The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-21 00:00:00

THE SUN,

OVERLAND MAIL

INDIA AND CHINA.

We have received in anticipation of the Overland
Mail intelligence from the army of the Punjaub up
to the 3d, from Lahore and Moultan to the 4th, from
Calcutta to the 7th, and from Bombay to the 13th of
February.
Since the departure of the mail conveying to Eng-
land the news of the fall of Moultan, and giving some
4eeount of the disastrous affair of the 13th of January
at Chillian walla, on the left bank of the Jhelum, little
of moment had taken place as regards the army of
the Punjaub.
Our letters come down to the 3d of February, at
Which period Lord Gough was busily occupied in
fortifying his camp. Shere Singh's army was about
four miles distance from the Commander-in-Chief's
Camp. It was generally supposed in Lord Gough's
Camp that nothing would be done in the way of
offensive operations till the arrival of reinforcements
from Moultan and Lahore.
The conduct of the 14th Dragoons had been very
freely commented upon. The papers of the north-
West teem with letters on this painful subject; both
sides are advocated, but as great a mystery hangs
over the whole affair now as at the time of its occur.
okellee ; nothing short of a most searching inquiry into
la business will satisfy the public mind, to say
nothing of the wish on the part of the gallant officers
e°neerned to hare all doubts cleared up as to the
Cause of this alleged disgraceful movement.
Lieutenant Bowie, who had been taken in Pesha-
yur, arrived in Lord Gough's camp on his parole on
the 27th of January, being the bearer of some pro-
Posals from Shere Singh, but nothing had transpired
18 to their nature. It was understood, however, that
Lord Gough would hear of nothing but " uncondi-
tional surrender."
Little was known, with any degree of certainty,
regarding the movement of Dost Mahommed, or his
intentions. Rumour said that Shere Singh has been
joined by large bodies of Affghans, but this requires
confirmation ; another version was, that the Affghans
are still on the right bank of the Indus.
It is reported that the detachment of Affghans said
r° be in Shere Singh's camp is commanded by three
Europeans, formerly privates of her Majesty's 44th
iltegiment, who remained in Caubul, and became Ma-
ootnetans.
Major Lawrence had been allowed to join Mrs.
Lawrence, and they are said to be treated with great
ILindness by Chuttur Singh. The surrender of
force
and his garrison has placed a considerable
,orce at the disposal of Lord Gough, and no time was
1008 t After the Dewan's surrender in making prepara-
tiwris for the onward march. It was said that General
laish's force would have to take a fort called Chu-
te()
; on its way up, where Narain Singh was hold-
'6l.R' out. It was, however, expected to reach Lord
°ligh's camp on the 17th ult.
I,bAdditional details had been received from Moultan.
the
bodies of Agnew and Anderson were found near
buried
where they had fallen, and where they were
to-1:11!d at the time by Affghan merchants, according
rites of their country.
A portion of the Bombay column moved on the 2d
ILFebruary in progress to join Lord Gough's camp.
tale consists of her :Majesty's 60th Rifles, Bombay
I,oopean Regiment (Fusiliers), the 3d and 19th
olegitnents of Native Infantry, Major Blood's troop
t't Morse Artillery, and. 500 of the Sinde Horse.
40olraj accompanies this force as far as Ramnuggur,
Whence he will be sent to Lahore. Lieutenant
'lenry, of the 19th Regiment, and formerly aide-
cle-eatoP to Lord Falkland, has charge of the Dewan.
from
subjoin copious extracts from the papers.
Little
the Bombay Telegraph and Courier of the 17th ult.)
or no news of interest has been received from
itta army of the Punjaub since that sent home by the
B! overland mail. Lieutenant Herbert came into the
ritish camp on the 27th of January, and Lieutenant
pec4vie on the following day. The latter officer, it ap-
ho,ars, was the bearer of some proposals from Shere Singh
4t t their nature did not transpire, though it was under-
d;°,°(l Lord Gough would hear of nothing but " uncon-
r,",l°l4l surrender." These two officers, as well as other
~rr!3eners in the hands of the Seikhs, seem to have re
iel'red kind and considerate treatment. On the 31st of
4:otiary, working parties were formed, and a redoubt
gan to be thrown up in advance of the right face of the
tr,"141). By the last accounts several a tithe
e on this field work. A number of the
eoesars cavalry, on the look out for our camels
Ikt graze, came in contact on the 30th with a
tarty of Christie's Irregular Horse, under Lieutenant
chamberlain, who attacked them and put them to flight,
t:,ling sixteen and taking several prisoners. Lieu-
ei'aLot Christie himself was wounded, as well as some
nis men. " On the Ist," says a letter published by
Cour daily contemporary, " two squadrons of the Bth
ancers, two of the 14th Dragoons, a regiment of Light
Srcry, and four of Warner's guns, proceeded in the
esection of Goojerat, to bring in a convoy of some
iOO camel loads of provisions, and taking with them
ts 12 Seikh guns captured on the 13th ult., to be depo-
-4,11 at Ramnuggur. This detachment marched as far
L'ogrewalla, where they intended to have bivouacked,
Clmg taken no tents with them; but at that place
~(111- King, who was in command of the party, received
p:tter from Capt. Biddulph, who was in charge of the
orgy of camels, telling him that he wished for imme-
late
support, as the enemy were stated to have collected
Otis -"*gg force of cavalry in his neighbourhood for the
tea Pose of intercepting him. To this letter Col. King
o,,Panded by an immediate advance, and he has, I am
D:c to say, now returned bringing in the convoy in
ti,:'ect safety. This gives us an abundant and most
CelY sl of provisions, which will last us until
Gneral Whish's force join us about the 18th. Our new
tterld Elahee Bux is exerting himself much in obtaining
j4,_PPlies for our camp, thus proving the sincerity of his
kt'ections towards us. Chuttur Singh paid a visit to his
II:I.:8 camp soon after the action of the 13th, but it seems
hi:Zid not long remain there. The Delhi paper represents
as" incapacitated by personal infirmity from taking
to active part in the military operations," and says
0,4„t in consequence, he has " placed himself in
lijrge of the civil duties connected with the rebel-
orb," Mahomed Akram Khan, a son of Dost Mahomed
th,`'aubul, is reported to have been, for a considerable
pi", in the•Seikh camp. There have also been rumours
4,„Shere Singh having been joined by large bodies of
iteugans; but although wo have reason to believe that
tb (:osiderable number of troops from Caubul have made
14,44.1 appearance in the hill country beyond the Jhelum,
of Co not think authentic information has been received
ltiittrij portion of them having as yet crossed over to. the
)6,', wink of that river. The next fight with the Seikhs
th:11 effectually test the willingness of their Affghan
i';eOds to join and co-operate with them. The Delhi
gzette says:—
is mentioned in one of our letters, but as we see
- Confirmation of it in any other we give the report
eoct/ifera valeat, that this detachment of Affghans is
Oan:landed by three Europeans, formerly privates of her
ti .lesty's 44th Foot, who remained in Caubul at the
site of the evacuation, and became Mahometans. It is
qtular that in our frequent correspondence with Caubul,
env especially during the visit of Colonel Lawrence's
°Y to that capital for the purpose of bringing away
a4Lor those who might have remained, this fact should
liph.uave transpired long since, especially as Mr. Camp
,8 name has been frequently mentioned in connexion
it:ci the army of the Ameer. As it is added circum-
thratially, however, in the letter before us that these
an a individuals had actually visited Lieutenant Bowie,
cat,„ we presume this statement comes from him, we
th "°t reject its probability on the mere ground that
4se men have not hitherto been mentioned, especially
e° we consider that by abandoning Christianity for
a
th,,homatanism they became virtually identified with
IC People whom they joined, and so disappeared among
This e ntass."
he story wears an aspect of improbability ; but
•
tt Place it on record, and our readers can bestow on
What amount of credence they choose.
ny the last advices the weather at Chilianwalla
was very favourable ; the wounded were doing well ;
tlle troops generally were healthy, and the army
ras regaining its spirits after the disastrous triumph
clr which royal salutes were fired all over India.
'kin the last number of the Delhi Gazette we find
following
Reports have also been received that the Seikh
tliatier was bent on sending, or had actually sent, a
oft'O,,ng detchment of his troops down the right bank
Jhelum to meet the advancing Moultan foyce.
a
i 050 accounts may prove correct, and their probability
eo
lott ontenanced by the fact, mentioned in several army
tlepera. that the Seikh camp bad, to all appearance,. un-
DO-4,°fle a sensible diminution. At one time it was sup.
tro:kx this was owing to the detachment of a body of
Dr„uPs to attack Colonel Steinbach at Meerpoor; but the
vse.,
uce of a large body near Goojer
fatter at once." ' at may explain the
We think it scarcely probable that Shere Singh
Veo„ 1,
"1 weaken the force opposed to Lord Gough on
Jhelum in the hope of overthrowing the advancing
41.11rons under General Whish and Brigadier Dundas.
Ra
t
h
Only chance appears to have been rapidly to
er reinforcements, and strike another blow
ic?•,4lost the British force before General Whish could
441 the main army. From all accounts this chance
I.tos likely to be thrown away. Lord Gough, when
rlforced, will be strong enough to re-enact on the
ahl stets
the sanguinary scene of the Sobraon, the
‘ers
of
which stream were crowded with fugitive
triq beaten Seikbs, while its waves for the time ran
17118°n with their blood.
kl.ritelligence has been received to the effect that
)liaibr Lawrence, having been permitted to rejoin
family, had proceeded for that purpose to the
ds:t of Sukkoo, where Mrs. Lawrence and her chil-
sd4° were confined. The party, it is gratifying to
) tio continued to be treated with " much considera-
..rll, and kindness."
1,,,,,,re0ps have been ordered from Lahore to reinforce
,','Gough. Our Delhi contemporary says—
companies of her Majesty's 53d Foot marched
ora Lahore on the Ist of February for the camp of the
PE:lalander-in-Chief, and on the same day the two corn-
Itlt'es of her Majesty's 98th Foot that have been doing
frolri With the escoof the Governor. General marche
14 Perozepore in progress to Lahore. Ord d
oers were
jaatted to the 17th Irregular Cavalry (Liptrott's) to

proccee. in the same direction, in censequtnce et Cap”,ie
Quin 's corps (the 1-it,!.) hyving been directed o march
,roads the head-quarters camp. Her iVlajt-sty',3 98th
Foot had been halted near Loodianah on account of its
being deemed advisable to commit tremure to their
care."

The last mail conveyed to England the gratifying
intelligence of the unconditional surrender by Dewan
Aloolraj of the long and bravely defended citadel of
Moultan.

Arrangements having been made for the depar-
ture of General Whish's force to join Lord Gough,
the second brigade (Bengal), with the I 1 th Light
Cavalry, and some guns, moved towards Sirdarpore
on the 27th of January, en route to Ramnuggur
—the route being via Jhung and Chenout. This
brigade reached Ameerghur on the 28th, and
had arrived on the 31st at a place called Kumbheera,
within six marches of Jhung. General Whish was
with it. On the 30th the Ist brigade of the Bengal
column marched for Ramnuggur, leaving the 49th
Native Infantry and "Wheeler's Horse behind, to
form part of the garrison. Soon after wards the fol-
lowing Bombay troops left for Ramnuggur under
command of Brigadier (now Brigadier-General)
Dundas and Brigadier Capon :-3d troop, Horse
Artillery ; 2d company, Ist battalion, Artillery, with
No. 7 light field battery attached ; 2d Sinde Horse ;
Ist company Sappers and Miners; her Majesty's
60th Rifles ; the Ist Fusiliers ; and the 3d and 19th
Native Infantry. The troops which remain at
Moultan are, the 4th company, 2d battalion, Artil-
lery ; Ist and 2d companies, 4th battalion Golun-
dauze ; No. 5 light field battery ; the Ist Lancers ;
the 4th company Sappers and Miners ; the 4th and
9th Native infantry, and a division of the baggage
corps.
It is said that General Whish's force was to take
on its way up a fort called Chuneout, where Narain
Singh was holding out. Up to last night, however,
no intelligence had been received of the advancing
column having come in collision with the enemy.
The wounded and sick officers and men belonging
to the Bombay force left Moultan on the 27th ult. ;
and at the time of their departure consisted (accord
ing to the Bombay Times) of the following :
Wounded.—Captain T. Tapp, Captain H. D. H. Leith,
and Lieutenant W. Gray, Ist Fusiliers; Lieutenants J.
Hill and J. A. Fuller, Engineers ; and Lieutenant W.
N. EO3 ett, 3d Native Infantry.
Sick.—Brevet Captain J. B. Woosnam and Lieutenant
D. M'Dougall, Artillery; and Ensign F. G. Steuart, 9th
Native Infantry.

EUROPEANS.
Commissariat Conductor ... 1
Artillery and Sappers and Miners ... 11

Her Majesty's 60th Rifles ...
Ist Fusiliers ••• . II
Total ...
NATIVES.

56
45
-113

Artillery ... ... ... ... ••• 9
Sappers and Miners
3d Native Infantry ••• ... ••• 9
4th Native Infantry (Rifles) ... ... 23
9th Native Infantry
19th Native Infantry ... ... ... 8
Total ... ... ... 68

Grand Total ...

One of the most solemn and interesting occur-
rences at Moultan, subsequent to the surrender, was
the reinterment of the bodies of Messrs. Agnew and
Anderson, whose murder, it may be remembered,
signalized the commencement of the insurrection.
The following account is from the pen of an officer
with the force :

" On the evening of the 26th, I joined in a very pleas-
ing, though melancholy ceremony. The burial place
of Mr. Agnew and Lieutenant Anderson had been
discovered, and it was determined to exhume the bo-
dies, and move them to the fort. The grave was
opened under the superintendence of one of their
most intimate friends, and the bodies were found to
be in a sufficient state of preservation to be identi-
fied. A carrying and funeral party, with the band of
Fusiliers, to which regiment Lieutenant Anderson for-
merly belonged, attended, with a large portion of the
officers in camp, and moved off from the Fedgah near
which the bodies had been found, at five o'clock, and
entering the fort by the breach, the coffins were depo-
sited in a grave which had been prepared in the highest
part of the fort. The chaplain was in attendance, and
read the funeral service in a most impressive manner.
The officers of the Fusiliers are anxious to show their
respect for their brother officer by the erection of a mo-
nument to his memory; and so are the assistants to the
Lahore Residency, by whom subscriptions have long
been made for the purpose; I suppose it will be done
conjointly. They appear to have been two men very
highly respected and esteemed."
Government have ordered an immediate report as
to how many European regiments the garrison of
Lahore can accommodate, as the army will have to
fall back in the hot weather on the capital. Brigadier
General Wheeler has also been ordered by Govern-
ment to proceed, via Deenanuggur, to the Com-
mander-in-Chief's camp, I hear, and he is to report
on the site of Deenanuggur for a cantonment.
It is said to be extremely unhealthy, from the over-
flowing of the great canal from April to October.
•

The Delhi Gazette states, on the authority of recent
communications, that Lieutenant Pearse, of the
Madras Artillery, had reached the Payloo-pass, with
1,500 men and six guns, in support of Lieutenant R.
Taylor, who was still at Lukkee, while Lieutenant
Pollock, with 2,000 men and five guns, had made six
marches to join him. Lieutenant J. Young, of the
Engineers, was to proceed to join the Bunnoo forces
on the Ist of February.
The annexed intelligence relative to the trans-
ference of certain Madras Regiments to this (the
Bombay) Presidency, in compliance with a requisi-
tion from our local Government, reached us on Thurs-
day, in an Athenceum Extra :
" We understand that in consequence of a requisition
from the Bombay Government for troops from this Pre-
sidency, the following regiments will be transferred.
"The 6th Native Infantry from Bellary to Kulladghee
or Dharwar, as may be decided on by the Bombay au-
thorities.

" Her Majesty's 94th from Cannanore to Sinde or
elsewhere at discretion.

" Four other regiments of Native Infantry, the corps
not yet decided upon, but supposed to be the sth Native
Infantry, 15th Native Infantry, 19th Native Infantry,
and 40th Native Infantry, will be made available for the
occupation of Bombay cantonments."
Should the Governor-General decide on garrison-
ing Aloultan, we presume the duty of holding that
fortress will fall on the Bombay troops. On this as-
sumption an increase of our available force will be
essentially necessary.

MO UL TAN.
(From the Bombay Times.)
Moultan provides almost the only event of moment
which has occurred since our last. 'We were then
able merely to state the fact of the garrison having
surrendered—we can now supply particulars. The
counterscarp having been blown in, as for
merly stated, on the 13th of January, tremen-
dous salvos of artillery continued to be hurled against
the works from a distance of some scores of yards; while
huge howitzers dashed shells bodily right into the walls;
and these bursting after burying themselves deep
amidst the brickwork or mud of which the defences
were composed, acted like so many mines, tearing off
vast fragments as they exploded. On the 20th two prac-
ticable breaches had been established, and the storming
parties had been told on. To the Bengalese that on the
southern side was assigned, while the Bombay troops
were to penetrate that on the north. The attack was to
have been made at daybreak on the 21st, but was coun-
termanded. A letter had been received from the Go-
vernor-General, authorising General Whish to assure
Moolraj of his life, and there was naturally every dis-
position to avoid the slaughter on both sides a storm
must have occasioned, however little doubt there might
be as to its results. On the 21st the order was re-issued;
it was to bo carried into effect on the following morning,
under the same arrangements as before. On the
evening of that day a messenger was seen issuing
from the gate, and making his way on foot to camp.
Ho was take❑ to the General's tent, and after an inter-
view of some duration returned on horseback. The
garrison had agreed to an unconditional surrender.
General Whish probably assuring them that their lives
would be spared, though no pledge to this effect could be
given. The troops were drawn up at daybreak on the
22d; they formed two long lines extending from the
Dowlut-gate. The street betwixt the living walls of
armed men was about 50 feet in breadth. They waited
some hours under heavy rain on their guard, in case of
treachery or surprise; when about 10 o'clock a messen-
ger appeared, intimating that the garrison were at hand.
First appeared about 200 ill-clothed miserable wretches,
who seemed broken and dispirited; then followed about
3,500 hard, trained, stern, and stalwarthy-looking men;
they had defended the fort to the last, and abandoned
it only when no longer tenable. They looked as if
they would have fought to the death in the breaches
if such had been the will of their chief. They
brought camels and horses and large bundles
of things along with them. These, together with
their arms, were placed in charge of the prize
agents as they passed. At last came Moolraj and
his brethren and chiefs—the last, as became him, in the
retirement. He was gorgeously attired in:silics and
splendid arms, and rode a magnificent Arab steed, with
a rich saddle-cloth of scarlet, which bore no marks of
suffering or privation. No small curiosity was expe-
rienced to discover the appearance of one who had main-
tained a defence obstinate and protracted beyond any
related in the annals of modern warfare. He but little
exceeded the middle size; was powerfully but elegantly
formed; his keen, dark, piercing, restless eyes, surveyed
at a glance everything around. He neither wore the
face of defiance or dejection, but moved along under the
general gaze as one conscious of having bravely done
his duty, and aware of being the object of universal re-
gard. He was taken to the General's tent, where he
gave up his sword; this is said to have been returned
him. He was now placed in charge of Lieutenant
Henry, of the 19th Bombay Native Infantry, who had
quitted the personal staff of the Governor of 13ombay, to
be present with his regiment at the scene of action.
Moolraj seems to have been actually adored by the
people, and no stronger evidence of this attachment and
fidelity can be given than that supplied by the fact
that though for a fortnight his defence was known
to be desperate—though hundreds wero being slaugh-
tered daily, and no result whatever could be looked for
but death or captivity—no one ever threatened to aban-
don him, or thought of betraying him. Ile wise spoken

LONDON

of by all in terms of the highest respect and deepest
attachtnent—as a man not more brave than he was ge-
nerous and just. It now became nec,sbary to separate
him from his brethren and chiefs, and the separation is
represented as having been most touching. There were
eighteen of these of higher rank than th rest, who had
been with him through all his adventures. They threw
themselves at his feet, and wept sore as they were parted
from him and might not hope to see his face any more.
Ile was placed under a strong guard some distance from
the town, in a fine country residence his father had
built. Writing materials were prohibited him, but
every attention was shown to his comfort in so far as
this was compatible with his safety. He declined seeing
his family—he had not beheld them for nearly a month
before; they had been placed for safety in an excavation
under ground, and he refused all intercourse with them,
as the sight of his mother, wife, and children, he said,
unmanned him, and disturbed him in the discharge of
his duties. It was not considered safe to retain him
longer than was indispensable in a neighbourhood where
there numberless dependents ready to incur any risk in
attempting his rescue, and he was accordingly ordered
to proceed with the force about to march up the line of
the Chenab in the direction of Ramnuggur, to turn of
as they approached the road leading to Lahore for the
camp of the Governor-General. Orders were now
given to the troops to prepare for their upward march—
the company 2d battalion Artillery, Ist and 2d compa-
nies 4th battalion Golundauze, No. 5 light field bat-
tery, the Ist Lancers, the 4th company Sappers and
Miners, the 4th and 9th Native Infantry, and a division
of the baggage corps to be left behind in charge of
the fort—the residue of the Bombay column to march by
the left bank of the Chenab under Brigadier-General
the Hon. H. Dundas, the Bengal troops under Major-
General Whish by the right. The wounded wore put
on board the Bees flat, to be towed by the steamers
down the river, and thence proceed to Bombay. The
battering train was sent into the fort, and the breaches
were ordered to built up. The troops now made their
way in numbers into the fort, and a scene of plunder is
said to have ensued in the last degree discreditable to
the discipline of the Bengal army. The details given
by our correspondents are too distressing to be dwelt
upon. The fort was completely separated from the
town. It was surrounded by a regular glacis, which in-
stead of eloping away to a point, was cut off short, ex-
hibiting a face of at least 18 feet in height. At the
base of the wall was a ditch 25 feet deep and 40 feet
wide; beyond this was the outer wall 50 feet from the
base of the ditch to the battlements. Within the fort,
and on a considerable elevation, was the citadel, in itself
of very great strength.
Of the general appearance of Moultan after it
passed into our hands, the annexed graphic descrip-
tion, from the correspondence of the Delhi Gazette,
affords perhaps the best idea that could be given :--
" Fort of Moultan, Jan. 25,1849.
" The day before yesterday Major Wheeler commenced
his researches for the reputed wealth contained within
these walls. He was accompanied on the occasion by an
old bedridden Mistree of Sawun Mull's time. Thus was
a clue obtained to the whereabouts of those vast subter-
ranean store-houses of which we have heard. The prin-
cipal of these were pointed out in the open ground within
the citadel, as also among the ruins of the explosion.
Some of these contain a large amount of silks, others ghee
and grain stored up in the lifetime of the late Dewan's fa-
ther. There is also a great collection of opium, indigo,
&c., worth a large sum of money. Two or three lees of
rupees wero blown up with the vast chaos of valuables;
when the rubbish shall have been cleared away from the
entrances of the Tykannahs, then we shall no doubt be
able to extricate many of the bales of shawls and silks.
In the mint a pretty good amount of silver and gold
coin was found. Moolraj's house and the neighbouring
Toshukhanah contained a great quantity, as also many
valuable swords, and rich property of every description.
The fort is reduced to such a heap of ruins that it will
-require many months to excavate and remove the fallen
houses; the site of the explosions is marked by a long
deep pit, around which buildings are piled on buildings,
scarcely one brick remains on another; corpses, carcases
of animals, and every description of property strew the
ground; the stench within the citadel is dreadful, there
must be hundreds of men buried in the rubbish. The
piles of huge stone shot have been hurled to a great dis-
tance, and the contents of large bomb-proofs showered
far and wide upon the occupants of the place. The
Bahawul Huk shrine is reduced to a mere wreck, but
that of Shah Rookn Alum has been more fortunate, it
has escaped with only a few,scars. It is a most massive
structure, and from its great height commands a beauti-
ful view of the surrounding country. On ascending two
winding-staircases the parapet is reached; thence may
be seen the snowy range, the winding course of the
Chenab, the numerous canals: gardens, and fields
which dot the far-spreading jungle ; even Jhung,
on a very clear day, is said to be visible.
Within the courtyard of this shrine there is a newly-
built range of bomb-proof barracks; in these some va•
luable property has been stowed away. Moolraj's house
appears to have been once a good substantial one;
it is now unroofed, and the walls are knocked to pieces
with our shells; he appears to have vacated it long ago.
There is a large garden with raised walks, which appear
to have been nicely laid out. Between this and the
before-mentioned tomb there is an enormous domed
magazine, surrounded by a dry ditch several feet deep;
a trench has been cut to communicate with it under-
ground, and the surface being closely packed with logs
of timber, a mine is suspected: double sentries have been
placed, as a precaution against accidents. The stables,
godowns, and arsenal are built in long ranges behind
the citadel wall; they are mostly protected by„.domed
roofs of considerable thickness; butt our-shells have pene-
trated them, and set fire to the contents; many dead and
wounded men, on charpoys, were found in them. In a
large timber-yard wheels for guns of all sizes, and
Durnbooruk saddles, newly mad*, are lying about in
great profusion. Further on, near the ramparts, are
two large brick furnaces for casting cannon; an earthen
mould of a very large one—intended to bo made—lies
close to them. The quantity of loose gunpowder in every
hole and corner is surprising; the largest collections are
those in the vicinity of the heaps of arms thrown away
by the garrison before making their exit. Camp fob,
lowers and others appear utterly regardless of danger,
for blazing fires of logs are met with at every turn.
Some small explosions have occurred, but no one has
been killed, though many have been seriously burnt.
The soil appears made of lead. Bullets strew the ground
like pebbles; the supply would have lasted for years bad
the garrison held out; cannon balls are equally common
from those stone ones of Brobdignagian proportion to
the Lilliputian for one-pounders; 39 cannon have been
counted, and four mortars (the largest of these has
been knocked off its rude carriage by our shot). There
is abundance of wall pieces of all sixes and lengths;
zumbooruks and muskets innumerable, with piles
of matchlocks of every weight and size. Talwars by
thousands, and heaps of wooden and leather accoutre-
ments for all the above weapons. I think Moultan is the
beau ideal of a Buneea's fort, or rather fortified shop.
Never, perhaps, in India have such depots existed of
merchandise and arms, amalgamated as they are with
avarice. Here opium, indigo, salt, sulphur, and every
known drug are heaped in endless profusion; there ap-
parently, ancient granaries in the bowels of the earth
disclose their huge hoards of wheat and rice; here
stacks of leathern ghee vessels, brimming with the
grease, fill the pucka receptacles below ground; there
silks and shawls revel in darkness, bales rise on bales;
here some Mammouth chest discovering glittering scab-
bards of gold and gems; there tiers of copper canisters
crammed with gold mohurs. My poor pen cannot de-
scribe the variety of wealth displayed to the inquisitive
eye. Tumbrils under strong guards have been moving
to and fro with gold coin all the day; it is said that
three or four crores are concealed in the fort; the place
is alone known to Moolraj, who may eventually make
such disclosures as would materially benefit his cause.
The Sappers are busily employed in filling up our
trenches and approaches. I think we have taught the
Moultanees how to take a fortress, and they will pro.
bably profit by the tuition should affairs ever allow it."
The Mahajuns and other inhabitants of Afoul= in
the first instance offered 15 lacs for the ransom of the
town, but this amount was refused, and the matter was
referred to the Governor General, by whose order a
committee was appointed, which fixed on 20 lacs as the
proper amount to be paid. The inhabitants, however,
now began to talk of " oppression," and refused to pay
the sum demanded.

The Governor-General has decided that the property
taken at Moultau is to go to the captors of the place as
Preparations bad been making some time beforehand for
the upward march of the troops. On the 27th of Jan-
uary the first portion of the Bengal force, under Briga-
dier Markham, of her Majesty's 32d, marched out. It
was composed of Anderson's troop Horse Artillery, the
11th Irregular Cavalry, her Majesty's 32d Foot, and the
51st and 72d Native Infantry. He reached Ameerghur
on the 28th, and halted at Sirdarpore, the place where
the Seikhs from Lioultan attacked them on their down-
ward march on the 16th of August, and where Shore
Singh first encamped on the 11th of October on his re-
tirement, on the 30th; they crossed the Havoc at its
junction with the Chenab on the 31st, and arrived within
six marches of Jhung, a large mercantile town near the
junction of the Chenab and Jhelum. They were from
this to push on to Ramnuggur, the place near which
the grand army lay encamped between the 20th of
November, when Lord Gough joined, and the 16th of
December. They were expected to reach this,
if all went well with them, by about the 18th of
February. On the 30th the second brigade, consisting
of Mackenzie's troop of Horse Artillery, 12 heavy guns,
the 11th Regular Cavalry, her Majesty's 10th Foot, and
the Bth and 51st Native Infantry, and commanded by
Brigadier Hervey, followed in the footsteps of the first.
On the 2d of February the Bombay column marched,
under command of the Brigadier 'General the Hon. H.
Dundas, with Colonel D. Capon as Brigadier. It con-
sisted of her Majesty's 60th Rifles, the Ist Bombay Ea-
ropean Fusiliers, the 3d and 19th Native Infantry, the
3.1 troop of Horse Artillery, the 2d company Ist Batta-
lion European Artillery, with No. 7 light field battery
attached, the Ist company of Sappers and Miners, and
500 of the 2d Sinde Horse—or in all about 2,200 Euro-
peans and 2,400 Natives, all in the ♦ery highest condi-
tion. They expected to reach Ramnuggur in 17 marches.
Liters of the 4th from their camp reached us last night,
at which date they were at Kotah, 25 miles north of
Moultan. The siege train had been sent into the
fort, and the breaches were ordered to be par-
tially repaired, Major Scott, of the Bombay En-
gineers, having been ordered to report on its condition,
to enable the Governor-General to decide whether it
should be razed to the ground, or repaired and garri-
soned. In the event of the latter being determined on,
5,000 men will be requisite for its defence. The troops
left behind are not above 2,609 in all. They are detailed
shave. The 7th Bengal Irregular Horse and 49th Na-
tive Infantry had been left behind to convey treasure to
Ferozepore and Lahore. Instead of appropriating the
booty found in the town, the inhabitants were allowed to
hold it to ransom for 200,0001.—they had ()filed
300,0001. to save it from sack when we first entered it.