The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-04 00:00:00

SIN OE.

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 hope 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 pro-
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 hed 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 hoot; 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 seductions, 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,
he police department to be curtailed, many brigade majo-
rities to be dune away with, Queen's officers holding appoint-
ments 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
4at,tioh,fthtteieaerß3mtpdihofil eieveiaiseers urable and enlivening trip to Shikarpore. The
Regiment
are to
thought
u residence'tghw haatvsetaott
bhi
su
connectede
tbt neoekNfi etonrotohffwsaisetsaihnt
dthaheierepolaanantetdeKte.
rfairiorrdena,rci
ivaehmnve
dee.
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 considered a tolerable
three years' work."—Bombay Times, Jan. 16.
" Sinde, Jan. 10, 1847.
"Sinde is to be, to a considerable extent, denuded of
2cdorplrelvizc ou
h
tt rhoeo pi
sst. a
nOdn 1y2d5,01
rrooegmuel
anr,exclusive
theo f
Itahte
andl()oal
Battalions, the mounted and foot policeadnd
co
Fittaehger; alds
camel corps—are to garrison Sinde an
of
horse
who
these one regiment, and probably a troop
or company of foot artillery, are to
he of
probably will have Kurrachee, on account of its salubrity,
for head-quarters. lam informed—and believe the Europeans, f
s, n
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 government reduced to 5,000. rills
application was reiterated a short time ago, when the reply
was, that it was not on account of Sinde that a strong force
was kept up, but because of the uncertain and unpleasant
aspect of affairs in the Punjaub, under the suspicious adminis-
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 281 h ultimo, a skirmish took place in
the town between some turbulent sowars of the Sinde Ir-
regular Horse and the police, beaded by the kotwal. It
at.pears that the sowars, in viewing a taboot, insulted some
women, who were also looking at the tumasha. An alter-
cation ensued, and the police interfered. The sowars were
armed with swords, and on being ordered to give up their
weapons, one of them, instead of complying, inflicted a
severe wound on the head of the kotwal. A regular battle
then took place, and the kotwal received further injuries—
several of the sowars and policemen also being wounded.
Many of the former were made prisoners by the latter, and
one of them died the next day. A court of inquiry, of which
Lieut.-Colonel Corsellis is president, is now investigating the
tragical occurrence, and we shall doubtless soon know the.
result.
" The Governor, with his whole stall; is expected at
Hyderabad by the 20th instant; his chief purpose being