The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-18 00:00:00

CHINA.

We have news from China via Penang, dated
10th July, from Hong Kong, and Shanghai 28th
June ; the screw-steamer Lancefield had arrived.
Prices of opium at Hong Kong—Patna 321,
Benares 335, and Malwa 435. Rice—Manilla 2.20
dols., Arracan 2 dols. Exchange on London 4-9 i
to 4-81, and on Calcutta 220 to 218. At Shanghai,
Patna opium 263 ; exchange on London 6-4 to
6-4/, and Company's accepted bills 297 per 100 dols.

THE SANTHAL INSURRECTION.
The Calcutta Englishman prints a voluminous
collectionfof correspondence from various parts of
the disturbed district, but the accounts are singu-
larly confused and uncertain, as was almost inevit-
able under the circumstances of its collation. The
letters abound in accounts of the destruction of
numerous villages, and it is likely that, owing to
multiplied accounts of events really the same, the
extent of the insurrection is exaggerated. The
following is an extract from au official letter from
Mr. Toogood, magistrate of Moorshedabad, dated
Moheshpore, 15th July, 1855 :
I reached with the troops the village of Pulsa, said to
be distant about 12 miles from Cudumshar, yesterday,
at 5 p.m., but I am sorry to say the insurgents had left.
We had a most difficult and fatiguing march through
rice-fields and water, to a considerable height, until we
got upon the road made by the railway company for
the conveyance of materials required for its construction.
I went into several villages on the line of maroh, all of
which 'were burnt and plundered. The inhabitants bad
fled ; those who could not succeed in doing so were
killed, amongst them women and children, their bodies
presenting a frightful spectacle of the atrocities commit-
ted by 'these murderers.
On arriving at the village of Palma we found that the
whole of it had been looted, and the bungalows built by
the railway engineers, who nave made this a central
station, had been entirely destroyed, together with the
whole of their property. Correct information, however,
having been received of the rioters having gone to Mo-
bashpore, I requested Capt. Birch to proceed with all
baste to its protection. My requis;tion, notwithstanding
the long marches and dreadful weather, was readily
complied with, and at midnight 29 elephants of the Na-
wab wore loaded with about 200 sepoys, and we pro-
ceeded to this place, distant about six miles from Pulsa,
and arrived at dawn of day, and discovered the rioters
posted on the banks of a large tank, numbering about
4,000 to 5,000 men.
Our approach was somewhat sudden, in consequence
of our emerging from a cluster of mangoe trees ; still,
from the advanced guard of the rioters who retreated
from this grove, it was evident they were prepared for
us, and on drawing near they fired at us a large number
of arrows and some muskets:
I, in consequence of this determined opposition pre-
sented to us, and the opposing disposition evinced by the
two leaders, by name, I believe, Sedu and Kanoo,
deemed it my duty to call upon Capt. Birch, when with-
in about 30 yards, to fire on the insurgents, which the
sepoys immediately did ; and though they advanced
spon us, still in about ten minutes the main portion of
them were driven from the banks of the tank.
Several other attacks were made on us from different
parts of the village, and a determined opposition evinced,
which was at last successfully overcome, and in the space
of 21 hours we found ourselves masters of the village
and the large residence of Gopal Sing (the husband
of Janki Coomaree), which is built of masonry ; and at
last we succeeded in driving the rioters across the river
into the jungle, which is very thick on all sides of uq.
About 100 rioters are calculated to have been killed
in this encounter, and as many, if not more, wounded •
but I fear the ringleaders are not to be numbered with
the dead. Five sepoys have ales been slightly wounded
with arrows unpoisoned.
A very large amount of property has fallen into our
hands, consisting of palkees, a buggy, brass and copper
utensils, silks, cloths, and miscellaneous property (in-
cluding the weapons of the insurgents), which as yet I
have not been able to collect, but it averaged at about
4,000 Its. worth, besides Rs. 7,260 12 ans. in cash. 28
Santhals have been made prisoners.
I believe that nevertheless they have still succeeded
in carrying away much property. It is reported that a
groat quantity of dash was on two elephants of theirs,
which we were unable to capture. The jungle is so thick,
extending for miles on all sides, that they easily managed
to conceal themselves from our sight.
The continued marching we have had without food,
shelter, or change of clothes for days, will render it
necessary for us to halt here till to-morrow, if not longer.
The village, by name Bhugnadihee, in which is their
Thacoor, is situate about 40 miles from this, and it will
be my object to lead the troops to that place as soon as
possible, in the hopes of at once quelling the rioters,
who have been told by their Thacoor that water will
only come out of our muskets.
I am impressed with the idea that it will be necessary
to keep a military force in this part of the country for
some considerable time, and I would earnestly recom-
mend this measure to the notice of the Government.