The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-21 00:00:00

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

By the arrival of the above mail we have advises
from Bombay to July 24 ; Calcutta, July 18 ; and
Madras, July 18 :
The Friend of India congratulates Mr. Massey
on the extent to which the revenue from opium this
year has exceeded his estimate. " Bengal opium
alone (it says) has yielded 3,518,6001. in the past
'seven months, or 438,6001. more than his estimate.
There can be little doubt that he will receive from
this source alone, including Bombay, about a mil-
lion sterling more than he expected. The deduc-
tion from this is not-that farther wise taxation was
unnecessary, but that it is prudent to form a low
estimate of the revenue from a source so precarious,
in order that the surplus of a good year may be set
against the deficit of a bad one, and the variable
element be reduced to a minimum. Will he not
eliminate that element almost together by the
excise system 1"
The Calcutta Englishman of the 17th of July
says that the accounts from Orissa up to the sth
of July are of as satisfactory a nature as could be
expected. The large sales from the government
depots have had a beneficial effect upon the bazaars
in Dhamnuggur and Arm' the private supp'iee
have become larger, and are being sold at reduced
rates. Want of shelter, owing to tl•e inhabitants
being unable to afford the necessary repairs for
their huts, seems at presentto be the greatest cause
of suffering, as during the rainy season this
must cause great sickness and mortality. The
importations still going on in Jajipore and the
south east of Bhuddruck, are supposed to be
principally on private accounts, for laying in
supplies, and must soon cease. The river
had risen, and boats of light draft had begun to
' arrive • this had reduced the price of rice on the
' river bank to 10 seers 7 chateau per rupee. The
crops on the ground were all reported of as looking
well, and there was uo considerable increase in
mortality. As far as the season permitted light
labour was still going on. Camps capable of at-
commodating 2,000 persons had been prepared on
the Kendraparah Canal. Everything was reported
as satisfactory in Pooree. The weavers were
taking up the thread in large quantities to menu-
' facture into cloth, and there was no difficulty in
disposing of the cloth when made. The reports of
death from starvation at Pooree had not been
confirmed. The people were generally cheerful,
and were employed in clearing and cultivating
their rice lands.

We read in the Madras Athenaeum of the 18th ult.:
It is understocs: that the Rajah of Mysore is much dis-
satisfied with the decisions of Lord Crenborne and Sir
Stafford Northcote on his claims. His highness, we be-
lieve, contemplates asking for an increased stipend, and
fora definite promise of the reetonition of the province to
his adopted son.
The Times of India says that the situation of
affairs in Cabul and Affghaniatan continues much
the same as it has been for some time past—law
prolific of wars than of rumours of wars. It adds :
The advance of the ex-Ameer Shen All Khan, who was
' said a couple of months ago to be marching straight on to
easy and complete victory, owing to the disaffection of the
people in Cabul to the recogniami ruler Ansem Afoul
Khan, has been delayed in uence of disesemions in
his own camp. The Sirdar Fyz caned, his most trusty
and able general, refuses to do more than defend the
approaches to his own province of Balkh, except on con-
ditions which Sheri Ali seems unwilling at present to
entertain. Arrangements had thesefore been made
by the ex•Ameer to advance without his
though it is scarcely to be believed that trar:in
be so blind to his own interests as to let the dim-
greement beecene serious, as this would inevitably
secure the success of his rival, the present Ameer. Be-
tween Afoul Khan, too, and his able son Abdool Rahman
Khan there is at least a grave difference of opinion.
' Afoul Khan would fain summon his brother Azim Khan
to his aid from Oandahar: but his son is very averse to
this, Wing jealous of his made, who skims _thyme.
reignty before him. Meanwhile the Ammer Afoul Khan*"
troops are shut up in Jellalabad, Candaluir, Moines
and Cebu!, and surrounded, too, by hordes of head;
clansmen. It is said that about the middle of June,
the first division of Afoul Khan's force set out to oppose
Shen Ali's advance, and it is expected that the engage-
ment which appears inevitable between them will
be the signal for a general attack on the Ameer's
other positions. To complicate matters still more, the
Shah of Persia has lately been introduced as one who ma
yet seek to profit by these intestine struggles. Though
there is no proof that his Majesty has in my way aided
Shen Ali in his attempts to oust Afoul Khan, there are
good groands for suspecting that be has long been a close
and observant watcher of all that is taking plate in Ml-
ghanisten. The Shah has long been desirous of re-uniting
I to his dominions the province of Siestan, which lies to the
south-west of Herat, and which though now Heretic, was
formerly a province of Persia. He has recently undertaken
a royal pilgrimage to Meshed, for the ostensible purpose of
' worshipping at the holy places there ; but Meshed is •
favourable position for acquiring early information of the
events of the present struggle in northern Affghanistan.

" In our last suramary(says the Bombay Gazette)
Iwo had to chronicle the wreck of an outgoing
vessel, the Bombay, off the island of Caranjah,
land we have now to record the total loss of the ship
Tirzah, 1,446 tons, Captain Anderson commander,
off the dangerous coast of Alibaugh. Along this
coast many a goodly ship has come to grief, and last
year no fewer than six suffered shipwreck. The
dangers of the coast and the great sacrifices of pro-
,
perty last year and during previous monsoons
spurred a lethargic government up to the necessity
of erecting a lighthouse at Kennery Island which
had hitherto been a matter of mere and tedious
talk ; and accordingly the lighthouse was erected
last fair season, and was lighted a few weeks
before the break of the present monsoon.
The new light was notified through the usual
channels in England so far back as Novemoer
of last year, but notwithstanding this, scarcely a
vessel has reached Bombay whose officers have
known of its existence. The master of the Tirzah
mistook it for one of the old harbour lights, and
this mistake, and the stormy monsoon, completed
j the destruction of the ship, which went to pieces
I and disappeared in an incredibly brief space of
time. Out of the crew, numbering 91, 23 were
saved, most of them by the indomitable bravery of
Mr. Shuttleworth, deputy conservator of forests
at Alibaugh, whose courageous exertions last year
won fur him universal admiration. Eight of the crew
, are drowned. But that number does not measure
the extent of the catastrophe in connexion with the
ill-fated ship. When she was sighted from Bombay
as in danger two small government tug steamers
were got in readiness to proceed to the vessel,
having in tow the two lifeboats, each lifeboat being
manned with its full crew. The boats on their
way to the wreck capsized, and seven Chinamen
belonging to one of them were drowned, and the
other boat was disabled and rendered useless."

The captain, chief, and second officers of the
wrecked ship Bombay have had their certificates
suspended for twelve, six, and three months re-
spectively, and government been recommended
to dismiss the pilot in charge of the ship at the
time the casualty occurred.
The state of the public health in Bombay con-
tinues very satisfactory. A few cases of cholera
are reported to have occurred in her Majesty's
109th Regiment at Poona. Cholera is also re-
ported at Simla and Murree. There have been 265
admissions into the military hospital at Peshawur,
the deaths amounting to 160. The troops com-
prise Royal Artillery, her Majesty's 42nd High-
landers, and 77th Foot.
During the month of May 89,120,416 lbs. of
cotton of the aggregate value of 3,367,356/. were
shipped from Bombay.
Colonel Strachey, R.E., Director-General of Irri-
, ration, has written a minute to show that the
Sind Railway should not be extended until irri-
gation works have been provided.
The largest viaduct on the Bhore Ghaut Incline
has given way through faulty construction. Two
trains narrowly escaped being destroyed. Full
particulars of the occurrence will be found in an-
other column.
His Highness the Begum of Bhopal has requested
the government of India to forward to her Majesty
the Queen a pair of beautifully-jewelled fans valued
at 2,0001.