The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-19 00:00:00

OVERLAND _

INDIA AND CHINA.
(From the Chronicle)
BOMBAY, APRIL 17.

The intelligence from the north-western frontier su.
continues to wear the same aspect of uneasiee,s, arising
from the petty outrages of the hill tribes that I have so
often noticed. Since Captain Grantham's death a good
look-out has been kept for the isolated parties of ma•
rauders, who, two or three in number, are always lying
in wait for any stray party that may present itself, Se-
♦eral of these fellows have been caught, and
they have been trussed up to the next tree,
where they hang in terrorem. The Khyberies (in-
habitants of the hill flanking the Khyber Pass) were
brought to terms, it was supposed, by Lord Dalhousie,
when he was at Peshawur; but the supposition appears
to have been ill-founded, for 2,000 of our best troops
have been ordered, according to a letter published in
the Mofussilite of March 23, to enter the Par; and to
ravage tied burn all the crops in the land belonging to
the Khyberies. To them also has been extended the
order lately issued in the cantonment of Peshawur, to
hang all who are apprehended for theft, and to
imprison all v.ho may be caught within the cantonment.
Towards the lower part of the district extending
from Attock t o Kalabagh, the country bordering on
the Indus, has been more tranquil than on the Kobat
and Peshawur side. The presence of the Governor-
General's camp and its numerous train of Guards and
followers, may have had some share in producing this
temporary tranquillity; but the Bannon and Wuzeeree
tribes who are located in the lower districts are better
affected than the Afreedees and Khyberies are towards
the English.

The details of the survey of the great Punjaub salt
range lately executed by Dr. Fleming and Mr. Pardon,
lead me to believe that that mountainous district will be
found to be very rich in coal and minerals. Plenty of
coal of good quality has been found, and pronounced fit
for use in the river steamers plying on the Upper Indus.
Marine fossils also have been discovered; the helemnite
tribe abounds; and some species of the sea urchin (echi-
nus) , which were discovered in great abundance, were
at first taken for lignites, and caused some amusement,
by a long-winded scientific correspondence, partaking
of the character of Edie Ochiltree's commentaries on the
Roman reliques discovered by Mr. Jonathan Oldbuck.
Provided any permanent supply of coal can be pro-
cured in these regions, these matters may be passed over
with a smile. Copper ore has been found of a rich
quality.
The Governor-General left Peshawar on the 18th of
March, having paid a visit to Jamrood, the celebrated
site where so many Bactrian coins and other remains of
antiquity have been discovered. His Lordship crossed
the Indus at Attock on the 24th, having been prevented
from doing so by floods during the 21st and two follow-
ing days.
Sir William Gomm and lady, with their respective
suites, had left Meerut on their way to head-quarters.
A grand ball had been given to them at Meerut.
I mentioned some time since the harsh and not very
generous prcceedings alopted by the Bengal Govern-
ment towards Jootee Persand, a rich and very active
commissariat contractor for supplies of all kinds to the
armies in the field during the Affghan and Punjaub cam-
paigns. He was tried recently at Agra, on charges of per-
jury, embezzlement, and- fraud, to a very large amount;
but after several days' proceedings, the evidence given in
his favour by some of the most distinguished British
officers under whom he served was so convincing and so
powerful, that the jury at once acquitted him. He is said
to have rewarded his counsel so munificently that the
lawyer entertained some thoughts of applying for a trea-
sure party, as a guard from Agra to Calcutta. I ought
to tell you that a treasure party seldom goes with a
smaller amount of coin under its guard than from three
to four lacs (30,000/. to 40,000/). In this case gold is said
to have been the medium of payment. However, I en-
close you an Extra issued by an Agra paper, which
reached me in time for the mail. It contains full parti-
culars respecting Jootee Persand's acquittal.
We have had an inquiry going on in Bombay for some
days touching the very serious defalcations that have
been detected in a municipal tax here called the wheel
tax. One or two magistrates and the police superin-
tendent have been examined; but nothing has transpired
of the slightest interest. The inquiry is held in public,
and reporters watch the evidence. I ought not to omit
narrating a hyperbolical expression which fell from a na-
tive witness, who, describing the extraordinary dexte-
rity of another, a Parsee native, said with emphasis,
" He is so clever, he steal the antimony off your eyelids
and you not know he do it." Antimony
.is the so-called
kohl which the natives smear over the inside of their
eyelids to give strength and expression to those organs.
Medical diplomas have just been granted to eight na-
tive medical students who acquired their knowledge at
the Grant Medical College. Our Chief Justice pre-
sided, and the Hon. J. P. Willougby assisted. The
occurrence is chiefly noticeable from its being the first
of the kind here. Tne young men belong to the
Hindoo, Portuguese, and Parsee races, and their ac-
quirements are very highly lauded by the Government
examiners.

There are no tidings of any interest from Hyder-
abad, the Nizam's capital; it is said that he is again
getting into arrears with the pay of the contingent
force, which he is compelled to maintain, though he is
frequently denied its services, when he has occasion to
coerce any of his rebellious or refractory subordinates.
The seizure of any portion of his dominions, as pay,
ment for the old arrears, is indefinitely postponed, ac-
cording to all appearance.
Several conversions of natives (Hindoos) to Chris-
tianity have been brought to public, notice of late. They
are said to be the spontaneous result of the converts
themselves, arising probably from the secular education
which is bestowed upon them by the Government.
Such at least is stated with regard to a convert of Madras.
We have had a large importation recently of Ro-
man Catholic priests, who brought with them an
allocution of Pope Pius IX., touching the mode
in which he persuaded the schismatic Archbishop of
Goa to resign his see and accept the coadjutorship of
the Archiepiscopate of Braga, in Portugal, in, its place.
The tact and cleverness of the Holy Father are very
manifest in this document, which Bishop Hartman (the
diocesan here) immediately published, to let the Portu-
guese know that they must now knock under to him,
and give up their churches to his management.
Reports of continued outrages and disturbances in
Oude frequently reach Bombay, but the Calcutta papers
contain tuiler and more authentic accounts than I can
send.

Two new iron steam-boats are on the point of being
dispatched for the traffic of the lower Indus from Jakkur
to Kurrachee.

I hear from Indose (Rajpootana) that young Holkar,
who is under M. R. N. C. Hamilton's tutelage, during
his minority, has expressed a wish to visit England, in
which Lord Dalhousie has wisely encouraged him.

Another eastern prince, the heir to the iuler of Canda-
bar, is said to have ju,t reamed from England, whither
he went on a bJutless errand to get English assistance in
restoring him to his birthright, which some Persian has
usurped.
The Five per Cent. Loan of the East India Company
was closed here on the evening of the 14th of April.
Nest day Company's paper had a rise of 3 per cent.
Another ship (the Kurramany) was burnt at Calcutta.
Two in one month.

The exchange has rather gone up within the last few
days. One transaction for 3,0001. document bills was
effected at 2s. Oid. Broach cotton rules at 114 rupees a
candy. Piece goods are selling at a slight depreciation,
owing to the large stocks. The large exportations, and
the necessity for realibing before the monsoon, put a stop
to business.

The i Bth Highlanders (a wing of which is at Bombsy )
is about to have its whole strength stationed at Aden,
where some barbarous murders have been committed by
the Arabs; the wing of the 78th will be replaced by one
wing of the 86th Queen's.
No news from China since my last ; the steamer of
March 29 looked for on the 21st here.
Lord and Lady Falkland are at the Hills. We ex-
pect them here on the 21st, when Mr. A. Bell is to be
sworn in as third member of council, vice Willoughby,
whose date of service expires then. Weather hot,
plenty of sea breeze, and all the Europeans here are
healthy.

COMMERCIAL IN TELLIGENCE.
CALCUTTA, ArRIL 7.—The steamer with the London mail
of 24th February reached town about three in the afternoon
of the 3d instant. The Bombay express came in a few
hours after. The advices in regard to commercial matters
are not considered encouraging, but we hardly expect they
will influence any marked change in the position of our local
markets.
The tendency of the export branch of our business has
been for some time past to increased activity, owing chiefly
to the more practicable rates of exchange en England, which
have offered great facilities to shippers. A more general and
active inquiry has been making for produce, without, how-
ever leading to anything like a very extensive scale of busi-
ness in exports. The state of supplies a most of our leading
staples has been inadequate to meet the demand which has
existed; and the scale of operations, although above the
average of the past few weeks, has still been limited. Latterly
another obstacle has supervened in the way of extensive bu-
siness in
ward freight age
Shtire nents. This is the scarcity of dead weight
tonnage in
river,demanded and consequent high rates for home-
such scarcity
by consignees. For some years
past, it is said,
Thais drawback,
of tonnage has not been felt
as now prevails. ~,,
be removed, as several arrivalsdrawback, it is expected, will soon
ves-
sels are overdue.
considered, a satisfactory scale Generally
are anticipated, and some
speaking, all circumstances
of business has been done in
the export market, althoughesit extreme rates. Indigo has
mogile public sale is reported.
been quiet, and only one-
exchange, holders of
thei7Wveltrh,ooaust
Since the decline in ratts
in hand have
the few parcels which now remain
tsyettobeailnl Using able
enhanced their demands, without, e
activep demand for
the smallest
to induce buyers to come up to
operations have nearly terminated. marks. The season's
ofpiTeked up at
amount to above 28,000 chests. The
sugars of all descriptions has continued •
abatement, and all parcels offering have been .
prices. Very little of the new crop
very stiff
as yet found its way to market. The crop is nares has
said to be a
large one, much in excess of last year's yield. Saltpetre,
until lately, has been in good request, as well for the hoe
as
North American market; the rise in freights has, however,s
checked operations for Great Britain. Table rice has bee
completely neglected, and latterly absolutely no business
whatever has b, en doing for home shipments. It is probable
the article will continue to be neglected. Ballam and
Moongby have been in more active request, and prices have
advanced about a couple of annas per maund. Raw silk
has been in better demand, ant a fairer extent of business
is reported, at prices which show an advance on former
figures. The market contains now but very little of the
November Bund, and as a good demand exists, it is likely
the produce of the next bund will meet with high
prices, particularly as it is not a large one. In silk
corahs a very moderate scale of business has been on
foot ; holders have enhanced their requirements, which
dealers show no
_disposition to come up to. The me-
dium and inferior qualities are neglected. Tussors con-
, ti4ue, aa before, t? be picked up to a fair exteat, at