two days, during which, though writhing with agony, he remained perfectly
collected, and dictated a series of instructions, appointing Major Banks to the
civil office of chief
command
of the garrison,
artillery
and
engineers.
and
to
"
He had
to love him.
His character
GENEEAL HAVELOCK.
Chap. IV.]
631
God have mercy on liim." His sei'vices, particularly in the Punjab, of which
he was one of the earliest and most successful administrators, entitle him to a
foremost place among Indian statesmen but even could these be forgotten,
the noble institution which bears his name as its founder, and by which the
a.d. is57.
children of
European
being
left to
grow
^^^'"^^^^'"^
Lawrence.
up as outcasts, are duly cared for, would suffice to keep his memory in perpetual
and honoured remembrance. The siege of the British garrison at Lucknow,
and its gallant defence, furnish perhaps the most interesting episode in the
history of the mutiny, but before proceeding further with the details, it will
be necessary to give an account of the exertions which were being made by
government
General
Havelock's
aiTivai in
Persia.
Something however was still wanting, and he naturally longed for an appointment which, giving him undivided responsibility, would enable him to form
his
own
he had
little
of the
his
the
and there receiving the astounding intelligence of the events at Meerut and Delhi,
his first impulse was to push on to the north-west by the nearest route across the
On
On the night of
the coast of Ceylon, in clear moonlight, the vessel struck
and as the forepart immediately filled, seemed about to go down
when nearing
the 5th,
upon a
reef,
it:
'The madness
H's narrow
Cejion.
of
and though the vessel was lost, all the persons on board escaped. Proceeding
by land to Galle, he found a vessel about to return to Calcutta, and immediately
re-embarked.
He reached Madras on the 13th of June, and was surprised and
grieved to learn that General
join
him
Anson was
dead.
He had
been hastening to
Henry Somerset, then
different
arrangement took
place.
commanding
at Madras,
became provisional successor to General Anson, and took him with him to
It had been resolved to
Calcutta, where they arrived on the 17th of June.
that
which had rendered
similar
to
for
a
column
moveable
organize
Bengal,
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
632
A
D.1857.
[Book IX.
it
were to include
among
command
upon him three
The
him
instructions given
by government on
his
at
him
appointment were,
Sir
supporting
Lucknow,and
Henry Lawrence
Sir Hugh
Wheeler
at
at
Cawn-
stroying
all
Havelock's
first
object
was
to provide
of the
against any delay in the progress
'M
carriage.
He knew
Henry Havelook.
the bust by
W.
Behnes.
sariat
(jeneral
Havelock
appointed
of the force
Luctoow?
department as
complete as possible, he started from Calcutta on the 25th of June, and reached
Benares on the 28th. By this time, one of the most important objects which
of
making the
intelligence
he had in view had been frustrated by the perpetration of the first Cawnpoor
massacre, though the fact was not made known to him till the 8d of July,
three
Themxmber
of his troops.
The
Cawnpoor, he could not muster more than 1400 European
bayonets.
i
day before he reached Allahabad, the Cawnpoor massacre not being yet known,
Colonel Neill had detached for its relief, under Major Eenaud of the Madras
"^
'
fusiliers,
GENEEAL HAVELOCK.
Chap. IV.]
G33
hastened forward by forced marches. The rebels on their part were equally ad. isst.
active, and in the hope of having only the detachment to encounter, had
General
pushed on to Futtehpoor, near the right bank of the Ganges, about forty-five
.
Havelock's
miles below
brought suddenly in presence of the whole British force. The position and
"
Futtehsubsequent operations are thus described in the general's despatch
:
enemy
brass
and
iron
guns.
made
villages,
I estimate his
my
dispositions.
in
number, were formed on and close to the chausde, in the centre, under Captain
.-"^ft
<v
>
--^^^
^^^.
Futtehpoor.
Maude, R. A., protected and aided by one hundred Enfield riflemen of the 64th.
The detachments of infantry were at the same moment thrown into line of
in support,
quarter distance columns, at deploying distance, and thus advanced
of the
enemy
was decided,
The
rifle fire
time the
reaching them at
an unexpected distance, filled them with dismay; and when Captain Maude
was enabled to push his guns through flanking swamps to point-blank range,
Vol. III.
276
first
en-
^vTth tiie
"*"'^''>'^
at
Futteh
i oor.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
634
A.D. 1857.
"
[Book IX.
In
his surprisingly accurate fire demolished their little remaining confidence.
were abandoned to us on the chausde, and the force
a moment three
guns
l*ictof*of
Futtehpoor
^^^.^^^ gfj-gj.
advanced
General
by'^Have"^'^
first
It deserves quotation:
"
General Havelock
thanks his soldiers for their arduous exertions of yesterday, which produced in
four hours the strange result of a rebel ah-my driven from a strong position,
eleven guns captured and their whole force scattered to the winds, without the
To what is this astounding effect to be attriloss of a single British soldier.
buted?
has survived the vicissitudes of the hour, and gained intensity from the crisis;
and to the blessing of Almighty God on a most righteous cause, the cause of
justice,
Two
victo-
riesiiione
short distance
had thrown up
it, beliind an entrenchment which they
Colonel Fraser Tytler, sent forward with about a third of the
beyond
force,
waiting for it, and occupied a village about 200 yards in front of their entrenchment. The Madras fusiliers, ordered to dislodge them, effected it with the
with precipitation.
loss of
enemy no
body was assailed by large bodies of cavalry, who made repeated attempts to
plunder the baggage, but in this they were completely foiled. The work of
the day, however, was not yet over.
As soon as the troops had breakfasted,
the order to
given,
ADVANCE ON CAWNPOOR.
Chap. IV.]
G35
it.
The stream, though usually fordable, was
and might have proved a serious obstacle to the advance, if the
bridge had been removed.
Fortunately the enemy were surprised in the very
L
r
act 01 mining, and alter a short but sharp contest, were
compelled to retreat on
before tlie
now
a.d. isst.
flooded,
ly
Advance on
Cawnpoor.
Cawnpoor. This place was now only twenty-three miles distant, and every
man was anxious to push on for it without the loss of a single hour. Above
200 European women and children, reserved by Nana Sahib when he perpetrated his two previous massacres, were reported to be still alive.
What a
them, and at the same time take summary
vengeance on their inhuman jailer
to
glorious enterprise
rescue
Notwithstanding
the universal
eagerness
to
advance,
Night had set in before the commissariat cattle had reached the
encamping ground, and many of the men, before animal food could be prepared,
had sunk down exhausted, after contenting themselves with porter and biscuit.
unavoidable.
In the morninc(
when
the
men
them
it,
by two roads the one the grand trunk road passing immediately on the right,
and the other, which branched off" from it about half a mile in front and led
directly to the
right,
mud
wall,
had the additional defence of two nine-pounders and the railwajat some distance bej'ond.
The whole line was in the form of a
embankment
with
its
different direction.
if successful,
his
Any attempt
was assumed
make
it
from a
of the
it
fully
left
flank,
fatal as defeat;
and
compensated
for
its
greater
elevation.
The
sub- divisions
the
the column wheeled to the right, and under cover of a line of thick
groves,
Position of
themutineersatMa-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
636
[Book IX.
A.D. 1857.
advanced 1000 yards in that direction unseen by the enemy, who, when they
Signal defeat
saw the volunteer cavalry pursuing the direct road, naturally supposed that
At length an opening in the
they wcre followed closely by the main body.
their
left
was the real object of attack,
aware
that
rebels
the
trces liaviug made
atMahlm^
''"''^'
all their available guns on the flank of the advancing column, and
same time attempted to meet it by a change of front. It was too late.
Before they could recover from their surprise and consternation, the column
tliey
opened
at the
had emerged from the grove, and the companies wheeling into line were
advancing rapidly under cover of an eflective fire from the artillery. To this
the rebels could not reply from their centre and right, without mowing
down their own left, and thus oiie of their most powerful arms was in some
fire
measure paralyzed.
Still,
left
necessary.
"
:
did
The
The opportu-
for
which
They were
led
by Colonel Hamilton, and followed him witli surpassing steadiness and gallantry
under a heavy fire. As they approached the village, they cheered and charged
Need
When the
the guns were captured?"
lied,
village
enemy's left was thus crushed, their infantry rushing to the rear, appeared to
break into two bodies, the one retiring a few hundred yards on the road to the
was taken, and
and the
rallying
"Now,
captured the howitzer, scattering the masses who had made it their rallying
])oint.
During these operations the enemy's right had been driven in headlong
now
flight.
Though
victory had
declared
itself,
among
Come,
The appeal was
Battle
l*tjSll ITl 6 (\
a destructive
fire
was
"
two
light
full retreat,
pounder, which had been planted in reserve upon the road. The troops around
these guns consisted partly of reinforcements whom Nana Sahib had called to
were exhausted.
Chaa
CAWNPOOR EETAKEN.
IV.J
637
death
waiting for tliem lay clown for shelter from the lire which was carrying
This halt gave new courage to the enemy. Nana Sahib was
into their ranks.
seen riding among them, while the noise of their drums and trumpets indicated
a.d. i857.
defeat
F>^sh
of the rebels.
exposed to a heavy
fire
It was
in line, to leap on their feet, I directed another steady advance.
The enemy sent round shot into our ranks until we were within
irresistible.
down
300 yards, and then poured in grape with such precision and determination as
But the 64th, led by Major Stirling, and by my
I have seldom witnessed.
aide-de-camp (the general's
own
son,
now
Sir
my
;
possession."
Tempting
as the
General Havelock,
it
*^^^^^p'
exhausted troops bivouacked for the night on the bare ground. Next morning
before starting, spies returned with the dreadful intelligence that the fiendish
Nana, to compensate for the successive defeats of his adherents, had on the 15th
taken the revenge of which only such a nature as his was capable, by massacring
women and
children,
When
it
by Mr. Marshman
in his
Memoirs.
"The
and children's
pavement was swimming in blood, and fragments of ladies'
found them
and
the
entered
dresses were floating on it.
apartments
They
with
covered
empty and silent, but there also the blood lay deep on the floor,
The walls w^ere dotted
bonnets, collars, combs, and children's frocks and frills.
with the marks of bullets, and on the wooden pillars were deep sword-cuts,
from some of which hung tresses of hair. But neither the sabre-cuts nor the
HISTORY OF INDIA.
038
A.D. 1857.
Horrible
were
bullets
sufficiently high
been aimed at
men
weapons had
scene presented ou
levelled at crouching
entering
proceeded in their
Cawnpoor.
above the
[Book IX.
it
be choked up
with the bodies of
to
appeared to have
been thrown in
promiscuously, the
dead
with
the
wounded,
was full
brim.
The
'
1).
S.
place.
till
to
The
ings of those
it
the
feel-
who
it
is
mouth withdown
around
mowed
them,
Disorder in
the British
camp.
in fight, but
How
will
it
Cawnpoor on the 20th of July, bringing with him only 227 men. More than
these were necessary to garrison the town, and thus the force which remained
available for action in the field was less than before. To aggravate the difficulty,
discipline had begun to yield to the love of plunder, and the general was obliged
to exchange laudatory terms in addressing his troops for such language as the
"The marauding in this camp exceeds the disorders which supervened on the short-lived triumph of the miscreant Nana Sahib. A provostmarshal has been appointed with special instructions to hang up, in their
following:
uniform,
all
Tliis shall
ENTRENCHMENT AT CAWNPOOE.
(Jhap. IV.]
639
While pondering the difficulties which lay before him, Havelock had been
heard to exclaim, " If the worst comes to the worst, we can but die with
But
this resource,
count upon, would be a very sorry excuse for the general who should bring
matters to that desperate pass without absolute necessity.
His very first step,
A.D. 1857.
Difficulty
and danger
of advanc-
ing into
Oude.
Cawnpoor, was to
once to
100 in breadth.
command
On
accommodating and of being defended by 300 men, were immediately commenced and carried on w4th the utmost vifrour. Nearlv 4000 native labourers
from the town were set to work, and encouraged to punctuality by regular payment every evening. The irregular cavalry, who had been disarmed on the
march
for disaffection,
sessing mechanical
were
skill
also
made
it
by a gratuity of sixpence a
day.
itself
there
swamp, and had the enemy been on the alert, must have been in the greatest
peril.
Fortunately no opposition was offered. A second detachment followed
in the evening,
crossed.
Havelock's
entrench-
ment.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
C40
AD.
1857.
First en-
counter
with the
mutineers
in
Oude
[Book IX.
On the 28th of July the whole British force, consisting of 500 men, of
whom 1200 were British, and ten guns, was assembled at Mungulwar, about
1
five miles
from the
the north-east.
river,
On
Here the enemy were found strongly posted. " His right," says
"
was protected by a swamp which could neither be forced nor
the general,
turned; his advance was drawn up in an inclosure, which in this warlike
Onao.
to
district
The town
narrow.
The flooded
direction.
village
right.
unavoidable."
fusiliers,
such a destructive
Victory of
Onao.
till
reinforced
by
fire
on approaching the
the 64th.
was
village, that
After
it
forced,
it
it
of
Onao.
progress.
to
endeavour to outstrip
In
position beyond the town before they could reach it.
stood
and
this, by pushing rapidly forward, the column easily succeeded,
posted on the Lucknow side, on a piece of dry ground about half a mile in
them, and gain a
extent,
the enemy,
hope of
It would have been easy
still
in
from the consternation produced by it, opened with such a fire both of guns and
musketry, that victory soon declared in his favour, with a loss to the enemy of
300 men and
Victory of
Busserut'
gunge.
fifteen guns.
The troops
at the
started,
and marched
to Busserut-
was defended by
well as two turrets flanking the gate, were loopholed. The road leading out from
the farther gate was continued by a causeway across a sheet of water about
front
Chap. IV.]
so
tluit after
641
to
have cut
ofl"
a.d. i857.
their
was by no means
Haveiock
retires to
f>
cheering.
Munguiwar.
and that some weeks must elapse before the real strength of the column could
Under these circumstances a retrograde movement had become
be increased.
and
imperative, in order to keep open the communication with Cawnpoor,
The order, equally painful to
deposit the sick and wounded in its hospital.
the general and odious to the troops,
was accordingly
given,
by a
British force,
was impregnable.
after reachincr
o
Cawnpoor 257
attempted at
all
hazards.
He
therefore
moved out
of
Munguiwar on
the
-ith,
which had been discovered to give easier access than by the left.
The enemy, as before, rushed out from the farther gate, and made for the
Maude's guns, which were
causeway, where they suffered severely from Captain
the right,
upon
it.
Oude from
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
642
A.D. 1S57.
D'fficult
position of
Ilavelock.
contino-ent,
forming in
itself
[Book IX.
army, complete in
little
all its
took place, the hapless garrison would be left to its fate a fate which could be
nothing but the repetition of the Cawnpoor massacre in an aggravated form.
No wonder
that "the
mind
Marshman
"a
Many commanders would in such a dilemma
"
of war, but,
independently of his own spirit of
says,
alive to the
He
is
obliged
a second
time to
letters relating to
Lucknow,
it.
retii'e.
had
left
he continued thus:
"When
tiate or capitulate.
You
my
force,
cholera.
is
Doab
Alarming
news from
Cawnpoor.
loss
my way
fortified
effort
abandonment of
all this
portion of the
to the insurgents."
On
to the test.
startling communication:
just
come
and reports that 4000 men and five guns have assembled to-day
and threaten Cawnpoor. I cannot stand this; they will enter the
in,
at Bithoor,
are gone
if I
am
VICTORY OF BITHOOR.
Chap. IV.J
I
out here;
between
this
643
i857.
and Allahabad
the way, if the steamer, as I feel assured, does not start, will fall into the hands
In consequence of this commuof tlie enemy, and we will be in a bad way.
Alarming
'
cawnpoor.
nication, Havelock was about to recross the Ganges, when he learned that the
enemy, mustering about 4000 men, with some guns, had arrived at Busserut-
To have effected the passage with such a force in his rear would have
The moral effect also would have been pernicious, as the rebels
gunge.
been
difficult.
might have boasted with some plausibility that they had chased the British
He therefore at once took the initiative, and marching to
out of Oude.
a mile and a half on this side of Busserutgunge, found the
about
Boorhiya,
on the main road,
about 400 yards distant, both defended by artillery.
covered witli green vegetation, which gave it the
left
on a
mound
flat
on the
village
appearance of dry ground. It was in fact a morass, but was not discovered to
be so till the right wing of the column, after a steady advance, arrived at its
edge.
this
to the
main
The
road,
fire,
No further
bayonet.
resistance was offered, and the flight became general, the fugitives suffering
which tlie Highlanders had lost
severel}', particularly from the captured guns,
of the fusiliers,
captured them
at the point
of the
the column
in a
this
new
found the enemy in one of the strongest positions they had yet taken
of sugarThe
up.
plain in front, covered with villages and dense plantations
cane and castor-oil plants, was watered by a stream which pursued its course
towards the Ganges, and was at this season too deep to be fordable. The only
access to the town across it was by a narrow stone bridge, defended by a
breastwork on its flank, and commanded by some high ground and strong
fierceness,
the
Fortunately, either from ignorance or excessive confidence,
had failed to profit by this position, and instead of remaining behind
buildings.
enemy
the nullah,
front,
and thus
left
no escape in
villages
The attack was made by advancing in direct echelon from the right,
bridge.
the 78th Highlanders, the Madras fusiliers, and Maude's battery forming the
and Olphert's battery the
right wing, and the 64th, the 84th, the Sikhs,
of
"^'i^*rT
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G44
A.D. 185
Victory of
Bitlioor.
left.
Considering
[Book IX.
tlie
have been anticipated, but the enemy, sheltered behind their entrenchments,
stuck to their guns, and continued to pour forth volleys of musketry, which
were only silenced at the point of the
general, the
want
of cavalry
When
baj^onet.
when he
may
CHAPTER
Mutiny
V.
Dinapoor Arrah besieged and relieved Arrival of Sir Colin Campbell as commander-inReinforcements from Europe Havelock superseded in commandContinued siege
Sir Colin
British garrison at Lucknow Relief and subsequent blockade Second
at
the
Campbell's
of
his
chief
relief
campaign Havelock's
death.
|NE
Mutiny
at
Dinapoor.
by a mutiny
The
at Dinapoor.
be doubted,
to deprive
by disarming them.
General Lloyd, an aged officer,
than to the merit of his services, and
mischief
Government, naturally anxious to take the most favourable view, lent a too
delusion till
willing ear to his flattering reports, and did not awake from the
it
by the
intelligence that,
any necessity
for
it,
DEFENCE OF AEEAH.
Chap. V.]
return to
their duty,
and then
retired to a steamer
siesta.
645
to
ammunition,
and preparing for their departure. At the last hour the European troops were
called out, but it was only to find that they were too late.
The mutineers having crossed the Soane unchecked, proceeded westward
to Arrah, situated only eight miles beyond it, and after
plundering the treasury
and throwing open the jail, beset a house in which the Europeans, only sixteen
in number and all civilians, and fifty of Rattray's Sikh police, had taken
refuge.
A. D. 1857
Heroic defence by a
small party
of civilians
and native
police at
Arra'.i.
them was fortunately an engineer, who turned his professional skill to good
At best
account, and strengthened the post by all the means at his command.
was
however the defence
desperate,
and
appearance
successful,
to all
human
not
could
be
as the original
chief,
of the
name
Sing.
Mean-
Koer
of
had
to
left
Dinapoor by steam,
rescue the
garrison.
beleaguered
Part of the route
sktt"h by Lieutenant
>'yre,
engraved
in llluatiat^ii
London News.
was necessarily to be performed by land, and the troops having disembarked, proceeded till they
As the day was about
reached a bridge about a mile and a half from Arrah.
next morning was suggested, but the officer in command, in
his eagerness to accomplish the task committed to him, pushed on without even
This rash proceeding was severely punished. On the
stopping to reconnoitre.
to close, a halt
till
with the loss of half of their original number in killed and wounded. The fate
Still however their courage
of the civilians in Arrah now seemed sealed.
never failed them
rifle shots,
bribes
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
(jW
the reader
A.D. iSJT.
by
proceeding to the
[Book IX.
common rendezvous
and providcntially arrived at Dinapoor on the very day when the mutiny
As botli Buxar, where the Company had a valuable stud, and
occurrcd.
Grhazcepoor, a place of still greater importance, were reported to be in danger,
Tiie besieged
ieuevedby
cent'Eyre'!
he continued his voyage, and reached the one on the 28th and the other on
Finding no cause for immediate alarm at either, he returned
Having thus quickly organized a field force with three guns, he started from
Buxar, and on the morning of the 2d of August had, on advancing about half
a mile beyond Gujragunge, found the enemy in force occupying a wood in front,
and moving; laro-e bodies to other woods on his flanks. The evident intention
being to surround him, he at once offered battle, and opened fire with his guns.
The enemy, screening themselves behind some broken ground,
replied with
passage for the baggage and the guns beyond the woods, the advance now
becoming comparatively eas}^, as the road was formed by a causeway, with
inundated rice-fields on either side, which kept the enemy at such a distance
that their musketry could not
not
cross.
Major Ej're
made a
tell.
flank
hastened to defeat
resistance
gallant
band
acterize as
ness to
Qu
Arrival of
Sir Colin
was
"
offered,
at Arrali,
one of the most remarkable feats in Indian history," had the happi-
welcome
their deliverers.
As soon
Anson was known in England, he was appointed to
succeed him: twenty-four hours after, he had embarked.
There could not have
been a more judicious appointment. His distinguished services in the Crimea
had pointed him out as the man in whom, in the event of any great emergency,
the
3th of Auffust
Sir Colin Campbell arrived in Calcutta.
-^
campheii
'
his country
might repose the utmost confidence; and if there was any quarter
which he was more especiallj'' qualified, it was India, where he
in
its
mode
of warfare.
HAVELOCK SUPERSEDED.
Chap. V,]
of the reinforcements of
which
liis
647
was
of deliverance
army
to be composed,
but there was no reason to fear that the means placed at his disposal would
prove inadequate, since the national spirit, completely roused, was no longer to
be satisfied with desultory efforts, and troops to the number of 30,000 had
Sir Colin's
already left, or were preparing to leave the British shores for India.
arrival at Calcutta had been recently preceded
a.d. isst.
sir
James
appoint'^*'"*'
cessful
not be
any
fixed
ap-
left
unemployed,
was nothinoj more than mio-ht have
pointment.
and
He could
it
mand
divisions.
The command
and Cawnpoor
had
of the former
hotograph by Kilburn
it
with the
full mili-
But
tary powers which had been conferred on his distinguished predecessor.
while both professional routine and individual merit concurred in entitling him
effect which was probably overwas
considered
It placed a
unavoidable.
perceived
superior officer in the district in wliich Havelock had achieved his glorious victories, and thus by reducing him to a subordinate position, really superseded
The same thing took place, it will be remembered, in respect to General
him.
Neill, when Havelock himself was appointed, and if regret was then felt, it is
impossible not to feel it still more when, returning with Havelock from his
victory at Bithoor, we see him take up the Calcutta Gazette, and receive from
it his first intelligence of the fact that the command which had already given
and still promised to give him so many laurels, had passed into other hands.
to the
if
districts,
known
to
your excellency
reinforcements, so as to
my prospects for
make up my
the future.
force to
If I can receive
prompt
Havelock
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G4b
A.D. 1S57.
.r.3reasing
difF.culties
of
Have-
lock's position.
[Book IX.
this place
with a
mutinous contingent with 5000 men and thirty guns, or by the large forces
which are assembling at Furruckabad, under its rebellious nawab, which has
But
But
I see
no
alternative but abandoning for a time the advantages I have gained in tins
part of India, and retiring upon Allahabad, where eveiything can be organized
but communicated the pleasing intelligence that part of them were already far
on their wa}^ About seven companies of her majesty's 90th had left Dinapoor
on the 14th, and w^ere to reach Allahabad on the 21st or 22d; a con.siderable
portion of the 5th fusiliei's, detained at Mirzapoor, had been telegraphed to push
forward for the same place and a battalion of Madras infantry, with six guns,
had proceeded by rail to Raneegunge, and was to push on by land to Benares.
;
all
thoughts of
retiring to Allahabad.
Sir
James
Outrani's
arrival at
Dinapoor.
Sir James Outram arrived at Dinapoor on the 1 7th of August, and two
days afterwards wrote to the governor-general, suggesting a new line of opera-
Lucknow.
was
column to proceed westward from Benares through Juanpoor, between the Sye and the Goomtee,
An alternative plan was to start from Dinapoor and proceed by water, first by
tions for the relief of
It
to organize a
On
further consideration
both plans were abandoned, and on the 28th of August, Sir James Outram, in
his first communication to General Havelock, informing him of his intention to
join
him forthwith
you
wdtli
struggled so much.
shall
commissioner, placing
my
serving under
as
in
my
civil
capacity as
you please,
The
reinforcements
you
pi'omised suffered
considerable deductions in their progress, particularly at Allahabad, which was
threatened by Koer Sing, who had assumed the title of King of Shahabad, and
volunteer."
began at the age of eighty to give proof of military talents, which it could
hardly have been supposed that he possessed, after his disgaceful discomfiture
at Arrah by
Major Eyre. In consequence of the danger which thus threatened
Allahabad, the effective force under Sir James
to
1449
Chap. V.]
649
men.
a.d. i857.
it.
the commander-in-chief, that had the main body of rebels succeeded in crossing,
a general insurrection throughout the Doab would have ensued.
The
last of
sir
James
Outrani's
geneiws
"
not to'
g^'^gi^^^
accompany the
cheerfully waive
Lucknow
force to
his
and
will
No
of the force."
but
it
time was
lost in
Inglis,
in which, after referring to one received from Colonel Tytler, and containing
"
You must aid us in every way, even to cutting your
the following passage
way
out, if
we cannot
force our
no time must be
who
way
in,"
he continued thus:
to
We
lost in
mines have already weakened our post, and I have every reason to believe
they are carrying on others. Their eighteen-pounders are within 1 50 yards of
some of our
batteries,
and from
their
position,
and our
inability to
form
we
and the men are dreadfully harassed, and owing to part of the residency having been brought down by round shot, many are without shelter.
Our native force having been assured on Colonel Tytler 's authority of your
natives,
near approach some twenty-four days ago, are naturally losing confidence, and
In another
if they leave us, I do not see how the defences are to be manned."
Vol. III.
278
state of the
garrison in
Lucknow.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
6o0
A.D. 1857.
[Book IX.
dated 1st September, Colonel Inglis explained that his position was
daily becoming more hopeless, but added that from the reduction of rations
and the diminution of numbers, he hoped to be able to hold on to the 21st
letter,
instant.
still
time to
Luoknow.
means
of defence,
"
smoke had
re-
loss.
a photograph bj JIuyall.
same time
Loughnan,
who commanded
which they were not slow to avail themselves of, and the enemy were
driven back with great slaughter. The insurgents made minor attacks at almost
every outpost, but were invariably defeated, and at two P.M. they ceased their
selves,
attempts to storm the place, although their musketry fire and cannonading continued to harass us unceasingly as usual.
Matters proceeded in this manner
until the 10th of August, when the enemy made another assault, having previously sprung a mine close to the brigade mess, which entirely destroyed ovu"
defences for the space of twenty feet, and blew in a great portion of the outside
wall of the house occupied by Mr. Schillig's garrison.
On the dust clearing
men
holding the top of the brigade mess, that they beat a speedy retreat,
Chap
V.]
65 1
a.d. issr.
The defence
.lency.
wall but here as elsewhere they were met with the most indomitable resolution,
and the leaders being slain, the rest fled, leaving the ladders, and retreated to
their batteries and loopholed defences, from whence they kept up for the rest of
;
the day
August the
fatal effect.
commanded
Mecham and
Soppitt,
who
eleven
tlie
small body of
men were
extricate them,
houses of our position, from which they were driven in the evening by the
On the 5th of September the
bayonets of her maiesty's 32d and 84th foot.
^
enemy made
large,
Having exploded a
brigade mess,
large
mine a few
assault of
tiie
enemy.
eighteen-pounder gun, in
heavy
scaling-ladders,
musketry.
List serious
by hand-grenades and
and
musketry
fire
and everywhere with the same want of success. Their loss 'upon this day must
have been very heavy, as they came on with much determination, and at night
they were seen bearing large numbers of their killed and wounded over the
bridges, in the direction of the cantonments."
series of assaults
made by
At
Day
of
deliverance
approaches.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
652
A.D. 1857.
Advance of
ing forces.
[Book IX.
whom
2388 were European infantry, 109 European volunteer cavalry, and 282
European artillery, and 341 Sikh infantry, and 59 native irregular cavalry,
was forincd iuto two brigades, the 1st under General Neill, and the 2d under
On the 21st, the enemy, found in
Colouel Hamilton of the 78th Highlanders.
This
first
force
to
formidable
difficulty,
but the
rain.
The passage
rebels,
of this river
fears,
continued their
headlong flight without even stopping to destroy the bridge, and were not again
seen till the morning of the 23d, when they were found in force in the vicinity
of the
Alumbagh, a
Capture of
the Alum-
bagh.
Lucknow.
by a
lofty
with turrets at each angle, and in addition to the main building had an
which extended nearly two miles, with their right and centre posted on some
mounds, and their left resting on the Alumbagh. Their strength was estimated
The plan of attack was to turn
at 10,000 infantry, 1500 cavalry, and six guns.
make a
to a withering
considerable circuit.
fire, till
it
it
massed on the right were driven back, and the whole of the enemy's line was
thrown into disorder. The only resistance worthy of the name was made at the
Alumbagh,
BELIEF OF LUCKNOW.
Chap. Y.]
653
a.b. isst.
Alumbagh without
further opposition.
they learned through a message just received that Delhi had fallen. Another
fact scarcely less gratifying had reached their ears during the battle.
For some
time there had been no communication with the beleaguered garrison, and their
was
fate
doubtful.
distinctly heard,
Now, however,
all
Anxiety
the gamson.
in time.
While
halting;
on the
24;th in
Plan of
aavance on
Luckuow.
out towards the Charbagh bridge, spanning a canal about a mile and a half
north of the Alumbagh. From this point the Cawnpoor road led directly
through the heart of the city to the residency. The rebels, anticipating that
this route, being the shortest, would be selected, had dug deep trenches across
them with musketeers.
The
it, loopholed the houses lining
it, and filled
approach by
whether
so
it
swampy
it
was
to
make
that even the light pieces could hardly have been convej-ed across
The
Leaving the
bago-ao-e
and the
sick
and leading brigade headed by Sir James Outram, while General Havelock
followed with the second. At the very outset the sti'uggle commenced, and
some loss was sustained before the Charbagh bridge was reached, from the
first
At the
enemy's sharpshooters, and from three guns which raked the road.
It was defended by six guns,
bridge the resistance was still more formidable.
one of them a twenty-four pounder, and all the adjoining houses carefully loopholed were crowded with marksmen.
The
fire,
as soon as the
men became
to lie down
was necessary
To terminate
and the
Lst
Madras
fusiliers
were
struggle at
baghbridge.
HISTOKY OF INDIA.
054
AD.
1857.
[Book IX.
ordered to advance.
ten of ins
charge
and swept
almost to a man.
shared by two mounted staff officers, Colonel Tytler and Lieutenant Havelock.
The former had his horse shot under him, the latter reached the bridge, where
till
After crossiug the bridge, the main body of the relieving force followed the
,
lauc skirting the canal, and then proceeded in a northern direction as far as
,
t^iG
Sccundcr Bagh, where they made a sharp turn west towards the residency,
and arrived without much opposition within a short distance of the Motee
At this spot, still thi-eeMunzil, situated on the right bank of the Goomtee.
quarters of a mile east from the residency, the enemy had concentrated theiistrength, and a new struggle, in difficulty and fierceness resembling that of the
fire
had erected
at the
from the adjoining streets and inclosures, was so destructive as to make further
advance all but impossible. Two of Major Eyre's heavy guns succeeded twice
in silencing the battery for a time, but the resistance
relief
been
left
body
till
they came
to a point
was
still
when
who had
formidable,
quarter.
had been
where
body
all trace of it
of Highlanders
was
lost,
main
and providentially
left
pushed on through an incessant storm of shot. General Neill, after leading the
Madras fusiliers as they followed in their wake, was unfortunately struck in
the head
by
a musket-ball,
while ccnthiued their advance in the face of obstacles which, but for the noble
spirit
found their
them.
The garrison
relieved.
The sccue
withiii
is
officer:
"Once
few gallant
spirits, rose
Chap. V.j
Go5
cheer on cheer
who had
to be forgotten.
so bravely
forth to ad.
come
isst.
to our
The
assistance.
know no
liouse,
bounds.
and the
Sir
and
casualties.
with the
localities,
had been
left at
who were
not
known
main body.
They had with them two of the heavy guns, the spare
ammunition waggons, and the wounded. They remained at their post during
of the
the night, but in the morning Mr. Bewsley Thornhill of the civil service volunHis knowledge of the locality
teered to go out and bring in the wounded.
unhappily proved
insufficient,
convoy of dhoolies
seized with panic, forsook their charge, the dhoolie-bearers followed the example,
and nearly forty of the wounded were immediately butchered by the insurgents.
Two of the leading dhoolies by pushing on got out of reach of the fire. The
other dhoolies which had not entered the square stopped short when the firing
commenced, and by taking a different route were brought into the residency
in safety.
Havelock's despatch,
fortress
am
filled
amounted,
vip to
Haveiock's
despatch.
656
HISTORY OF INDIA.
An
A-D- 1S57.
[Book IX.
made by
the
Colonel
spatch.
Ingiis's despatch:
struggle which
I
would point
we
to the roofle.ss
exploded mines, to the open breaches, to the shattered and disabled guns and
and lastly, to the long and melancholy list of the brave and devoted
officers and men who have fallen.
These silent witnesses bear sad and solemn
defences,
Admirable
conduct of
the inmates
testimony to the way in which this feeble position has been defended."
In auothcr part of the despatch. Colonel Ino-lis says: "I cannot refrain
o
^
p
irom Ibnuging to the prominent notice of his
in
the
council,
lordship
patient
But
all
dying
in the hospital."
Lest
respect
of opinion that their
loyalty has never been surpassed.
were indifferently fed, and worse housed.
They were exposed,
am
native troops, I
They
especially
them
and every
bility,
effort,
to in vain, to seduce
sacrificed
by
their desertion."
fell
at their post
during the
The
describes.
the siege,
was 1G92
is
strong.
Of
Gubbin: "The
and
at the termination of
garrison of
and 765
Lucknow
natives.
originally
We
lost in
killed, of
Europeans 350 and 133 natives, and of the latter 230 deserted, making
a total loss of 713,
There remained of the original garrison, when relieved
on the 25th of
in
September by General Havelock, a total number of
979,
whom
Chap. V.]
It
quit
657
had been intended that the garrison and its deliverers should forthwith
for Cawnpoor, and accordingly, while the baggage and military
a.d. isst.
Lucknow
were
left in
Garrison and
relieving
force unable
Lucknow.
garrison, so far
for retiring
to
Alumbagh now
for reinforcements.
The detachment
left
much
caused
" that a
being found," says Sir James Outram in his despatch,
large mosque, strongly occupied by the enemy, required more extensive operations for its capture than were expedient."
The enemy in fact, recovering from
on the
6th, "it
had again assumed the offensive, and placed the whole force
of blockade.
Fortunately the detachment in the Alumbagh proved
able to repel any hostile attempt, and by means of forays in the neighbourhood,
and supplies brought under escort from Cawnpoor, was freed from all risk of
starvation.
The area occupied by the garrison being barely sufficient for its
own accommodation, a large addition was made to it on the north and east.
By
tional space
was
inclosed, the
''
am aware
shafts,
of no
aggregating 200 feet in depth, and 3291 feet of gallery, have been
The enemy advanced twenty mines against the palaces and out-
executed.
of these they exploded three which caused us loss of life, and three
which did no injury seven had been blown in and out of seven others the
posts;
enemy have been driven, and their galleries taken possession of by our miners
results of which the engineer department may well be proud."
Sir Colin Campbell, on learning;
that the intended retirement of the original
sir coiin
'^
forcements had begun to pour in from Europe, and in addition to the usual
land forces, another of a peculiar character, destined to render excellent
Vol. III.
279
Campbell's
advance
'
brigade!
HISTORY OF INDIA.
658
A.D. 1857
[Book IX.
had been organized, under the name of the naval brigade, commanded
by Captain Peel, a son of the late Sir Robert Peel, who promised to be no less
The
distinguished as a naval officer than his father had been as a statesman.
brigade, consisting chiefly of the crew of the captain's own ship, the Shannon,
service,
routing them.
body
and utterly
the
other troops
whicli had arrived at
Cawnpoor, and passed
over into Oude to form part of the new
Proceedings
of the col-
umn
from
Among
relieving
1
Delhi.
ately after its recapture, and sent in pursuit of the rebels who had
escaped from
it.
This column,
commanded by Colonel
General Sir Colin Cajipbell
and
horse-artillery,
had marched
From
horse,
south-east,
and
encamped
of Agra.
The authorities there preferring a bold to a timid course, resolved
to take the initiative, and sent out all the
troops which they could muster
to ofier battle.
a
Unfortunately,
large portion of them belonging to what
was called the Kotah
went over in a
to the
This
Affair at
Agra.
contingent
body
enemy.
untoward event was followed by another of a still more fatal character.
After a long and obstinate
struggle, the British ammunition failed, and it
became necessary to retreat. As has almost
been the case in India,
invariably
previously been kept at bay, pressed on in the full confidence of victory, and with so much
rapidity that the retreat became disastrous.
In the course of the
tlie
British
within
evening
troops found themselves shut
the rebels,
who had
up
calamity, aggravated
undisputed
city.
Chap. V.]
G59
Mr. Colvin, and thus deprived the Indian government of one of its best
servants, at a time when, as the governor-general in council justly expressed
it, "his ripe experience, his high ability, and his untiring energy would have
a.d. iss:.
Death of Mr.
state."
The rebels, after wreaking
and satiating themselves with plunder, had retired, but in the
beginning of October the defenceless state of the city and weakness of the
their vengeance
of Greathed's column.
advantage, but
it
On
make
off,
and were
new
command
to Brigadier
Hope
Campbell
halting three days at Buntara to allow the detachments still on the road to
come up, started on the 12th at the head of a force composed as follows:
Bengal
detachments
heavy
Bengal and Punjab sappers and miners; her majesty's 9th lancers; detachments 1st, 2d, and 5th Punjab cavalry, and Hodson's horse; her majesty's 8th,
53d, 75th,
infantry.
This
in oude.
6G0
A.u. 1857.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book IX.
prise,
way
rewarded by government with 2000 and admission to the regular civil service.
On the 14th of November the commander-in-chief began his advance on
Sir Colin
^
adranc!
the city.
upouLuck-
^ j^^g
On
i^j^g
the grounds of the Martiniere, and beyond the canal to the north of them.
The rear-guard, hung upon by the enemy, was unable to close up to the
column
till
late
on the
loth.
On
that day,
therefore,
no farther progress
pushed rapidly onwards, viz. Captain Blunt's troop, Bengal hoi\se- artillery,
and Captain Travers' royal artillery heavy field battery. The troop passed
at a gallop through a cross fire from the village and Secunder Bagh, and
:
opened
fire
as
Desperate
street fighting.
t
tt
being effected, the leading brigade of infantry, under Brigadier the Honourable
Adrian Hope, coming rapidly into action, caused the loopholed village to be
abandoned, the whole fire of the brigade being directed on the Secunder Bagh.
After a time a large body of the enemy who were holding ground to the left
open
plain,
Chap. V.]
CGI
storm through a small opening which had been made. This was done in the
most brilliant manner by the remainder of the Highlanders, and the 53d, and
a.d. issr.
more than
immense
''
l)y
Capture
.,f
the Shah
Nujeef.
the enemy.
Shannon
with
was engaged
^
of
a
hundred
few
a
This building was within
yards
garden,
had been established to co-operate in the relief This battery
*="
cooperation
of the resi-
dency sar-
which a battery
was screened from the view of the enemy on two sides by a high wall, and the
intention was to throw down the wall by exploding a mine under it, as soon
in
as the
moment
for
Orders to this
effect
were
but the exploaccordingly given during the fierce struggle at the Shah Nujeef,
which
the mine had
with
sion in a great measure failed, because the powder
been charged three days before had in the interval become damp. Some time
was thus lost in battering down the wall with the guns, which, after this
effect on the Hureen Khana
preliminary obstacle was removed, opened with good
and the steam-engine house, the two strongest buildings, immediately in front.
After practicable breaches had been effected, a storming party from the garrison
rushed out and carried the buildings by assault.
On
the mornino;
& of the
nate, that it
described in
the commander-in-chief's
i.
"Captain
despatch:
Peel kept up a
This building, of
^'"f ''^''''''.
ofthegarnson.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
662
AD.
1857.
[Book IX.
Final relief
son.
it
....
sidered that
was
(it)
con-
was
tlie
wall,
The enemy kept up such a galling fire of musketry from the Tehru Kotee
observatory, and of artillery from the battery of the Kaiser Bagh, that much
over.
or
some
skilful strategy,
Removal
of
tlic
the non-
combatants,
rest
was
still
required.
The plan
of
and conducting the women and children, together with the sick and wounded,
in safety to Cawnpoor.
The delicate operation of removing the women and children, and the careful manner in which it was conducted on the 19th, is thus
described
by Mr. Gubbin
"
in carriages closely
packed, every description of vehicle being pressed into service on the occasion.
Many were seated on native carts, and not a few walked. They were
conducted through the Bailey Guard gate, the Furhut Buksh and Chuttur Munzil
palaces, and emerging near our advanced battery, crossed the line of fire from
the Kaiser
fire
Chap. V.]
663
river.
a.d. isst.
side of the
and on one
had been dug, along which, dismounting from their carriages, they walked
All most fortunately reached the Secunder Bagh
past all the exposed places.
in safety."'
Removal
of
the garrison
andreuev-
"
musket-shot," thus explains his mode of procedure
Upon the 20th, fire was
opened on the Kaiser Bagh, which gradually increased in importance, till it
:
enemy
much within
suffered
its precincts.
Having thus led the enemy to
was contemplated, orders were issued for the
The
ladies
and
families, the
and
resist
the
enemy
should he pursue were ably carried out by Brigadier the Honourable Adrian
Hope but I am happy to say the enemy was completely deceived, and he
did not attempt to follow.
On the contrary he began firing on our old positions
;
many
hours after
executed, and
we had
was a
left
them.
The movement of
retreat
was admirably
The whole force reached Dilkoosha at four in the morning of the 23d. The
Sick and wounded had left the residency on the 19th, and Lieutenant Havelock,
who was included among the latter, in calling to take leave of his father, now
.
Henry Havelock, found him seated alone by his lamp, reading Macaulay's
History of England. The very next morning the general was seized with
diarrhoea.
His constitution, shattered by past and recent exertions, was little
Sir
able to contend with the formidable disease which, during the 21st,
serious a
form that
it
to
convey him
assumed
so
at nightfall to the
His own conviction, calmly conveyed to those around him, was that
he should not recover. In the course of the 23d, when a fatal issue became only
Dilkoosha.
too probable, he
contented."
might
"
met
it
have
was
but cheerfully.
my
life,
"I
die
happy and
that when death came I
On
revival, there
fear,
Immediately
Haveiock-s
death.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G64
A.D. 1S57.
after
'
to be left in
of Sir
selected as a
[Book IX.
moveable column
James Outram,
jz
=^~lr=^=^~^'^_
"
remains of their
tal
departed general,
which on arrivinfr
at the
Alumbagh,
laid
they
humble
a
Sir
grave.
Havelock
Henry
had
in
attained
the
age of sixty-three,
them
in one of the
soon.
long
After
and
^-^ K
benefit of
to
too
patient
waiting, full scope
^^S-*^''S-
have died
said
his country,
been ungrateful.
CHAPTER
YI
from Nepaul
rebels
General
HOUGH the
defences of
time, the place remained in the possession of the rebels, and the
commander-in-chief commenced his return to Cawnpoor. Mean-
movement.
On
reaching-
any hostile
Bunnee, encumbered with an immense train of
enemy
waggons and other carriages employed in the conveyance of baggage, ammunition, commissariat stores, and nearly 2000 helpless non-combatants, the
returning force was startled at the sound of a cannonade in the direction of
Cawnpoor. There could be little doubt as to the nature of it. That place had
Chap. VI.]
605
long been threatened by the rebels, and they had at length actually attacked
it.
The commander-in-chief when he crossed the Ganfjes believed he had
Windham, with a
its safety
was but
by
intrusting the
force of
little
command
of
it
to General
Windham
and
a.d. 185t.
it
startling
frum cawu
^^'""''
Advance of
contingent
poor.^''^'^
The whole had united, and on the morning of the 26th of November were in
full march on
Cawnpoor. General Windham, on being made aware of their
approach, sent to the commander-in-chief for instructions, but, in consequence
of the miscarriage of his message, not having received any answer, felt obliged
to act for himself
Had
more
spirit
than prudence, to
pursue a bolder course; and leaving part of his force to guard the entrenchment,
hastened out to meet the coming foe with the remainder, consisting of about
blow at the enemy's advance, and thereby perhaps induce the whole body to
retire.
He did strike the blow, and with no small degree of success. "The
11
General
If
Windham
"1
1
1
T
his despatch, "strongly posted on the other side of the dry attacks
enemy, he says
bed of the Pandoo Nuddee, opened a heavy fire of artillery from siege and
field guns; but such was the eagerness and courage of the troops, and so well
m
'
it.
men
officers,
went
that
we
and the
cheering as they
rear
height on the other side of the village that the enemy's main body was at
"
I at once decided," says the general, "on
hand,
retiring to protect Cawnpoor,
my
Vol. III.
This retreat,
made
280
in
HISTORY OF INDIA.
666
A.D.1857.
the face of an
enemy estimated
[Book IX.
was not
effected
Arrival of
the commander-inchief at
Cawnpoor.
was high time, for they were already beset. Had they fallen, the safety of
the force in Oude would have been seriously compromised.
The commander-in-chief, pushing on in advance of the column, reached the
entrenchment on the evening of the 28th. During this day the fighting was
"
become necessary to proceed with the utmost caution
very severe, and it had
over the Ganges. This operation and its success are
"All the heavy guns attached to General
thus described in a despatch:
Grant's
under
division,
Captain Peel,
\V.
RN., and
Captain Travers,
Il.A.,
London News.
were placed in position on tlie left bank of the Ganges, and directed to open fire
and keep down the fire of the enemy on the bridge. This was done very
effectually, while Brigadier Hope's brigade, with some field artillery and cavalry,
was ordered
lines.
His army
crosses the
Ganges.
to
cross fire
was
at the
and
it
was not
till
day
file
The passage
had cleared
the bridge."
felt
that his
first
CAWNPOOE EELIEVED.
Chap. VI.]
"
it,
The
667
to
all
a.d. isst.
Preparations
^^ attack-
iugthe
"His
despatch:
it
left
from Brigadier Greathed's position, the principal streets having been afterHis right stretched some way beyond the
angle formed by the grand trunk road and the canal, two miles in rear of
which the camp of the Gwalior contingent was pitched, and so covered the
This was the line of retreat of that body. In short, the canal,
along which were placed his centre and right, was the main feature of his posiIt
tion, and could only be passed in the latter direction by two bridges.
Calpee road.
The
attack.
town which gave cover to our attacking columns on our right being
effectual obstacle to the movement of any portion of his troops from his left
Thus the possibility became apparent of attacking his division in
right.
wall of the
an
to
After mentioning that the enemy mustered about 25,000 men, with
"Orders were given to General
thirty-six guns, the despatch continues thus:
Windham on the morning of the 6tli to open a heavy bombardment at nine A. M.
detail."
tlie
old cantonment,
general's position.
belief in the
earl}^,
all
for
to
make
a detour on the
farther up,
left
deployed in parallel
At the same
Brigadier Inglis's brigade being in rear of Brigadier Hope
time Brigadier Walpole, assisted by Captain Smith's field battery, R.A., was
its
complete
success.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
668
A.D. 1SJ7.
Success of
[Book IX.
the attack.
line,
and
.1
had the
Brigadier
Walpole was making equal progress on the right. The canal bridge was quickly
passed. Captain Peel leading over it with a heavy gun, accompanied by a soldier
of her majesty's 53d, named Hannaford.
The troops which had gathered
together resumed their line of formation with great rapidity on either side, as
it was crossed, and continued to drive the
enemy at all points, his camp
soon as
being reached and taken at one p.m., and his rout being complete along the
I must here draw attention to the manner in which the
Calpee road.
heavy
twenty-four pounder guns were impelled and managed by Captain Peel and his
gallant sailors.
Through the extraordinary energy with which the latter have
worked, their guns have been constantly in advance throughout our late operations, from the relief of Lucknow till now, as if they were light field pieces, and
the service rendered by them in clearing our front has been incalculable.
On
this occasion there was the sight beheld of twenty-four pounder guns advancing
Pursuit of
with the
first line
the rebels.
of skirmishers.
light
the fourteenth milestone on the Calpee road, and I have reason to believe that
every gun and cart of ammunition which had been in that part of the enemy's
position which had been attacked, now fell into our possession."
During these
operations. General Mansfield
enemy's
left,
posted.
was equally
and completely routing the troops of Nana Sahib, who were there
After
a,
midnight of the
6th.
The following day the troops reposed, waiting for the arrival of the baggage,
but early next morning Brigadier Grant started again in pursuit with the
After reaching the
cavalry, some light artillery, and a brigade of infantry.
Nana's residence at Bithoor, and discovering a large quantity of treasure which
in a well, he hastened on to the Serai Ghaut, where he had
the good fortune to overtake the fugitives in the very act of crossing over into
Conceniiation of the
British
forces at
Furnickabad.
bad.
open the
line of
to
CONCENTRATION AT FURRUCKABAD.
Chap. VI.]
6G9
The northern portion of this line had already been to some extent
secured by Colonel Seton, who having set out from Delhi at the head of a
Delhi.
a.d. issr.
column consisting of the carabineers, Hodson's horse, tlie 1st Bengal fusiliers,
and a Sikh regiment, mustering in all about 1900 sabres and bayonets, was
proceeding southwards with an immense convoy of tents, ammunition, carts,
He was now
and in short everything most wanted at head-quarters.
with
to
in
order
him, and finally
co-operate
advancing towards Mynpoorie, and
camels,
join
him
rifles,
and a
strong body of cavalry and artillery, mustering about 2000 men of all arms,
to sweep across the Lower Doab by proceeding westward in the direction of
Etawah, and then turn northwards so as to be able, after the junction with
it
was
as the fort of
The
opportunity whether of annoyance or of retreat.
had
reserved
for
himself,
capture of this place, which the commander-in-chief
was easy, for the enemy, instead of making the bold stand which had been
swarmed with
full
little
by an
AOhoorka
force
from
Nepaui.
was being
for
courage,
preparing to enter Oude from the east, with the view of cutting off" the retreat
of the rebels in that direction, and then advancing to Lucknow, to take part
in its final capture.
it
it
after
they should be
^^-^^ of
campaign.
A.D. 1857
Plan of
campaign.
670
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
[Book IX,
different.
He
thought tliat the time which would necessarily be occupied in the subjugation
of Rohilcund would be more advantageously employed in Oude, where the
rebellion still counted the largest number of adherents, and possessed its most
This was the plan ultimately adopted, and Sir Colin
important stronghold.
Campbell, leaving a sufficient garrison in the fort of Futtehghur, broke up his
1st of February, and set out for Cawnpoor.
At this time the
whole force under his personal command amounted to 18,277, composed as
follows: infantry 12,498, cavalry 3109, artillery 174-5, and engineers 865. These
camp on the
included the strong detachment under General Outrarn, who, besides gallantly
holding his post at the Alumbagh,
had on two
had ventured
British force
the
to assail
enemy who
it.
Another
Oude again
entered and
Liiclinow
attacked.
body of rebels
was hastening
esti-
mated at 25,000,
forward to take part in the operations
before Lucknow,
The first jDortion of the army
Ganges on the 4th of Febbut
the whole did not cross
ruary,
till the 28th, on which
day head-quarcrossed the
ters
On
the 2d of
Jung Bahadoor.
vanced picket, though not without
From a painting in the Museum, East India House.
from
the
who
enemy,
opposition
opened a heavy fire from a series of strong entrenchments in the line of the
posi-
tions,
Lucknow,
it
appeared
Chap. VI.]
evident to
me
that the necessity would arise for operating from both sides of
the captm-e.of the city should be seriously entertained.
a.d. isst.
when
the Goomtee,
Two very
C71
it
would become
tlie other,
works;
town, though I could not hope to invest a city having a circumference of
twenty miles."
In accordance with
viously provided was
formed of casks which had been preacross the river, and on the 6th a com-
11thrown
hastily
Formidable
diflftculties
to be en-
first
part of this
"The
one.
The second
line circled
round the
first,
or
was the principal rampart of the Kaiser Bagh, the rear of the
inclosures of the latter being closed in by the city, through which approach
would have been dangerous to an assailant.
These lines were flanked by
and
at
numerous bastions,
rested
one end on the Goomtee, and the other on the
interior one,
all
been expended on the defence of the houses and bastions to enfilade the streets."
As soon as it became apparent that Sir James Outram had turned the first
-r
line of defence
all
much effect, that on the 9th it was successfully stormed by the 42d,
and
90th regiments, under the direction of Brigadier Sir Edward Lugard
53d,
and the Hon. Adrian Hope.
This first success was immediately followed by
with so
still more
consequence, when the 4th Punjab rifles, supported by the
42d Highlanders, climbed up the entrenchment abutting on the Goomtee, and
swept down the whole line of works forming the outer defence as far as the
one of
building known as Banks's house, which was carried next day at sunrise, and
Sir James Outram had in the meantime
secured as a strong military post.
been making rapid progress, having not only captured the Badshah Bagh, one of
the finest of the
palaces,
is
thus described in the despatch: "The second part of the plan of attack against
Gallantry
with which
theyaresur-
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
67ii
A.D. 1S57.
now came
into operation,
viz.,
[Book IX.
and palaces extending from Banks's house to the Kaiser Bagh as our approach,
instead of sapping up towards the front of the second line of works.
By these
^^
means
was enabled
Sir
own
left,
at the
already received orders to plant his guns with a view to raking the enemy's
with a vertical and direct fire, also to
position, to annoy the Kaiser Bagh
attack the suburbs in the vicinity of the iron and stone bridges shortly after
daybreak, and to command the iron bridge fi-om the left bank. All this was
The enemy,
carried out by Sir James Outram with the most marked success.
held pertinaciously to his own end of the iron bridge on the
right bank, and there was heavy cannonading from both sides, till the bridge
was afterwards taken in reverse."
however,
The
Successive
captures of
still
frout
now become
enemys
opcratiou had
v.orks.
earnest endeavours
the 11th
is tlius
described:
"The
by the 9od Highlanders, supported by the 4th Punjab rifles, and 1000 Ghoorkas,
led by Brigadier the Hon. Adrian Hope, under the direction of BrigadierThe troops secured the whole block
general Sir Edward Lugard, at four A.M.
of buildings, and inflicted a very heavy loss on the enemy, the attack having
been one of a very desperate character. This was the sternest struggle
his
siege.
From thenceforward
the aid of the sappers and of heavy guns, the troops immediately occupying
the ground as he advanced, and the mortars being moved from one position to
The buildings
another, as the ground was won on which they could be placed.
and the Secunder Bagh were taken in the early morning of the
same day without opposition. During the night of the 12th, Sir James Outram
was reinforced with a number of heavy guns and mortars, and directed to
increase his fire on the Kaiser Bagh, while at the same time mortars placed in
to the right
a position at the Begum's house never ceased to play on the Imambara, the
next large palace it was necessary to storm, between the
Begum Kotee and
the Kaiser Baofh."
Arrival of
'
theNepaulese force
at
9000
Lucknow.
to
tlie
canal,
Chap. VI.
673
Edward Lugard, took place on the 14th, and not only a.d. issr.
was
but
followed
succeeded,
up in a manner which none had been sanguine
continued
enough to anticipate. After the Imambara had been forced by the column of
who had
relieved Sir
attack led
by Brigadier
progress of
the British
line of defences having thus been turned without a sino-le o-un beinij fired
from them, "supports," continues the despatch, "were quickly thrown in, and
all the well-known ground of former defence and attack, the mess-house, the
Tara Kotee, the Motee Mahul, and the Chuttur Munzil, were rapidly occupied
by the troops, while the engineers devoted their attention to securing the
position towards the south
and west.
of continued exertion,
felt
tion
tlie
Illustrated Times.
which the despatch gives of the various buildings successively sapped into or
"They formed a range of massive palaces and walled courts of vast
stormed:
Every
outlet
any
capital in Europe.
side
were prepared
The
Vol.
III.
281
Final cap
city.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
674
A.D. 1857.
[Book IX.
when
James Outram,
with the 5th brigade under Brigadier Douglas, supported by two other regiments, crossed the Goomtee by a bridge of casks, a little above the iron bridge,
and was able not only to take the latter bridge in reverse, which was the chief
than a mile up the right bank of the river,
object in view, but to advance more
and take possession both of the Muchee Bhowun and another building considerably beyond
it,
At the same
Imambara.
Sir
time, a portion of
The
residency.
made
made
city
their escape.
rebels had
of the city
oude"nd
of Fyzabar
g^^rdcus
Defeat of the
it
Two
and
inclosures, situated at
some distance
bank
It
whom, in the absence of her husband, then a prisoner at Calcutta, she had
made a puppet king, and also her notorious paramour, Mumoo Khan, who had
so long been permitted to usurp her husband's place, as to make the real
paternity of Brijeis Kuddr more than doubtful. The other body of rebels
occupied a stronghold in the heart of the
city,
of F}'zabad, whose combined ability and fanaticism made him one of the most
influential of the insurgent leaders.
On the 19th Sir James Outram moved
on the Moosa Bagli, by the right bank of the Goomtee, while Brigadier
Grant
cannonaded it from the left bank, and Brigadier Campbell moved
Hope
round from the Alumbagh to the west, for the purpose of preventing retreat in
directly
that direction.
resistance,
inhabitants,
Death of
Hodson and
Peel.
loss
was
..., two
scrious, as it included
Hodson and
Peel.
The former
fell
;
..,^.,
m
the service,
of the most promising officers
mortally wounded during the assault, and
the latter,
now become
was
wounded, but
had given good hopes of an early and complete recovery, when an attack of
just recompense
also severely
off",
after
he had
Chap. VI.]
675
all
ni
and the small portion of country adjoining the road leading from it to Cawnwhile they mustered
in their possession
poor, the whole of Oude was still
still
headed
the revolt; in RohilKoer
Sing
strong in Behar on the east, where
inOudestill
coutmuea.
Lucknow; and
with
it,
had
to
Under
these circumstances,
all
way
its vicinity, to
in those directions
where
his
command
it,
of it to Sir
prepare
augmented
force into
Oude, and drive the rebels before him into the pestilential
to their
Sultanpoor.
had
for
from
convoy of ammunition and supplies, sent out to the beleaguered garrison
This
Mark
Kerr.
Lord
under
attempt was
Benares, with an escort of 4C0 men
relieved and strengthened by
successfully repulsed, but the garrison, though
the convoy and escort, was still in danger, and the column was therefore
Unfortunately there were obstacles in the way. A
over the Goomtee at Sultantemporary bridge which the Ghoorkas had thrown
anxious to push forward.
Proceedings
direction of
^^""s^*^-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
676
A.D. 1S57.
[Book IX.
in consequence obliged to
poor had been broken down, and the column being
did
not
reach
take a somewhat circuitous route,
Juanpoor till the 9th of April.
Another detention, caused by the defeat and pursuit of a body of rebels, who
its path, prevented it from reaching Azimghur before
Defeat and
KoerSing.
Here the
final
Oude, while the third and main body, under Koer Sing himself, moved eastward towards his own zemindaree, in the vicinity of Arrah, where the wounds
which he had received in the action shortly afterwards terminated his career.
On the 10th of April another strong column, mustering nearly 6000 men of
arms, and fully provided with light and heavy artillery, under General
Walpole, set out from Lucknow with the intention of clearing that jiart of the
country, and moving upward along the left bank of the Ganges toward
all
No
Unhappy
Rohilcuud.
and a
ditch.
An
until
Death of the
Hon. Adrian
Hope.
The
alter
itt
-ii
regiment, the 93d, and described, with little exaggeration, as "the most gallant
and the best beloved soldier in the array." The foll}^ of having risked tliis
was demonstrated next morning, when it was found that the place had
been evacuated during the night.
The commander-in-chief having opened the campaign in Rohilcund by the
capture of Shajehanpoor, started again on the 2d of May, and began to advance
repulse
northwards on Bareilly, on which, at the same time, in consequence of a wellmanaged combination, two other columns were moving one under General
Battle of
liareillyand
flight of the
Jones from the north-west, by way of Moradabad, and the other under General
Penney from the south-west, by way of Budaon. This concentration of force,
provided for the suppression of the niutin^^ in Rohilcund, shows that a very
formidable resistance was anticipated.
Khan Bahadur Khan, while allowed
to
BATTLE OF BAPtEILLY.
Chap. VI.j
077
a.d. isst.
Fiigiitofthe
for Bareilly,
army
force,
had been detached from Bareilly for that purpose. With the capture of
The rebels, unable to
Bareilly the Rohilcund campaigii virtually terminated.
keep the
field,
the return of the cold season should allow the campaign to be resumed.
it will be necessary to turn to another quarter, to which due
Meanwhile
attention has not yet been paid, and give a brief account of the progress
events in Central India.
In the
of'
native princes,
Campaign
^^ Central
India,
practicable to organize
Central India from the south-east and south-west, might afford effectual aid in
The former column, under General
restoring the authority of government.
Kotah
junction with a more central column, when the whole, under the command of
Sir Hugh Rose, was to assume the name of the Central India field force.
At
the outset the central column, consisting of about GOOO men, of whom
One of them, commanded
by Brigadier Stuart
1857,
Mhow, which
since the
commencement
of the
mutiny had been kept in a state of siege, spent the remainder of the rainy
season in repairing and strengthening the fort, erecting new batteries, and
throwing up entrenchments, with the view of making the locality a basis for
On the l.^tli of October the brigade was again in
subsequent operations.
Progress of
the British
forces.
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
678
AD.
1857'.
[Book IX.
motion, and proceeded west to Dhar, the capital of a small principality, where
a body of mutineers, collected from various quarters, had, contrary it was said
to the wish of the native authorities, taken forcible possession.
is
The
actual
a double game, conciliating the rebels by complying with their demands, and
at the same time professing to the British government that they did so not
Dhar
'^^
siege in consequence
after the
commenced.
little intermission,
advantage was
taken of the cover afforded by the huts and mud walls of the town to place
a breaching battery, which began to play at the distance of 300 yards on the
curtains and bastions of the fort, which were all substantially built of stone.
Means were
talk of terms, but on being told that nothing but an unconditional surrender
would be accepted, declared their determination to hold out to the last. This
was only a
all
Capture of
Dhar and
Mimdisore.
-i
of the
two
the
Orr, the
column resumed
its
march
divisions
till the
The contingent pushing forward,
following day.
came up with the enemy at the village of Rawul, and by a gallant charge drove
them from their guns, which were captured, together with large quantities of
ammunition, and of bullocks and carts loaded with plunder. This success
having cleared the road, no further encounter took place till Mundisore was
reached on the morning of the 21st of November.
Here the rebels had fixed
their head-quarters,
and
felt so
of waiting to be attacked,
they
first attempted a
surprise, and when it failed,
advanced steadily with banners flying, threatening at once both British flanks
and centre. After a short encounter
they turned their backs, and were pursued
Chap. VI. 1
NEEMUCH EELIEVED.
679
Meanwhile
intelligence
T
CI,
have given the enemy an overwhelming preponderance. Brigadier fetuart
determined to frustrate it, by throwing himself between the two bodies,
though at the risk of opposing himself to an attack both in front and rear.
-r-v
d. isss.
Mundisore
captured.
He
accordingly set out on the morning of the 22d, and had an encounter with
On the following
the enemy's advance-guard without any very decisive result.
after
night closed, after a fierce struggle, still remained in possession of the enemy.
While the battle was raging in front, a party of rebels from Mundisore had
by the
British rear,
On
till
The
result
was the
relief of
From
town
who
though most of the troops belonging to her contingent had joined the
After reaching Sehore, and executing summary vengeance on a
mutineers.
number of mutineers, the force continued its march through Bhopal and Bhilsa
tion,
difficulty,
Seiwre and
ueved.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
680
A.D. 1858.
[Book IX.
and kept up with so much vigour, that on. the evening of the 28th the breach
was pronounced practicable. It was however unnecessary to storm. The
a precipice which, as it seemed to bar the possibility
garrison, descending by
guarded by a body of Bhopal troops, had made their
The next advance was to Saugor, where Sir Hugh Rose had the
escape.
happiness of relieving a body of Europeans who had been cooped up for eight
of egress,
was
carelessly
fort.
passed.
At some
Continued
theBiitish
'*'*'
rebels,
made a show
to give
some
It
trouble, but
and
"^^Jj^^^^^ "^'^;;??^^JJ>?^^^^^^^^^^^|^?-^'
''r.
then moved
Sir
Hugh
was Jhansi, where a hideous massacre had been peipetrated, and where the
begum, resenting the questionable act which had incorporated the teiTitory
with British India, had headed the revolt, and given proof of talents which,
but for her share in the Jhansi massacre, might have extorted admiration.
The road
led over some of the ridges of the Vindhya Mountains, and through
several passes which, if properly defended, could not have been forced without
Maithooi-
threatened.
had blocked
by
it,
large
it
body of
enemy
JHANSI BESIEGED.
Chap. YI.]
681
a.d. is5s.
The
cleared.
surprise,
level
The town of
The
fort of
is surrounded
by a wall of
masonry from six to twelve feet thick, and eighteen to thirty feet high,
flanked with bastions for ordnance, and loopholed for musketry.
Within the
solid
town, and inclosed by it on all sides except the west, where the rock on which
it stands terminates in an
abrupt and lofty precipice, rises the citadel, comboth
town and the roads leading to it, and strongly
the
pletely commanding
fortified
art.
by
from
same
effect.
Several of the enemy's guns were silenced, and the battlements gave
when
the siege
commenced
it
to the north-east.
Tliis,
man
then,
on the
and keep
to
its
batteries
and taking up a position in front of the British camp, near the banks
The battle was deferred till the following morning (1 st April),
of the Betwa.
282
relief of it
rebels, bytuerebeis
composed
Attempted
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G82
AD. 1858.
jhansi taken
yassa
[Book IX.
havoc among the dense masses of the enemy, a charge of cavahy, directed
simultaneously against both wings, increased the confusion, and made it
Comparatively easy for the infantry to push forward and complete the victory
All the guns brought by the enemy from Calpee
^^ ^^^^ point of the bayonet.
were captured, and nearly 1000 of their number lay dead upon the field. After
this victory the siege was prosecuted with so much vigour, that an assault took
infantry, effecting
an entrance by
on the
left,
composed
of the royal engineers and the 86th and 25th Bombay native infantry, stormed
Both attacks succeeded, and the two columns, after clearing the
the breach.
way
The fighting,
before them, met, and were concentrated at the palace.
still continued in different parts both of the city and the fort,
however, was
finally cease
numbers of the
rebels
till
were
the
6tli,
slain,
when
but
still
Large
larger
two British
columns,
While Sir Hugh Rose was pursuing his victorious career, the other two
columns under Generals R-oberts and Whitlock were also making a successful
wholly in the power of the rebels, and thus Kotah was truly a city divided
The arrival of General Roberts threw the balance so completely
against itself
in the rajah's favour, that little difficulty
was found
The
and escape.
though they managed
After
Madras column, under General Whitlock, had been equally successful.
traversing a large extent of country, and clearing it of rebels, it arrived on the
as usual to distance their pursuers
19th of April in the vicinity of Banda, about ninety miles west of Allahabad.
ruler or nabob was in open arms against the government, and
advanced at the head of about 7000 men, of whom about 1000 "vyere sepoys of
the Bengal army, to offer battle.
General Whitlock, though outnumbered
nearly sevenfold, gladly accepted the challenge, and after a contest, which was
obstinately maintained for four hours, gained a decisive victory.
After remaining some time in Jhansi to prepare for a movement on Calpee,
where
it
rebels,
make
from
again augmented by fugitives
Hugh
Rose, somewhat
SIR
Chap. VI.]
HUGH
GENERAL ORDER.
EOSE'S
G83
weakened
^^^^'
rebels,
who remained under cover, the British advance became the sisnal
for general flight.
Calpee was now only forty miles distant, and was gradually
approached by slow marches, the heat rendering rapid movement absolutely
musketeers
and daily producing heavier loss than the enemy were able to inflict.
the 22d of May, after Golowlee, within six miles of Calpee, had been
impossible,
On
reached, and several days had been spent in a kind of desultory and harassing
warfare, the enemy were seen advancing in force along the Calpee road, in order
An
of battle.
place,
and was
for
some time
His victory
of Golowlee
and capture
^^^'
main,-
Hugh
Rose,
order:
"Camp, Calpee,
to depart
...
on sick
certificate, issued
the following
about to be dissolved, the major-general cannot allow the troops to leave his
immediate command without expressing to them the gratification he has
invariably experienced at their good conduct and discipline, and he requests that
the following general order may be read at the head of every corps and detach-
ment
Soldiers:
you with all my sincerity for your bravery, your devotion, and your discipline.
When you first marched I told you that you as British soldiers had more than
enough of courage for the work which was before you, but that courage without
discipline was of no avail, and I exhorted you to let discipline be your watch-
word
to
my
orders.
order.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
684
A.D. 1S5S.
dangers,
You have
weak and
general,
[Book IX.
left
your ranks.
fought against the strong, and you have protected the rights of the
I have seen you in the ardour
defenceless, of foes as well as friends
;
from the shores of Western India to the waters of the Jumna, and establishes,
without doubt, that you will find no place to equal the glory of your arms."
The
rebels
capture
Gwalior,
The above
The
mature.
another
excellent order, considered as a parting address, M^as rather prerebels rallying after their defeat, had carried their arms into
district,
to
for
Most of them in
their flight
who had i
moment
the decisive
still
them out
to offer battle.
them
deserted,
When
and return-
ing with the other mutineers to Gwalior took forcible possession of it, while
Scindia himself, unable to offer any effectual resistance, fled northward and
Nana
events, once
more buckled on
his
armour and
sending
strengthen their position, and conscious that they were playing their last stake,
prepared for a determined resistance, by carefully occupying all the roads by
A new victory over
thmu.
which
it
of Tantia Topee
force
who
command
clad, it is said, in
In the absence
might approach.
male
attire,
safely, if
mounted on a noble
steed,
and attended by
A NEW INDIA
Chap. VII.]
685
BILL.
He
capital.
re-entered
fidelity which,
though
it
it
a.d. isss.
set out
Scindia
owaiior.
Bombay.
CHAPTEE
VIT.
NDIA,
it
had
attracted, both
from the
country at large
mode
of governing
rroeeedmgr,
uient.
it
Company, made
aware by communications with government, that their very existence as the
rulers of India was seriously threatened, had presented a long and elaborate
incidentally discussed in both Houses of Parliament, and the
petition, in which, pleading the merits of their past services, and denying that
the mutiny was owing to their mismanagement, they deprecated legislation of
the kind which they understood to be in contemplation, as at once pernicious
and unseasonable
pernicious, because it
ment
for one
This petition was presented to the House of Lords on the 11th of February,
1858.
Next day Lord Palmerston introduced into the House of Commons a a
"
unchanged,
it
of India."
government
was intended to apply only
to
Leaving
arrangements in India
that the functions of the Courts of Directors and Proprietors should cease that
for these bodies there should be substituted a president assisted by a council for
;
who had
Company
or
for a
new inoia
HISTORY OF INDIA.
G8G
A.D.1858.
uew
Iriilia bill.
two
[Book IX.
retiring
by
with fresh knowledge and ideas. The final decision was in all cases to remain
with the president, because the cabinet of which he was the organ was henceforth to be solely responsible for his measures; but in the event of a difference
of opinion, the members of council should have the power of recording that
with the reasons of it, in the minutes. In regard to patronthe appointments hitherto made in India were to be made there as
before; and at home, while the writerships remained as at present open to
of cadets should be shared by the president
public competition, the appointments
difference, together
age, all
and the
council, in the
"
bered
yet,
In this
to 173.
its
owing
with Indian
SiuUeii
change of
thTeritTsh
ministry.
first trial
affairs,
the
bill
These might have been overlooked had they been confined to ordinin the
ary newspapers, or even to congratulatory addresses which were printed
the
Chanto
cross
asked
soldiers
in
which
and
Moniteur,
permission
blustering
asylum.
nel, to
but the
matter assumed a graver form when tirades were followed, not only by a speech
in a somewhat similar spirit by M. Morny in the legislative body, but by an
official despatch from Count Walewski, in which, after saying, at least by imhere "elevated to doctrine," and "preached
plication, that assassination was
"
Ought then the right of asylum to protect
openly," he indignantly asked,
such a state of things? Is hospitality due to assassins? Ought the English
and their plans?" &c., and called
legislature to contribute to favour their designs
no
upon her Britannic majesty's government for "a guarantee of security, which
to
authorized
we
are
and
which
state can refuse to a neighbouring state,
expect
from an ally." The only answer given by government to this despatch was
the introduction of
what was
called a conspiracy
bill,
Chap. VII.]
687
punishable only by fine and imprisonment, a felony punishable by penal servitude, wherever the murder was intended to be committed, whether in this or
a.d. isss.
in a foreign country.
by
its
P'^'^'^.v
new
"f "'
cabinet
declaring
not at present expedient to legislate for the government of India,"
but their leaders in both houses, when votes of thanks were moved to the
that "it
Indian
is
officials civil
and
eminent
skill,
crisis
least
ought not
opinion could bind them the one, the impolicy of introducing an India bill at
present, and the other, a determination not to recognize the merits of Lord
The latter point, though
Canning's administration without further inquiry.
insignificant
as
was
it
of a party character,
other,
was perhaps
felt to
in the
was
felt in
the other.
With regard
TTi
new
11
r*!!
1*
diss
government of Their
ciilties and
PI
'J.'
a false position,
ministry could not but feel that they stood
The vote in favour of a bill was overwhelming, and it was not to be supposed
India, the
that the very same house which carried that vote, would reverse it merely at
Under these circumstances, the ministry took
the bidding of a new cabinet.
modeofsur""^
t^'^
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
688
A.D. 1858.
be free from the objections to which it was liable. The change of opinion thus
implied was accounted for with some degree of plausibility, by adverting to
the effect which the previous vote must have had in weakening the authority
of the
India bill
[Book IX.
transfer of
it
to the crown,
which
the
mode
whom
of effecting
it
would be such
as to
make them
truly
Bombay. Of the four representing the military service, one a queen's officer,
must have served five years in India, and each of the other three ten years in
The remaining nominee was to be an individual
their respective presidencies.
whose employment in India as resident, or political agent at a native court,
must be presumed to have made him well acquainted with native characOf the elected half of the council, four were to be eligible only after ten
ter.
years'
Its principal
The
employment, or
who had
India, and
all civil
and military
officers
respectively
of all
in India, or
by the parliamentary
began
who had been so ill advised as to introduce it. In this emergency Lord
Russell, who had not formed part of the last ministry, came unexpectedly
ministry
John
its
Chap. Yir.]
G89
suggestion,
and
so heartily, that
to be proposed
This
mode
of resigning the
a.d. isss.
Abandonirrdiabiii
^"
^'
might be thrown
aside,
and those approved might form the groundwork of a third bill, combining all
that was unobjectionable in the other two.
After considerable debate, the two
one declaring the expediency of an immediate transfer of
the government of India to the crown, and the other empowering her majesty
to commit the home administration to one of her
responsible ministers, were
first
resolutions, the
by an
an adventitious importance.
It
was
"
The army of his excellency the commander-in-chief is in possession of Lucknow, and the city lies at the mercy of the British government, whose authorit}'
has for nine months rebelliously defied and resisted.
This resistance, begun
a
mutinous
has
found
from
inhabitants
of the city and
the
by
soldiery,
support
it
have joined in this bad cause, and have ranged themselves with the enemies of
They have been guilty of a great crime, and have subjected them-
the state.
which nothing can withstand, and the authority of the government will be
The time then has come at which
carried into every corner of the province.
the Biofht Honourable the Governor-s^eneral of India deems
known
the
mode
in
will deal
first
it
right to
make
general will be to
have proved this by the support and assistance which they have given to
British officers.
Therefore, the Right Honourable the Governor-general hereby
Pudnaha;
Row
Lai,
Zemindar
283
LordCanposed pro
to^oude"^
HISTORY OF INDIA.
690
AD.
1858.
Proposed
tion in Oude.
[Book IX.
will be conferred
The governor-general
further proclaims
to the people of Oude, that with the above-mentioned exceptions the proprietary
right in the soil of the province is confiscated to the British government, which
To those
will dispose of that right in such manner as it may seem fitting.
talookdars,
chiefs,
their followers,
who
shall
make
As
participation in the
it
from
all
murder
mercy, so
to consideration
and
leniency."
Lenient
posed by
ministers.
When
new government
as to
This despatch,
dated 24th March, 1858, after expressing a hope that Lucknow had been
captured, and that the Indian government might in consequence deem themselves
"
sufficiently strong to
be a crime to forgive
guilty of such crimes from any act of amnesty which could be granted, but it
must be as impossible as it would be abhorrent from our feelings to inflict
;
the extreme penalty which the law might strictly award upon all who have
swerved from their allegiance. To us it appears that whenever open resistance
have ceased,
it
lawfully adopted after the suppression of mutiny and rebellion, such acts always
being excepted from forgiveness or mitigation of punishment as have exceeded
Chap. VII.]
G91
own
a.d. isss.
policy
government
may think
who
would
counteract
feel
that
are
resolved to rule,
right
you
you
and that you will be served by none who will not obey. Acting in this spirit
make
those
of governor-
we have
seen
treason in the
Ameers of Scinde,
in
order that he might have a plausible pretext for confiscating their territories
and treating Gwalior as imperiously as if he had conquered it, because its rulers
had presumed
weeks
down
to write
and circumstances might occur to induce a change in its terms, or even prevent
it from being issued at all.
It was moreover obvious from the instructions
that a large discretionary
power was
and
it
"We
His injudincationof
^*'"^"*''**-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
692
A.D. 1S5S.
Lord EUendespatch,
[Book IX.
war in Oude has derived much of its popular character from the
in which, without regard to what the landowners had become
rigorous manner
accustomcd to cousidcr as their rights, the summary settlement had in a large
tliat
the
We
cannot
portion of the province been carried out by your officers.
but in justice consider that those who resist our authority in Oude are under
very different circumstances from those who have acted against us in provinces
dethroned the King of
which have been long under our government.
.
We
Oude, and took possession of his kingdom, by virtue of a treaty which had
been subsequently modified by another treaty, under which, had it been
but we held that
it
was
we adopted
ratified in
however
to the
we
King
of Oude.
That
ments with
us,
ill
Suddenly the people saw their king taken from amongst them, and our
administration substituted for his, which, however bad, was at least native.
ment.
We
must admit that under the circumstances, the hostilities which have been
Oude have rather the character of legitimate war than that of
and
that the people of Oude should rather be regarded with indulgent
rebellion,
carried on in
resistance,
deserving of special favour, and you have struck with what they feel as the
severest punishment the mass of the inhabitants of the country.
We cannot
but think that the precedents from which you have departed will appear to
have been conceived in a spirit of wisdom superior to that which appears in
the precedent
We
desire that
landowners of Oude.
We desire
to see British
there
Consequent
proceedings
in pariia-
ment.
is
general confiscation."
...
From the accouut formerly given of the annexation of Oude, it will be seen
that Lord Ellcnborough is in the main correct in what he says on the subject,
but even those who agree with him in opinion may be permitted to question
the necessity or propriety of giving so
which
it
much prominence
recall.
to
it
Chap. VII.]
and probable
of
effects
Fact
tlie
proclamation, there
is
693
a.d. isss.
and the
sacrificed to
confiscation directed
antithesis,
exaggeration.
against refractory talookdars, most of whom had acquired their lands by
'
the mass of the inhaintrigue or violence, is converted into a blow struck at
is
But waiving
by the hope
of Lord Ellenborough.
^^'
'^^isna.
by Lord Canning's
felt
parties at
effect
was
on their defence.
a consciousness of
by Mr.
Lord Shaftesbury and Mr. Cardwell of their intention to bring the subject
by motions which, amounting to a direct
censure
of
ministers,
would,
if carried,
compel them
to resign.
In
this
an abrupt termination.
The Whig party, anxious to regain the places from which they thougiit
that a political combination more skilful than honourable had driven them,
to
From
these despatches
it
Aministeriai
'
694
A.D. 1858.
tion
of theI^oude
I
procl
pTOciama-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book IX.
still
more modified
^^ g^^j^ ^^
^|-jg
d^igfs
tion.
tion of order, this indulgence will be large, and the governor-general will be
ready to view liberally the claims which they may thus acquire to a restitution
terms in which they were expressed. Lord Shaftesbury's motion in the House
of Lords had indeed been already defeated by a majority of nine, and that of
Mr. Cardwell, which was still under discussion, was ultimately, at the earnest
New
act for
the better
government
rcqucst of
Its principal
many
of
its
more
at liberty ouce
to proceed
"
of " An act for the better government of India (21st and 22d Vict. c. 1 06).
This act consists of eighty -five sections.
Its main obiect is to transfer the
title
provisions.
government of India from the Company to the crown. For this purpose it
enacts that India shall be governed by and in name of her majesty, through
one of her principal secretaries of state, assisted by a council, to consist of
fifteen members, and to be styled the Council of India.
Of these fifteen counare all to hold their office " during good behaviour," eight are to be
nominated by her majesty, and seven to be elected, on the first election only,
cillors,
who
by the existing court of directors, and ever after, on the occasion of any vacancy,
by the council, subject always to this proviso, that the major part of the council,
whether nominated or
by the
directors,
years at least,"
ceding the date of their appointment." The secretary of state for India, should
he be a fifth one appointed by her majesty, in addition to the present four, shall
have the same salary as the}^ and each member of council a salary of 1200,
or in the event of resignation from
infirmity after ten years' service, a retiring
out of the revenues of India.
pension of 500 all such salaries to be
paid
order or communication sent to India shall be
signed
;
Every
Chap. VII.]
695
shall,
In
India.
all
cases
where a
...
difference of opinion
may
arise,
the determination
despatches from
committee,
may
isss.
Principal
provisions
of the new
fiO^ TCtV til A
member may
a.d.
better go-
of
i^^"
secret
to the
members
of the council, unless the secretary of state shall so think fit and
direct," but all other communications and despatches shall be submitted to
in
Appointments
to the
civil
service, as well as
cadetships in the engineers and artillery, shall be thrown open to public competition, and conferred on the successful candidates in the order of proficiency.
"
member
of council shall have one," but each nomination shall take effect only
"
approved by the secretary of state, and not less than one-tenth of the whole
number of persons to be recommended in any year for military cadetships
if
and
make
be selected, according
may from time to time
artillery), shall
The remaining
sections,
revenues, existing
introduced
to pursue.
by
It
and the course of policy which it was her desire and intention
was addressed to the princes, chiefs, and people of India, and
it,
at Allahabad,
Indian annals.
commencement
it
Tiie
queens
tion to the
^1""^ ^and
people of
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
696
A.D. 1858.
The queen's
proolama-
tlie
Honourable
East India Company/' calling upon all subjects within said territories to bear
truc allegiance, constituting Yiscount Canning "first viceroy
and o
governor^
.
,,
tion.
[Book IX,
all
in the
behalf/'
and
service in several
terms "
offices,
Company's
and military, the proclamation proceeds in the following
We hereby
announce to the native princes of India that all treaties and engagements made
with them, by or under the authorit3' of the Honourable East India Company,
are by us accepted, and will be scrupulously maintained, and we look for the
confirming
civil
like observance
part.
We desire no
Rights of
princes to be
respec e
on their
and while we
our owii
and we
will permit
own
pj-Qspenty and that social advancement which can only be secured by internal
We hold ourselves bound to the natives of our
peace and good government.
all
our
other subjects, and those obligations, b}^ the blessing of God, we shall faithfully
and conscientiously fulfil. Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Christianity,
We
declare it to be our royal will and pleasure that none be in any wise
favoured, none molested or disquieted hy reason of their religious faith or
observances, but that all shaU alike enjoy the equal and impartial protection of
the law; and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in authority
under
Qualified
be admitted
mentoffiTe
that they abstain from all interference with the religious belief or
worship of any of our subjects, on pain of our highest displeasure. And it is
*^^i' further will that, so far as
may be, our subjects, of whatever race or creed,
us,
^ ^'sely and impartially admitted to offices in our service, the duties of which
they may be qualified by their education, ability and integrity, duly to dis-
We
equitable
demands of the
We
who have
deceived their
Our power
countrymen by
has been shown by the suppression of that rebellion in the field we desire to
show our mercy by pardoning the oflfences of those who have been thus misled,
false reports,
rebellion.
;
but
confirming
all
that Lord
Chap. YIT.]
foUows: "Our
his
697
declares as
clemency will be
extended to
a.d. i858.
all offenders,
Ths
rov3.1
amnesty.
given to any circumstances under which they have been induced to throw off
their allegiance and large indulgence will be shown to those whose crimes may
;
appear to
we hereby promise
1st
When, by
it is
ment, and
to administer its
works of public
government
utility
and improve-
it
it
was destined
doomed
to triumph,
to failure, to escape
who
still
not stoop to the humiliation of accepting pardon, or because they had been
the reach of mercy, naturally
guilty of atrocities which placed them beyond
on the proclamation,
discredit
throw
to
in
their
means
power
employed every
The most singular
followers.
and thus check the threatened desertion of their
the name
attempt of this kind was made by the Begum of Oude, who, acting
i
of her son, whom she had induced the rebels of that provmce to recognize as
11^.11
proclamation
"
it is written that the
proclamation," says the begum, a bigoted Mahometan,
Christian religion is true, but no other creed will suffer oppression, and that
Vol.
Ill,
284
Tiie
Begum
of Oude's
reply to the
proclama
tioa.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
698
A.D. 1858.
all.
What
[Book IX.
of
drink wine, to bite greased cartridges, and to mix pigs' fat with flour and
sweetmeats, to destroy Hindoo and Mussulman temples on pretence of making
roads, to bviild churches, to send clergymen into the streets and alleys to preach
the Christian religion, to institute English schools, and pay people a monthly
the places of worship of Hindoos
stipend for learning the English sciences, while
to this
with
all this,
The
how
can the
rebellion
began
Let not our subjects
killed.
be deceived
Lord ciyjes
procama-
Lord
to do
where refractory
districts
number
of
Oude
that he
The commander-inof the people, from the talookdars to the poorest ryots.
and villages, where
in
towns
their
chief invites aU the well-disposed to remain
His military
movements.
number
of guns.
Chap. VII.]
been much
G99
difficulty in
a.d. isss.
Surrenderof
Amethie.
miles of Amethie, the outposts considerably in advance were fired upon, and
"
the grass-cutters rushed back, shouting " The enemy
It was a false alarm,
1
in
for
the
willingly,
he
said,
make
his submission,
and surrender
all
but his
his guns,
power over the troops was limited to his own infantry. Lord Clyde, not
satisfied with the explanation, left the rajah the alternative of surrender or
chief,
who
would next morning enter the camp. He did so, and thus secured the safety
of his person and his property, though there could be no doubt that he had
played a
trick.
had marched
about 3000 matchlock-men, the rajah's own retainers, and a few old guns,
instead of the thirty which he was known to possess, and was bound to
surrender.
the
jungle.
fort
name
of
far as possible.
mud
fort of
Lord
vaunted
reported to have added to his troops by receiving the fugitive sepoys from
Amethie. During the march a vakeel arrived from the chief, asking what
terms would be given. The answer was, that his excellency would not treat
with a rebel, but that clemency might be expected on surrender. Shortly afterwards a characteristic letter was received, not from Bene Madhoo himself, but
his son,
who wrote
as folloAVs:
I will
(the puppet-king),
turn out
but
am
"If the
my
father.
and
do not
would deprive the latter of the succession to his estates. No notice therefore
was taken of it, and the march upon Shunkerpoor was continued. On the
loth the force with Lord Clyde arrived at Pechwarra, three miles south-east
of Bene Madhoo's stronghold, while a separate detachment under Sir Hope
it
The wily
capture of
Shunkac*
poou
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
700
A.D. 1S5S.
moved
dark with
off in the
morning,
when
all his
hemmed
in,
[Book IX.
camp were
and baggage.
In the
and
expect.
Pursuit of
After the evacuation of Shunkerpoor, the force which had been combined
for the purpose of moving upon it was broken up. Sir Hope Grant proceeded
northwards across the Gogra into the Gorruckpoor district, and a detachment
and not
tlie
lose sight of
Roy
Ram
was making
satisfactory progress,
movements
amuiairescapes.
numerous
by the
chiefs
queen's
proclamation.
After a halt of several days, during which the force had encamped at Bunnee,
ou the Cawnpoop road. Lord Clyde again took the field, and marched north-east
spies to be not
Ghat.
was only to experience the old disappointment. Bene Madhoo with his rebels
had just crossed and taken all the boats along with him. After halting on the
7th for the infantry, and leaving a detachment at Beyram Ghat to protect the
It
Chap. VII.]
701
engineers under Colonel Harnes while forming a bridge of boats, the commanderand reached it on the 10th. His object
a.d.
isss.
was
is
only fifteen miles east of Beja-am Ghat.
thus in the rear of Bene Madhoo, and in co-operation with Lord Clyde,
111
1
IT'/'
would have placed lum between two nres, had not the wily chief scented out
liad
He was
iii'i
11
/-
An
was entangled.
had now been gained. The frontier of Rohilcund, from' which the rebels had
been driven into Oude, was carefully guarded, the most practicable passages of
the Gogra were secured, and thus the west, south, and east being barred
against the rebels,
now massed
sjiace,
nothing remained for them but to fight or retire by their only remaining outlet
into the marshes of Nepaul. In either case their destruction seemed inevitable
in the former
by the sword,
in the latter
result,
after
at Biirgidia.
left
flank
was turned.
They
fled after
of rebels
body
making a
The
rebels
the frontier
slight
Teaiof
and were pursued until nightfall, leaving their guns in our hands,
On the 27th the force marched on the fort of Musjidia. This place was taken
^"^i'^^'
resistance,
trifling
bomb-proof cover,
and consequently
But, like
fell
all
engineer. Colonel
respects artificial
the others,
it
was without
On
enemy had
fire.
loitered
He was
The next day it was reported that all the bodies of rebels which
had been retreating before us from the day of our arrival at Beyram Ghat, had
fugitives.
Nepaul
frontier.
In these various
affairs
Onde
cleared
of rebels.
HISTORY OF INDIA.
702
A.D. 185S.
Revolt in
[Book IX.
guished.
made that point absolutely safe before renewing his attack on Bala Row,
That being done, he advanced through the jungles on that leader, and took
fifteen guns from him, almost without the show of resistance on the part of the
he
Row
Nana
in the adjacent
his brother
hills,
and Bala
Thus has the contest in Oude been brought to an end, and the resistance of
150,000 armed men been subdued with a very moderate loss to her majesty's
troops,
nor
less
show of
fatal
resistance,
their
movements
There
infinite trouble to the various detachments sent out against them.
could be no doubt, however, that the task of dispersing them, though difficult,
would ere long be efifectually accomplished, and it was therefore resolved by
gave
mutiny
At home
this
fact,
in a
manner
"
by the appointment of a day of special thanksfor the constant and signal successes obtained by the
tiiesupp-.es-
nnlunv."'
gi'^i^o
^'^
in India,-to
an accomplished
as
acknowledgment.
f>f ,
home and
Almighty God
troops of her majesty, and by the whole of the force serving in India, whereby
the late sanguinary mutiny and rebellion which had broken out in that country
hath been effectually suppressed, and the blessings of tranquillity, order, and
In India, where the
peace are restored to her majesty's subjects in the East.
"
difference of circumstances
impracticable,
it
made a
similar
to
mode
adopt a
of national
less
acknowledgment
unshaken.
The King
given, escaped the capital punishment which he deserved, was expiating his
crimes as a transported convict; the Ranee of Jhansi, after the perpetration of
a horrid massacre, had perished in battle Tantia Topee, who had acted as the
;
man
Nana
right-hand
of
"
CONCLUDING EEMARKS.
Chap. VII.]
703
wretch who, with a horrid mimicry of the forms of justice, had in cold blood
pat two European judges to death. Not only might justice now be tempered
with mercy, but the time had arrived when those
governor-general, starting from Calcutta on the 12th of October, 1859, commenced a tour through the provinces, very much in the style of a royal progress,
liolding durbars or levees at the principal stations through which ho passed,
chief?, and with a display of magniticence well fitted to captivate
the oriental mind, bestowing dresses of honour and other ornaments on those
whose services during the mutiny were deemed worthy of such an acknowledg-
assembling the
It
Cawnpoor on 3d November,
scene exhibited at
the great varietj' of costumes and the brilliant colours ranged round the tent was very striking.
effect of
He
is
a big, burly
rings.
and white
scarf, that
constrictor's
skin.
home and
foreign secretary,
who at
a distance
is
very
sat the Benares
like
rajah,
ment
200.
different places
to the splendid
Very
shortly
'
'
Attention,'
after
Lord
to follow
'
two
Rewah
o'clock
when
rajah,
words
the
'
Present
assembly rose on his entrance, and remained standing till he sat down. Then came the jsresentatious
of the rajahs.
Mr. Beadon took the big ones, and
Mr. Simpson the small fry. Each rajah had evidently been thoroughly drilled how he was to make
"Then came the presentation of khelats. The principal rajahs had chains fastened on their necks, but
only to one, the Kewah rajah, was this done by Lord
Canning personally. To give him his chain his lordship rose and passed it round his neck. The others
had their collars of honour put on by the secretaries,
Lord Canning merely touching each chain when pre-
sented to
him
The Rewah
rajah,
a.d. issk.
marked devotion
who showed
by acting on
the offensive against the rebels of his own accord,
and when besieged in a fort, refused to give up a
to the British caxise
own
Grand
cawnpoor
HISTORY OF INDIA.
704
A.D.
Indian em^"^'
of a British
rebels,
to the British
officer.
In looking back upon the whole course of events recorded in these volumes,
At first a small
impossiblc not to be struck with wonder and admiration.
Wonderful
progress of
marked devotion
life
[Book IX.
it is
and the
spice islands of
obstacles, and the long-cherished idea of a spice trade is all but abandoned.
India now begins to attract more attention, and in addition to a few places on
the Malabar coast, where pepper formed the staple article of export, other
localities are selected, particularly on the Coromandel coast, and northwards
Acquisition
of Bombay
and change
The property
by the most
whose
protection,
At
dowry
first
there
was room
to doubt
who became
whether
this acquisition
was
to
II.
promote or
damage the
its
seemed
when government made the happy discovery that the possession of Bombay,
instead of being a gain, was annually entailing a heavy loss. This was one of
the last evils which a court so needy and avaricious as that of Charles
II.
could
This was a
traders existing
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
Chap. VII.]
sovereigns,
705
w^tli wliicli tliej
had
a.d.
struggles for
witrF^nce.
became visibly enlarged. They would no longer exist by sufferance, and began
to familiarize their minds with the idea of conquest.
It was not long before
full scope was found for this warlike
Not
temperament.
merely had they to
repel aggression on the part of native rulers
if realized,
coast,
would almost
The
collision
Hole of Calcutta had been perpetrated, and Clive, who marched to avenge it,
return for dethroning one ruler and placing another upon the throne,
liad, in
Company an
revenues of the
Orissa,
with
certain
to
full right
stipulated
payments. This grant of the dewannee was properly, as its name implies, only
one of revenue, but revenue generally suffices to make its possessor master of
the other rights of property, and accordingly the Company acted from the
date of the grant as if the three provinces belonged to them in absolute
The British Indian empire having been thus founded, continued
sovereignty.
all
to
its
existence,
till
its progress,
hostile to
every power
it
was
overthrown, and
*
whom, but
in
immediate subservience to
permanent.
b}^
repeated acts of
all
recent legislation
285
changes
tionofthe
^^'y-
HISTORY OF INDIA.
706
A.D.
[Book IX.
on the subject had been to increase the direct authority of the British government and diminish that of the directors, the final step of annexation had not
all
when
it
was
precipitated
The sepoy
lowed by
the ablest Indian statesmen, though they saw and lamented them, failed to
Still it must be confessed that a
discover or suggest any effectual remedy.
government, which was not ignorant of the danger, but allowed itself to
slumber over it till the crisis actually arrived, must have laboured under
grave defects both in substance
that as soon as the horror and indignation produced by the atrocities of the
mutineers had subsided so far as to leave room for reflection, a general
desire
was
felt to rid
and assimilate
Extinction
its
machinery
as
much
its
as possible to that
pany.
The
financial system,
jealousies
appointing to
important branches of the public service. Tiie strange policy of
discouraging European settlers has been completely reversed, and liberal
influence,
in
the more
measures have been devised for the purpose of attracting European capital to
the country, as one of tlie most obvious and effectual means of developing its
out of place to mention that under the new arrangewill never again be placed at the mercy of pampered sepoy regi-
vast resources.
ments India
'
ments.
Nor
native
is it
with, but
it
will henceforth be
it
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
Chap. VII.]
government
is
in a great
707
measure
lost
that
who
attend them.
probably
a.d.
The
Measures of
mentin
case of
Their object
to obtain some of the government appointments for which the
knowledge acquired
in schools
and
colleges is
an essential
qualification.
They
Education,
accordingly pass through the whole curriculum, and will in due time be
found seated at the desks of government offices. They have succeeded in
their object, and are become public servants.
So far so good. They have
But there
public expense.
is
it
them
at the
when
inquiry is made into the private character of those men, it is too often
found that they have paid dear for their knowledge. They have cast away
their early beliefs without substituting anything better, and belong to the class
of liberalized Hindoos, who ape the manners and practise the worst vices,
but are utter strangers to the virtues of European society. To this class, but
with all its worst qualities exaggerated, the infamous miscreant Nana Sahib
belonged.
When
the question
sever.
asked, In
By making him
interest,
is
a Christian.
During
will be able to
allegiance,
and
Chrisit
may
reasonably be expected that in all similar cases the same course will be pursued.
Here, however, the interference of government is precluded, simply because
the suspicion which it would produce, would in all probability more than
counterbalance any benefit that could be derived f^om it, and hence, a work on
which, more than any other, the prosperity and happiness of India depend, must
be carried on by private benevolence. It is pleasing to know that Christian
missionaries, distinguished alike for talents
them
and
piety,
itself,
new impulse
by awakening
attention to
it.
The time
is
in
We
Religious
HISTOEY OF INDIA.
70S
AD.
and
[Book IX.
enormity of the crimes. The natives cannot fail to have perceived this,
to have inferred that the Christian religion, which teaches
oftheHiu-
those
who
profess
it
tp'i
'
the United
Kingdom were
that people be not incurably hardened, this noble return of good for evil must
surely have softened it, and now therefore is the time to win them over, and
induce them to exchange their monstrous and cruel su])erstitions, for the pure
faith, which, while it prepares man for his final destinj^, tames his savage
nature,
and
The task
adamantine
them only
Duties of the
people in
th!slubjct.
difficult
delicate in
fetters,
rivets
and
and
it
wearing out their lives in missionary labours, are obliged to confess that their
couvcrts are few and not always of a satisfactory descri])tion. However sanguine
therefore,
we may
be,
will be ultimately
while the path of duty is plain, and no degree of difficulty can afibrd any valid
excuse for not attempting to walk in it.
good cause must never be abandoned
others, disdaining
and grateful
for the
it
infidelity,
as intolerant
many
blessings
ridicule the
may
is
very
true to
it,
will
be more stimulated than dispirited by the obstacles thrown in his way, and
console himself with the assurance that his work of faith and labour of love,
inhabitants
it,
will not
would be
be forgotten.
made aware
government, would
questionably they would.
Is it
meant that
The
self-
Un-
CONCLUDING EEMAEKS.
Chap. VII.]
709
selfish
and
heartless policy
looked upon with favour, but a better spirit now prevails; and the determination, as announced in the queen's proclamation, and cordially acquiesced in by
of society, is to do justice to India, and more than compensate her for
all the wealth she has bestowed upon us, by
furnishing her with the means of
above
her
and
state,
rising
present degraded
attaining to the highest form of
all classes
European
tutelage,
we
Should the
civilization.
effect
the willing instruments of her emancipation; while she, even in severing the political ties by which she is now bound to us, will not forget how much she shall
then owe to us for the enlightened and generous policy which gradually preShould the day ever come that India, in consequence
pared her for freedom.
of the development of her resources by British capital, and the enlightenment
of her people by British philanthropy, shall again take rank among the nations
as
an independent
state,
then
it
much
Comp.vny.
a.d.
on the
British
Future
jestiuyof
^^^^'
INDEX
TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF
Afghanistan,
ritories of the Ameers of Scinde difficulties with the Ameers, iii. 342 difficulties of
the Bombay ilivision of the expedition to,
345; tln'eatened attack of the expedition to,
on Hyderabad, the capital of the Ameers,
345; injustice done the Ameers; money
extorted from them, 346 treaty with the
Ameers, 349 advance of the British army
to; difficulties experienced, 350; the British
army march through the Bolan Pass, the
only entrance to, 351 halt of the British
army at Dadur its threatened starvation,
;
AMalees,
the,
402.
i.
AMool
392
iii.
670.
his brave
ii.
148.
i.
139.
247.
the press,
by,
i.
132.
Atka, 126
Pindarees,
iii.
upon, 187.
Adlercron, Colonel, set aside by the presidency of Madras as commander of the
expedition to Bengal, i. 549.
Adultery, the Hmdoo law in relation to,
105.
Afghan dynasty,
of, 286;
of, 289
Adams, Colonel
ii.
Adam
attempt on
460.
ii.
Mahomed,
employed
Candahar defeated, 440 views of the government on learning the Afghan disaster,
;
441
INDIA.
Afghanistan,
GeneGhuz-
nee and
Sikhs, 527.
iii. 270;
British treaty with, 285;
negotiations with the chiefs of, 318; defeat
Ghuznee captured
Jelalabad, 436
by, 437; defeat of, at Candahar, 439; defeat
defeat of, at Maidan,
of, at Ghoaiue, 451
452 defeat of, near Cabool, 453.
AfziU Khan, son of Dost Mahomed, iii. 361.
Aga Mir, mmister of the Nabob of Oude,
Sikhs,
of, at
iii.
214.
Aghoris, the,
ii.
76.
iii.
507.
the Taje
Mahal at, 289, and note advance of GenLake upon, and capture of, ii. 763 the
great gun of, 764 the sejioy mutiny at, iii.
582 disastrous eneomiter with the rebels
General Greathed's defeat of the
at, 658
rebels at, 659 the new presidency of, left
in abeyance, iii. 249.
Agriculture of the Hindoos, slow progress
of, ii. 151
peculiar featiires and antiquity
;
eral
154
excessive cropping
manure, 155;
opium,
162.
Khan
of Mahomed
restoration of the jaghire to,
ii. 670.
212.
Ahmed
Ahmuty,
Colonel,
ii.
435.
murder
INDEX.
12
AKBER
ARCHITECTURE
Akbar Khan,
BehramKhan,
121;
i.
name, 122
his
among
escapes assassina-
tion, 127;
127
128;
his
Akram Khan,
iii.
525.
Aktur Khan, heads the insurgents in Zemindawer is defeated and submits, iii. 382.
Ala-u-din, succeeds Mahomeil on the throne
;
capital, 36.
ii.
759; the
ii. 32(1
sepoy mutiny
i.
77.
i.
of Scinde,
iii. 347; a treaty made with
them,
349, 460; Lord Auckland's imjust treatment of, 461
oppressive proceedings
against, 463.
Amethie, tlie fort of, demolished the rajah
of, submits, iii. 698.
them,
42.
1.
63; sovereign of Delhi. 64.
Aluf Khan, besieges Wurungole, i. 87 succeeds his father on the throne of Delhi,
under the title of Mahomed Toglak; his
character, 88; his grinding taxation, 88;
his project of conquering China, 89: attempts to remove the seat of empire to
Dowletabad, 90; insurrection against, and
;
death
of, 91.
Alumbagh,
Ambajee
Inglia,
ii.
769.
ii.
Dutch
at,
i.
257; fail-
of
the
261.
Ameen Khan,
404.
Ameer Dawood Khan,
ii.
of Transoxoniana,
Ameer Khan,
;
Lucknow,
Us
187;
King
Jaffler,
i.
647.
529.
Ameers
Mahomed,
i.
is
defeated by Sul-
44.
369.
iii.
466.
507.
iii.
Anunderauz,
offers
it
make a
death
ti'eaty with,
of, 443.
Apa Sahib
tion, 100.
164.
British, 135.
Architecture, Hindoo,
theManasara;
140
ii.
treatises
on
INDEX.
713
BANTAM
ARCOT
Aroot, ths nabob of, lays claim to Madras,
i.
418; the nabob or, is repulsed from
Madras, 419 SadatuUa is nabob of, 430
the nabob of, sands aid to the Ranee of
Trichinopoly, 431 Sufder Ali, nabob of ;
his league with the Mahrattas, 432 Anwar-u-dhi is made nabob of, 434 attacked
and captured by Clive, 460 Clive pursues
the garrison of, 461 (Jlive is besieged in,
4tjl
proceednigs during the siege of, 462
state of the fortifications of, 463
small
numbers of the defenders of, 464 activity
and stratagem of the defenders, 464 a
practicable breach made in the wall of, 464;
an enormous gun in, 465 an attempt to
thj assault on its failm-e,
relieve, 465
466 the siege of, raised, 467 an attempt
to surprise, 469; Dupleix disposes of the
nabol)ship of, 481 state of affairs in, 595 ;
the French get possession of, 604; Coote
prepares to take it, 623 taken by Coote,
629 tlie nabob of, opposes the restoration
of the Nabob of Tanjore, ii.SJl; is captured
by Hyder Ali, 485; agreement entered into
by the nabob of, with the government of
Bengal, 523; the debts of tlie nabob of, 564 ;
enactments regarding tlie debts of the
nabol5 of, 565; classification of the debts
of the nabob of, 566 ilitference of opinion
between the Board of Control and the
directors as to the debts of the nabob of,
567 discussion in the Kritish parliament
respecting the debts of the nal.iob of, 568
Burke's celebrated speech on the debts of
the nabob of, 568 the nabob of, accused
of treachery, 717
inconsistency of the
course adopted in regard to, 718 the sufficiency of the charges against the nabob
of, questionable, 719; the measures of the
;
i.
211.
426.
Auriol, Mr.,
434.
ii.
ii.
111.
to, 304 takes Sambajee prisoner, 305 lays siege to and captures Gingee, 306 captures Sattarah, 307
his illness and death, 308.
Ava, the king of, iii. 132, 135; the king of,
alarmed for his capital, 148 Commodore
Lambert's letter to the king of, demanding
satisfaction for injuries
his rejily, 531
the king of, refuses redress, 532; submission of the king of, to the British, 538.
Avatars, the, of Vishnu, first, second, and
third, ii. 25; fourth, fifth, and sixth, 27;
seventh, 29 eighth and ninth, 30.
Ayaz, Sheik, surrenders Bednore to the British, ii. 517
Tippoo's secret orders to put
him to death, 517.
Ayoot, Prince, made nominal sovereign of
Cabool, iii. 288; set aside, 289.
Azeem-u-DowIah, made Nabob of the Car;
natic,
ii.
722.
iii.
i.
385.
287.
516.
civilians
and native
of,
by a handful of
police,
iii.
644; relief
tured, 110.
Asia, Central, a great game in, proposed by
the British envoy in Afghanistan, iii. 3o7.
the,
quoted,
i.
51,
note.
Asoff-ul-Dowlali, his succession to the nabobship of Cude, ii. 386 mutiny in his
camp and strife among his ministers, 388
the treaty of Fyzebad exacted from, 532.
Assam, the conquest of, by the Burmese, iii.
139 operations of the British in, 156; dis;
B.
ii.
244.
Sir Samuel, commands the expedition against the Moluccas and Java,
847.
made
pei.shwa,
36
Gungadhur Sastree's
entanglements with, 37 the murder of
Dainglia,
827.
ii.
of,
1.
4S3.
detachment intercepted
484.
Baillie,
118
702.
iii.
Balajee Khoonjur,
Balul Sen, ii. 9.
Balaram
Seit,
ii.
ii.
754.
825.
iii.
600.
Balipoor, Great,
ii.
Hyder
234.
Hyder
Ali,
ii.
235.
of,
iii.
682.
great exertions
his
army
tlispersed, 155
of,
i.
389.
342.
686.
Vol. III.
822.
Baber,
copies of the
for the calculation
ii.
397.
Auchmutty,
to,
25.
iii.
tra,
of,
i.
654.
503.
ii.
Bailly's
Astronomic Indienne
et
Orientate,
121.
ii.
Lucknow by
Sir
deathbed,
630.
iii,
Heury Lawrence ou
pedition
ii.
614.
his
286
INDEX.
714
BEYRAM GHAUT
BANYAN"
Banyan,
a,
Battles,
313, note.
ii.
480.
iii.
Hyder Ali,
227.
Mahom-
etan sect
Barnstone, Major,
Baroach, proci edings of the Bombay government at, ii. 355 expedition against, 356.
Baroda, the slate of parties at the court of,
661.
iii.
35.
564.
424.
Western Ghauts, i. 7.
Basalut Jung, governor of Adoni, his negotiations with the French under Eussy, i.
620 confers the iiaboliship of Sera on
Hyder Ali, ii. 233; negotiations of the
M;ulras presidency with, 471 the Madras
council sends aid to, 476; his dread of
Basaltic trap, in the
Ali, 477.
i. 497.
Basin Row,
of, 747.
Bates, his deposition on the charge of bribery against the East India Company, i. 363.
Batta, double, abolislieil, i. 699 the mutiny
of the officers in consequence of the abolution of, 700; dive's suppie^sion of the
;
by
its abolition,
dicious
274.
ii.
at,
Baz Bahadoor,
Bazaar,
a,
125.
i.
in Scmdia's
camp, described,
ii.
748, note.
there, 236.
44.
Beerbul, Rajah,
i.
136.
Begums
lease, 545.
Beloochees, the, cut off a British detachment, iii. 374; defeat Major CUbboru at
the Nuffoosk Pass, 374.
Benares, British relations with the rajah
demands miule on the rajah
of, ii. 531
of, by Mr. Hastings, 533; a new demand
on the rajah of, 534 Hastings' determination to exact severe revenge from the
rajah of, 536 proceedings of Hastings at,
536; flight of the rajah of, and perilous
position of Hastings at, 537 insurrection
shameful
at, provoked by Hastings, 538
treatment of the mother of the rajah of,
538; passive resistance of the inhabitants
of, to tixation, iii. 30; sepoy mutiny at,
584; suppression of the mutiny at, 585;
saved by the resolution and sijeed of Gene;
Verdy Khan,
the throne
of,
between Surajah Dowlah and the presidency of, 532 treatment of Ramranising's
brotlier by the presidency of, 533
dila;
produced
in,
in the adminis-
by changes
his claims
M
I
3?3
564
ii.
alive to the
672.
Hyder
Bengal,
iii.
the
chief, quits
559.
'
iii.
700.
to,
M
"
INDEX.
715
BHAGEERUT ROW
BURMESE
iii.
of Cutch,
iii.
27, 114.
Bhawulpoor,
Bheeui Sing, Rana of Odeypoor, the contest
280.
iii.
and
for.
54.
iii.
and
of,
India, 677.
ii.
government, i. 515.
Bucke, Major, his disastrous march, through
ignorance of geograjjhy, iii. 165.
Buckingham, Mr. James Silk, editor and
proprietor of the Calcutta Journal, shipped
off' to England for using the freedom of
the press, iii. 131.
Buckley, Conductor, his bravery in defence
of the Delhi magazine, iii. 569.
Budaoon, the residence of Mahomed of
Delhi at, i. 100.
Buddlia, ii. 31.
Budge Budge, Clive arrives at the fort of,
i. 551
captured by Clive, 553 results of
the capture of, 553.
Bukht Khan, a rebel souhdhdar, defeated
;
692.
calls for
Bontein, Major,
the sepoys as to the
any complaints of
new cartridges,
iii.
557.
27.
iii.
177.
iii.
Bulbun, Vizier of Delhi, subdues the Rajpoots, i. 66; succeeds to the throne of Delhi;
his early career and patronage of literahis love of pomp, zeal for temture, 67
perance, and fits of economy, 68 reliellion
;
Bosker Punt, invades Bengal with his Mahrattas, i. 524 treacherous mm-der of, by
Bulwant
supplanted by his nephew, iii. 179 interference of the British in the affairs of,
181 views of Sir Charles Metcalfe and the
governor-general respecting the necessity
of interference in the affairs of, 182 re-
missariat fort at Cabool. iii. 403 are tUsappointed, 404 succeed in making up for
the loss of the commissariat stores, 407.
Bradshaw, Major, iii. 17.
of,
progress
of,
328
sol-
Bombay,^
gOTernment
473.
Row, Rajah
Ah
i.
41.
393.
Broughton's Letters
vrilten, in
748, note.
a Mahratta
ii.
185.
set aside by
186; Benee
Sing, intimidated by the British, restores
him one half of the territory, 187.
Emidela chiefs, the rebellion of the, ii. 768.
Bundelcund, proceedings in, ii. 767 disturb;
229.
Burke's, Edmund, description of the devastations of Hyder Ali in the Carnatic, ii. 479
description of the famine in the south of
India, 510; speech on the Nabob of Arcot's
debts, 568 first step towards the impeachment of Hastings, 641 character of his
opposition to Hastings, 648.
Burmese, the, misunderstanding with, iii.
132 send a force across the British frontier in pursuit of marauders, 133
the
pusillanimous conduct of the Indo-British
;
136
invade the British territories, 136 ;
their insidious designs, 137; policy of the
home authnrities respecting, 138; portions
of the British territories claimed by, 138
are bent on war with the British, 140
commencement of hostilities with, 140;
the governor-general's declaration of war
against, 141 plan of military operations
against, 142 their mode of warfare, 142
plan of their campaign, 143 British force
employed against, 143; arrival of the British fleet at Rangoon. 144 attack on Rangoon and capture of it. 144 error in the
plan of the campaign against, 145 success
of the British against, 146; invasion of
Chittagong by, 147; the British repulsed
by, at Ramoo, 148 operations in the vicinity of Rangoon against, 149 affau- at
Kemendino with, 149 heavy rains suspend operations against, 149 extensive
preparations made by, 150 capture of the
stockades at Kamaroot, 150 capture of
Syrian! and operations in Pegu against,
151 subjugation of their Tenas.-erim provinces. 152
they make an attack on the
British post at the Golden Pagoda, 152;
serious repulse sustained from, at Kaikloo;
their exultation, 153 defeat of their leader
Kye Wmigyee, 154 position of the British
army and of theirs, 154 great exertions
made by, 155 British successes at Kokeiii
against, 155; operations in Assam against;
subjugation of Assam, 156 two forces sent
overland to Ava against, 157 mutiny in
the Aj-acan armaTuent, 158 departure of
the Aracan force sent against, 162 ojierations of the Aracan force agauist, li 3 ;
capture of Aracan, 164 tlisasters occasioned to the British through ignorance of
;
iii.
the British,
iii.
531.
460.
i.
156;
ii.
178.
716
.INDEX.
CAMPBELL
BURMESE
Burmese,
Cabool,
geography, iii. 164 overtures of indeiieudenoe made to Pegu by the Britisli, 165 new
plan of operations against, suggesteil by Sir
Archibald Campbell, 165; operations of
Major Sale and General Cotton against;
165 stockades at Douabew, 166 fadure of
the attack of the Britisli on the stockades of
D.inabew, 167; subsequent proceedings
adagainst, 167 successes against, 168
vance of tlie British army into the interior
of their country and capture of Prome, 168;
negotiations with, proposed, 169 failiu-e
of negotiations with, 170 resumption of
hostilities with, 171 affair with, at Watigaon, 171 a new leader of, his defeat and
death, 172 renewal of negotiations with,
173 a definitive treaty with, executed, but
not ratified, 173 hostilities witli, resumed;
Prince of Sunset, 173 new tactics of the
Pruice of .Sunset, his defeat, 174; negotiations with, renewed
peace concluded,
review of tlie war with, 175; a new war
with the
its causes,
530
expedition
against the, 533; operations at Rangoon,
533; the position of new Rangoon, 534;
General Godcapture of Prome, 534
win's desultory proceedings, 535 capture
of Pegu, 536 Pegu assaulted by the Burmese, but successfully defended by the
annexation of Pegu, 537
garrison, 536
submission of the King of Ava, 538 peace
concluded with Biu-mah, 539.
Burn, Colonel, ii. 781.
Burnes, Lieutenant Alexander, his expedition up the Indus, iii. 282 the obstacles
he met with, 283; his travels in Central
Asia, 296 his mission to Cabool, 297 the
ostensible object of his mission to Cabool,
29" his mission to Cabool a political one,
297 his reception by Dost Mahomed, 298;
his first interview with Dost Mahomed,
299; his conference with Dost Mahomed
on the subject of Peshawer, 299 Dost
Mahomed comes to him for counsel in
reference to the Russian agent in Cabool,
303 he promises Dost Mahomed British
protection, 310 his views as to the results
;
Mahomed's statement
murdered,
393.
soldiers
who were
in
it,
418; forts
com-
679.
i.
196.
at Masulipatam, i. 616.
Calliaud, his bravery in the action near the
Sugar-loaf Rock, i. 497 saves Trichinopoly,
595; appointed commander of the army in
Bengal, 666 frustrates Shah Alum's purmarches to give Shah Alum
poses, 667
battle, 668 his mission to Hyderabad, ii.
;
216.
breaks
in,
177
iii.
Sir
and captures
against,
ii.
768
out-
from the
rebels,
682.
C'aniac,
wah,
Major,
ii.
464
iii.
502.
Camp, a Hindoo,
described,
ii.
112.
394.
iii.
Campbell, Sir Arcliibiild, governor of Ma(h'as, ii. 683; conimiinder in the Burmese
war, iii. 143 his operations in the vicinity
of Rangoon, 148; carries the stockades
near Rangoon, 150 a new plan of operations against the Burmese suggested by,
165; fm-ther operations of, 167; captures
tlie stockades of Donabew, 1 68
advances
into the interior of Burmah, 168 captures
Prome, 169; proposes negotiations with the
;
c.
Calcutta.
dated by Clive, i. 557; complaints against
Chve for not securuig from the nabob compensation for jirivate sufferers by the plunder of Clive's defence, 560 general diffusion of wealth at, occasioned by the arrival of the conquered nabob's ti'easm'es,
Burmese,
161'
resumes
proceeds against
hostilities,
171
war, 174.
;
INDEX.
717
CAMPBELL
CLIVE
441.
603.
published, 6J3.
Canning, Mr., appointed Governor-general
of India, and resigns, iii. 128.
Canning, Captain, sent on a mission to
Piaugoon, iii. 135.
Canouge, the ruins of, i. 47.
Cantoo, the case of, in relation to Mr. Hastii.
ings,
among the Hindoos, ii. 3; the Brahmins, 4-11 the Cshatriyas and Vaisyas, 11
the Sudras, 12; new, 13; now identified
with professions and trades, 13 effects of
Caste,
334.
into, 432
final
231.
Carpenter, Colonel,
iii.
4i3.
Chain Sah,
iii.
108.
93.
to attack,
but is prevented by the Nabob of Bengal,
i. 561
the defences of, 563 Clive advances
against, and captures, 564.
;
Chandra Kanta,
iii.
139.
and
sells it tor
Kureem Khan,
49
roads on Surat, 50
his durra, 50
his in-
ii.
616.
of,
ii.
235.
;
sm-es. 539.
13.
iii.
620.
manabad,
41.
i.
37.
489.
camp
in
208.
463.
i.
589.
iii.
i. 431
his connection with Pondicherry, 433 a prisoner
with the Mahrattas, 434; ransomed by
Dupleix. 435 his proceedings at Kistna,
435 his expedition against Tanjore. 444
at Volconda. 457
beleaguers Trichinopoly, 471
Major Lawrcnice attempts to
his troops desert
surprise his camp, 474
him. 477 tries to effect his escape, 477; his
;
Chuprasi,
a, iii. 225.
270
and
suc-
Pass,
374.
iii.
Company,
478, iiute.
CJiiihday, a,
ii.
Chandu
i.
invaded
in, 134;
cess,
28
place, 365.
iii.
iii.
362.
iii.
influ200.
523.
China, Mahon>ed Toghlak's project of subduing, i. 89; the attempt of the East India
Company to form a trade with. 334.
Chingleput and Cove-long, preparations of
the British for the siege of. i. 483 capture
;
554
his defence of
it,
559
Chauderuagore, but
is
prepares to attack
prevented by the
INDEX.
718
CORNWALLIS
CLIVE
CHve, Robert,
nabob, i. 5i51 advances against and captures
;
of Sabut
title
tlie
nabob, 567;
its
melancholy
Clive's
of,
i.
Clive,
Row
tliere, 844.
ii.
837.
Cockbum,
Colonel,
ii.
449.
mood,
52.
604, noff.
ning, 599
yeiteral.
ii.
112.
the.
See En fit India Com pan
Compass, the mariner's, influence of the
invention of, on navigation, i. 149.
Comyn, Major, at the attack on the stockatle
Company,
ii.
i.
610
surrenders, 617.
liberation,
i.
637;
Eyre,
him and the Madras presidency, 641; appointed (as Sir Eyre Coote)
to succeed General Clavering, both as
member of council and conmiander-inchief, ii. 429 sent to prepare military resources on the north-west frontier, 452;
arrives from Bengal to supersede Sir Hector Monro in the war aj^'ainst Hyder, 485;
takes the field against Hyder, 485 relieves
Wandiwash, 487; desultory operations near
Cuddalore, 488; the council of Madras give
him military instructions his reply, 489 ;
failm-e of his attempt on Chilambnmi, 489;
his victory over Hyder Ali at Porto Novo,
491; frustrates an attempt of Tipjioo Sahib
to cut off a detachment from Bengal, 493 ;
captures Tripassore, 494 conquers Hyder
Ali at Pollilore, 494 his troops are in want
of provisions, 495 conquers Hyder at Sholinghur, 495 an attack on a detachment
of his repulsed, 496
seciu-es a supply of
jirovisions from Vellore, and takes Chittoor starvation in his anny, 497; is dangerously ill, yet hastens to relieve Vellore,
499 his quarrel with Lord Macartney, 501;
offers the French battle, whii h tlu\' decline,
503; successful encounter witli ilyder at
Arnee, 503 resigns his conimand to Majorgeneral Stuart, 505; liis death, 511; on the
dispute between
Coote, Captain
368.
iii.
Mohuu
policy of
Macpherson's
570; his view
of the Comthe Nabob of
his inisillanimous prcjcieclings. 804; shameful ninris.-iinns to Sriiiilia, 8ii5; his death,
and character of his administrations, 806.
719
INDEX.
DELHI
CORNWAiLIS
Dacoitee and Dacoits, the suppression
ii.
iah Dowlah,
x,
of,
sent
Cotton, Major-general Sir WiUougliby,
on the Afghan expedition, iii. 341 halts
at Dadur, 352; the Bengal army placed
under his command, 354 appoints General Nott to tramiuillize thj Ghiljie counapproves of the conduct of Crentry, 369
of Shah
era'l Nott towards the officials
in AfShujah, 373 resigns his command
382.
ghanistan, and returns to India,
remonstra,nce
i. 269
Association,
Courten's
of the East India Company against, 2d9;
its union w-ith the East
its decline, 273
lole
287
i.
saries, 290.
his adver-
,,
compelled to
chief,
828.
19
17
ii.
of
of inferior deities, 18
all beings to decay,
;
ber,
transmigration, 58
views of heU, 61 moral system, 62.
103.
Criminal law among the Hindoos, u.
the
Cromwell, Oliver, his decision respecting
East India Company, i. 278 his death, 2fcO.
in
Crow, Sub-conductor, his brave conduct
defence of the Delhi magazine, in. 56b.
Crusades, the effects of the, on commerce,
;
145.
i.
castes, the.
i.
11.
'
insurrection
in,
iii.
125.
conquest of,
Ala-u-din, 76
13/
84 Akber claims the supremacy in,
Akber s sucAkber's campaign in, 138
msm-rection m, against
ce.sses in, 139
Shah Jehan, 283 the kings of, madetribu285 Auningzebe
tai-y, 283; campaigns in,
arrives in, 294 proceedings of the Moguls
arrival of Sufder All m, 433 Ni389
in,
zam-ul-Moolk
commands
in,
in, 749.
433
General WeUesley
i.
Lake
Deeg, the victory of, u. 782 General
advances on, 785 its noted strength, 785
the siege and capture of, 785.
Indian geoDeeps, the seven, of ancient
graphy,
i.
1.
i.
575.
ii,
38.
D.
618
house
of Subzee Mundee Hindoo Row's
increased
assailed, 608 the British force
before 609; important aid an-ives from
the Punjab to tlie British force before,
an
difficulties of the siege of, 611
610
assault again proposed, and abandonecl,
reinforcements received by the Britll2
rebel expedition sent
tish and rebels, 613
atfrom, agamst Alipoor, 613 renewed
on the British reiir,
rebels
the
of
tempts
the
British
by
on
the
614- new attacks
rebels ui,
rebels 614 disunion among the
moveable co615; arrival of Nicholson's
lumn before, 615 exploit of Captain Hodson at Rohtuk, 616 defeat of the rebels
under Mahomed Bukht Khan at iS ujutof the siege
ghur, near Delhi, 616 arrival
erection of batteries, 618 the
train, 617
bl9 ; tne
breaching batteries begin to play,
619 the Cashmere gate forced
;
,
, ,,
mvaded
by
.
ii. '757
by Ala-u-din,
841.
i.
mand,
hiuig, 495.
Deccan, the, table-land ot,
French
is
and Vaisya
Csliatriya
132.
i,
death, 193.
a
De Cattans, a French officer, actingi. as
4S9
spy at Trichinopoly, is detected,
&c.,
defeated,
and
is
De Castro, relieves Diu, i. 192 ; his ostentatious celebration of the victoiy ; character
57
dogma of
views of heaven, bU ;
and
in the case of
Day, Sir John, his opinion
Cossinaut Baboo, ii. 435.
of, 20.
divine periods
tendency of
19
human and
of
from, and rival factions at, 400 reign
Ahmed Shah at, 402 reign of Alumgeer
II at, 403 victory of General Lake at, u.
761 Holkar's advance on, 780 gallant defence of, against Holkar, 780 disturbances
interference with
at, 832 Lord Amherst's
the king of, iii. 18S the kmg of, dissatishis agent
fied, sends Rammohun Roy as
the immense military
to England, 211
native
to
in
left
charge
magazines of,
arrival of the Meerut mutitroops, 555
neers in, 567 the atrocities of the Meerut
mutineers in, 667 the native troops m,
of the mujoin the mutmy, 568 attempt
tineers to get possession of the magazine
the
of
defence
magazine
heroic
of 568;
of by nine British soldiers, 569; courage
in blowdisplayed by the British soldiers
the rebellion
ing up the magazine of, 569
horrible masregularly organized in, 570
the
sacre of women and children within
571
preparaprecuicts of the palace of,
mutions for the recovery of it from the
on the
tineers, 599 a British force arrives
the guides
heights above, 601 arrival of
from the Punjab at, 601 various attempts
of the rebels to turn the position of the
beBritish, 602 operations of the British
fore 603 proposal to take it by siu-prise
abandoned, 604 description of, 604 the
strong defensive position
palace of, 605
on
of the British before, 606 new attack
the British by the mutineers in. 607; ats to gain the British
niutiiRCi
the
of
tempt
to the
rear 607: reinforcements arrive
608 capture
British, and to the relit Is in,
men,
verse,
mm
to
of,
daughters
father's conqueror, 41.
of
Dalhousie, Lord, matle Governor-general
India, iii. 505 his proclamation respectof
character
Oude
ot
ing the annexation
her
Mahomed,
Casun
67
at,
;
on
Behram succeeds
Keikobail succeeds
Bulbmi at, 72 Jelal-u-din succeeds Keikobad at, 74; the throne of, usurped
the
by Ala-u-din, 78; is blockaded by
Moguls, 82; reign of Moobarik m, 86;
throne
the
mounts
Ghazy Beg Toghlak
sucof, 87 the son of Ghazy Beg Toghlak
ceeds him in, 88 attempt of the king
4.V,
Moiz-u-din
65;
Nasir-u-tUn
to the
Cotton, inducements and obstacles
cultivation of extent of the cultivation
the manufacture of,
of, in India, ii. 15S
in ImUa, 164.
,
,^
(George btaCotton, Brigadier -general
Combermere),
pleton Cotton, Viscount
ui.
17Z;
165,
in
Burmah,
his operations
moves against Bhurtpoor, and captures
to the throne of, 66; Nasir-u-din Mahmood reigns at, 66; embassy from the
King of Persia arrives at, 66 habits of
Nasir-u-din, king of, 67 Bulbun succeeds
against the
Kajah of Cossijurah, ii. 435; his action
and the
Calcutta,
of
the
court
against
exabrupt \('ithdrawal of it, 43(5 his case
plained, 437.
governs
Mama
535.
i.
519.
Cos'siinbazar, attacked
of,
^
,,
the
Walla, an intriguer
meditates the
court of Gwalior, iii. 475
ii
194.
Dada Khasjee
assault,
INDEX.
720
DELHI
EAST INDIA
Delhi,
the king captured
and brought back execution of liis sons,
625
death of General Nicholson, 625
Lord Canning on the capture of Delhi,
flight of the king,
iii.
624
625.
brigade, 431
an engagement
his death, in
439.
Devotion, Hindoo,
its
Dewah Amajee,
iii.
209.
Dost Mahomed, ~
ing the proposed alliance between Persia
678.
iii.
700.
Drake,
738.
Dhyau
ii.
member of
the
Bombay
201.
21.
iii.
688.
lieved by
De
Castro, 192.
Dividend, the, of the East India Company
increased, ii. 286; regulated by parliament,
287.
mutiny in,
Doast Ali, i.
iii.
32
sepoy
577.
430.
iii.
of the
ii.
764.
49.
ii.
V75.
Company,
ii.
571.
E.
down
Cutch,
military operations in
28.
iii.
ii.
548;
Lord Corn-
eheu, 506.
mode
against Inilian
Tonk Rampoora,
o>it
at,
469.
to,
ii.
154.
670.
647, note.
Dhuleep
Dhcnia. a curious custom among the Hindoos, ii. 201 a remarkable instance of, as
practised by Hyder Ali, 225.
Dhondoo Punt Gokla, attacks Dhoondia, ii.
714 pursues him with his Mahrattas, but
;
CO.
Durjan
INDEX.
EAST INDIA
and
France, 326; treaty with Sevajee, theMahratta chieftain, 328 princi]>le of seniority
establislied in the Company's service, 330
;
injudicious retrenchments
made
by, 330;
Vol.
III.
'21
ELLENBOROUGH
CO.
East India Company,
inducements to
extinction, i. 3ti6
form a new company, 372 discussions on
the subject of a new company, 372 report
on the affairs of the old Company, 373 act
of parliament forming a new company,
373 notice given to the old Company, 374;
a new joint-.stock formed, 375 impolitic
final
revolution in Bengal, 594 neutrality between the English and Frencli companies
after the revolution
Bengal, 595 quarrel
with Meer Cossim monstrous pretensions
of the Company's servants, 673 mutinous
spirit of the Company's anny, 678 sordid
conduct of the Comi)any's servants, 683;
private trading forbidden to tlieir servants,
687; corruptions of their servants, 689;
attempts of their servants to evade the
covenants against taking presents, 689
the
treaty with Surajah Dowlah, 695
directors abolish double batta, 699 Clive
carries the orders of the diiectors as to
double batta into effect, 699 their Madras
the Northern Circars
jaghire, ii. 210
granted to the Company, 213 treaty with
Nizam Ali, 216 first contact with Hyder
Ali, 243 views of the directors as to Hyder
Ali, 245 grant of Mysore to the Company
by Nizam AU, 260; foreign policy of the
directors, 261 new acquisition of territory
deprecated, 262; danger apprehended by
the directors from the Malnattas, 263
increase of dividend of the Company, 286;
amomit of the Company's dividend restricted by parliament, 287 opposition to
the claim of government to a share in
Indian politics, 288
indignation of the
directors at the appointment of a cro\ni
plenipotentiary to India, 290; Hj'der Ali
claims assistance from, 292 resolve to act
ostensibly as dewan of Bengal and Behar,
304 Hastings' letter to the directors and
their reply, 315 unworthy designs of the
Company, 320 involved in war with the
Rohillas, 327 pecuniary gains by the Roliilla war, 333
pecuniary difficulties, 334
forced by the legislatiu-e to accept a loan,
343; a new constitution thnist on them,
344; the regulating act, 344; covet Salrenewal
sette, 356 capture Salsette, 362
of the charter, 547; Lord Cornwallis'
opinion of the financial difficulties of the
Company, 571 abuses in providing for
the investments of the Company, 575 state
of the Company's army, 576 abuses in
the army of the Company, 577 proposal to
amalgamate the king's troops and those
of the Company, 577 obstacles in the way
of the amalgamation proposed, 578; colhsion between the Board of Control and
the directors of the Company, 578 claims
of the Company to Guntoor enforced, 579;
approaching expiry of the chai-ter Lord
Cornwallis consulted as to future arrangements, 636; scheme proposed by government as to its constitution Lord Cornwallis' views, 637; the new charter, 638;
territorial cessions to the Company in
Mysore, 709 misunderstanding Ijetween
Lord Mornington and the directors, 735;
quarrel between the directors and the government as to the appointment of a
governor-general, 818; final decision of
the quarrel, 819 disputes with the Rajah
of Travancore, 834; proposed renewal of
the charter of, and opposition to their
monopoly, iii. 1 opposing views of the
government, and the directors of, 2 negotiations on the subject of the monojioly of,
2 f ailiu-e of these negotiations, 3 renewal
of the discussion in parhament respecting
;
India
Company
for,
iii. 5.
Edwardes, Lieutenant, his military operations in the Punjalj, iii. 509 his successes,
510; liis Year ill the Piinjah, quoted as to
the relative strength of the British and
Sikh armies, 511 defeats the Siklis in the
battle of Kineyree, 511 his victory over
the Sikhs at Suddoosam, 513.
Edwards, Serjeant, one of the nine defenders
of the Delhi magazine, iii. 568.
Eedgali, the, in Moidtaii, iii. 507; desertion
of the garrison and murder of the British
;
Egerton, Colonel Charles, appointed to command the expedition against Poonah, ii.
447 quarrels with Mr. Carnac on a point
of etiquette, 448; cowardly conduct of,
;
449
which arrives in India, 176 Lord Mornington sends an exiiedition to, ii. 734.
Eibuk, an officer of Slialiali-u-din's, his ex;
i.
60
ploits,
nity witli
Eldoz of Ghuznee,
chief,
his affi-
64.
invades India
268.
Elik Khan, a Tartar prince, invades Khorasan and is driven back by Mahmood
Sultan, i. 45.
Elizabeth, Queen, visits Sir Francis Drake
on board his ship, i. 209 her enlightened
views as to the right of all nations to the
sea, 212 petition of English merchants to,
216 her letter to the commander of the
first voyage under the charter of the East
;
287
799
INDEX.
FRENCH
ELLENBOROUGH.
England, and India, compared as to the
average fall of rain, i. 8; the first European state that entered into competition
with the Portuguese in their trade with the
East, 215; indignation in, at the atrocious
conduct of the Portuguese at Amboyna,
263; war between, and France, 349, 409; ii.
Ellenborough, Lord,
succeeds Lord Auckland
639.
English, maritime enterprise, i. 195; expedition to the East, 212; second expedition to
the East, 216; association of merchant adventurers for a voyage to the East, 224.
among
of,
the Hindoos,
ii.
95.
,
Lucknow,
654.
Cossim, 677.
EUora, the rook temples of, ii. 17.
Elphinstone, the Honourable Mountstuart,
sent by
Cabool,
F.
of the East India
Company,
i.
379.
a,
199.
ii.
285;
in the south of
wounded
in the Vellore
demands of Akbar
his promise of protection, 427; invited to a conference with
Akbar Khan, and detained as a prisoner,
428; his recovery from captivity and death,
Elphinstone's Histonj of India, quoted as
to the incarnations of Buddlia, ii. 32; as to
the Hindoo idea of transmigration, 59; as
to Hindoo sources of revenue, 89; giving
a description of an Indian township provillage, 92; as to Hindoo law of debtor and
creditor, 96; describing a Hindoo army on
march,
Hindoo
111;
vities, 198.
time discovery,
i.
152.
Emmaumghiu-,
Enfield
rifle,
introduced into the
the,
Bengal army, iii. 556.
England, General, his defeat in the Kojuk
Pass, iii. 444; is constrained by General
Nott to advance through the Kojuk Pass,
445.
his
486;
ii.
liis
exploit at
gallant
defence of Wandi-
487.
67.
Lieutenant,
wash,
Factories
Poonah, iii. 33; protests against the reception of the agents of Sitaram, 3/; accuses
Trnnbukjee of the murder of Gungadhur
Sastree, and demands liis apprehension,
40; insists on the delivering up of Trimbukjee to the British government, 41;
prepares for war with the peishwa, 59; the
peishwa is alarmed at his preparations and
firmness, 60; the rigorous terms he offers
the peishwa, 60
demands from the
peishwa an explanation of his proceedings, 65; demands of the pei-shwa on, 66;
seats the Rajah of Sattarah on the throne,
92; the office of governor-general offered
to, and declined by, 256; quoted as to the
pohcy of restoring Shah Shujah to the
throne of Cabool, 337; the command in
;
352.
Flint.,
532.
Wandiwash,
700.
iii.
Company,
iii.
519.
382.
176.
,
oyage to the East,
instructions for his voyage, mercantile and military, 212; interest ictaching to his voyage, 214; failure of nis expedition, 215.
Ferdusi, the poet, liis treatment by Sultan
212;
Mahmood,
i.
52.
iii.
488;
107.
846.
ii.
Akbar Khan,
mutiny
at, 533.
of,
ii.
783.
iii.
490.
of
Hindoo, of Kali, ii. 47
Juggernaut, 51.
Festivities of the Hindoos, ii. 198.
Field deputies, appointed by the Madras
council to assist Colonel Smith, ii. 266;
letter of the Madras council to, 272; return
of the, to Madras, 272.
Fine arts, the, among the Hindoos music,
ii.
139;
painting and sculpture, 140;
Festivals,
architecture, 140.
Fireljrace, Sir Basil, his depositions respect-
INDEX.
723
FRENCH
GOLDEN ROCK
French, the,
the English
French, the,
ii. 691
attack on the settlements of their
capture, 847 attempt to assassinate the
;
the,
i.
317, 407.
Fullarton, Colonel,
contrary orders
given to, 521
captures Palghautcherry,
522 his victorious career arrested, 523 ordered by the Madras govermuent to evacuate all his conquests Swartz's surprise,
517
ii.
524.
457.
tack on
iii.
movements
General Ochterlony
with, resumed, 23
leaving the Chiriaghati Pass unattempted,
proceeds against them by a different pass,
23 ; further successes of General Ochterlony against, 25 treaty of peace with, ratified by the Nepaulese, 25
results of the
war with, 26 they send missions to foreign
;
Hyder Ali with, ii. 229 his negotiations with Basalut Jung on behalf of
Hyder Ali, 233 reduces Savanoor, 238.
Fyzabad, the treaty of, ii. 532; the sepoy
of
mutiny
in,
iii.
590.
Company,
of,
by the
courts, 26.
20.
540.
ii.
634.
Futteh Khan,
Gaitskell, Major,
iii.
22.
G((niral>:
iii.
619.
and Gmhs,
i.
510.
160.
of, 37.
Gatica, i. 600.
Gavrilghur, the capture of, by the British,
ii.
770.
of, at Constantinople,
146 ; disasters of, 148.
Geography, the, of India, physical, i. 4;
Genoese, ascendency
i.
political, 12.
Nott, 451.
Gibbs, Colonel, sent to Seringapatam to suppress a mutiny there, ii. 843.
Gilbert, Major-general, pursues the routed
Afghan auxiliaries of the Sikhs from Chilhanwalla, iii. 527.
Gillespie, Colonel, suppresses the mutiny at
Vellore, ii. 811 his repulse and death at
;
Kalimga,
11.
iii.
Geology of India, i. 6.
Geriah, a stronghold of the Angria pirates
feat, 457.
Ghiljies, the,
tion .among, 383; defeat of, 384; a new insurrection among Brigadier Sale sent to
suppress it, 385 loss sustained by th British in an engagement with, 386.
Gholab Sing, iii. 487 ; proceeds to tlie British
camp as mediator for the Sikhs, 498 arrangements of the British with, 500.
Gholam Mahomed Khan, murders his brother is defeated in battle by Sir Robert
;
hostilities
failure of negotiations with
against, declared, 10 the Earl of Moira's
plan of campaign agauist, 11 serious reBritish
at
pulses sustained from, by the
Kalunga, 11 fresh repulse at Kalunga its
captiu-e, 12 ominous commencement of
of
13
the
war
the war with,
with,
progress
13; General Martindale repulsed by, at
Jytak, 14; operations of General Ochter14
sustained
by the
lony against,
repul.se
British from, at Fort Ramghur, 15; arrival
;
303.
i.
380.
Pegu, 536.
Gohains, the,
iii.
139.
ii.
458.
Golam
Ka*lir
Khan,
ii.
573, 662.
rungzebe, 304.
iii.
490.
146.
24
INDEX.
GOLDXEY
HASTINGS
827.
ii.
ii.
72.
iii.
killed at Tal-
96.
-'
1.
Greek
India,
i.
20.
ii.
596.
Griffen, Admiral,
Griffiths,
423.
i.
company, on
theii'
retreat
and of his
from Cabool,
of,
Lucknow,
662.
Gunnah Pmit
Gunput Row,
403.
ships
at,
546.
i.
Gowdie, Major,
ii.
608.
i.
ii.
457.
76, 89.
iii.
of.
i.
in-
497, 679.
iii.
482.
579.
ceedings,
Grant, Sir
Anson,
iii.
203.
Patrick,
iii.
successor of General
631.
667.
153.
relieves Captain
Abington
Mul-
in
595.
20.
iii.
H.
Haneas Corpus, the question respecting, between the giivemment and the supreme
court of lloiiibay,
iii.
203.
527.
of the
Nabob of Oude, iii. 214.
Harcoiu-t, Colonel, in Cuttack, ii. 757.
Hardinge, Sir Henry, Viscount, succeeds
Lord Ellenhorough as Governor-general of
India, iii. 485 his policy, 485 proceeds to
\isit the Sikh protected states, 487 ; his
proclamation respecting the Sikhs, 488;
volunteers to act as second in commauil
in the battle of Ferozeshah, 493 dictates
terms to the Sikhs in their own capital,
498 his internal reforms in Intha, 504 is
created a viscount, 505 his memorandum
to the Rajah of Oude, 545.
Hardyman, Colonel, defeats the Mahrattas
at Jubbulpoor, iii. 75.
Hariana, Lord Minto's interference in the
district of; military adventurers in, ii. 829.
Harland, Sir Robert, sent as crown plenipotentiary to India, his instructions, ii. 291
his views, 292
letters of the Madras
council to, 292 his blustering reply, 293.
Harnes, Colonel, iii. 701.
Harper, Colonel, sent to the assistance of
;
Basalut Jung,
ii.
Grant, Mr. Charles, objects to the appointment of any servant of the Company to be
governor-general, iii. 254.
Grant, Dr., his death, iii. 409.
Grant, Sir John Peter, judge of the supreme
court of Bombay, his extraordinary pro-
451
ii.
cal death,
6.
dry,
i.
stances
reply, 700;
ui. 429.
ii.
his
GreviUe, Fulke, his report upon the memorial to the privy council respecting a voyage to the East, i. 227.
Grey, Sir John, iii. 493.
Govind Row,
476.
INDEX.
725
HATEAS
HINDOOS
Hasting.?, Warren,
signed; extraordinary proceedings in Bengal in consequence,ii.424; Mr. Francis off ers
liiiuself as mediator between liim and tlie
councU, 425; his letter of explanation to
the directors its unsatisfactory character,
426; festivities on his second marriage,
427 is censured by the directors, 428 disregards their peremptory orders, 429 his
objections to the re.storation of Mirza
Khan overruled, 430 yet he gains his end
by other means, 431 is again censured by
the directors; their peremptory orders,
431 is continued in office by act of parliament, 432 his duel with Mr. Francis, 433
his explanation of the sudden termination
of the action of Cossinaut Baboo against
the governor-general and council, 437 his
;
ness
and death,
663.
iii.
iii. i''21.
command
of the Defence, i.
prooeedmgs of, in the Bay of Bengal,
in
345.
188.
and
leaders,
CornwaUis, 654.
Hatras, in tlie Doab, captiu-ed, iii. 33.
Havelock, Henry, afterwards Sir Henry
Havelock, K.C.B., quoted respecting the
interview between Runjeet Sing and the
governor-general, iii. 338; his account of
the counter-visit of the governor-general
to Runjeet Sing, at Ferozepoor, 340 his
remarks on the plan of selecting troops for
the Afghan war adopted by Sir Henry
Fane, 341 his accomit of Sliah Shujah's
reception in Candahar, 355 his account of
Brigadier Sale's encounter with a powerful
Afghan, 360 on the capture of Ghuznee,
361 on the importance of holding the Bala
Hissar in C'abool, 388; at the defence of
Jelalabad, 433 having been sent with the
expedition to Persia, at the close of the
Persian war he returns to India, and is
wreckel off Ceylon, 631; appointed commander of the force for the relief of Luck;
Burun,
Pindaree
brothers,
46.
iii.
Hemmat
Hindoo
IBahadur,
ii.
theology,
61.
ii.
to
find a patron m, i. 195; charter granted
by, to Cabot, 196.
Henry, Prince, of Portugal, his zeal for
maritime discovery, i. 140.
Hera Sing, iii. 487.
Herat, the designs of Persia on, iii. 295 a
new Persian expedition against, 317 the
position of, 317 defences of, 318 tyi-annical character of the government of, 318;
the Persian expedition
difficulties of
against, 319 the siege of, commenced by
the Persians, 319; services of Ekh-ed
Pottinger in defence of, during the siege,
British me320 negotiation attempted
diation, 321 failure of British mediation,
322 the siege of, resumed under Russian
a grand assault on, reauspicies, 322
pidsed, 323 tacit armistice, 324 a British
expedition to the Persian Gulf compels
the Persians to raise the siege of, 324 ; the
;
siege of,
i.
unju.stifiable,
336.
23
ii.
158.
;
Hyder
pro-
defence of Pegu,
Delhi,
iii.
iii.
608.
67
Hemtt,
and chronology,
768.
i.
modem times,
Heeroo
distinctions
Kulinas or
the
Heaven,
81.
iii.
and present
of,
among Brahmins,
ginal equality
Company
344
Hindoos, the,
first and second stages of a Brahmin's life,
ii.6; third stage of aBrahmin's life, 'i; fourth
stage of a Brahmin's life, 7
changes of
Brahminical discipline, 8; i)artial decline
of Brahminical influence, 8 extravagant
deference to the Brahminical caste, 9 ori-
250.
641
Madras
advances again,
his tlifficult position obliged again to
retire, 642; receives alarming nes from
his victory at Bithoor,
Cavrapoor, 642
643; Sir James Outram appointed to supersede him, 647 increasmg difficulties of
his position, 647 Sir James Outram waives
his rank in favour of, 649 receives a letter
from Colonel Inglis at Lucknow urging
him to advance, 649 proceeds for the
relief of Lucknow, and reaches the Alrmabagh, 651 reaches the Charbagh bridge,
653 ; reaches Secunder Bagh, 654 enters
the residency; scene within, 654; his sicktires to Mungulwar,iii.641;
654.
Circars to
Havelock, Henry,
726
INDEX.
HINDOOS
HFMBERSTONE
and three
essential (|ualities of
nature, according to the Sankhya school,
119 the soul's liberation, according to the
Sankliya school, 120 atheistic and theistic
schools practice of the yoga, 120 resemcreation,
;
blance between Hindoo and Greek philosophers and phUosophy, 121 astronomy
the astronomy of, not scientific
of, 121
but empirical, 122; the Surya Sidhanta,
123; mathematics, 123; arithmetic and
algebra, 124; other branches of science,
chemistry, surgery, and medicine, 125.
Hindoo Literature and Art; Sanscrit, ii. 126
Sanscrit now only a deaid language, 127
poetry, 127 earliest poems of the Vedas
the Raraayana, its subject, 128; exile of
Rama and .Sita, 129 the residence of Rama
and Sita in the Deccan, 129 Ravana King
;
Holkar,
disastrous retreat of Colonel Monson
before, ii. 777 Lord Lake takes the field
against, 779; gallant defence of Delhi
against, 780; repulsed and pursued by
Lord Lake, 781, overtaken, sm-prised, and
defeated, 782; the Rajah of Bhiurtpoor in
league with, 784; is again surprised and
defeated, 795; Scindia's leanings in favour
Scindia's connections with, SCO
of, 798
sends envoys to Lord Lake to sue for peace,
809; treaty with, 809; his crimes and
insanity, 825; the state of affairs at his
court durmg his insanity and after his
death, iii. 76; young Holkar, Mulhar Row,
defeated at Mahid^ioor, 77 a new treaty
with, 78: indirect advantages secured to,
from British interference in Central India,
114; improvement of his territories midec
British management, 188; relations with,
during Lord Bentinck's administiation,
220; favourable tenns offered to Jeswunt
;
of, 160;
othcers, 170
life,
175
cousin,
584;
placed, 587.
Mahrattas,
of, 545, note; Meer Cos.sim's negotiations with, to supplant Meer Jaffier
and to take his place, 669.
Home's ,S'p/cc
note, 609.
Coote, 555.
Hoolakoti, King of Persia, sends an embassy
to Delhi; its splended reception, i. 6tj.
him
i.
101.
ill. 63
at the battle of
his retrograde movement
towards Poonah, 79; his explanation of
the exL-cution of the kUledar of Talneer,97.
Hitchcock, Lieutenant, deserts, ii. 252.
Hobart, Lord, governor of Mcixlras, his pro-
i.
Mahidpoor, 77
Delhi,
450.
notice
ii.
is dis-
586;
of,
misconduct
Madras,
825.
ii.
degradadisgusting
;
Begum
Rhoodamow,
Kotee, 672
killed at
676.
ii.
Horsefield. Lieutenant,
iii.
Hosen
Farokshir,
All,
supports
401,452.
700.
i.
387;
219
arrives at Bantam, 219; his
is made prisoner,
injudicious conduct
220; threatens retaliation his subsequent
proceedings, 220; return of the expedition,
car,
iii.
186.
M
M
INDEX.
727
HUME
Hume,
Surgeon,
INFANTICIDE
Hyder
836.
ii.
i.
34.
Wusota, iii. 9L
Hurreana, the sepoy mutiny in, iii. 578.
Hurricane, a terrible, at Porto Novo, 1.
of
India,
436;
ii.
401,
among
99.
Husband and
Ali,
674.
i.
the
27;
i.
ii.
217
Madras government
it,
ces,
singular
mode
571.
ii.
of Dost
Ma-
468.
Hyndman,
Colonel,
of,
by
at,
Amboor;
new campaign
nally contemplated, 113; revenue of, during the Marquis of Hastings' administration, 127 ; various sources of disturljances
in, dming Earl Amherst's administration,
176 first steam communication with, 201 ;
question raised in parliament as to the
future government of, 231
the biU rethe
specting the government of, 235
great sepoy nnitiny breaks out in, 552 ;
accidental deficiency of Eiu-opean troops
in, at the period of the sepoy mutiny,
555 proposed change in the government
Lord Palmerston's bill for the
of, 685
better government of, 685 the discussion
of Lord Palmerston's biU interrupted by
the right-of-asylum question, which led
to the defeat of the ministiy, 686 a new
biU introduced by the Derby ministry,
687 the discussion of Lord Derby's bill
interrupteil by the commotion produced
by Lord P^llenliorough's despatch, 689; a
new act passed for the better government
of India, 694
her majesty's Indian proclamation, and its effects, 695 review of
the past history of IntUa, 702 improvements introduced into the government
education
its effects, 705 the
of, 704
power of Christianity alone sufficient to
make India loyal and happy, 705.
India, Central, the presidencies of Bombay
and Madras organize columns to suppress
the mutiny in, iii. 677 relief of Mhow,
.677
capture of Dhar, 678 defeat of the
rebels at Rawul and Mundisore, and reMef of Neemuch, 678 operations against
Sehore and the fort of Rhatghur, 679 attack on Jhansi, 680 defeat of Tantia Topee, and capture of Jhansi, 681
operations of the Bombay and Matlras generals,
682 ; Sir Hugh Rose moves on Calpee
defeat of the rebels and capture of Calpee,
682 the rebels fleeing to Gwalior are jnirsued and defeated by Sir Hugh Rose, 684 ;
Central India cleared of the rebels, 685.
Indian satrapy of the Persian empire, the,
;
30.
686.
ii.
to,
ii.
22.
sells his
Imhoff, Baron,
of Nuncomar his reply, ii. 377 unbecoming conduct of, 381 partizanship of, 382
his behaviour in the case of Mr. Naylor,
436 bribed to lower his claims to jurisdichis new appointment and intion, 437
creased salary, 433; view of lawyers, and
of the committee of the House of Commons respecting his new appointment,
;
439.
of,
ingly,
India, ancient
i.
23.
Justinian, i. 144
commodities
of, 144
of European demand for, 148.
Indigo, the cultm-e of, ii. 161.
Indolence of the Hindoos, ii. 196.
ludo-.Scythian province of Scinde, the, i. 34.
;
Inilra,
ii.
35.
by Alexander,
i.
i.
iii.
2S0
crossed
27.
INDEX.
'28
KHIZR KHAN
INGLIS
Infantidde, female,
exertions of Mr.
of, ii. 10
;
Jelalabad,
Duncan to sup-
press, 18U
imijerfect remedies for, 181
difficulwei in a. aliug witli tlie crime of,
181 exertions of Air. Willougliby to suppress, ani satisfactory result, 182.
Inglis, Colonel appointed by Sh- Henry
Hindoos,
near Caudahar,
of,
Irawadi, the,
poor, 219.
567-
iii.
356.
iii.
144.
iii.
146.
iii.
and
note.
Bhangee
misal,
Burmese
stockades,
iii.
141.
quoted
Mahomed,
472
iii.
i.
517
his
Jaghtre, Clive's,
659
130.
i.
Company, 246.
Jameson, Captain,
can,
ii.
Con-
461.
of,
ui. 259.
to
.Sir
Archibald Campbell,
174.
249
receives Captain Hawkins at his
court, and gives him a wife, 249 ; Captain
Best's treaty with, 255 his character, 256
disorders under his government his death,
257 contest for the succession to, 281.
Jeipal, Rajah, his war with Sebektegin of the
house of Ghuznee, i. 42 his death, 44.
Jelal-u-din, his fortunes, i. 64.
Jelal-u-din Feroze, founder of the Khilji
dynasty, on the murder of Keikobad ;
ascends the throne of Delhi, i. 74
his
competitors, 74; his humane sentiments
and mistaken lenity, 74
conspiracies
against his lite, 75 repels an invasion of
tlie Moguls, 75
murdered by his nephew,
77 the misery of the soldier who murdered
;
Julal
Julwaheer Sing,
JiiiHinooiIrep,
Jumoo, the
i.
hill
iii.
1, 2,
487.
and
rajah
of,
note.
double siege
Aurmigzebe, 285.
of,
(See Candahar.)
pirate, i. 509; his
characteristic reply to the remonstrance of
the East India Company, 510 attacked
Hindoos,
ii.
and
by the Portuguese
Dutch, 511 his sons, 511.
Karli, the cave-temples of, ii. 144.
unsuccessfidly
;
Company, quoted,
Metcalfe, quoted,
istan,
East India
the
ii.
iii.
quoted, 327.
Kean, Sir John, appointed commander-inchief as successor to Sir Henry Fane, iii.
341; arrives off the coast i>f Scimle with
troops for the Afghan exptditii 'U, 345.
Keating, Colonel, his engagement with the
Mahrattas at Arass, ii. 402 commands an
expedition against the Isle of Bom-bon,
;
847.
him,
i.
72.
74.
Hindoo
Mytholor/y,
Kerchewf, or
Hyder
24.
ii.
which
AU died,
ii.
507.
duct,
flees before
chief,
407.
Sing,
made dewan
of Mooltan,
i.
Khan, 63.
Khatmandoo, the rajah of, iii. 8; Captain
Kirkpatrick sent on a mission to, 9; ail-
92.
to,
33.
iii.
Jytak, the fort of. General Martindale repvUsed at, iii. 14.
K.
373.
78.
ii.
iii.
the
among
him,
Prince, the
iii.
150.
iii.
horrible barbarities
on Futteh Khan, iii, 287, 318
sovereign of Herat, 318 accused of violating his engagements with Persia, 336.
Kandahar, wrested from Persia by Akber, i.
Khan
270.
472.
iii.
Jye
Kamran,
49.
137
270.
iii.
by
Jhunda
British,
393, note.
i.
tured, 671.
KaU, the
JliaUedar, the,
374.
inflicted by,
414,
iii.
bravely defended by
of,
iii.
Kama,
97.
ii.
612.
inte-
i.
97.
INDEX.
"29
KHOJAH
LUCKNOW
Kureem Khan,
by the British,
iii.
154, 172.
ii.
his project for establishing French ascendency in the East; his exiiedition to the
coolness between him and
East, 411
Dupleix, 413
prejiares for
besieging
Madras, 414; takes Madras, 416
quits
India, 417.
;
treasiny, 582.
511.
King
8.
defeats Holkar at Furruckabad, 782; advances on Deeg, 785; besieges and captures
Khatuiandoo,
iii. 9.
at,
i.
177.
Koer
Sing,
614.
645, 648.
822.
ii.
iii.
Shah Shujah
Kojuk
in,
to,
iii.
Mr.
chief,
301.
tlirough, 445.
of,
178.
107
iii.
i.
79
is
Kotra, Rajah Bakht Sins reinstated in possession of, by the British, ii. 827.
Kvtwal, iii. 30.
liis birth and exploits, ii. 30
liis
worshippers, 71.
Krishna Ivoomaree, the beautiful daughter
of the Rana of Odeypoor, iii. 54 her tra-
Krisliua,
tion, 643.
to
of,
20.
Ali, intrusted by
Nunjeraj to arrange the dispute with the
Mysore army, ii. 223 intrigue between
;
dispersed, 50
iii.
LaUy,
Vol. III.
want
of
provisions at
818.
the Hindoos,
92.
ii.
officer,
references to,
i.
iii.
in
Lawrence,
iii.
Kliurram.
of,
ii.
276
Vellore, 495;
Ali,
Law among
57.
Rangoon
demand
to
satisfaction for
injuries, iii. 530; liis proceedings at Rangoon, 531; his letter to tlie King of Ava,
531; the King of Ava's reply; ignominious
he sent
treatment of the officers
asliore 531.
whom
519.
abandons and
Bhowun,
blows up
Muchee
the
French
ham,
iii.
15.
Levant Company,
the, established,
i.
210.
Lindsay,
dra,
iii.
210.
488.
ii.
777.
Bombay, i. 320.
Lucknow, the capture
17ii4,
i.
of,
by the British in
ii.
552; the
mob
dency
288
INDEX.
730
MAHOMED
LUGARD
Lucknow,
Havelock instmcted to support Sir Henry
Lawrence at, iii. 632; Havelock having advanced towards, is obliged to fall back
Havelock again advances on,
from, 641
641; lett-jr from Colonel Inglis m-ging
Colonel
Havelock to press on to, 649
650;
Inglis' account of the siege of,
Havelock's near approach to, 651 consulta;
Mr.
leaves Cawupoor for Lucknow, 659
J. H. Kavanagh makes his way out to the
British camp, 660; Sir Colin Campbell
advances on the city; the Dilkoosba park
and Secunder Bagh captm'ed, 660; the
Shah Nujeef captured the garrison cothe mess-hou.se
Motee
operating, 661
the women and
Munzil carried, 662
childi'en removed from the residency, 6iJ2
the garrison extricated, 663; the city still
remains in possession of the rebels, 664
Sir Colin Campbell's final march on, 670;
the Kaiser Bagh assailed, 671; Bahadoor
Jung arrives with his Ghoorkas to aid
the British, 672; the city is finally won,
;
420
murdered, 423.
Macpherson, Mr., agent and adviser of Mahomed Ali his intrigue with the British
;
561.
at,
Madhoo
181, 186.
presidency of,
Sing,
835.
of
pointed
member
in-chief,
his
grievance,
ii.
837;
places
iii.
i. 13
when first
a presidency, 277 first settleof the East India Company at, 271
violent dissensions at, 318
the govern-
Madras, the
ii.
rai.sed to Ije
ment
ment
Colonel, his
operations in
Candeish, iii. 98; killed at "NVatigaon, 171.
Macgregor, an otticer of Lally's, compelled
to surrender Gingee, i. 643.
Macgregor's Hintory of the Sikhs, quoted, iii.
Macdowall,
492.
of,
iii.
57.
421.
527
misunderstanding between Mr. Hastings and tlu' gnvernor of,
527 Mr. Hastings' letter to the council of,
conferring extraordinary powera on Sir
collision between Mr.
Eyre Coote, 529
Hastings and the president of the comicil
thorities at,
219.
i.
214.
Bombay government
Houtmann
Ali,
M.
of,
490.
Madagascar, arrival of
iii.
Madras,
the
army
tiny, 843
of,
the
841
Duke of
on the subject of the mutiny at, 845; reforms in the presidency of, iii. 126; the
presidency of, organizes a column to suppress the mutineer sepoys in Central India,
777.
172.
Maha
Sing, a Sikh leader, iii. 271 his conquests, 271 alarm of the other Sikh chiefs
at his successes, 272 his death, 273.
Mahabharata, the, a Hindoo poem its subits merits, 136.
ject, ii. 132
Maharajpoor, the battle of, iii. 481 position
of the rebel sepoys at, 635 Havelock's victory over the rebel sejioys at, 635.
Mahidpoor, the battle of, iii. 77.
Mahmood, sou of Bulbun, his encounters
with the Moguls, and death, i. 70, 71.
Mahmootl, Sidtan, his boyhood, i. 42 his
personal appearance, 43 his war with
Rajah Jeipal, 44 coiupiers Beejy Ray, 44;
encounters Anangpal and defeats him, 44 ;
his triumiihal lianquet, 46 his conquests
in India, 47 takes Sonmauth, 48 his prohis passage of the desert home,
jects, 50
51 his death, 51 his character, 52 coins
anecdotes illustrative of
of, 52, and note
his sense of justice, 52 his successor, 53.
Mahmood Toghlak.the pageant King of Del;
hi,
on his throne,
Mahomed, son
reign,
i.
i.
95; reseated
97.
of Moobarik, his
unworthy
98.
Mahomed, son
brother Musaood,
i.
53.
Mahomed
Ali, his cowardice, i. 449 his perplexities, 453; the English having withdrawn from him, again send him aid. 454;
;
INDEX.
731
3VIAHOMED
MIDDLETON
Mahomed Ali,
ofasonof, ii. 527; Lord C'oruwallis makesa
new arrangement with, 625 his death, tj73;
state of his affairs, 673 accused of coiTespouding with Tippoo, 717.
Maliomed Hoosseiu Mirza, excites disorders
in Gujerat his defeat, i. 132.
;
Mahomed
i.
496
ii.
212
lietrayed, 213.
Mahomed Khan,
Maliomed,
Mahomed
Khan,
i.
519.
iii.
Klian, assassinated
Adam
by
126.
Mahomed Reza
Klian,
naib
appointed
dewan
for Bengal, ii. 305 falls under suspicion, 307; intrigue against, iu Leadenhall
Street; its success, 308; his arrest ordered
by the directors of the Company, 309
him
Mahometan
fanaticism, i. 101.
its rapid spread iu India, i.
39 its conquests in IniUa, 39.
Mahometans, form part of the inhabitants
of India, i. 12 unusual combination be-
Mahometanism,
;
iii.
among,
307;
repulsed in their attack on Surat, 316 disunion among, 385 in the Punjab, 403
prospect of an empire of, 404; brought into
the Carnatic, 432 defeat of, by Jlonacjee,
494 invade the Mysore, ii. 224 their war
with Hyder Ali, 239, 248 danger apprehended from, by the directors of the Company, 263 invade Hindoostan, 296 subjugate Roliilcund, 296 designs of, against
Zabita Khan, 297 cession of Allahabad
and Corah to, 320 expedition against
Nizam Ali and Hyder Ali, 357 civil war
among, 359; negotiations of the Bombay
government with, 360; rupture of the Bom;
variously quoted,
iii.
i.
553
ii.
the,
i.
31.
iii.
98;
attempt
;
:
127.
ii.
206.
Manufactures, Hindoo,
Map, of Jummoodeep,
164.
ii.
i.
1;
Ptolemy's, of In-
dia, 3.
i.
418.
681.
of
18
his operations,
his
and
retreat
637.
467.
Mecliam and
Lieutenants, blown
Soppitt,
into the air, iii. 651
Medhj/aclesa, ii. 1.
well to assassinate
677.
i.
Meer
Sing,
Meenm, son
conduct,
648
i.
pretends to bo in fear of
murder RoyduUub,
of,
533.
iii.
220.
ii.
Martand Row,
tion
and
gents, 373.
of Runjeet Sing,
iii.
by
273.
98.
of, 617;
mutiny among
men at,
ii.
842.
ii.
115.
Matthews, General, his descent on Rajahmundroog, ii. 516 rapid eoncjuests in Bednore, 516 his astonishment at his success,
517 he and all his troops made prisoners,
;
518.
Melemo
De Gama,
155.
i.
Meru,
i.
of,
i.
126.
2.
Mauritius,
ferred
to,
i.
9.
;
M'Caskill, General Sir John, sent in command of an expedition against Istalif, iii.
456 assists at the uistallatiou of Futteh
Jung, 457 killed at the battle of Moodkee,
;
677.
Mawbey,
490.
695.
memorandum
iii.
iii.
31'2.
contest
for the beautiful daughter of the Rana of
189
ii.
Bombay,
Maphuze Khan,
556.
committed
Bahadur,
arrest, 317
negotiations
investigated freed
formally acquitted, 319
restored to office, 330 displaced by Hastings, 430; his restoration peremptorily
ordered by the directors, 433.
Mahomed Sliali, placed on the Mogul throne,
i. 391
his conspu-acy to throw oft the yoke
of the Seyeds, 392
his character, 393
threatened byBajeeRao, 396; defeated by
Nivlir Shah, 399 his death, 402.
Mahomed Shureef 's fort in Cabool, overlooks
the British connuissariat, iii. 403 resolution of General Elpliinstone to attack, but
alters his mind, 404 taken, 405.
from
M'Neill,
charges against
iii.
Malli,
ii.
811.
recalled,
ii.
365.
INDEX.
732
MIDDLETON
MUSIC
in-
762.
136.
127.
850.
licy, 57.
66.
i.
Mombas, De Gama
Monacjee, his
ii.
Mogul dynasty,
839.
ness in quelling a mutiny, i. 679 his victory at Buxar, 679 captures Pondicherry,
ii. 468
his blunder in opposing Hyder, 481;
retreats, 484 conducts the siege of Negal^atam, 498 his opinion of the importance
of the defeat of DhooncUa, 738
in the
affair of Sholapoor, iii. 93.
Monro, Sir Thomas, his death, iii. 189.
Monson, Colonel, sent out as a member of
the council of Bengal, ii. 3u0 his private
interview with Nuncomar, 372
opposes
Hastings on the land question, 411 his
sickness and death, 417.
Monson, the Honom-able Colonel, conducts
the assault on Alighur, ii. 759 hastens to
meet Holkar, 776 his disastrous retreat,
777; encounters Holkar. 778; his disastrous
retreat continued, 779 his detachment defeated and dispersed, 779 heads a storming party against Bhurtpoor, 791.
Monson, Major, takes Alumparva and Carrical, i. 631 supersedes Colonel Coote, 636
womided, 63ii requests Coote to resume
the conmiand, 637.
Monson, Sir William, his account of Captain
Lancaster's jiredatory procedure, i. 240.
Monsoons in India, i. 8; their causes and
;
Nadir Shah,
399.
Afghan
chiefs, 408
India, i. 105
Hawkins' visit to the court of the Great, at
Delhi, 248 Sir Thomas Koe's embassy to
the court of the Great, 256 empire, southeiTi limits of, 304
fleet in the Bombay
harbour, 327 the Company's war with the,
344 capture of six Mogul ships, 346 unsettled state of the empire of, 384 succession to the Mogul throne disputed, 386;
impending danger of the Mogul empire,401.
Moguls, the, theii" irruptions into India, i.
63, 69; invade Mooltan, 70; treacherous
murder of those in Keikobad's army, 73;
invade the kingdom of Dellii and are reanother invasion by, under
pulsed, 75
Ameer Dawood, 78 another invasion
under Kootloogh Khan, 79; blockade
82
Delhi,
again cross the Indus and are
defeated, 84 again invade India, and are
bought ofl, 88 a new invasion of, imder
the grandson of Tamerlane, 93 Tamerlane approaches the Indus, 94 his grandson takes Mooltan, 94 Delhi besieged and
sacked, 95 capture of Meerut, and return
of Tamerlane, 96 Khizr Khan acts as
deputy for Tamerlane at Delhi, 97 the
Mogul dynasty in India, 105; reign and
wars of Baber, 105 (see Baber) Hoomayoon succeeds Babar Ms reign, fortunes,
and death, 114 reign and actions of Akber,
121 (see Akhei) reign of Shah Jehan, 281;
reign of Aurmigzebe, 287 (see AiirtuKjzebij
war with the Mahrattas, 295 defeated by
influences,
iii.
573
made
chief
Montresor, Colonel, Tippoo attempts to destroy a brigade under, but fails, ii. 694
heads the disaffection at Hyderabad, 841.
Monumental inscriptions, throwing light on
Inchan history, i. 33.
Moobarik, his wicked reign, i. 86; assassina;
ii.
Khan, succeeds
his
98.
513
of,
and
siege
to
iii.
121.
Moonyim Khan,
Moor,
303.
518.
murdered
Calicut,
ii.
597.
165.
i.
Moosa Bagh,
at,
Lucknow,
iii.
674.
virtues, 63.
267.
See
Wellesley
{Marquis).
iii.
674.
Moulvie of Lucknow, makes a dash at Shahjehanpoor and jihuiders it, iii. 677.
Movnitain ranges of India, their gi-anitic formation,
6.
i.
Moi/i,
ii.
153.
the,
133, 137.
i. 465.
iii.
Muir, Colonel,
Mukhdoom,
MuUik Mookudur,
it
96.
i.
of the ex-queen of
Oude, iii. 674.
Mmidisore, captured from the mutineer sepoys,
679.
iii.
atiii.
560.
retires upon,
iii.
641.
Munny Begum,
Nabob
of Bengal,
ii.
the siege
Delhi after
9.
ii
Hyder Ali
defects, 21.
in
the,
Mooltan,
68.
Burnes
Mohun
iii.
507;
decision of Lord
cession,
287.
i.
at; their
iii.
defeat
to,
ii.
95.
becomes
successor to Sultan
Mahmood, i. 53 his personal qualities,
54; transactions of his reign, and his new
]ialace at Ghuznee, 54; defeated liy the
Seljuks under Toglnul Beg, 54 deposed
Musaood,
of Ghuznee,
55.
Muscat, the
tion of,
i.
Company
310.
Music, Hindoo,
ii.
139.
INDEX.
733
MUSjroiA
NIZAM
iii.
701.
suppression
of, 333.
origin of, 813; real causes of, 814; Christianity not chargeable with, 815; took the
governor by sui-prise, 815 ; general alarm
produced
by, 816.
men at
officers
and
tam;
Masulipatam,
its
Mutiny,
Napier, General,
feated by Sir Colin Campbell, iii. 664; Luckattacked ami taken from the mutineers, 670; subsequent operations against
the mutineers; 674; o]ii'nitinns against
the :nutineers at Azinigliur, in the
vicinity of Arrah, and in Rohilcund, 675
suppression of the mutiny in Central
India, 677; the go vernor-general's proclamation in relation to the mutineers, and Lord
EUenborough's despatch relating to the
governor-general's proclamation, 689; proclamation of her majesty in relation to the
mutiny; its effects, 695; Sir Colin Campbell's
(now Lord Clyde) final operations against
the mutineers in Oude; final suppression of
the mutiny, 698.
Muttra, plmidered by Sultan Mahmood, i.
now
47.
i.
446;
slain, 452.
209.
in
Oude, 585; rising in Oude, 587; defeat of
the Oude nuitineers, 588; rising of the
Lucknow moll, 588; outbreak atSeetapoor,
589; atrocities perpetrated by the mutineers
583;
mutiny
themutineersattack (Jawaipoorand
endanger General Windham, but are de-
660,663;
his habits,
451.
Nabob
Nazir-ud-dln,
of Oude,
213.
iii.
home from
India,
i.
32.
on, 9
marshes
of, 701.
Nerayun Punt,
66
i.
67.
358.
native infantry,
561; total inadequacy of disbandment as a
his
original
529
death, 529.
Napier, Brigadier, at the sieg:e of Lucknow,
mider Sir Colin Campbell, iii. 672.
Narrain Row, the murder of, i. 256; the
widow of, carried off by Nana Fmiiavese,
punishment
iii.
Mahmood,
i.
of,
captured by Sultan
46,
Nana
Nana
Sahib,
who he
was,
iii.
iii.
68.
Newaz Khan,
iii.
373.
i.
196.
which he
rebel force,
tally
wounded
mordefeats, 617
in the assault on Delhi, 620;
;
iii.
184.
ii.
atNa-
gore, 498.
Brito, 709
misatisfactory
character of his administration. 823 state
of his dominions, iii. 28 British relations
with, during the administration of the
Marquis of Hastings, 120 ; influence of
INDEX.
734
OUDE
NIZAM
Nizam,
the,
Chandoo Lai
Nizam Khan.
See Sil-unchir.
Nizam-u-din, his treacherous designs against
his sovereign, i. 72 his massacre of the
Mogul mercenaries in Keikobad's army,
;
73.
iii.
475.
iii.
44.
the,
Nouehal
Sing,
203.
147.
iii.
369
appointed by Sir Willoughby
Cotton to tranquillize the Gliiljie country,
369 his account of the atrocious government of Prince Timour, heir-apparent of
Shah Shujah, 370 his suppression of tlie
oppressions exercised by Shah Shujah's
his conduct towards Shah
officials, 371
Shujah's officials approved by Sir Willoughby Cotton, 372 his conduct towards
Shah Shujah's olBcials condemned by Sir
William Macnaghten and the governorgeneral, 372 deprecates the withdrawal of
any part of the garrison of Candahar, 375;
;
Maidan, 452.
Nowshera, a sepoy mutiny at, iii. 576.
Nuazish Mahomed, his dissatisfaction at the
power possessed by Surajah Dowlah, i.
his victory at
531.
Oath, the,
iii.
374.
617.
682.
i.
i.
561
310
ap-
his
pointed to the office of dewan, ii.
antecedents, 310; his son made dewan,
311
his duplicity, 318 becomes accuser
of Hastings, 370; his private interview
with Colonel Monson, and appearance Ijefore the council, 370; apparent groimdlessness of his charge against Hastings, 373;
is charged with consi)iracy, 373 the majority of the council take part with him, 375
arrested on a charge of forgery, 376 application in favoiu- of, and Sir Elijah Irapey's reply, 377 the process against, superseded, and renewed, 378; the question.
;
Row to
oust, 225
i.
76.
by the
British,
iii.
at,
640.
iii.
Hyder
entrapped by Hyder Ali,
of,
captured by Shahab-u-
i.
57 ; besieged by Peer Mahomed
Jelian gir, 93.
Oojein, Holkar's victory over Scindia at, ii.
din,
744.
Verdy,
ii.
of,
470.
524
i.
;
756.
Orlich,
i.
544,
Hyder
applies to
of,
with the
entrenchment
Rohillas,
er's
139, 166.
ii.
Was
97.
ii.
of,
Meer
among
Burmese,
iii.
o.
431.
486.
ii.
ful treatment of the liegums of, ii. 541 Hastings accepts a jiresent from tlie nabob of,
546; state of affairs in, 670 tlie independence of, extinguished by the terms of the
treaty with Sadat Ali, 672 state of affairs
in,duruigthe governsorhip of Lord Mornington, 723 pretended wish of tlie nabob
of ,to abdicate, 723; proceedings
relation to
the wish of the nabob of, 724"; the nabob of,
retracts his wish, 725; determination of the
governor-general respecting, 725; remonstrances of the nabob of, 726; tlie governorgeneral treats his remonstrance as informal insult, 727 two courses submitted
to the nabob of, by the governor-general,
728 the answer of the nabob of. to the governor-general's propositions, 728 the governor-general's peremptory orders respecting his submission, 729 mission of the
governor-general's brother to Lucknow,
the capital of, 729 the submission of the
nabob of; one half of the territories of,
passes over to the Company, 730 a dis;
Nizamut,
Oude,
captures it, 669 Sir Cohn C'anii)bell having intrusted Lucknow to the command
of Sir Hope Grant, proceeds to clear other
parts of Oude of the rebels, 675 Sir Henry
;
735
INDEX.
PORTO NOVO
OUTRAM
OuAe,
^,
LugarJ sent to Azimghur against the rebels, iii. 675; a column sent under General
Walpole to clear the country towards
Arrah, 676; Lord Canning's C)ude proclamation, 689; Lord Ellenborough's despatch
respecting Lord Canning's proclamation,
kas,
iii.
20.
iii.
horrid
their plundering expeditions, 46
tortures inflicted by them on persons suspected of concealing property, 47; leaders
of, 47 ; their incursions into British territories, 50; their devastations, 51; encouraged by impmiity to renew their incursions, 51; timid counsels of the home authorities resijectmg, 51; lx)lder policy finally
adopted towards, by the Earl of Jloira, 52;
operations of the British against, 79; their
successive defeats by the British, 80; pursuit and defeat of Cheetoo's durra, 81; dispersion of the durras of Kureem Khan
and Wasil Mahomed, 82; fate of the
leaders of, 84.
Pirates, the Angria, i. 509; various expeditions sent against, for their suppression,
;
5.
Pattinson, Lieutenant Thomas, his distinguished bravery, iii 85 description of, 86.
Peacock, the jewelled, from Tippoo's golden
throne, ii. 705.
Pearce, Major, ii. 813.
Pechell, Mr., magistrate of Chittagong; the
letter he received from the Rajah of Ram-
137
iii.
ree,
heads an expedition
iii. 362;
against the Ghiljies, 369.
Outram, Colonel Sir James, the governorgeneral's instructions to, respecting (.)ude,
iii. 548; on his arrival in India from Persia,
he isappoin ted to the command of the Dinapoor and Cawnpoor divisions, and thus
supersedes Havelock, 647; reaches Dina-
Mahomed,
ii.
759.
511.
in
poor, 648; generously waives his right
favour of Havelock, 648 enters the Lucknow residency with Havelock, 655 his deBcription of the offensive operations of
;
besiegers
i.
151.
iii.
ings,
265.
walla,
ii.
140.
tempt to capture,
506.
ii.
SanJracottus, i. 33.
Palmer, Colonel, at Ghuznee,
iii.
437.
>*rlf"+QC! '
4-On
Oude,
u. 389.
Parsuram Thapa,
iii.
18.
to,
733;
ii.
Herat
at, seized,
of,
i.
23
iii.
324.
Portuguese,
Ormuz,
when the
latter
attacked
_
at the
299; state of affairs in the valley of,
642.
British,
iii.
608.
Poets,
Police
u.
106.
519.
Philosophers,
Poonah,
179.
lore,
throw of
Palms
i.
5'J3.
iii.
Paget,
Mr.,
694
Pigot,
264.
resemblance
the
between
121.
ii. 390;
pointed again governor of Ma*lras,
prepares to restore the Rajah of Tanjore,
vio391; restores the Rajah of Tanjore, 392;
lent dissension bttween him and the majois arrested
U
of
comic
Mailras,3y4;
the
of
rity
Poonmdhur, conference
at,
between the
151.
of, u. 491.
INDEX.
736
RAJPOOTS
PORTUGAL
Portugal, the zeal of
some
Portuguese, the,
the P(u-tuguese, i.l87 defeat of the Gujerat
fleet off Choul, 188: expedition against Diu,
and its faUiu-e, 188; alliance of Baliadur,
King of Gujerat, with the Portuguese; his
death, 189; a Turkish expedition against
the Portuguese in Gujerat, 189; the Portuguese besieged in Diu, their lieroic defence,
190; the siege of Diu raised attempt to
poison the garrison, 191 the Portuguese
again besieged in Diu, 191; Diu relieved by
De Castro, 192 De Castro's ostentatious
celebration of the victory his character
combination of native
and deatli, 193
princes against the Portuguese, 193 formidable attack on Goa by Ally AtUl Shah;
its failure, 194; causes of the decline of
Columbus
offers
services
his
152
to,
of,
153.
Gujerat
pilot,
visit to
De Gama
departs,
on shore, 160; De
and traffic commences.
161; the zamorin becomes hostile to the
Portuguese, and sets a guard over tlie
but
is
Gama
forcibly detained
is
released
Portuguese factory,
162;
De Gama
16ii
tljither,
made
the
to
Gama,
retali-
162
De Gama is attacked by the
zamorin's fleet, and sails for Portugal, 163;
the second Portuguese expecUtion to India,
commanded by Peilro Alvarez Cabral, 163;
the expedition encounters a storm off the
Cape of Good Hope, 163; Cabral arrives at
Calicut and has an interview with the
zamorin, 164; mutual distrust between the
zamorin and the Portuguese, 164; Moorish
intrigues against the Portuguese, 165; the
Portuguese factory stormed by the Moors,
165
Cabral bombards Calicut, 166 the
Portuguese make peace with the Rajah
ates,
169;
De Gama's new
title;
his cap-
De Gama's
tacked Cochin, is defeated by the Portuguese under Alfonso Albuquerque, 172; the
Albuquerques sail for Em'ope, 172; the
zamorin forms a coalition against the
Portuguese, 172 the heroism of Duarte
Pacheco in defence of Cochin; his fate,
173; Lope S'larez supersedes Duarte Paan
checo, and defeats the zamorin, 173
armament is sent out under the command
of Don Francisco Almeida, 174
native
combination against tlie Portuguese, 175
the Sultan of Egypt joins the combination
against the Portuguese, 175; intrigues
of the Venetians against the Portuguese,
176; an Egyptian fleet fitted out and sent
to India tn ojipose the Portuguese, 17i>;
encounters between the hostile fleets, 176;
heroism and death of Almeida's son
Lorenzo, 177;AlfonsoAlbui]uerque returns
to India, and wages war in the Persian
Gulf, 178; Allnupieniue attacks Ormuz, the
Persians submit, 179; Almeida sets out to
Almeida destroys
avenge his son, 179
Dabul, and defeats the Turkish and
Gujerat fleets, 180; refuses to resign the
;
Punjab, the,
tion, iii. 506; barbarous murder of Mr. Agnewaiid Lieutenant Andersun at Mooltau,
507 Moolraj in open rebelliun, 508 decision to move a military force against Mooltan, 509; military operations of Lieutenant
Edwardes, 509; successes of Lieutenant
Edwardes, and captm-e of Dera Gliazee
Klian, 510 auxiliary force of the Klian
Bhawidpoor, 510 battle of Kineyree, 511 ;
;
572;
Punjnud,
the,
i.
57.
Pureshram Bhow,
iii. 482.
463, 604, 713.
of,
ii.
his minister,
iii.
68.
at,
Salsette, 362.
Q.
30.
354.
iii.
cund,
ii.
R.
768.
ii.
killed at Cabool,
Raban, Lieiitenant,
iii. 8.
iii. 45
preparations of the British to suppress it, 62.
Prescription, its force among the Hindoos,
97.
made governor
in the Mysore,
ii.
174.
405.
iii.
157.
Ragobah
or
534.
Property in land,
among
the Hindoos,
ii.
90.
Prophecy,
a,
205
thi-eatening aspect of affairs in, 486 rapid succession of rulers
Lahore, 486 Sir Henry
reference
Hardinge's cautious conduct
to, 487 a Sikh army from, invades British
territory proclamation of the governorgeneral, 487; battle of Moodkee, 488 battle
of Ferozeshah, 490 battle of Aliwal, 492
battle of Sobraon, 495; submission of the
Sikhs; end of the first Sikh war, 498; lowering of a new storm in, 505 resignation of
Moolraj, the dewan, 506 new dewan apfanatic
in,
iii.
Iiointed;
Ragojee Bhonsia, sends Bosker Punt to invade Bengal, i. 524 his contention with
;
Mahometan
escapes, 454.
Rajamahal.
i.
586.
Rajbullub, through whom the quarrel between the British resident in Bengal and
of,
iii.
i.
53;
532.
distm-bances
in, 177.
principalities among, 57
tish relations with, 222.
state of,
and Bri-
INDEX.
737
RAJ-PORA
SALE
Ram
Ram
23.
i.
Bux,
700.
iii.
who invades
and
is defeated by Ala-u-din,
the Deccan, i. 7tJ.
objections, 261.
Restoration, the,
the Mysore,
Company,
iii.
CJhandra, Vishnu appears as, to destroy the giant Ravana, ii. 29.
Ranianujyias, the,
ii.
ii.
Hugh
Ramchundur Waugh,
4til
15
69.
iii.
captured, 16.
Ramniohuii Roy, sent by the King of Delhi
as his agent to England, iii. 211.
Ramuarain, Olive's interference in behalf of,
i. 649; his visit to Olive, liSO; qnarrelsabout;
shamefully sacrificed by Mr. Vausittart, 672.
Ramnuggur, the battle of, iii. 520.
Ramoo, the British repulsed at, iii. 148.
Ramram Sing, the treatment of the Vjrother
iii.
128
ii.
a Hindoo poem
the,
meribs
of, 131
pelled to abdicate, 9.
of Bunlwan, her petition to the Bengal council, ii. 367.
Ranee of Jhansi, leader of the rebel sepoys,
defeated at Gwalior, iii. 684.
Rangoon, Oaptain Canning sent on a mission to, iii. 135 embargo laid on the British vessels at, 136 a British fleet arrives
at, 144
captm-e of, 145 the stockatles of,
145; the Golden pagoda of, 146; operations
of the British in the vicinity of, 148 Commodore Lambert sent to, 530 military
operations against, 533 position of New,
534 capture of its pagoda, 534.
Ranier, Admiral, a crotchet of his prevents
Lord M(jrnington's intended expedition to
Ranee
of,
ii.
54.
triad
of,
22
iii.
Vol. III.
Sahib, placed
rebels,
684.
tion, 46
Indian
of
iii.
in,
changes
idolatries, 21
36;
traffic, 144.
monstrous
Alexanih-ia,
5.
Rumi,
309.
s.
Raughurs,
iii.
his early training, iii. 273 assumes the government, 274 his acquisitions, 275 his
designs on Afghanistan, 277; his treatment
of Shah Shujah, 277
extorts the Koh-inoor from Sliah Shujali, 278 failure of
his expedition to Cashmere, 278; Exu-opean
discipline introduced into his army, 279
his successful policy in causing Dost Mahomed's camp to be deserted, 292 tripartite treaty between Shah Shujah, the British, and, 327 his interview with the governor-general as related by Havelock, 338;
ominous incident to, on the day of his interview with the govenior-general, 339 his
golden throne, 339, iiute comiter- visit of
409.
Rath
Company committed
Runjeet Sing,
its subject,
Sir
679.
i.
Ramyana,
iii.
Rose,
Rice,
slain, 462.
348.
i.
Rhoodamow, the
69.
70.
on the East
Rama
Ramchunder Gunnesh,
effects
Reynell, General
iii.
Raniawat.s, the,
its
iii.
Ramanuja and
relief of
effects a
Row
at
579.
Rumbold,
Rung Ram,
ii.
305.
Saivas, tlie,
Saktas, the,
ii.
74.
ii.
77
78.
Saktis, or
Hindoo female
divinities,
ii.
23.
iii.
Burmah,
165;
289
INDEX.
738
SERVICE
SALE
Sale and purchase
the Hindoos,
among
ii.
98.
arm and
leg, t>22.
504.
106.
i.
King of the
Sandracottus,
and
ter,
33.
i.
by
Sankhya school
Sanscrit,
126
ii.
ii.
608.
matics, 123
arithmetic, 124
other branches
algebra, 125;
of, 125.
Scinde, conquered by
Mahomed
136
834
Casim,
i.
40
Lord Minto
Ameers,
468;
ments
of,
Samarcand,
Baber,
commences
Salsette, coveted
iii.
Dowlut Row,
Jeswunt Row Holkar at Poonah, ii. 745
desires to form a Mahratta confederacy
Scindia,
confederacy between, and Ragojee Bhonsla not real; General WeUesley attacks
his troops, 769 Gawilghiu- captured from,
770; termination of the war with, 771;
cession of territory matle by, to the British, 771 his sympathies with Holkar, 796;
shows decided leanings to Holkar, 798;
his detention of the British resident, 798
his arrogant letter to the governor-general,
and the governor-general's reply, 798 his
hostile intentions frustrated by the peace
of Bhurtpoor, 799 his connections with
Holkar, 800; he and Holkar flee before
General Lake, 800; Sir George Barlow
concludes a treaty with, 807
protests
;
Mama
Mama
Mama
Mama
658.
366;
i.
special jirivileges
371.
Scott, Colonel, British resident in Oude, ii.
the NaboV) of Oude professes to,
723
his desire to abdicate, 724 the governor;
641.
Secundra, Akber's
tomb
at,
140.
i.
.Sedaseer,
694.
ii.
Seer, the,
352.
iii.
of, established by
the East India Company as the rule of
succession to offices, i. 330.
Sepoys, the first, i. 137 dress of those belonging to Tippoo's regular iuf antry, ii. 698,
note; causes of the mutiny among, at Vellore, 813 complaints of those destined for
Burmah, iii. 157; open mutiny among those
destined for Burmah, 158; supju-ession of
the mutiny among thnse ilestiuril for Burmah, 160; true causes of tins mutiny among,
Itil
spirit of insubordination among, 162 ;
mutinous sjiirit among, atShikarpoor, 503;
mutinous spii'it of, at tlie beginning of the
great mutiny, 553; ca\iscs of the iimtinous
spirit among, 554 make the greased caitridges a pretext for disobedience, 556
:
massacre perpetrated
by,
near Aurunga-
at Fyzal>a<l, and
by, at Begumguuge,
590 perilous ciJiidition Lucknow is placecl
in by, 590 Sir Henry Lawrence ])roceeds
to Chinhut against, 591 Lucknow blockaded by, 593 mutiny among, at Cawnpoor,
593 Cawnpoor besieged by, 594; surrender
of Cawnpoor to, 594; atrocities perpetrated
by, at Cawnpoor, 596 measures of the government .vgainst, 597; besieged in Delhi;
Delhi captured from, 599 'see Ihlhi); the
British besieged by, in Lucknow, 627 (see
Lnekiioii); Havelock's repeated defeats of,
633 (see Ha relcclc); uaitiny among, at Dinapoor, 644 defeated at Arrah, 646 General
Windham threatened by, in Cawnpoor,
664 General Windham defeated by, 6li5
defeated by Sir Colin Campbell, 667 Sir
Colin Campbell's operations against, 669
(see CampheU, Sir Colin); Lucknow captured from, 671 final operations against,
till they are driven out, or utterly annihibail, 589; prciceediiiKS of,
massacre periietrated
;
lated, 675.
Sera, Hyder Ali
ii.
507.
INDEX.
'39
SESOSTRIS
SITARAM
wards Oude,
Seton,
i.
Shazada, the,
20.
069.
Mr., British resi<lent at Delhi,
to-
iii.
narrow escape,
Hyderabad, 834
832
ii.
;
liis
sent as envoy to
281.
iii.
i.
capital,
i.
693.
iii.
Shah Alum
289.
iii.
212.
ii.
chief,
war
768.
Shapland Colonel,
iii.
147.
i.
329.
junction
of,
his sulimission,
680
treaty with, 690; projects of, for regaining Delhi, ii. 295" final parting between,
;
11.18.
Khan Sur, the opponent of Hoomayoon, besieges Chunar and defeats Hoomayoon, i. 114; possesses liimself of the throne
Sheer
of Delhi. 116.
'
by the mutineers at
Row
Shere
Chenab,
521.
ii.
309;
charges against,
and expediency of
Shumsooden, an Afghan
General Nott,
iii.
528.
451.
76.
Rangoon,
iii.
146.
i.
341.
harbour,
579.
fleet in
iii.
Mogul
Bom-
327; his
attempt on Bom-
(a dervis),
i.
bay, 331.
Siddy
MoUah
sanctity
the
of his sovereign,
life
liay
Amboor, by Hyder
i.
chief, defeated by
Siege,
i.622;
i.
75.
of Candahar, by Hoomayoon,
Merta, by Akber, 126; of Chittoor,
of Alimednuggur, by
130;
liy Akber,
Akber, 138; of Goa, by Albuquerque, 182;
of Goa, by Kumal Khan, 183; of Diu, by
the Turks and Gujeratees, 190; of Candahar, by Shah Alilias, 285; of (Jingee, by the
son of Aurungzelie, 306; of Madras, by the
French, 415; of Pondicherry, liy the Britisli,
425; of Trichinopoly, by tlie Mahrattas,
432; of Devicotta, by the Briti.-;h. 438; of
458.
Trichinopoly, by Chunda Sahili,
471, 488. 492; of Arcot. by the British, 401;
of C'hingleput and Covelong, 483. 485; of
of
Calcutta, by Surajah Dowlah, 538
t'liundeniagore, by the British, 563; of Fort
St. David, by the French, 596; of Tanjore,
by the French, 602; of Madras, by the
French, 606; of Masulipatam, by the
British, 614; of Waudiwash, by the British,
yoon, 114;
tlie
Sevajee,
and
118; of
ion, 528.
i.
144.
iii.
Mahomed,
carried
iii.
Herat
his aus-
pices, 321.
sam,
iii.
206.
Row Gliatka,
809.
Sitaram, lirotlier of
gram, ii. 470.
Sirjee
fate,
ii.
INDEX.
740
SITARAM
TELLICHERRY
iii.
36.
546.
Indian
quoted,
Official,
i.
589, 590,
290,
TWte.
difficulties,
Soma
or Chandra,
ii.
36.
of,
by
Sultan
Mahmood,
i.
Lord Ellenborough's proclamation respecting the gates of the temple of, 459,
Sookur Chukea, a Sikh, iii. 270.
Sooraj Mai, grandson of Chooraman,
227.
and
fate,
iii.
108.
100.
;
472.
403.
u. 523.
Tambi,
St.
ii.
Lubin,
to Poonah, ii. 441.
Standards of Tippoo Sultan,
101.
605-607,
and
first at-
771.
ii.
35.
the,
123.
ii.
199.
iii.
Swartz, the missionary, requested to undertake a mission to Hyder Ali, ii. 474 his
reasons for complying, 475 his interviews
with Hyder, 476 his surprise at Colonel
Fidlartou's retiring from his couiiuests,
;
of,
im-
Maflras, 433.
Suffrein, Admiral,
500
524.
pleix.
i.
482.
iii.
Novo,
500 has another engagement with Admiral Hughes, 502 further engagements
with Admiral Hughes, 504 joineil by M.
Bussey, 511 has another engagement with
i.
liis
T.
Admiral Hughes
second battle
at, 497.
try,
ii.
405.
502.
ii.
289,
i.
and
note.
Sugwant Singh,
iii.
274.
ii.
note.
i.
141.
St.
ii.
Anjengaom,
Smya,
William Bentinck,
ii.
Siu-jee
Surya Sidhanta,
679.
pillaged
;
Mundisore,
316
i.
Sevajee,
liy
his
Speke, the heroism of young, i. 565
affecting death, 566 captain, 567.
Spice Islands, the East India Company attempt to trade with the, i. 242.
Spiers, Colonel, resident at Gwalior, iii.
Surat, pillaged
368.
iii.
784.
ii.
Surajah Dowlah,
the conspiracy against, i. 569 defeated at
Plassey, he prepares for flight, 581 flight
and captm-e of, 586 his death, 587.
518.
i.
Stirling.
of Oude,
justifiable, 97.
Tamerlane, or Timour Beg, his origin, appearance in India, and conquest of Moolhis grandson, i. 94 his devastations
in India, 94 lays siege to, and sacks Del-
tanby
714.
of,
i.
537.
ii.
361.
Hugh
shah, 492.
Tellicherry,
Hyder,
ii.
successfully defended
499.
against
INDEX.
741
TEMPERANCE
VAISHNAVA
i.
68.
and
abolish,
dis-
ii.
838.
150.
Thomas'
doostan, referred
89.
i.
to,
Thompson, Captain,
200.
Thornliill,
in the
wounded
i.
133,
339, note.
190;
their procedure, 191 regular training of
children of, to thuggee, 192 Brahmins and
officials interested in thuggee, 193 ; proorigin,
ii.
Tippoo's
golden
Tinnevelly, expedition
to,
i.
454.
228
Nizam
All's treaty with, 580 his forced and barbarous conversions in Malabar, 582 his
impiety punished, 583 his intrigues -ivlth
the French, 583 his designs on Travancore, 584 his attack on the lines of Travancore defeated, 584 his rage at being
frustrated, 585; a triple league formed
against, by Lord Comwallis, 585 his lying
account of his attack on the lines of Travancore, 587; his barbarous proceedings
;
and
pacific professions, 588 military preparations agahist, 588; plan of the cam;
paign
and
ii.
Timour, Prince, heir-apparent of Shah Shujah his atrocious government, iii. 371.
years old,
i.
chief,
invades Hin-
82.
tin-one,
Tippoo Sultan,
Comwalh.s, ii. 597; Bangalore captured in
presence of his whole army, 599 retreat
and pursuit of, 599 his brutal treatment
i.
88.
Towns, Hindoo,
173
ii.
the inhabitants
of,
174.
Tra<le,
Hindoo,
166.
ii.
ii.
58;
i.
41.
837.
of,
582.
of,
relating to IncUa,
208.
Trees of India,
10.
ii.
Triad,
nar, 106.
of,
203.
ii.
Tyre, i. 24.
Tyssen's, Mr., depositions on the charge of
bribery against the Company, i. 363.
Tytler, Colonel Frazer, iii. 634.
u.
Tirai,
iii.
18.
and
slain, 70.
iii.
1S7.
in,
iii.
574.
the, trailing
to India, i. 381.
Upton, Colonel, plenipotentiary to Poonah,
instructions to, ii. 406; conference between,
and the Mahratta ministers at Poorundhur, 407 treaty matle by, with the Mahrattas 407
Usbeks,'the, Baber defeated by, i. 108; revolt of, against Akber, 127
campaign
against, 128 ; suppression of the revolt of,
:
129.
V.
Row
driven out
of,
iii.
Vaishnava
INDEX.
'42
VAISYA
WILSON
Wahab, Major,
cutta, 674.
Vaughau, Captain.andhisbrother.murdered
by the Mahrattas, iii. 67.
Vedanta school of philosophy, the, ii. 114;
nature of the soul according to, 115 view
Vedas, the,
i.
16;
676.
16; earliest
ii.
poems
attempt against,
the, i. 10 ;
great variety of, ii. 156.
Vellore, in want of provisions, ii. 495 critical
state of, relieved by Coote, 497 provisions
thrown into, 499 a curious device for provisioning, 504 the mutiny in, 811 indiscriminate massacre of Europeans in, 811 ;
suppression of the mutiny in, 812; members
of Tippoo's family implicated in the mutiny, 812; punishment of the mutineers,
812
real
origin of the mutiny in, 813
causes of the mutiny, 814 Christianity not
chargeable with the mutiny, 815 the mutiny in, took the garrison by suriJrise, 815
;
515.
War, laws
changes
army on march. 111
in,
816.
Venetian argosy,
AVasil
459.
commis-
of,
i.
548,
Nabob of
of his death
Bengal, 562
at Salsette,
ii.
singular
manner
34.
proclamation, 697.
Victory, the Tower
at Chittoor,
of,
300,
i.
ii.
718.
Duke
ii.
of
696, 702;
of, 172.
brutalities,
mand
583.
Webb, Mr.,
and
his flight
chund,
ascertains the
niite.
on,
iii.
209
210.
Visajee Kishen,
Visajee Pundit, engaged to attack Hyder
Ali, ii. 228 the crafty proceedings of, 230.
Vishnu, the famous image of, at .'^eringham.
i.45S; second person in the Hindon triad,
ii. 23
supremacy claimed for, 24 legend
in support of the supremacy claimed for,
24 the heaven of, 25 the avatars of first
avatarof, 25; second avatar of, 26; tliird and
fourth avatars of, 27; fifth and sixth avatars of, 28
seventh avatar o&, 29 eighth
avatar of, 30; ninth avatar of, 31.
Vizianagram, the treatment of the ra.iah
of, by the government of Matlraa, ii. 470.
Vizier Ali, supposed son of Azoff-u-Dowlah,
raised to the musuud, but afterwards deposed, ii. 670.
Vizier Mahomed, Nabob of Bhopaul, iii. 42.
Volconda, the Madras presidency send an
expedition against, i. 456; defeat of the exsurrender of,
pedition sent against, 457
to the British, 477.
Von Orlich's Travels in India, quoted, ii.
ii.
296.
139, 166.
w.
to give .Scindia battle, 751; gains the victory of Assaye, 752; Scinilia concludes a
truce witli, 754; prepares for operations in
other parts of India, 755; his operations
in Gujerat, 755; attacks the Mahrattas
on their violation of the truce, 769; defeats
the Mahrattas at Argaon, 770; captures
Gawilghur. 770 terminates the war, 771
is invested with the order of the Bath,
his opinion (when Duke of Welling772
ton) of the Madras mutiny, 845; his prophecy in reference to Cabool, iii. 363.
;
and preparations against Tippoo, 682; objection of the council of Madras to his
plans, 684; his negotiations with the Nizam,
684; his treaty with the Nizam, 685; his negotiations with the Mahrattas. 687 his attempt to arrange amicably withTippoo, 687;
his letter to Tippoo, 688; Tippoo's answer to
his letter, 689; his rejoinder to Tippoo, 690;
close of his correspondence with Tippoo,
690; his manifesto, 691
appoints a commission for the settlement of the government of the ]\Iysore, 707 article ui his
instructions respecting the zenana, 708;
draft of the partition treaty of Mysore,
determines the succession to the
708;
his arbitrary
rajahship of Tanjore, 716
716
arrangement respecting Surat,
his
mea.sures towards the Nabob of
his measures towards the
Arcot, 719
;
Wade,
Wagars
of
Okamandal,
the,
iii.
117.
i.
295,
and
Damaum,
362, note.
403.
delivered
i.
camp, 112
107
111
sariat, 112.
of,
in the
i.
of,
128.
i.
545.
iii.
iii.
153.
iii.
ii.
457.
Bombay,
iii.
202.
Wheeler, Sir Hugh, his position at Cawnpoor, iii. 586; his entrenchment at C!awnpoor, 594; besieged in Cawnpoiu' by Nana
Sahib, 595; capitulates to the rebels, 596;
the atrocious massacre of the Europeans
on the capitulation by, 596.
Wheeler, Mr., aiipointed to India, ii. 428;
moves the confirmation of the restoration
of Mahomed Reza Khan, 430.
yVhish, General, ordered by the British resident of Lahore to advance on Mooltan,
iii. 513;
ailvances on Mooltan, 514; his
proclamation at Mooltan to the Sikh
rebels, 515.
Whitehill, Mr., governor of Madras, suspended, ii. 478 a bill of pains and penalties
;
against, 548.
iii.
Whitlock, General, sent by the Bombay presidency against the sepoy mutineers, iii.
677; his operations against the mutineers,
682.
ii.
427.
Wilkinson, Captain,
iii.
386.
ii. 157,
177,
212, 219, 225, 229, note; 282, vote; 605.
188,
India,
ii.
182.
escajje
from
Wilson, Colonel, left by Havelock at Cawnpoor in command of the garrison, iii. 651.
Wilson, Connnodore, defeats the Dutch in
the Bay of Bengal, i. 662.
Wilson, Professor, quoted as to the Nabobs
of the Carnatic, ii. 720 his History of British India, quoted, on the VeUore mutiny,
;
815.
INDEX.
743
WINDHAM
ZYN ADDEEN
386.
iii.
Aluf
666.
iii.
85.
i.
of,
of,
of
by the British,
iii.
91.
iii.
383.
406.
disaster .'sustained by, at Bangalore, 274; perilous position of, 274 blun;
19.
ii.
i.
545,
De Gama,
hostile to
ii.
Yogis, the,
ii.
75.
of,
campaign
on Masulipatam, i. 616.
Yu-Chi, a Scythian leader, invades India,
and becomes the founder of an Indo-Scythian dynasty, i. 34.
504.
conduct
40.
Yar
against, i. 135.
Yorke, Cajitain, his bravery in the assault
chief,
iii.
Wullee of Khooloom,
tish, 379.
becomes
nate.
Dost Mahomed,
222.
Y.
382.
756.
iii.
Kliatmandoo,
Rajrana of Kotah,
Zamorin,
273
Zalini Sing,
first
Mary, 160
mand,
GLAS:;0'.V: W. G. BL.VJIvIE
and
CO., PRINTF.rS,
of, 174.
iii.
Zemavm Shah,
ii.
833.
630.
a
settlement,
permanent,
adopted by Lord Cornwallis, ii. 631.
Zemindawer, an insurrection in, against
Zemindary
i.
79.
Zulfikar
Khan, i. 387.
Zyn Addeen, favourite nephew of AH Verdy
Khan,
VlLLAriCLD,
i.
527.
L'
ii'Ji.iii:iif^c">M-i