The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

SINDE.

Sinde, like all our other provinces, has, during the past
month, been nearly barren of intelligence, the only tidings
supplied being corrections of information previously re-
ceived. We detailed at length in our last the unsuccessful
attempt of Colonel Stack against the Booghtie marauders,
supposed to have occupied a position, when he declined
attacking them, such as cavalry could not attempt with
the remotest ope of success. The inquiries instituted
subsequently to the misadventure brought out the singular
fact that the appearance of a sudden elevation and a mass of
irregular and difficult ground was an optical deception P
duced by the mirage of the desert. When the cavalry re.,
tired, the whole of the officers were unanimous as to the
appearance being a reality; and lied the impression been
correct, the justice of the conclusion would have been un-
questionable—that with 350 troopers, worn out by a 50 Miles.
forced march, to have attacked a body of 1,500 fresh, resolute,
and well-armed men, established as they were, would have
been madness. In reality, the enemy were defenceless, in
an open level plain, where they might have been cut to
pieces. The gallantry of the 3d Cavalry is well known;
and the courage, ability, and high integrity of Colonel
Stack have so long been notorious, that no imputation ex..
cepting that of having been deceived by an optical delusion
rests on the officers or their commander. These were the
only facts the court of inquiry ordered to investigate the
matter, under the supervision of General Hunter, were likely
to elicit. The award pronounced would depend on the view
taken of how far Colonel Stack and his officers were war-
ranted to act on the evidence of their own eyes—deceived in
this :case by an atmospheric illusion. Sir Charles Napier,
with his family, intended to quit Kurrachee about the pre-
sent date (31st January), on a trip to Hyderabad, to take a
last look of the battle-fields which won him all his laurels.
There were numberless rumours of changes and reductions/
in Sinde, but beyond what had appeared in general orders
nothing was known for certainty. The steamer Berenice was
under orders to leave for Bombay on the 30th with the head-
quarters of her Majesty's 86th Foot; three-fourths of the re-
giment have already reached Bombay. An unfortunate affair
had occurred about the 20th. A Sindian and a Beloochee pri-
soner having attempted to escape from an hospital tent, where
they were under medical treatment, were both shot by the
sentries on duty. The retiring troops had been highly
complimented in general orders by the Governor. No copy
of the paper itself has yet reached us. It is said to enter
into the general question of the policy, and especially into
the value, of the conquest, with other matters not usually
treated of in such documents. Should this prove true, it is
likely to furnish no small food for discussion. Accounts of
the strength and charges of the various irregular corps now
in existence, and likely to be maintained, in Sinde, lately
published in general orders, furnish further light on the ex-
penditure of the country, which lead to the inference that
the unfavourable balance exhibited in the Parliamentary
papers is greatly under the mark. There seems much reason
to believe that, after all the present teductions, a million and
a half sterling annually will not make good deficiencies.
Were this to come directly from the pockets of the people of
England instead of from those of the poverty-stricken culti-
vators of India, we should not long require to seek for
redress. The abandonment of Sinde would enable the
India Company to abolish the salt monopoly at once and
be gainers on the bargain, which would doubly relieve their
subjects. Why are Messrs. Aylwin, Stocqueler, and Co.,
silent on this ?
We subjoin a couple of communications, which, though
of old date, contain almost all the news we have received
during the past fortnight:—

"Sinde, Jan. 7, 1847.
" The Quartermaster-General's department to be reduced,
the police department to be curtailed, many brigade majo-
mies to be done away with, Queen's officers holding appoint-
ents in Belooch corps are to return to their regiments, and
a variety of heterogeneous situations to be abolished, and to
be spoken of as things that were.
" The 14th Regiment marched into Kurrachee on the 7th
instant. The 13th were duly reviewed by the Gallant
Officer commanding at Hyderabad, and the 18th were eagerly
expecting the same honour about the 6th inst. preparatory
to a pleasurable and enlivening trip to Shikarpore. The
4th Rifles are to have the benefit of sea air at Kurrachee
after their late residence in the North Sinde pandemonium.
The move is thought to be connected with the late raid, and
the 3d Regiment was at first spoken of as the one to relieve
the 4th. What can have induced the authorities to regard
the 18th Regiment with such undue partiality we cannot
guess. Since the corps entered Sinde one officer has died
and five have been obliged by sickness to leave the country.,
One year's residence at Gharra two summers at Hyderabad,
an expedition to Kusmore, in the middle of the hot season.
and a still greater infliction in the shape of a weary, wretched
rush up to Bahawulpoor, ought to be consitdjeenarnte;ldlaeo, ntudollsee4r; lore
three years' work."—Bombay Times, Jan. 16.
" Sinde is to be, to a consider‘a‘bBleindee;
troops. Only 5,000 men, exclusive of the local corps—viz"
the let and 2d Irregular Horse, the Ist and 2d Belooch
Battalions, the mounted and foot police and Fitzgerald's
Sinde a antdroopCuotcf
camel corps—are to garrisonprobably
othrecsoempoanney
or
fe gfionoite nat
m,
dy
are to be of Europeans,hh ;worhat
probably will have Kurrachee, on account of its salubrity,
for head-quarters. I am informed—and I believe the informa-
tion is correct—that Sir Charles Napier applied some two
years ago to the Governor-General to have the number of
regular troops under his governmentso reduced to 5,000. This
was,app application
it onwwasasreniotetroantea a hecountrotf
Sindetireago, when the reply
that a
was kept up, but because of the unpleasantuncertainandstrong force
aspect of affairs in the Punjaub, under the suspicious dminis-
tration of the then Vizier, Raja Lall Singh. This intima-
tion was of course flattering to Sir Charles, inasmuch as it
tended to remove the onus which otherwise would have rested
on him.
" What is intended to be done with the barracks now in
course of construction at Hyderabad, complete as they will
be with hospital, &c., for a whole European infantry regi-
ment? It scarcely appears likely that any European corps
will leave Kurrachee, and risk health and life to occupy
them. Upwards of a lakh and a quarter has been already
expended upon them, and it is estimated that they will cost
a considerable sum more to be thoroughly completed. .
" The last native festival at Hyderabad, the Mohurrum,
did not, I am sorry to say, pass over without bloodshed.
On the final night, the 28th ultimo, a skirmish took place in
the town between some turbulent sowars of the Sinde Ir-
regular Horse and the police, headed by the kotwal. It
appears that the sowars, in viewing a taboot, insulted some
women, who were also looking at the tumsaba. Ott eta,.