The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-13 00:00:00

N.

INDIA.

BEIURPORE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE INDIA GAZETTE.

SIR-Should you, during the present interval,
when you seem not overburdened with very late European
news, be able to find a spare corner in your much esteemed
Paper, for the insertion of a curious spectacle, which I witness-
ed some few months since when marching from 3/ uttra to Nus-
seerabad, it is very much at your service and disposal.—
" Ehurpore," I must beg to call to your recollection, is a word
whose very mention acts as a talisman in every soldier's heart ;
with► it are connected fdelings and recollections only bearable,
because they lead to the hope—nay the conviction, that the
time must come, and shortly. too, it is to be hoped, when
I I * * * w * * * aa

• • • • • a * llut to proceed—
I halted the first day at a village, whose name has just now
escaped my recollection, some 15 miles front Illuttra, and in the
evening, anxious to stretch my legs, and at the same time let
nothing curious in that little traversed part of India escape my
notice, I sallied from my tent accompanied by a friend, and as
we were not more than a stone's throw from the Bhurpore terri-
tory, (through which we were to proceed the following morning)
bent our steps in that direction. We had not advanced far when
we came to an extensive garden, surrounded by a pretty high
wall, situated not more than half a mile, or so, from the high
road, meaning by the bye a somewhat beaten track much re-
sembling a sheep track in England.—Our fancies were tickled
with some very whimsical paintings of the Ilindoo mytho-
logy, with which the walls of the garden appeared covered; as
we were feasting our eye-sight with this precious sample of the
excellence of the arts in the East, a native, fully equipped and
sword in hand, nimbly bounded from the top of the wall just
above our heads, and courteously informed us that he was a
servant of the Ranee of Bhurpore, by whom, for the salvation
of her soul, the garden, as well as a tank and temple, which he
pointed out to us at no great distance, were formed. Our
friend at the same time proffered his services to enlighten our
darkness, with regard to the figures and fables represented on
the wall, for which purpose, he added, he had been stationed
there. We gladly availed ourselves of his oiler, and accom-
panied him down one face cf the --.Tarden wall, as in duty
bound, listening to his erudite explanation of the stories pour-
trayed on it, and expressing our thanks for the information
he conveyed to us.—So far, so good ; we began to have a
eratminyg
narration—the figures
on the second face were on quite a different subject—at
good opinion of the Bhurporeans, and really felt the civi-
hint in some way or
lity of our guide, so much so, indeed, that we were regret-
ting the foolish custom of not carrying purses in India, and
ofotintenr.ing rwojeevcetys , fur
eroemntuitntue
.the commencement was the battle of Bhurpore, which I can
assure you is not forgotten in those parts, but on the contrary
nolens cokes thrown in our teeth as often as possible. The Euro.
peans are represented advancing most gallantly to the attack ;
in one hand their swords waiving in the air, in the other a
bottle, at which they ever and anon took huge potations,
doubtless with the very vovident intention of keeping up, or
whetting their courage. lhe Bhurpore artillery appeared nobly
served, and European heads were to be seen flying in every di-
rection, but still the arm and brandy bottle remained, and even
the headless trunks strove to imbibe some of the precious liquor,
the cau de medicinale, the balsam of life. It was a grand sight
—Lord Lik Saha) and General Marshall Saheb were there in
all their glory, and were frequently pointed out to us by our in.
telligent guide in the true " Walk in Genmien and Ladies"
stile.

The battle was of course followed up by the defeat, and sure
no Welsh goats could have scampered away in half the stile
our troops did, with Lord Lik and General Marshall Sahebs
I) es`ni should
an
still at their head.—We laughed heartily, and could not con-
ceal our amusement at this unique scene ; it certainly de-
lighted us highly, but notwithstanding, our excessive good
humour evinced by repeated bursts of laughter, I could
not help observing that a degree of anxiety was ap-
parent on the countenance! of our guide, who evidently,
as we proceeded, spewed an inclination to yield his prece-
dence in the line of march, 'till gradually lie dropped quite
astern,—the cause was soon, apparent—he had been too prolix
in his explanation of the remainder, and had accordingly felt
the weight of sonic sturdy Englishman's arm, that was evi-
dent : accordingly as we left the " Battle" behind, and came
towards the close of the 44 Retreat," (or defeat if you like,) a
great portion of his former garrulity had left him, and by de-
grees he became totally silent. To account for this abrupt
change, I must continue my narrative.—Rejoicings of all sorts,
with a grand display of fire-works, naturally followed such a
Raja was indispensable ; accordingly, the worthy
and. what is more,
gotlotriitoeusiv.,2tejto7v, and to make it more striking, the presence
and magnanimous Prince makes his appearance in his
live, by
at aby European
op,
ffia Ica blushenrkse: e nat,lol
and
thinkborne.
what by Europeans,
the
more
dogo,trreo
re-
presentation of aglets made them appear very much like Ge-
neral Officers ; indeed we fancied that the two bangywallas
behind looked much like the very Lord l.ik and General Mar-
shall Sahebs, who had already cut so conspicuous a figure.—
The sight acted upon us as if by magic—purses and re-
munerations flew into boundless air, and swords, daggers, and
pistols took their places in our imaginations—our lists
insensibly closed, and we internally prayed that no mention
might be made of this detestable production, fur we should have
been bound in honour to have murdered the poor devil ; but
there was little fear of that—the fellow, I am sure, placed great
dependence on his swiftness of foot like the " T.'w6'as comic
AY-I%\?4riCt" or he would scarcely have remained so long; as
it was, he took up a most masterly position for a precipitate re-
treat ; but as he was silent we did not consider ourselves called
on to become active avengers of the insult, and the unfortunate
fellow continued with us unharmed, but without the slightest
chance of fee or reward—and yet, after all, what harm had he
done ? We were certainly unjust towards him, and I have
tome to a determination of looking in on him the next time
I pass that place.
'lhis, Mr. Editor, appears to me a very fair sample of the na-
tive character—what a display of magnaniniity and greatness
of mind does their treatment of the supposed captured evince ?
What childish vauntings of their victory, if that expression can
be applied to our failure at Bhurpore, where the Raja was ob-
liged to sue fur peace in the most abject terms, and it was high
time, or the destruction of flatrass would have fallen on his
famed fort--this he full well knew, and I believe the greater
part of his Sirdars'are now pretty well impressed with the con-
viction that the seventh day after the op-ring of their batteries
would see the British colours waving otl. its citadel.
I am, Sir, Your's obediently
Barrackpore, Aug. 5, 11123. A TRAVELLER.

* IVc have omitted a few lines here for obvious reasons.—En.

A IlonaEt.t SHOT.—On Wednesday morning,
between two and three o'clock, the shop of
Messrs. It. and G. Graham, silversmiths and
jewellers, Stable-yard, Woolwich, was broken
open, and property in jewellery, pearls, diamonds,
plate, &c. to a very considerable amount, carried
off. The villains effected their purpose icy means
of centre-bits, with which they pierced the shut-
ters, and the hand of one of them was in the act
of drawing out a gold necklace at the moment Mr.
IL Graham, alarmed at their proceedings, entered
armed with pistols, the contents of which he dis-
charged in succession, and wounded the intruded
arm, and,.it is supposed, the side of its owner, who
retreated, exclaiming, " Oh ! my side—l am
ruined !" A great quantity of blood was dis-
covered on the spot where the robber stood, and
one of the bullets discharged by Mr. Graham,
who made application to the different hospitals
in town, in expectation of finding the wounded
man, but no tidings of him have been received.